Suizith Tjitaura 

KEETMANSHOOP – Leader of the Landless People’s Movement (LPM) Bernardus Swartbooi said the movement will retain its grip on the two southern regions, namely //Kharas and Hardap.

Swartbooi was responding to a question by Nampa during his party’s press conference at Keetmanshoop over the weekend.

Namibians will go to the polls for the local authority and regional councils’ elections later this year. 

It is here, in the South, where LPM has dominated both regional councils and local authorities. 
“We will go to our constituencies and talk to our people as we have been doing. We are remaining on point on the issues, and we are sure that no strategy or tactic of Swapo will win any vote from here,” said Swartbooi.

He urged party members and supporters to continue backing the party in its fight to restore dignity and address issues such as land and genocide.
“Do not be shaken by anything of Swapo, which has a strange approach to politics. They think people are cheap. Remain vigilant on the values and principles they voted for in 2019. The party that spoke then is still the party that is speaking in 2025, saying let us work together to restore the dignity of our people,” he said.
When questioned about the party’s achievements in the //Kharas region over the past five years, Swartbooi said a comprehensive report detailing their work will be released.
“We have a five-year government report which we will share with society, highlighting every aspect of what we have done, including the actual amount of money that was spent and the impact of the projects,” he asserted.
Swartbooi said his party had a good five-year run and will have a great story to tell at the end of the year.
“We have constantly worked beyond the budget limitations to keep on implementing in terms of service delivery and institutional reform, being a voice for the people who have voted for us, and in terms of fighting for the land and genocide questions,” he stressed.
Currently, LPM holds four out of the seven constituencies in the //Kharas region.
Namibians will return to the polls later this year for the regional and local authority elections.

The 2024 Presidential and National Assembly elections have been characterised by heightened tensions.

The LPM, founded by former Swapo member Swartbooi, has emerged as a formidable challenger in the region, advocating for land reform and addressing the grievances of marginalised communities. 

However, for the past elections, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, then Swapo’s presidential candidate, took five constituencies out of seven in the Hardap region, leaving the other two for LPM.

The ruling party reigned supreme in Aranos, Mariental Rural and Urban, as well as the Rehoboth Rural and Urban constituencies, signalling a shift ahead of Regional Council and Local Authority elections.

Swapo emerged victorious in the Hardap parliamentary race with 15 006 votes (39.55%), followed by LPM with 11 180 votes (29.47%).

Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) scored 5 337 votes (14.07%). Nandi-Ndaitwah outperformed her party, receiving 16 070 votes (42.03%). Meanwhile, Swartbooi of LPM got 10 817, translating into 28.29%, while Panduleni Itula from IPC got 6 833, which is 17.87% of the votes.
-Nampa

-Additional reporting by Maihapa Ndjavera.