Landless People’s Movement (LPM) leader Bernadus Swartbooi says his party will retain its two stronghold regions in southern Namibia in the upcoming regional and local authority elections in November.
The party has shifted its focus to the November elections and will not take part in by-elections taking place on 17 June.
The party will, however, endorse other opposition parties’ candidates running in the by-elections, Swartbooi said in a recent interview with OneAfrica.
Speaking on Saturday at a press conference at Keetmanshoop, Swartbooi said: “We will not be shaken. We will retain our two regions in the upcoming regional and local authority elections.”
He said the two regions’ inhabitants are behind the LPM as they are not convinced by the incumbent government’s leadership.
He also said those trying to overthrow the LPM will not succeed as the party aims to retain its position.
He added that it will carry on with its campaigns to engage community members.
Swartbooi described free education for all as a far-fetched dream.
He said a 100% government subsidy for education is not possible as the government is already struggling to address water issues in the country and given the fact that it is relying on foreign funding.
He said the disparity between the education budget of N$24 billion and the development budget of N$12 billion is a concern.
“How do you ecpect to create jobs when the education budget is double the development budget?
“Now you educate students to go work where if industries are not being created. This government has failed the citizens once again,” Swartbooi said.
He said his party has made strides in developing the region with more work still under way.
He revealed that the party will soon present to the public its achievement report during its past five-year rule to unpack its achievements, challenges and future plans.
Swartbooi acknowledged the chaos that has been happening at various local authority councils pertaining to chief executive officers and administration.
One particular instance is at Karasburg, where the town’s finance manager and mayor were arrested for contravening the Local Authorities Act by changing authorisation signatures and appointing a chief executive without the line ministry’s approval.
Swartbooi assured that these issues will be a thing of the past, following a new strategy adopted to address councils at Rehoboth, Keetmanshoop, Mariental and Karasburg among others, inadequate capacity and an absence of substantive CEOs.
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