LPM denounces tribalism tag
Not a Nama party, spokesperson says
To portray the party as a tribal project is to spit on its hard work, Simataa said.
The Landless People’s Movement (LPM) has denounced suggestions that it is an ethnically-dominated tribe, and asserted that it does not discriminate against any ethnic groups.
The party’s stance was stressed by spokesperson Lifalaza Simataa, who said individuals painting LPM as a tribal organisation were committing slander. This amid allegations that the party favours individuals from the Nama ethnic group above other ethnicities.
“LPM would like to express that it is not a Nama party, nor was it established to be such a party. The LPM is adamant that such claims hold no foundation, and implores the Namibian community and its members not to buy into this rhetoric,” Simataa said.
The party displayed ethnic diversity, he maintained, by the make-up of its leadership at various structures.
“From the onset, the party has actively displayed diversity on all fronts, from the top six positions being a diverse collection of leaders, with two out of the six being people of the Nama ethnicity,” he said.
The party’s representatives at a regional-council level were equally diverse, Simataa added.
“Our councillors across the board have different ethnicities. Even in the case of the by-election in the south, LPM’s candidate was a white man who successfully won the by-election and is now in the National Council.
“To portray the party as a tribal project is to spit on the hard work the party has done to create a diverse and welcoming ecosystem; it insults the idea of creating a party for all Namibians,” he added.
The party’s stance was stressed by spokesperson Lifalaza Simataa, who said individuals painting LPM as a tribal organisation were committing slander. This amid allegations that the party favours individuals from the Nama ethnic group above other ethnicities.
“LPM would like to express that it is not a Nama party, nor was it established to be such a party. The LPM is adamant that such claims hold no foundation, and implores the Namibian community and its members not to buy into this rhetoric,” Simataa said.
The party displayed ethnic diversity, he maintained, by the make-up of its leadership at various structures.
“From the onset, the party has actively displayed diversity on all fronts, from the top six positions being a diverse collection of leaders, with two out of the six being people of the Nama ethnicity,” he said.
The party’s representatives at a regional-council level were equally diverse, Simataa added.
“Our councillors across the board have different ethnicities. Even in the case of the by-election in the south, LPM’s candidate was a white man who successfully won the by-election and is now in the National Council.
“To portray the party as a tribal project is to spit on the hard work the party has done to create a diverse and welcoming ecosystem; it insults the idea of creating a party for all Namibians,” he added.
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Namibian Sun
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