Iipinge taps out
JEMIMA BEUKES
WINDHOEK
Outgoing Walvis Bay Urban constituency councillor Knowledge Iipinge, who has conceded to Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) candidate Florian Donatus Tegako, says his work as an activist continues.
Iipinge won the seat in last year's by-election with the backing of then independent presidential candidate Dr Panduleni Itula, who has since established the IPC.
Iipinge yesterday said his defeat had nothing to do with the stand-off between him and Itula, whom he has called a hypocrite for prohibiting his party's members standing as independent candidates, as he himself did in in the presidential election.
Party loyalty
“I would say people voted more on party loyalty than on an individual's capability to deliver. So, it is more about the party popularity than them being hungry for change and so they overlooked the independent candidacy aspect. So, it is not even about Itula or Knowledge, but party politics – are our people ready for people who are operating outside party affiliation?” Iipinge said.
He added that Namibians yearn for a political home such as a “politics party”, something the IPC offered residents of Walvis Bay.
Future
Iipinge added that he will continue to serve his community and will continue pushing for the establishment of a bank that would finance local fishermen and small and medium enterprises.
“We will be focusing on unpacking the value chain aspect in the fishing industry. This will entail providing loans to the community and SMEs to buy fish trucks and to get companies to make fishing nets or even to buy their own vessels,” he said.
He added that he had already engaged consultants and government officials who are instrumental in development goals.
“There are also other projects that I am working on. I will also be focused on the implementation of a strategy around gender-based violence and human trafficking for the region,” he said.
[email protected]
WINDHOEK
Outgoing Walvis Bay Urban constituency councillor Knowledge Iipinge, who has conceded to Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) candidate Florian Donatus Tegako, says his work as an activist continues.
Iipinge won the seat in last year's by-election with the backing of then independent presidential candidate Dr Panduleni Itula, who has since established the IPC.
Iipinge yesterday said his defeat had nothing to do with the stand-off between him and Itula, whom he has called a hypocrite for prohibiting his party's members standing as independent candidates, as he himself did in in the presidential election.
Party loyalty
“I would say people voted more on party loyalty than on an individual's capability to deliver. So, it is more about the party popularity than them being hungry for change and so they overlooked the independent candidacy aspect. So, it is not even about Itula or Knowledge, but party politics – are our people ready for people who are operating outside party affiliation?” Iipinge said.
He added that Namibians yearn for a political home such as a “politics party”, something the IPC offered residents of Walvis Bay.
Future
Iipinge added that he will continue to serve his community and will continue pushing for the establishment of a bank that would finance local fishermen and small and medium enterprises.
“We will be focusing on unpacking the value chain aspect in the fishing industry. This will entail providing loans to the community and SMEs to buy fish trucks and to get companies to make fishing nets or even to buy their own vessels,” he said.
He added that he had already engaged consultants and government officials who are instrumental in development goals.
“There are also other projects that I am working on. I will also be focused on the implementation of a strategy around gender-based violence and human trafficking for the region,” he said.
[email protected]
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