LPM’s exit from ALAN a non-issue

The exit of the local authorities controlled by the Landless People’s Movement (LPM) is of no concern to the Association of Local Authorities of Namibia, its president Katrina Shimbulu has said.LPM leader Bernadus Swartbooi had announced that it would be pulling out the local authorities where it has a majority of council seats following the conclusion of its Political Action Committee (PAC) meeting last weekend.The party had accused ALAN of being a front for the ruling Swapo Party “to spread its corruption”.“There won’t be much of an impact,” Shimbulu said.She added that local authorities are withdrawing from ALAN because they are often in arears with their membership fees.“A lot of the members are not paid-up members, that is why some of them are withdrawing, that is one of the motivations but there will not be much of an impact,” she said.Despite its withdrawal from ALAN, local authorities controlled by the LPM still stood to benefit from the Association’s activities, Shimbulu said.“LPM’s local authorities will still benefit from what we discuss on matters that affect local authorities,” she said.Non-politicalShimbulu also denounced the notion that ALAN was politically aligned to Swapo.“As ALAN, we are not politically affiliated... we have nothing to do with politics,” she said.Swartbooi had accused Swapo of using ALAN to advance its agenda.“They are resource-wasting vessels and organs of Swapo. There is nothing to be gained by continuing to be members of ALAN and Association of Regional Councils. Such entities have nothing to offer but receive taxpayer money,” he said.The party resolved further that in the //Karas and Hardap regions, where the LPM is the dominant party, councillors should not pay fees to ARC, Swartbooi said.ALAN is a body that represents all local authority members in Namibia. In addition, it provides a platform where these local authorities can air their grievances and thereby provide better services to the community.

LPM’s exit from ALAN a non-issue

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-17

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LPM’s exit from ALAN a non-issue

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-17

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