IPC Shows Example of Good Governance

NOT FOR THE first time, the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) has dumped one of its leaders to instil a culture of good governance.

IPC, Namibia’s youngest political party, this week suspended its local authority councillor for Mariental, Shuketamba Michael Jonas, after he was arrested in connection with a case of drugs police seized and valued at more than N$200 000.

The recall from the municipal council was reported by New Era, highlighting the occurrence as a good example being set by the IPC.

Jonas joins a string of high and low profile IPC leaders who’ve been given their marching orders or were forced to fall on their swords for failing the organisation’s rules on anti-corruption, rule of law, transparency and public accountability.

In the broader context of Namibia – where good governance is often sacrificed to gain votes from mindless popularity – the IPC have set itself a high target of cleansing the country of abuse of power, corruption and rampant mismanagement of public resources.

In less than two years, the IPC has got rid of at least four leaders who were elected to public office.

The most high profile case was that of Swakopmund councillor Ciske Smith-Howard, who the party booted, saying she broke the regional councils law by living outside the coastal town that elected her on the IPC ticket.

Smith-Howard might well have been baffled that her party took the initiative to enforce a law that the ruling party has long set a precedent of ignoring when assigning councillors to constituencies where they did not reside, despite the law being unequivocal.

IPC also booted Windhoek city councillor Desiree Davids as unfit to represent the party after she was accused of abusing her position to get municipal land without following procedures.

In a different case, pressure was brought to bear on Fillemon Hambuda to quit as a representative of the IPC on the all-powerful ‘management committee’ of the City of Windhoek. Hambuda was seen as hamstrung by old conflicts of interest issues that interfered with his new position as elected councillor.

Political observers Rui Tyitende and Graham Hopwood have pointed to the IPC’s actions as important in setting minimum ethical standards and taking a moral stance among their members.

It is, indeed, a matter of charity beginning at home.

How can a political party govern in the best interests of the public when its leaders remain in office under a cloud of gross abuse of power or having been convicted of corruption and other crimes?

Impunity has become common among elected officials and bureaucrats.

Sadly, the ruling party Swapo is the leading culprit by often refusing to take action, selectively hiding behind the constitutional principle of “innocent until proven guilty” even amid strong evidence of wrongdoing and the organisation’s name being brought into disrepute.

The Fishrot scandal has shown that Swapo is unable to stamp out systemic corruption to such an extent that people who played a central role are still earmarked to lead the party into the future.

The IPC might well suffer the consequences of doing the right thing if Namibia’s moral and ethical fibre is broken beyond repair – so much that voters no longer care about right or wrong and would rather fall prey to popularity driven wolves in sheep skins.

Yet, it is a price worth paying to drive the mission of good governance in the best interest of Namibia and her people, especially the majority who are the victims of misrule.

We join those who call on all political parties and their leaders to emulate the examples being set by the IPC in order to save Namibia from the current decay that can only lead us into the abyss.

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.