IPC criticism over Walvis public meeting rejected

Walvis Bay resident Kobus van Schalkwyk has dismissed what he called “misleading and politically charged accusations” made on Saturday by the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) regarding a public meeting he organised.On his invitation list were Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa and urban and rural development deputy minister Evelyn Nawases-Taeyele.IPC issued a media release following the meeting claiming Swapo had used the privately organised gathering as a “dictatorial manoeuvre”.On Monday, Van Schalkwyk, speaking on behalf of concerned residents, stressed that they had every constitutional right to call and engage any national leaders of Namibia.He underscored that the IPC lacks the authority to dictate who residents may meet with, where or when."They must stop their selective morality and political grandstanding," he stressed, noting that the meeting was not organised by the Joint Walvis Bay Residents Association (JWBRA). "It was an open, non-political engagement initiated by us, the residents. We condemn IPC's attempt to politicise and hijack a gathering they had no part in organising.”He added that Shaningwa and Nawases-Taeyele were invited by private citizens “because the IPC-led Walvis Bay municipality repeatedly blames Swapo for the town’s deteriorating infrastructure.”‘Only excuses’Van Schalkwyk accused IPC leaders, including the mayor, of consistently shifting blame, claiming that the “Swapo-led government” was withholding funds.“The reality is that under IPC's leadership, the RedForce agreement was signed, waste removal services deteriorated, waste disposal and management worsened, road maintenance and construction declined, and water and sewage services reached alarming crisis levels," he claimed. "The mayor is often unavailable, and when present, offers no solutions – only excuses," he added.He said IPC should "stop playing political games when they lack both the internal and external capacity to address Walvis Bay's challenges, even in the next ten years.”Listen and act Van Schalkwyk described the meeting as fruitful, with Shaningwa and Nawases-Taeyele answering questions clearly and engaging robustly with residents.“We appreciate the robust discussion and constructive atmosphere – something IPC has failed to provide. If IPC wishes to engage residents, they should organise their own meetings and take responsibility for their own failures, instead of attacking those who are willing to listen and act.”After the meeting, Shaningwa wrote on her Facebook page that the “long overdue engagement” had been prompted by deteriorating service delivery from the IPC-led Walvis Bay municipality. She said this had led to the “unfortunate collapse” of the once-booming local authority since 2020, describing the town as a crucial economic hub for Namibia.She added: "Swapo Party is ready to restore Walvis Bay to its former glory come November 2025."IPC claims ‘illegal takeover’ intent IPC spokesperson Imms Nashinge issued a statement after the meeting, claiming that the “sham public meeting” was allegedly intended to create dissent and “justify an illegal takeover of a municipality they lost fair and square at the polls in 2020.”He said the party "will not tolerate this blatant abuse of state power to reverse the democratic will of Walvis Bay voters.”Meanwhile, a petition calling for urgent reform of the Walvis Bay municipality had already attracted 3 067 verified signatures by Monday. “This so-called petition is a fraudulent, illegal coercion scheme designed to create a false pretext for Swapo's planned unconstitutional power grab," Nashinge claimed. "We caution residents not to be duped by the very Fishrot party into signing documents that serve corrupt Swapo’s agenda and not their interests.”He also warned residents not to be misled by what he called “Fishrot Shaningwa’s clandestine intents” and said the party would take legal action should Swapo interfere in Walvis Bay’s governance.“Namibia is a democracy, not a Swapo dictatorship nor a Swapo brothel,” he said.

IPC criticism over Walvis public meeting rejected

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-13

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IPC criticism over Walvis public meeting rejected

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-13

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