Renthia Kaimbi
Tensions have reportedly emerged within the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) over the use of the title “leader of the official opposition”.
The disagreement is between party president Panduleni Itula and IPC’s parliamentary leader Immanuel Nashinge.
Sources told the Windhoek Observer that Itula allegedly warned Nashinge in December 2025 against responding to the title outside parliament.
Itula is also said to have insisted that all state invitations meant for the opposition leader be forwarded directly to him.
Nashinge dismissed the allegations as a “boring joke” and said the IPC’s leadership structure is clear.
“(The) leader of the official opposition in parliament is (a) constitutional provision… him being a lawyer, how is it possible for him to do that?” Nashinge said, adding that the IPC “President or chief patriot…is and always has been” Itula.
When approached for comment on whether he issued such a warning or directed state invitations to himself, Itula declined to address the specifics.
He neither confirmed nor denied the claims and instead asked for an “objective factual evidence base” for the inquiry.
The reported tension reflects Itula’s long-standing constitutional objection to the office of opposition leader.
He has argued that while the Constitution provides for offices such as president and prime minister, it does not establish the position of opposition leader.
He has described the role as a “creature of expedience” created by executive proclamation rather than law and called it “a shadow with a salary, devoid of formal legitimacy.”
In written responses to the Windhoek Observer, Itula also avoided questions about whether he would attend state functions or how he reconciles his constitutional challenge with the IPC’s parliamentary leader accepting benefits attached to the office.
However later on, Itula said he would not engage with what he labelled “ghost stories”.
“I will not be drawn into ‘debunking’ anonymous hearsay or ghost stories,” said Itula.
Despite this position, Itula signed his response as “president of the official opposition-IPC”, a title that contradicts his repeated public stance that the office of leader of the official opposition is not a legitimate constitutional position.
Itula said the party remains open to engagement on matters based on documented facts or official IPC policy positions.
“We trust this concludes the ‘alleged’ matter.”
Although Itula founded the IPC and was its presidential candidate in the 2024 election, he is not a member of parliament.
The IPC secured 20 seats in the National Assembly in that election, becoming the second-largest party and the official opposition, but Itula did not win a legislative seat.
Nashinge is a sitting member of parliament. Parliament website lists him as “member of parliament – National Assembly (2025–2030), leader of official opposition (2025–2030).”
Furthermore, IPC announced Nashinge’s appointment, stating that outside the National Assembly, Itula would continue to serve as the overall leader of the party.
At that time the party had said it would continue to challenge the legality of the opposition leader’s office in court while allowing Nashinge to perform the role in parliament.
In his acceptance speech, Nashinge acknowledged this position and pledged to lead “in consultation with Itula.”
As the recognised opposition leader in parliament, Nashinge is entitled to state resources, including an office, vehicle and bodyguard.
Political analysts say this has given him a more formal standing within government structures than Itula, despite Itula’s position as party leader.
