Parties weigh support for unified opposition leader ahead of elections; Itula proposes all join IPC

The majority of political parties are open to supporting one opposition leader for this year’s elections, while some say it is too late.

With every election, proposals of unifying behind one leader arise, but do not realise.

Official opposition Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) secretary general Manuel Ngaringombe on Wednesday said his party has been open to this proposal.

“We have started as long ago as in 2014, when you’re talking about coalitions. In 2019, we tried a presidential coalition with the United People’s Movement (UPM),” he said.

This coalition turned sour earlier this year when the UPM opted to support independent presidential candidate hopeful Ally Angula. Ngaringombe said other parties claim PDM has tried to take an authoritative role in coalition talks.

“At the end of this coalition, they also started issues. So every time we bring this matter up, we are told ‘but you want to play big brother’,” he said.

Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) president Mike Kavekotora on Wednesday said he has tried his level best to speak to all political parties about this proposal.

“Unfortunately, we have immature politicians.

They look at themselves and not at the interests of the Namibian people. That’s why we failed,” he said.

Kavekotora expressed the hope that none of the political parties would get an absolute majority.

“. .. so that we are being forced to have a coalition government, because a coalition government is the only solution to the Namibian problem,” he said.

Kavekotora believes with a coalition everyone would have a say in the government.

Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) leader Panduleni Itula this week said he wants opposition parties to dissolve and join his party.

“All political parties must join the IPC,” he said.

Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters deputy president Kalimbo Iipumbu on Wednesday said his party is not open to any coalition.

“Democracy is what we all are fostering and democracy is advocating unity and diversity. However, the gesture you are having is normal, but the timing might not be right for it,” he said.

Iipumbu, however, expressed openness to the idea in the future.

National Unity Democratic Organisation of Namibia (Nudo) secretary general Joseph Kauandenge said it is regrettable that Namibia has so many presidential candidates running for one seat.

“I could have accepted and anticipated or wished for all these presidential candidates to come together and support only one among the opposition,” he said.

Currently, Nudo is in the market for a presidential candidate to support.

“We’ll just have to look among those who are there, which presidential candidate we are going to support,” he said.

Affirmative Repositioning spokesperson George Kambala on Wednesday said the movement is self-directed.

“So, if anybody is able to conform to those ideals, those beliefs and principles, then we are good,” he said.

Kambala said the party is always open to discussions.

Landless People’s Movement councillor Ivan Skrywer this week told Desert Radio his party would cross this bridge when they got there.

“Because it’s premature for us to be talking about a coalition here, because then our aim is to take over the government,” he said.

Political scientist Rui Tyitende in a recent opinion piece says the political space should not be based on “egos, personality cults, and an attitude of self-glorification”.

“Nor should its leadership revolve around one or two individuals,” he says.

Tyitende says the reality of many presidential candidates in the upcoming elections begets the inevitability of a spoilt ballot for any candidate who does not stand a chance to be elected as president.

“What are the chances that Venaani’s share of the vote will increase from 43 959 (5.3%) to 30%? Or that Swartbooi’s share of the vote will miraculously increase from 22 542 (2.7%) to 15%? Is this perhaps the cost of multiparty politics?” he asks.

Namibia Institute for Democracy executive director Naita Hishoono says what matters is how much pressure members are putting on parties’ leaders.

“This discussion will be held after voting day,” she said.