Former Keetmanshoop mayor and Landless People’s Movement (LPM) councillor Melody Swartbooi says party members interviewed municipality staff days before she was removed as mayor and as a council member.
Swartbooi was removed by the party on Friday. LPM spokesperson Lifalaza Simataa told The Namibian on Saturday that the party had not instructed party leaders to conduct interviews with municipal employees regarding Swartbooi’s leadership.
“Are you aware that the mayor is siding with Swapo members? Are you aware that she is not talking to her fellow LPM councillors?” Swartbooi says these were among the questions asked to the municipal employees.
Swartbooi told The Namibian on Saturday that she became aware of the interviews while attending another meeting and immediately sought clarity from party structures.
“I called the youth president and asked whether she was aware of these investigations taking place at the municipality. She informed me that she was not aware of them and that she would seek clarity from the party leadership,” Swartbooi said.
She was later informed that senior party structures were also unaware of the interviews being conducted.
This led to a heated confrontation between Swartbooi and LPM member Willy Higoam, who was allegedly part of the group interviewing staff members.
Higoam later drove away, leading to Swartbooi contacting him telephonically.
During that call, Swartbooi said she questioned why concerns about her leadership were being raised with municipal employees instead of being addressed directly with her.
“I knew I was being recorded. Because there is an old tradition. I know that. Unfortunately, I was in the system and I know how things are being done,” she said.
Swartbooi said after the incident, rumours began circulating within party structures that she had attempted to assault party leaders.
She denied siding with Swapo councillors during a motion of no confidence tabled against LPM councillors.
“I did not vote with Swapo. I was the only LPM councillor in council and the minutes can confirm that,” she said.
‘IT WAS NOT THE RECORDING’
Regarding her dismissal, Simataa said: “The nature of what was considered, according to information from the office of the operative secretary, related to the ability to follow party directives and ensure the party goals are being reached.”
Simataa also denied that Higoam had been instructed by party leadership to conduct interviews with municipal employees regarding Swartbooi’s leadership.
“In regards to the allegation made in the audio, Willy received no such instruction from the founding executive and it is expressed by the operative secretary that no such task was given to him,” Simataa said.
He said that if such interviews had taken place, they would have been conducted in Higoam’s personal capacity and would warrant an internal investigation.
