Staff Writer
Former Youth minister, Kazenambo Kazenambo says the public anger directed at Landless People’s Movement (LPM) leader, Bernadus Swartbooi is misdirected, as he is not causing division but his actions are simply a symptom of the greater disunity in the country.
This comes after Swartbooi was heavily criticized by former Prime Minister Nahas Angula, who accused the firebrand leader LPM leader of dividing the nation. This berating follows the LPM MP’s his incendiary comments about Founding President Sam Nujoma. In response to arguments made by Swapo MP, Doreen Sioka, he disparaged the Founding President’s book and called the author a “liar” and a “thug” during the debate in Parliament.
Kazenambo told the Windhoek Observer that as a former youth leader of the ruling party, Swartbooi and the creation of LPM was a result of the failure by Swapo to address the under-lying frustration within the party.
“Swapo has failed to transform from Stalinist style structures and rules to a social democratic party. They still believe in sloganeering, which is completely outdated,” he said.
“Even Nahas himself is frustrated and has been lobbying around for an extra-congress to remove the current party leadership. Is that not causing division? Maybe Nahas wants power that’s why he is frustrated, but others such as Swartbooi are calling for the equitable distribution of the Namibian resources.”
The former minister challenged Angula to show any sign of unity in Namibia and said, “He must not confuse tolerance with unity.”
“Swapo is divided. They don’t want the current President because he is Damara. They don’t differ on policy but on tribal lines. Now is that Swartbooi causing division in the party?”
Kazenambo said Swartbooi was in Swapo and grew tired of the hypocrisy of the liberation party and the exclusion of Namibians under the guise of nationalism.
“A certain group of people continues to empower themselves while the rest of the country is suffering in poverty,” he said.
“If that was not the case, why is it that people from a particular tribe have been fingered for being involved the Fishrot saga? The phenomenon clearly illustrates that one tribe is using the country’s resources to empower themselves.”
He said the Founding President was an innocent person surrounded by individuals pushing their selfish agendas.
“He is caught in the cross fire of political opponents because he represents a power base of people who oppress others. This group of people has in the name of Nujoma sidelined, marginalized, oppressed and denied others opportunities in the country,” Kazenambo said.
He called on the ruling party to introspect and start addressing its internal problems. Expulsion for those who differ with the party is not a solution that strengthens it. It does not open debate, discussion and the process of change.
“Swapo expelled Swartbooi and it’s the cause for the formation of LPM. Such actions in the past caused the formation of the Congress of Democrats, RDP and AR,” the former politburo and central committee member said.
“The politics of intimidation will not work and people need to appreciate and know one another. Swartbooi is a pure Nama and hails from the Witbooi clan which fought the Germans and will not succumb to the threats of a Bantu like Utoni Nujoma.
“Instead of us attacking Swartbooi, we should ask ourselves, why would Swartbooi, a Swapo product, who grow up in a Swapo home call Nujoma a liar? Does Nujoma no longer represent his interests? If so, then whose interest does Nujoma represent then?”
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Swartbooi said the insults he used in Parliament are strategic.
“There are meant to show that the ruling party does not have ideas to take the country forward. That’s why the motion for reconciliation was brought forward to test their ability to articulate this issue on a policy decision that they themselves initiated. They couldn’t articulate and defend their own policy initiative and the idea was to show how weak they are,” he said.
“The strategy is to improve the content of our arguments. To demonstrate a narrative that the ability to lead and transform society no longer rests with Swapo, in fact, it never really did rest with Swapo.”
Meanwhile, the Office of the Founding President has condemned statements made by the LPM Members of Parliament.
“The Office of the Founding President finds these invectives and insults towards the Founding Father un-parliamentary, unpatriotic and cowardly in nature attacking an elder statesman when he cannot defend himself in Parliament. Similarly, the Office of the Founding President finds this unwarranted onslaught towards the Founding President highly provocative and disturbing the peace and stability in our country,” the statement read.
“The Office of the Founding President expresses its dismay to the duo of the LPM ill-mannered, uncultured and unruly parliamentarians who want to tarnish the image and reputation of the Founding President by dragging his good name in the mud through defamatory remarks, in a vilification and mudslinging campaign meant to score cheap political points.”
