On Wednesday, 4 June 2025, the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR), in collaboration with Afrobarometer and the Parliamentary Monitoring Group (PMG), hosted a Capacity Building Training session for members of the Namibia’s Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) Party, the official opposition party in the country. As a new political party in Namibia’s Parliament and the official opposition, the IPC participated in the training to build the capacity of its members for more effective parliamentary engagement.

The training focused on two key themes: the use of Afrobarometer data to inform policy decisions and the value of parliamentary monitoring through PMG’s comprehensive tools. Together, these resources offer political leaders practical ways to promote accountability and evidence-based governance, contributing to the development of a fair, democratic, and inclusive society in Namibia.

Founded in 2020, the IPC is a new political party rooted in grassroots participatory democracy, with a mission to restore dignity and uphold the values of honesty, integrity, and the rule of law. The party advocates for inclusivity, representing all Namibians regardless of background or previous political affiliation.

The day’s proceedings began with an introduction to Afrobarometer, including its data methodology and Online Data Analysis tool, presented by Dominique Dryding, Afrobarometer’s Capacity Building Manager. “We have the trust and hope to really contribute to a better Namibia for all and in short, that is why we are here,” said Christine Esperanza Aochamus, National General Secretary of the IPC, as she reflected on the importance of data-informed governance.

This was followed by an insights session from Rashaad Alli, Executive Director at PMG, who detailed how the organisation’s monitoring tools can support the work of opposition parties and enhance parliamentary accountability. He was joined by PMG Board Member Ghalib Galant, who emphasised the centrality of committee work in democratic processes.

“For us, the committees are the engine room of parliament… it’s really where things must happen, so that institutions can be strengthened as much as possible,” he stated. Galant further underscored the importance of integrating citizen voices and independent data, like that from Afrobarometer, into the work of committees.

PMG, a long-standing partner in South Africa’s democratic development, attends all parliamentary committee meetings to produce accurate, objective, and timely reports. Since 2007, they have made audio recordings available to the public and publish comprehensive minutes and supporting documents.

The IJR also took the opportunity to brief the Members of Parliament on the work of the institute, as well as the key initiatives planned for the organisation’s 25^th anniversary this year. The presentation sparked a conversation around the ongoing challenges of reconciliation in Namibia. Members of Parliament noted that, although the country observed its inaugural Genocide Remembrance Day on 28 May, the process largely side-lined victims, preventing their voices from being meaningfully heard. The parliamentarians committed to work with IJR to find ways to have these issues addressed given IJR’s expertise in issues to do with transitional justice and reconciliation.

The training was attended by several key figures from IPC, including Imms Nashinge, Leader of the House of IPC in Parliament; IPC Members of Parliament Rodney Cloete, IPC Chief Whip in Parliament; John Louw Mouton; and Lucas Nowicki, Researcher and Communication Officer at PMG. This collaborative initiative reflects the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation’s ongoing commitment to strengthening democratic institutions across the continent through capacity building, data utilisation, and regional partnerships.