We hold Swapo and ourselves accountable – Swartbooi

Landless People’s Movement (LPM) leader Bernadus Swartbooi says that while some people may think his party is unstable because they have fired many of their leaders, they will not tolerate corruption.

Swartbooi said this during an election campaign at Rundu in the Kavango East region over the weekend.

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, but 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 that it has been serving in 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.
Meanwhile, Swartbooi said 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 of age to hone their leadership skills and develop them into responsible citizens who can build a country.

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

“We have said we cannot postpone tomorrow for our young people. We must take the raw young people who have no experience or qualification and develop them and build a 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 due to 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 expectations of party members to be ethical, honest and hard-working, and to display excellence at all times.