LPM launches climate-focused manifesto

THE Landless People’s Movement (LPM) leader, Bernadus Swartbooi, launched his party’s manifesto at Khorixas on Saturday.

He said the manifesto’s focus is on land and agrarian reform, and that any land previously donated to political figures will be expropriated to benefit the larger population of landless Namibians.

“All unused and unproductive land in urban areas, which was donated to former presidents of Namibia by national, central, regional and local governments, shall be expropriated. Any land donated for a good cause or public benefit which is not used for such purpose and later resold for profit, shall be expropriated,” stressed Swartbooi.

The manifesto also focuses on the mushrooming of informal settlements, and proposes the implementation of a flexible land tenure act to allow for cheaper and more flexible land registration.

The LPM furthermore wants to create ‘a shack for bricks’ project in informal settlements to speed up the formalisation of such settlements. The party would likewise increase senior citizens’ pension to N$3 000, and ensure that amenities such as mobile toilets and seats are in place when the elderly go to collect their pensions.

The manifesto also focuses on environmental protection, with emphasis on climate change adaptation. The LPM says it intends to promote black enterprises in tourism, increase access and benefit-sharing agreements in the tourism sector, train small and medium enterprises, and harness community-based tourism. According to Swartbooi, the party will introduce a climate change-resilient budget, and increase environmental investments.

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