Resignation of IPC Candidate Sparks Controversy Ahead of Elections
Ndalikutya Shonena, the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) candidate for the Ogongo constituency, has resigned from the party, citing neglect and lack of support from its leadership. This development occurs just two weeks before the regional council and local authority elections, raising questions about the party’s preparedness and internal dynamics.
Shonena shared his reasons with The Namibian, explaining that he was forced to walk 25 kilometers to attend an Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) meeting at the Ogongo constituency office in the Omusati region. Despite repeated requests for transport and logistical assistance, no help came from the IPC’s regional leadership. He submitted his resignation on Thursday, just days before facing Swapo’s Daniel Iilende on 26 November.
“I felt disrespected and neglected. How can you expect someone to campaign effectively without any support?” Shonena questioned.
The former Swapo member, who joined IPC in 2020, was fielded as a candidate for the Ogongo constituency, even though he resides in Oshikuku. According to him, he wrote his resignation letter on 6 November, stating that he could no longer continue under the current conditions.
“I have been asking for campaign funds and told the party that I don’t have a car. I asked for assistance so that I could hire transport for campaigning. They told me there was no money available,” he said. “I was told to use money from my own pocket. I asked myself, I joined the party in 2020 and I have been using my own money to attend party activities, and now as a councillor candidate, I must still volunteer without any support?”
A Breaking Point
The incident that pushed Shonena to resign occurred when he was forced to walk to the ECN meeting at Iipanda village after being told there was no vehicle available. The constituency office is located 25 kilometers deep in the villages, and he had called the IPC office in Oshikuku for transport. Kassian Kanyemba, who is based at the IPC office in Oshikuku, reportedly told him there was no vehicle available.
“I walked to and from the ECN meeting, 25km to and from my village to the constituency office. I am a councillor candidate, yet I was walking in public with no transport,” he said.
Following this incident, Shonena decided to resign from IPC and rejoin Swapo. “When I joined IPC, I was looking for a job, I wanted to put food on my table. But I realised I was wasting my time,” he added.
After submitting his resignation, IPC regional leaders, including Kanyemba, visited him on Friday to confirm his departure and inquire which party he planned to join. However, multiple attempts to reach Kanyemba were unsuccessful as he was not reachable.
Reactions from IPC and Swapo
IPC spokesperson for the northern regions, Eino Heelu, responded to Shonena’s resignation, calling the reasons cited vague. He noted that Shonena resigned at a crucial time when the party is unable to field another candidate in that constituency.
“To us it is quite surprising, and of course we may go ahead to suspect that this individual has possibly been paid for him to have resigned from the party at this crucial time. Any credible Namibian who is given that crucial responsibility will not end up resigning,” Heelu stated.
Swapo regional coordinator Sacky Kayone commented that Shonena is not the first IPC member to resign from the party and join Swapo. “They are many IPC members resigning. Have they been paid? There are also Swapo members who have joined IPC. Did they pay them? It is not a good thing to say. It’s baseless allegations,” Kayone said.
Implications for the Upcoming Elections
With the regional council and local authority elections approaching, Shonena’s resignation raises concerns about the stability and effectiveness of the IPC in the Ogongo constituency. His decision to rejoin Swapo highlights the competitive nature of the political landscape in Namibia and the potential for shifting allegiances.
As the election season intensifies, the actions of candidates like Shonena will likely influence voter perceptions and party strategies. The controversy surrounding his resignation underscores the challenges faced by political parties in maintaining unity and providing adequate support to their candidates.