LPM cries foul
The Landless People's Movement (LPM) claims it is under attack from Swapo and United Democratic Front (UDF), saying the two parties are intimidating LPM members to remove their names from a list of members submitted to the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) for its registration as a political party.
LPM leader Bernadus Swartbooi said yesterday their grassroots commanders have observed that LPM members are being harassed and threatened in the Kunene, Erongo, Khomas, //Karas and Otjozondjupa regions.
Among the threats are that LPM members will lose their jobs or be prohibited from winning government tenders.
“Random acts of intimidation are also being meted out against those on this list.
In Khorixas in the Kunene Region, the UDF is employing the old tactic of misinformation, malicious lies and rumour-mongering to distort the image of the LPM.
We are reliably informed that the regional governor's office, through a certain Mogale Karimbue, the personal assistant of the regional governor, is in cohorts with the UDF to issue threats of jobs (being lost) and harm coming to those on the list in Khorixas,” said Swartbooi.
When contacted for comment Karimbue said he is not interested in discussions about the LPM.
“Tell Swartbooi to go and wipe his mother's a**e off. I am not reporting to the media, and you also, don't call me again,” he said before hanging up.
Swartbooi claimed to have recordings of Swapo regional leaders bribing LPM supporters to renounce their support of the organisation.
He also referred to an alleged WhatsApp dirty tricks campaign in which LPM members are asked to denounce their membership, by saying that their signatures had been forged in the ECN application.
LPM members have also allegedly been urged to say that they joined the organisation to obtain a resettlement farm, housing or employment, and that they are now giving Swapo permission to lodge objections to the ECN on their behalf.
Swartbooi said the LPM is ready to answer to all the objections submitted to the ECN, but only if there were material, legal and fundamental issues.
“Our issue is not to deny any public member or political party an opportunity to submit their objections to the ECN. The issue at stake here is the lies being peddled, intimidation, threats and aggression employed by those political party operatives mentioned. We reserve the right to counter those lies, and in the event of accusations of forgery by any of these individuals and political parties, to seek legal recourse to protect our name and image.
“We have a reputation and name to protect. Any objections submitted via the UDF and Swapo on the basis of lies shall be challenged as such and if need be taken to the High Court,” he added.
JEMIMA BEUKES
LPM leader Bernadus Swartbooi said yesterday their grassroots commanders have observed that LPM members are being harassed and threatened in the Kunene, Erongo, Khomas, //Karas and Otjozondjupa regions.
Among the threats are that LPM members will lose their jobs or be prohibited from winning government tenders.
“Random acts of intimidation are also being meted out against those on this list.
In Khorixas in the Kunene Region, the UDF is employing the old tactic of misinformation, malicious lies and rumour-mongering to distort the image of the LPM.
We are reliably informed that the regional governor's office, through a certain Mogale Karimbue, the personal assistant of the regional governor, is in cohorts with the UDF to issue threats of jobs (being lost) and harm coming to those on the list in Khorixas,” said Swartbooi.
When contacted for comment Karimbue said he is not interested in discussions about the LPM.
“Tell Swartbooi to go and wipe his mother's a**e off. I am not reporting to the media, and you also, don't call me again,” he said before hanging up.
Swartbooi claimed to have recordings of Swapo regional leaders bribing LPM supporters to renounce their support of the organisation.
He also referred to an alleged WhatsApp dirty tricks campaign in which LPM members are asked to denounce their membership, by saying that their signatures had been forged in the ECN application.
LPM members have also allegedly been urged to say that they joined the organisation to obtain a resettlement farm, housing or employment, and that they are now giving Swapo permission to lodge objections to the ECN on their behalf.
Swartbooi said the LPM is ready to answer to all the objections submitted to the ECN, but only if there were material, legal and fundamental issues.
“Our issue is not to deny any public member or political party an opportunity to submit their objections to the ECN. The issue at stake here is the lies being peddled, intimidation, threats and aggression employed by those political party operatives mentioned. We reserve the right to counter those lies, and in the event of accusations of forgery by any of these individuals and political parties, to seek legal recourse to protect our name and image.
“We have a reputation and name to protect. Any objections submitted via the UDF and Swapo on the basis of lies shall be challenged as such and if need be taken to the High Court,” he added.
JEMIMA BEUKES
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