APP’s future uncertain without Shixwameni-commentators

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APP's future uncertain without Shixwameni-commentators
APP's future uncertain without Shixwameni-commentators

Africa-Press – Namibia. ALL People’s Party (APP) secretary general Vincent Kanyetu says the loss of their founder and leader, Ignatius Shixwameni, has left a huge void in the party.

Shixwameni died last year after he collapsed in parliament while attending a committee meeting on foreign affairs.

He founded the APP after resigning from the Congress of Democrats (CoD) in December 2007.

In October 2009, the APP selected him as party candidate for the presidential election.

Kanyetu yesterday told Desert Radio 95.3 FM Shixwameni’s death does not mark the end of the party, as they have a constitution that directs the party on the way forward.

“It states that in the absence of the president, the deputy president automatically becomes the acting president,” he said.

Kanyetu said they are engaging with the community to better understand how to solve some of the social ills in the country’s different constituencies.

He said despite financial constraints, the party will continue to be involved in different activities around the country.

“We are one of the parties which does not have people contributing money to it, and we do not have enough resources,” he said.

“During the founding of APP, we didn’t have any source of income apart from members assisting, but now we are looking at how to work with others. As the party’s name says . . . All People’s Party,” Kanyetu said.

He said the party will be advocating for a different government and the equal distribution of wealth in Namibia this year.

UPHILL BATTLE

Rui Tjitende, a political science lecturer at the University of Namibia’s department of politics, yesterday said most political parties that emerged from Swapo tend to struggle once the person who was the face of the party is no more.

He said other parties, such as the Rally for Democracy and Progress and the CoD battled to garner votes after emerging from Swapo.

“The APP will struggle as Shixwameni was a charismatic leader, and the face of the party. Whoever replaces him would need to appeal not only to the two Kavango regions, but nationally should they want to remain relevant,” Tjitende said.

“They may score votes in terms of regions, but beyond that they may not score more, because their constituency is primarily from the two Kavango regions,” he said.

Graham Hopwood, the executive director of the Institute for Public Policy Research, yesterday said members of the public will now struggle getting to know the people involved in the party.

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