Swartbooi 'un-African' - Swapo

Swapo's secretary for information and publicity, Hilma Nicanor, has lambasted Landless People's Movement (LPM) leader Bernadus Swartbooi for allegedly insulting and belittling education minister Katrina Hanse-Himarwa, as well as other Swapo leaders.Swartbooi claimed during a media conference last week that the return of Hendrik Witbooi's Bible and whip from Germany was part of an alleged Swapo ruse or “underhanded election tactic”. He was particularly scathing in his attack on Hanse-Himarwa, who he said had acted in an undignified manner when she received the whip from the German delegation. “Katrina was playing with the sjambok,” Swartbooi charged, adding: “It is terrible how people are lightweight with important issues. You could see the intellectual and ideological framework is basically lacking. How does a minister play with a sjambok of a revolutionary like that?”He ended his attack with a whip-crack when he added: “Dirty hands took the Bible and sjambok; dirty hands of a dirty government facilitated the return. That sjambok will spiritually sjambok the hell out of them.”Nicanor said the return of the Bible and whip should be seen in the context of “yet another milestone in the recognition of the immense contributions” of Witbooi in the fight for freedom. She said Swapo salutes the role Hanse-Himarwa and others have played in the negotiations and the eventual return of the Witbooi artefacts. Nicanor said Hanse-Himarwa “does not deserve to be insulted and belittled”. She said Swartbooi is similarly constantly making disrespectful remarks towards senior party and national leaders, including President Hage Geingob and former presidents Sam Nujoma and Hifikepunye Pohamba. Nicanor said to indulge in such attacks is “un-African, unethical” and unprofessional. “It is totally unacceptable that these revolutionary leaders are today being subjected to insults and disrespect by those enjoying the freedom and independence which they have brought about, at will. It is very unfortunate that young individuals such as Bernadus Swartbooi can stoop so low and resort to name-calling and defamation of character of persons who are not only older than him, but (are) indeed respected leaders both here at home and in the international arena,” she said.She called on Swartbooi to desist from using “vulgar language” against national and Swapo leaders. Nicanor said the youth of the country should also not allow themselves to be “misled by the cheap politics which can disturb our hard-won peace”. CATHERINE SASMAN

Swartbooi 'un-African' - Swapo

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Namibian Sun 2026-10-12

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Swartbooi 'un-African' - Swapo

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Namibian Sun 2026-10-12

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