KEETMANSHOOP – The Landless People’s Movement (LPM) is dismayed by widely circulated footage in which a member of the ruling party is seen destroying LPM membership cards.
In a strongly-worded statement on Monday, LPM national spokesperson Lifalaza Simataa expressed shock following a video circulating, where Swapo Rehoboth town councillor Mara Beukes is seen campaigning with torn-up LPM membership cards over the weekend.
“We believe these are dangerous, underhanded and primitive tactics that cannot be tolerated, and that cannot be allowed to go unaddressed by the Electoral Commission of Namibia,” he said.
According to the LPM spokesman, Beukes not only destroyed the assets of another political party, but also occupies a leadership role, and her actions cannot be taken at face value.
“She is further setting a bad stance that can inspire the public to engage in such destructive acts. This is a bad precedent to set, moving into the registration and election seasons of the country. It is vital that we promote a non-destructive form of campaigning to ensure democracy is experienced to its full extent,” Simataa worriedly stated.
He reiterated: “This should not be encouraged or tolerated, especially from members of the ruling party, who have a massive but dwindling following”.
He then called on Swapo leaders to be exemplary by ensuring a peaceful electoral campaign period as parties move the country’s length and breadth, canvassing for support ahead of November’s Presidential and National Assembly elections.
Additionally, LPM youth leader Duminga Ndala took to social media to register her consternation.
“If there is anything threatening our peace and stability, it is definitely Swapo, a barbaric act from a leader,” the outspoken Ndala said.
In the video, Beukes can be heard informing youth members that Swapo is the only party that can provide opportunities for them to participate on “sports grounds belonging to the government, unlike the Windmill Party.”
“LPM will confuse and mislead you, while all that should matter to you must be Swapo,” she is heard saying.
Swapo’s Hardap regional coordinator Joplin Gontes was not available for comment at the time of going to press yesterday.
Meanwhile, Swapo spokesperson Hilma Nikanor threw the ball back in Gontes’ court, as the person “on the ground”.
“Be as it may, it is rather tricky to comment on social media posts from participating political parties during these periods of nearing the registration of voters and upcoming elections prior to verifying the authenticity of it accordingly,” a cautious Nikanor said.
-sklukowski@nepc.com.na