Ndjeke dumps IPC for APP ‘to express himself’
Kenya Kambowe
Rundu
Well-known actor and one of the founding members of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) Jekonia Akuunda, better known as Ndjeke yaMalimba, has dumped the movement to join the All People’s Party (APP).
Akuunda said IPC members do not have the nation’s interests at heart. The comedian further alleged that IPC members cannot speak on issues affecting the nation unless such views are approved by the party’s leadership.
Akuunda and five other IPC members from the Olukonda constituency in the Oshikoto Region have decided to call it quits with the party, and joined APP last month.
In an interview with Namibian Sun, Akuunda said he has been contemplating whether to end his relationship with IPC since last November.
On 31 March, he gathered the courage and wrote an email to the party leadership informing them of his departure.
He said IPC has become a party where the weak are placed into positions of authority to carry out instructions from top leadership, something he said was “going to be the downfall of the party”.
He added that since joining the IPC, he observed that the party turns a blind eye on the masses who continue to suffer.
“They are appointing people who are not able to take the party into key positions while we who have the interest of the people and are able to speak out issues are affecting people are sidelined,” he remarked.
“When people who are suffering are calling us for help; the party does not allow you to act, hence I could no longer remain in a party with such characteristics.
“Freedom of expression does not exist there.”
IPC response
Akuunda added that IPC did not handle its relationship with the Affirmative Reposition (AR) movement very well.
“If you look back in 2019 when Dr Panduleni Itula ran as an independent presidential candidate, he got the numbers because of the involvement of AR, but they later decided to turn against them. Look at what happened in Windhoek,” he said.
When contacted for comment, IPC spokesperson Immanuel Nashinge rubbished Akuunda’s claims about members being unable to express themselves. Nashinge, who regards Akuunda as an ordinary former IPC member, said he should focus on his new found political home.
On his decision to move to APP, Akuunda said he studied the party’s constitution and noted that it allows members to care for the public and they are able to express themselves freely without intimidation.
“They [APP] only need open-minded people like myself and we shall fight to address the plight of the people,” he said.
At the moment, they are setting up APP branches in Olukonda constituency, he said, and aim to strengthen the party’s presence in the region.
[email protected]
Rundu
Well-known actor and one of the founding members of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) Jekonia Akuunda, better known as Ndjeke yaMalimba, has dumped the movement to join the All People’s Party (APP).
Akuunda said IPC members do not have the nation’s interests at heart. The comedian further alleged that IPC members cannot speak on issues affecting the nation unless such views are approved by the party’s leadership.
Akuunda and five other IPC members from the Olukonda constituency in the Oshikoto Region have decided to call it quits with the party, and joined APP last month.
In an interview with Namibian Sun, Akuunda said he has been contemplating whether to end his relationship with IPC since last November.
On 31 March, he gathered the courage and wrote an email to the party leadership informing them of his departure.
He said IPC has become a party where the weak are placed into positions of authority to carry out instructions from top leadership, something he said was “going to be the downfall of the party”.
He added that since joining the IPC, he observed that the party turns a blind eye on the masses who continue to suffer.
“They are appointing people who are not able to take the party into key positions while we who have the interest of the people and are able to speak out issues are affecting people are sidelined,” he remarked.
“When people who are suffering are calling us for help; the party does not allow you to act, hence I could no longer remain in a party with such characteristics.
“Freedom of expression does not exist there.”
IPC response
Akuunda added that IPC did not handle its relationship with the Affirmative Reposition (AR) movement very well.
“If you look back in 2019 when Dr Panduleni Itula ran as an independent presidential candidate, he got the numbers because of the involvement of AR, but they later decided to turn against them. Look at what happened in Windhoek,” he said.
When contacted for comment, IPC spokesperson Immanuel Nashinge rubbished Akuunda’s claims about members being unable to express themselves. Nashinge, who regards Akuunda as an ordinary former IPC member, said he should focus on his new found political home.
On his decision to move to APP, Akuunda said he studied the party’s constitution and noted that it allows members to care for the public and they are able to express themselves freely without intimidation.
“They [APP] only need open-minded people like myself and we shall fight to address the plight of the people,” he said.
At the moment, they are setting up APP branches in Olukonda constituency, he said, and aim to strengthen the party’s presence in the region.
[email protected]
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