Itula courts war vets
• ...Says they’ve been sidelined for too long
If given the mandate to lead Namibia, IPC says it will improve the lives of those who fought for the country's freedom.
Independent Patriots of Change (IPC) leader Dr Panduleni Itula says the welfare of war veterans will be among his party’s key priorities if given the mandate to lead the country.
Itula blamed the ruling Swapo Party for allegedly failing to address the plight of the veterans of the liberation struggle, whom he said are languishing in poverty, with many without a place to call a home.
He added that long-standing issues - such as the claim that the United Nations (UN) had given the government funds meant for the well-being of refugees who returned when the country attained its independence - will be a thing of the past once his party is elected into power.
The presidential hopeful made these remarks on Saturday in Oshakati where IPC launched its ground mobilisation commandos for the Oshana, Oshikoto, Ohangwena and Omusati regions.
‘Respect them’
“There are those who got injured in the fight for the liberation of Namibia. There are those who joined the Namibian Defence Force, but up until today, they don’t have a house,” Itula remarked.
“There are those who assisted fellow freedom fighters during the struggle and sacrificed their lives for Namibia to attain independence. There was no discrimination during the struggle. They [Swapo] want to forget those who fought for the liberation of the country. They are at home and [only] when they die, you are told that they were soldiers. Let us respect those who fought for the liberation of this country. It is very important for us as Namibians to recognise the role the veterans of the liberation struggle played for the independence of our country,” he said.
“This IPC government that will be instituted in March 2025 shall take the responsibility to honour to our liberation struggle heroes who are still alive, to look after them and solve their problems.”
United
According to Itula, once elected into power, his party will ensure that issues such as hunger and unemployment are addressed.
“It’s enough! No more shall Namibians suffer and be betrayed by those they call their leaders because this party is a party that has united all the Namibian people, irrespective of your tribe; irrespective of where you came from.
“The only party that will unite Namibia is IPC. Swapo will have to understand that as per the constitution, they are registered on equal terms as IPC and any other political party. IPC shall no longer tolerate the corruption of the constitution by any entity whatsoever,” the opposition party leader said.
“We know they don’t know how to comply with their own constitution. You can do what you want in your house, but when you come to the outside where the constitution governs your conduct, you will have no choice but to comply. Let those who are leading that party understand that. They have run out of strategies and they only rely on what we do. I was under the impression that people learn from their elders, but now they are learning from a three-year-old political party,” he said of Swapo’s leaders.
“There shall be no intimidation in Namibia. The leaders of that party should get their hooligans in [line]. For 34 years, they have failed to build this nation.”
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Itula blamed the ruling Swapo Party for allegedly failing to address the plight of the veterans of the liberation struggle, whom he said are languishing in poverty, with many without a place to call a home.
He added that long-standing issues - such as the claim that the United Nations (UN) had given the government funds meant for the well-being of refugees who returned when the country attained its independence - will be a thing of the past once his party is elected into power.
The presidential hopeful made these remarks on Saturday in Oshakati where IPC launched its ground mobilisation commandos for the Oshana, Oshikoto, Ohangwena and Omusati regions.
‘Respect them’
“There are those who got injured in the fight for the liberation of Namibia. There are those who joined the Namibian Defence Force, but up until today, they don’t have a house,” Itula remarked.
“There are those who assisted fellow freedom fighters during the struggle and sacrificed their lives for Namibia to attain independence. There was no discrimination during the struggle. They [Swapo] want to forget those who fought for the liberation of the country. They are at home and [only] when they die, you are told that they were soldiers. Let us respect those who fought for the liberation of this country. It is very important for us as Namibians to recognise the role the veterans of the liberation struggle played for the independence of our country,” he said.
“This IPC government that will be instituted in March 2025 shall take the responsibility to honour to our liberation struggle heroes who are still alive, to look after them and solve their problems.”
United
According to Itula, once elected into power, his party will ensure that issues such as hunger and unemployment are addressed.
“It’s enough! No more shall Namibians suffer and be betrayed by those they call their leaders because this party is a party that has united all the Namibian people, irrespective of your tribe; irrespective of where you came from.
“The only party that will unite Namibia is IPC. Swapo will have to understand that as per the constitution, they are registered on equal terms as IPC and any other political party. IPC shall no longer tolerate the corruption of the constitution by any entity whatsoever,” the opposition party leader said.
“We know they don’t know how to comply with their own constitution. You can do what you want in your house, but when you come to the outside where the constitution governs your conduct, you will have no choice but to comply. Let those who are leading that party understand that. They have run out of strategies and they only rely on what we do. I was under the impression that people learn from their elders, but now they are learning from a three-year-old political party,” he said of Swapo’s leaders.
“There shall be no intimidation in Namibia. The leaders of that party should get their hooligans in [line]. For 34 years, they have failed to build this nation.”
[email protected]
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