Own up to your Swapo past – Melber tells Itula

Political analyst Henning Melber describes sentiments by Independent Patriots for Change leader Panduleni Itula that he was never a card-carrying member of Swapo as ‘bordering on amnesia’.

Itula told South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) on Monday that he has never been a member of the current Swapo set up, which he accused of failing to deal with bread and butter issues.

Itula said Swapo is now tainted by corruption.

According to Melber, Itula’s denial is untrue.

“Itula’s denial, which is by convincing evidence incorrect, borders on amnesia.

Even as a so-called independent presidential candidate in 2019, he is on record appealing to vote for Swapo in the National Assembly elections,” Melber says.

“He gave credit to Peter Katjavivi and Shapwa Kaukungwa for being his mentors in exile,” he says.

Melber says assertions by Itula that he was not part of Swapo after independence are not true, as evidence shows.

“Upon his return from the United Kingdom, he played an active role in party internal politics.

It is an embarrassing memory loss and turns him into a spineless opportunist.

He loses all credibility for not taking responsibility to have remained in the party until he was expelled in 2020.

How can one trust such a person as leader, when he lacks any integrity to stand by his history?” Melber says.

EXPELLED

“In March 2022, they expelled me from the Swapo party, but I never had a membership card of Swapo.

I was never a functionary in the Swapo government to start with,” Itula told SABC international desk editor Sophie Mokoena.

Itula said the Swapo that liberated Namibia is not the same party governing Namibia at the moment.

“They have lost the vision completely. In 2019, that is when I decided to stand as an independent presidential candidate in the elections that took place then.

“That is when I parted [ ] with the idea of having to betray the people of Namibia.

I stood for solidarity, unity and freedom, including the freedom to have a job, to own a life and to have a house and that has been completely disregarded.

People started looking after their own bellies while forgetting that people are suffering,” he said.

USING LOCAL MEDIA

Namibia Media Trust executive director Zoé Titus says while local media should be prioritised, Itula speaking to international media is about raising his international profile.

“I suspect he is engaging South African media to raise his profile beyond Namibia – possibly part of his campaign communications strategy.

Other presidents and presidential candidates have travelled to Namibia where they have engaged our media,” Titus says.

She says local media plays a crucial role in informing and engaging the Namibian public, whose votes Itula is trying to capture.

“I think he should be making an effort to create a relationship of trust with local media, one that extends beyond this electoral process.

Open access to local media is not just a courtesy – it’s a vital element of maintaining trust and connection with the electorate,” Titus says.