LPM flirts with IPC to run city
The Landless People’s Movement (LPM) is considering approaching the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) to form a possible coalition to run Windhoek.
In a sudden twist of events, LPM, which initially rejected the idea of joining the different political party groups currently leading the City of Windhoek, is now flirting with the idea to join the force.
At present, all the opposition parties - IPC, Affirmative Repositioning (AR), Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) and National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo) - except for LPM, lead the Windhoek municipal council as a united force, with eight seats.
It would however take the coalition partners eight months to put pen to paper on a contractual agreement detailing how they will work together.
In December 2020, LPM representatives walked away from the discussion table where the Windhoek coalition was birthed.
But on Tuesday, while addressing a plethora of issues, LPM’s second-in-command, Henny Seibeb sang a different song, saying the leadership crisis at the City of Windhoek warrants LPM’s intervention.
“If we decide we’re going to join, it is because we’re saying we have to come in and rescue Windhoek because it is also one of our ancestral areas. We must come and rescue because there is no leadership here,” he said.
Seibeb accused current Windhoek mayor Job Amupanda of being “weak”.
“How do you, when problems start in Windhoek, you run to Omaalala? That is why I have a problem with [Amupanda]. If you’re interested in the interests ofpeopleinWindhoek,whenever something comes, you must stay put,” Seibeb said.
The politician-cum-academic also charged that Amupanda has lost focus.
“In Windhoek, it has become a circus. We must change the structure here. The problem is for the next five years, you will have that problem of immature political boys. You’re an activist, tomorrow you’re talking about the red line and tomorrow you’re talking about which councillor is sleeping with who… When are you focusing on your job here?”
Seibeb added that there is nothing peculiar about LPM and IPC working together as they are already doing so in various local authorities and regional councils.
Efforts to solicit a response from Amupanda were futile.
Contacted, IPC spokesperson Immanuel Nashinge said they are yet to be approached formally by LPM on the possible partnership.
Nashinge was however quick to note that they would welcome the idea with open arms: “Our interest is to serve Namibians. We are already working with them [LPM] in Lüderitz, Kalkrand and other places, so it shouldn’t be a surprise. If they approach us, we will discuss.”