IPC defends recalling councillor for unpaid 10% contribution

Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) spokesperson Imms Nashinge has defended the party’s decision to recall one of its City of Windhoek councillors.

This follows its recent recall of Bernadus Araeb, citing the breach of compulsory contributions to the party.

“Contribution is not the major issue on the decision. Recalling is not a death penalty but an opportunity to reflect on oneself. It was the party that delegated him just like any other representative representing the IPC in local and regional governance of our land,” says Nashinge.

He clarifies that contributions are a constitutional provision of the IPC, adding that as members, they have the obligation to make sure they don’t break the law and rules they established for themselves as a political organisation.

Araeb was withdrawn from the municipality over his failure to pay a mandatory 10% of his salary to the party.

Araeb earns about N$37 000 per month as a member of the management committee. He also received a number of lucrative perks, including monthly allowances for council meetings, management committee meetings, special council meetings, site visits and travel allowances.

Meanwhile, a former IPC member who recently rejoined Swapo, Taapo Shikongo, claims the 10% contribution was never properly explained to members and is a ‘dirty trick’ the party uses once a member takes up a position as a councillor.

He describes it as unfortunate that many people fall victim, as they now need to pay 10% of their salaries or be recalled.

“When I was chairperson at Walvis Bay Urban of IPC, I knew a councillor who was told to pay 10% but this was never communicated from the start. They don’t tell you when you sign up but wait until you get a position and get sworn in then suddenly you must pay 10%,” Shikongo says.

Shikongo questions what happens to a person who performs well but fails to pay the 10%. Will the party recall this person and, in doing so, jeopardize service delivery to the community?

As a former unionist, Shikongo believes that deductions from salaries should only be done by employers. He adds that political parties, to which these individuals belong, should not be demanding such payments.

“IPC forgets the services of such members but after they get a position they subject them to a 10% mandatory contribution,” he says.

Former IPC Omuthiya Town Council councillor Nghipudilo yaShiindi says all those deployed to represent the party were informed of the rules about contributions.

She said this in an interview with The Namibian over the weekend, expressing her own view.

“I have served as a IPC councillor for Omuthiya Town Council, and every person deployed by the party to represent it, whether regional council, local authority or parliament, they are required to give contributions to the party,” she said.

She said those labelling the recall as mistreating party members are narrow minded, adding that party contributions are a norm that is not new to IPC or Swapo.

She said it is a practice done globally by political parties to maintain day-to-day functions of the parties, and IPC is no exception.

YaShiindi said any person who becomes a member of an association or party must follow the rules.

Additionally, she stated that due to conditions attached to the funds allocated for party seats in parliament, parties are not allowed to pay their members’ salaries.

“This is why IPC members contribute N$20 annually for membership and those deployed by the party contribute 10% of their salaries to ensure that those working in the party’s office administration are remunerated and functions are carried out,” she explained.

She said before members join the party and are deployed, they are all presented with the rules and they take an oath to abide by the set rules as stipulated in the party’s constitution.

She cautioned the public to educate itself and conduct its own research to understand a certain topic before making comments that may mislead people.

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