Mushelenga summons EU, German envoys over IPC meeting

International relations minister Peya Mushelenga yesterday summoned envoys from the European Union office in Namibia and the local German embassy after they hosted Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) leader Panduleni Itula and his deputy Trevino Forbes for lunch, at which various issues related to Namibia were discussed.

Among the issues raised was the possible outcome of this year’s general election, the IPC said in its own statement yesterday. However, the Namibian government did not take lightly to the agenda of the meeting, saying it included topics that only representatives of the Namibian government are authorised to discuss.

“Whilst the government has no objection as to who diplomatic missions accredited to Namibia engage, discussions on issues that are the sole preserve and prerogative of the sending and host governments, with a conversant not representing the government of the Republic of Namibia, are deemed inconsistent with diplomatic practices and akin to interference in the domestic affairs of the country,” a statement by the ministry of international relations said.

“Minister [Mushelenga] categorically relayed the expectation of the government of the Republic of Namibia for the said diplomatic missions of their obligation to respect the established and universal principles enshrined in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961). He cautioned that although Namibia is a small state, it does not mean it does not have the equality of sovereignty as larger states do,” the statement noted.