Erasmus Shalihaxwe
The Landless People’s Movement’s (LPM) leader Bernadus Swartbooi says the Swapo-led government has since independence, failed to introduce the right policies that can provide young people with opportunities.
According to Swartbooi, the only way young people gain freedom and independence is through their everyday struggles.
Swartbooi made these remarks during the LPM rally that took place in Windhoek’s Khomasdal suburb over the weekend.
“Those of you who have never seen the sunrise, you who vote to see electricity, we welcome you to the dawn of a new era, where we will make the change happen in this country together in November. We know what we know, and we will not vote for other things that we know; we know that young people are struggling in this country. We know that young people finish school and finish their university degree and they don’t just get a job,” said Swartbooi.
He said young people have seen it all, from the lack of sanitation in informal settlements with no electricity and no job opportunities to watching their parents go through the daily struggles of providing for them.
This, he said, is because the state has not made the right policies for Namibian adults to get decent jobs and provide living standards for their kids.
He added that his party is aware of the insecurities of many young girls, who are victims of rape and other social ills that forced them to become prostitutes.
Some come from rural areas hoping to find a new life in Windhoek, only to find it even harder and harder as the days go by.
“This is your experience of freedom and independence; this is the experience of what life has given you. We know of many young men who are unable to provide for their beloved wives to be, but end up committing suicide.
So we greet all of you, who are in distress, who are in pain, who are depressed, those who are saying there is time like no other for us to be united, those of you who are saying I want change, those of you who go hungry and the only thing you have are your tears following on the sides of eyes, to those I say, hang in there, we are together,” pleaded Swartbooi.
He further stated that LPM needs the votes of young people just as much as young people need LPM to represent them and advocate for their needs at the government level.
