Former IPC councillor rejects ‘politics of the belly’ claims

Former Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) member Rosalia Ndeshi Nanghuti has rejected claims that her decision to rejoin Swapo was motivated by an interest in securing a political portfolio in the party, saying she returned to the ruling party after becoming disillusioned with IPC’s leadership.

Nanghuti served as a Rundu local authority councillor from 2020 to 2025.

Nanghuti rejoined Swapo on Saturday during a belated Heroes’ Day commemoration and party members’ welcoming event in Rundu, officiated by party secretary-general Sophia Shaningwa.

“I did not return to Swapo because of hunger or anything," she said. "I’m just disappointed in Dr Itula and the leadership as they do not listen to their members’ concerns."

She said her frustrations with IPC developed over several years, beginning with internal disputes after she secured a Rundu local authority seat in the 2020 elections.

Nanghuti said she had come from Swapo before joining IPC and had campaigned alongside party leader Dr Panduleni Itula during the 2019 presidential election, when he stood as an independent candidate. She later remained with the political movement when IPC was formed.

When she contested the 2020 local authority elections, she claimed IPC’s senior leadership had indicated that the newly established party had limited financial resources.

“At the beginning, because the party just started, we didn’t have funds, according to the senior leadership of the party,” she said.

Nanghuti nevertheless decided to finance her own campaign through her investments and business.

“On my side, I decided to stay in the party and source funds from my investments for campaigning. I was having a well-established business and subsequently I won that seat,” she said.

According to Nanghuti, tensions emerged in 2021 when the person who was second on IPC’s local authority candidate list allegedly complained to the party’s Windhoek head office, claiming she was associated with Swapo and should be withdrawn.

She said she tried to explain her position to the party leadership, arguing that councillors were required to deliberate in the same council chamber regardless of their political affiliations or associations.

The dispute became more difficult, she said, when the same person who had complained about her was later appointed as her coordinator.

Funding troubles

Despite the tensions, she remained with IPC and continued mobilising members for the party.

She also said she had to cover expenses for party agents during the 2020 elections after they were not paid.

She added that the party eventually paid the agents N$250 after about seven months.

“In 2024 the same issues started. I had to sell my two taxi cars and to divert money to campaign,” she said.

Nanghuti said communication with IPC’s Windhoek head office subsequently broke down, but she continued campaigning and contested the local authority elections again in 2025.

She described the party leadership as “self-centred”, saying members’ concerns were not adequately heard and support for their political activities was lacking.

“They don’t provide resources for you to campaign and yet you are working for the party,” she said.

Last year, Nanghuti was set to serve a second term on the local authority council after seemingly securing a seat on an IPC ticket before the ECN reversed the allocation.

Nanghuti said at the time that the decision had left her overwhelmed and distressed, while a breakdown of communication from the party had further strained the situation.

‘Assets’

Meanwhile, while welcoming the new and returning members, Shaningwa urged Swapo members to embrace returnees, saying those who previously joined opposition parties should not be treated differently or judged for having left the ruling party.

She said returnees had realised that they had made the wrong choice by joining other political parties and should therefore be welcomed back without prejudice.

Shaningwa said returning members should be treated as “assets”.

IPC spokesperson Immanuel Nashinge did not respond to questions sent by the time of print.