We can’t postpone tomorrow for young people – Swartbooi

The leader of the Landless People’s Movement (LPM), Bernadus Swartbooi, says the party believes in the potential of Namibia’s young people and does not hesitate to support those without qualifications and experience.

He says the LPM believes one has to invest in Namibians between 25 and 30 years old to hone their leadership skills and develop them into responsible citizens who are able to build a country.

The party has done so by giving people in this age group leadership opportunities, he says.

Swartbooi said this during an election campaign event at Rundu in the Kavango East region recently.

“We have said we cannot postpone tomorrow for young people. We must take the raw young person who has no experience or qualification, and develop them and build society with them,” he said.

The LPM has been described as a young party – not only due to the age of the party, but also its youthful membership.

The party has seven young members in the National Assembly and the National Council, including Uutara Mootu and Ivan Skrywer, and Duminga Ndala and Eneas Emvula at party level.

Swartbooi said youthfulness does, however, not mean the party abandons its expextations of party members to be ethical, honest, and hard-working, and to display continuous excellence all the time.

He said where the LPM governs, alleged corrupt councillors have been removed.

“Some people say we are an unstable party, that we will fall any time . . . because we fire too many people …

“In the LPM we will not allow the corruption of our councillors,” he said.

Swartbooi said the party has not only held itself accountable for the past five years it has been serving in the parliament, but also the ruling Swapo party.

“We were the only political party which disagreed with budget allocations to towns such as Rundu, and said no, while other political parties were agreeing with unfair budgetary allocations and were just sitting on their buttocks.

“They will come and tell you how hard they’ve worked to keep the ruling party accountable, but ask them why they have not been sent out – because they are small Swapos,” he said.

Swartbooi said leaders should love people of all tribes equally and all the time.

He said the party has changed from the politics of just wanting votes, to “loving” each group in society.

“If you genuinely love people, when they are hungry you will not be able to sleep. The same when their children have no jobs.

You will work harder. If they don’t have houses, you will work extra hard so they can get houses, because you love them,” he said.