Swartbooi justifies cars for his wife, others

Disgruntled Landless People’s Movement (LPM) members have approached the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in a bid for it to probe claims that N$1.7 million was taken from the party’s coffers to buy four cars for its top leadership in their personal capacity, including the wife of party leader Bernadus Swartbooi.

This despite the fact that LPM’s lower structures in the regions claim they are struggling to execute party activities and other operational matters due to mobility challenges.

ACC spokesperson Josefina Nghituwamata confirmed that the matter was reported to the anti-graft body last month.

It is understood that party funding had been used to buy vehicles, which were allegedly registered in the names of the beneficiaries.

The vehicles include a Toyota Fortuner, two Volkswagen Tiguans as well as a Volkswagen Polo.

According to registration documents seen by Namibian Sun, the Fortuner was registered in the name of the party’s second-in-command Henny Seibeb, while Swartbooi’s wife Moetie Swartbooi and party treasurer-general Aina Kodi each got a Tiguan.

A silver Polo was registered in the name of the party’s chief of administration, Labazana Kohima.

While others are enjoying the comfort of their new vehicles, Seibeb has been forced to find drivers for his Fortuner or to make use of public transport because he allegedly is not in possession of a driver’s licence.

‘Corporate approach’

The party said the vehicle arrangement is a result of the “corporate approach” it has taken.

The documents also suggest that the party pays for these vehicles’ insurance premiums, despite the cars being registered in the names of individuals.

The ACC said it has since closed the matter on its part, subsequently throwing the ball into LPM's court.

Nghituwamata added that the agency has advised the complainant to contact the party’s secretary-general or approach the police to open a fraud or theft case.

“This is because the matter falls outside the purview of the ACC's mandate. That is the current status of the case. Unfortunately, the matter had been submitted to the commission anonymously and we are unable to provide feedback to the complainant directly,” she said.

Our money

During a press briefing yesterday, the party sought to explain the vehicle purchases, which have since left its foot soldiers fuming.

Asked why a vehicle bought with party funding has allegedly been registered in his wife’s name, Swartbooi asked why journalists failed to question the funding allocated to the First Lady of Namibia (FLON), Monica Geingos.

“We will keep on buying cars. Our assessment shows that we need 100 vehicles and we will assign it to many of our members, even on their names so that they can take proper care of those vehicles.

“We are going to respond to these things in an appropriate context, but when as a party we decided to take a corporate approach in whatever we do here, that is what we should defend,” he said.

“We have taken decisions as a party about how we spend the money. Besides that, there is this presumption that a party like LPM only exists from state funding.

We campaigned from 2019 without a single cent from the state. Where did we get that money from? From members! We continue to get money from our members,” Swartbooi stressed.

“What is also important is that just from our councillors, we have been able to collect more than N$1 million, because they pay a monthly amount. That is why we can have savings in excess of an amount that we cannot mention here,” he said.

While attempts to get hold of Kodi proved unsuccessful, Kohima and Moeti declined to respond and referred questions to the national party spokesperson, Lifalaza Simataa, who dismissed all allegations.

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