🇳🇦NamibiaSouthern Africa
Landless People’s Movement faces internal strife as former members allege dictatorial leadership
via The Namibian6 min read
The Landless People’s Movement LPM is experiencing internal tensions, with a former regional councillor, Joseph Isaacks, accusing party leader Bernadus Swartbooi of dictatorial leadership. Isaacks, who served as Keetmanshoop Urban councillor, claims the absence of regional structures leads to centralized control by national leaders. He stated that he would contest this perceived dictatorship and called on Swartbooi to adhere to the party’s founding principles. Isaacks also posted on an LPM WhatsApp group, attributing disunity to Swartbooi's "divide-and-rule tactics" and "favouritism leadership style." Meanwhile, the LPM suspended its former Keetmanshoop mayor, McDonald Hanse, who confirmed his suspension but denied allegations of being linked to the formation of a new political party. LPM spokesperson Lifalaza Simataa dismissed Isaacks’ allegations as false and outdated, asserting that the party operates within its constitutional rules and that Swartbooi's decisions are subject to approval by party structures. Simataa confirmed Hanse's suspension, stating it was due to investigations linking him to a meeting about forming a new political party. The LPM has seen high-profile departures in recent years, including former deputy president Henny Seibeb and former secretary general Edson Isaacks in 2024, and the expulsion of former parliamentarian Harald Kambrude in October last year.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
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