As the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) celebrates its fifth anniversary, party founder and president Dr. Panduleni Itula has reflected on the formation and evolution of the movement.
In an exclusive interview with Eagle FM, Dr. Itula revealed that the IPC constitution was personally drafted by him “from beginning to end.” The former dentist and prominent political figure emphasized that IPC remains one of the few political parties in Africa that actively upholds democratic values.
Dr. Itula, who previously ran as an independent presidential candidate in the 2019 general elections, founded IPC shortly after his historic performance, which marked the strongest challenge ever posed to the ruling SWAPO party by an independent candidate.
Reflecting on IPC’s first national electoral participation in 2024, Dr. Itula expressed concerns about alleged irregularities. He accused both SWAPO and the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) of manipulating the electoral process.
“We prepared for a free and fair election, but SWAPO was not ready to face us. They resorted to tactics similar to Zimbabwe’s ZANU-PF. That’s why Sophia Shaningwa went to Zimbabwe to learn how to steal votes,” he claimed.
When asked about recent resignations from IPC, Dr. Itula downplayed the matter, stating that it is part of political life.
“Even SWAPO has members resigning. That is part of democracy, people are free to make their own decisions.” He said.
As IPC marks five years of existence, Dr. Itula maintains that the party will continue to advocate for transparency, justice, and democratic governance in Namibia.
