Itula blasted

JEMIMA BEUKES



Political experts are in agreement that Dr Panduleni Itula’s insistence to stand as independent presidential candidate in the upcoming general election, while still maintaining his Swapo membership is downright ridiculous, likening his stance to “being pregnant but campaigning as a virgin”.

Constitutional expert Nico Horn said it is “ridiculous”.

“I cannot imagine that an intelligent man can think like that,” he said.

Horn pointed out that no party with self-respect will allow a member to stand as an independent candidate.

He said it only makes sense for a member to challenge for the party’s leadership at an electoral congress.

“If he wants to change Swapo then he needs to do that through the structures of the party. If he is independent and he wants to be taken seriously then he must be independent,” said Horn.

Itula, who initially refused to speak to newspapers until “the time is right”, was quoted by The Namibian recently saying “no Swapo member has the right or power, based on the party's constitution, to demand the resignation of another since it is a voluntary organisation where members leave voluntarily”.

When Namibian Sun called him yesterday he simply said: “It does not matter what Swapo says, I will not comment.”

In March the ruling party announced that party members standing as independent candidates, while still holding onto their Swapo membership, are in serious violation of the party's election rules and procedures.

Yesterday the party’s secretary-general Sophia Shaningwa said the party has a disciplinary committee in place and Namibia will have to “wait and see” how they will deal with Itula.

‘Campaigning as a virgin’

Political commentator Henning Melber believes that Itula and his supporters’ argument regarding democracy is evidence that democracy is not understood.

He likened Itula’s stance to “being pregnant but campaigning as a virgin”.

Melber added it is a contradiction to be a party member and stand as independent candidate.

“You can’t have your cake and eat it.”

Melber emphasised that a person is either a member and thereby identify with the party sufficiently, or they leave the party because they disagree and stand as independent candidate.

“But you cannot claim to be an independent candidate while remaining a party member. It is simply nonsensical, because you then compete with a party-appointed candidate, who represents your own party. What then if you happen to be elected?” he said.

Swapo Party School coordinator Charles Mubita agrees that there appears to be a misunderstanding around independent candidacy.

“What are you independent of?” Mubita asked.

He believes that it is impossible for a person to be independent within a collective.

“Look, I have no problem with independent candidates in the world, but it does not, ethically and principally, make sense for one to be within a political party and still prefer to be independent. It does not make sense at all,” he said.

He emphasised that being an independent candidate means you are not affiliated to any party or group.

“It also means you disagree or you are not in tune with the policies of a particular collective at that particular time. Maybe 90- or 100 % you do not agree with them so you need a new avenue to realise your views,” he said.

According to the Electoral Act of 2014, an independent candidate has to be supported by at least 500 registered voters from each of the country’s 14 political regions.