As Namibia Prepares for the upcoming regional council and local authority elections, young people should take a lesson or two from Independent Patriots for Change leader Panduleni Itula’s political journey.
If the youth do not step forward to contest and lead, the same old, tired faces will continue recycling themselves in positions of authority.
Itula was a political novice – someone who had never governed even a village – yet he had the determination to contest for the highest office in the land.
Before the 2019 elections, his name held little weight in Namibian politics. However, his boldness changed that.
I speak as someone who did not vote for him but learned a great deal from his example.
Itula, a dentist and former Swapo Party School lecturer, ran as an independent presidential candidate in 2019 while still claiming Swapo membership.
He secured 29.4% of the vote, 242 657 ballots, the strongest performance by an independent candidate in Namibia’s history.
As a youth activist and student of history, I believe several factors catapulted him to prominence – notably the Fishrot fraud and corruption scandal, factionalism within Swapo and identity politics.
While Itula did not present a detailed economic or social transformation plan, his call for change dominated Namibia’s political landscape and posed one of the biggest challenges to Swapo since independence.
Itula is politically mature and deeply knowledgeable about the Namibian Constitution, which he can quote from memory.
His well-funded campaigns demonstrated organisation and discipline.
Some may argue that knowing the Constitution does not solve problems, but understanding the supreme law is crucial to addressing the nation’s socio-economic challenges.
I urge young Namibians to study the Constitution and learn to interpret and apply it.
Be able to quote it like Itula does. He is, in many ways, the founding father of independent presidential candidates in Namibia.
His persistence even led to the discontinuation of electronic voting machines.
To my fellow youth: Learn from Itula’s example of resilience and courage.
Relentless determination will always overcome fear.
Step forward, contest, and lead.
You can win the 2025 elections – whether as party candidates or independents.
– Alfeus ‘Success’ Hamundja
