LPM: ‘Tsotsis’ square off with ‘demigods’

JEMIMA BEUKES







WINDHOEK

While the Landless People’s Movement (LPM) condemned ill-behaved members and tsotsis (thugs) infiltrating the party to create divisions, its former elections director Ziggy Isaaks hit back to say leadership duo Bernadus Swartbooi and Henny Seibeb want to be treated like demigods.

During a press briefing yesterday, Seibeb lashed out at “five insignificant individuals” and other “merciless criminals, tsotsis, organ grinders, brain suckers, semi-anarchists and dilettante-anarchist revolutionists”.

“Some in our midst are weak and fall for the charms of dollars and some are simply charlatans masquerading and parading themselves as party leaders. Our counter-intelligence foiled such a plot to destabilise the party from within through attempts by agents to taint the party as being led by people without any mandate,” Seibeb fumed.

“They forgot conveniently about the People’s Assembly held in 2019. Infiltrators planted into the party served as agents of the state security machinery and the Swapo Party for over a period of time – these elements have, through their behaviour, exposed themselves,” he said.

He also accused the election team led by Isaacks - who calls himself a founding member of the LPM - of having embezzled party election funds, and of other misconduct.

“In the process, it has emerged that some funds were not accounted for and that is the basis of saying we have to do a forensic investigation and based on that now we have to take a course of action. Some of these elements have misappropriated and did not account for these funds,” Seibeb said.

Didn’t pay me

Isaacks, who according to Seibeb was ‘wheelbarrowed’ into the party, hit back and said these are all lies to tarnish their image. He questioned why LPM has failed to open a criminal case or to institute disciplinary measures against the alleged culprits.

He said the party leadership called him in March last year to have a conversation around this issue and he informed them that he had generated N$150 000 from a membership drive and this money he used for nomination in all seven regions.

“I told them, guys, you suspect I took money, but look at my car which I used for LPM work, it does not even have tyres. If I took money, the least I should do is to replace my tyres.

“I told them to start the process and even start a disciplinary process. They also did not agree with my reports that I submitted. I returned home and there was no answer. I even spoke to the elder’s council but nothing happened.

“I left the thing hoping to fix relations and I resigned from the post. They also did not pay me for months,” Isaacks said.

Status quo

He went on to say Seibeb’s conduct is fuelled by paranoia that their positions as top leaders are under threat and, as such, the party leaders are now handpicking candidates who can help them keep the status quo in the party.

“From outside, that party looks like a diamond as if everything is working, but inside it is rotten. It is dirty.

“We speak of justice and open communication but there is no structure in this party. That Political Action Committee (PAC) that they are talking about is just a mouthpiece for co-opted councillors.

“The structures are disrespected by Clinton [Swartbooi] and Henny; they work directly with the councillors. They bully these councillors who are captured because they are on the payroll,” Isaacks said.

“They do this deliberately so that they can remain the status quo and handpick people who will vote them back in power,” he added.

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