More than two weeks after launching their election manifesto in Rundu, it has surfaced that the Landless People’s Movement released an incomplete document.
Since the said launch, the document has never been made available to the public.
According to the movement, their manifesto was still undergoing third-party editing.
New Era was invited to cover the manifesto launch, which took place on 28 September in Rundu, where the party’s leader Bernadus Swartbooi was the keynote speaker.
That day, he outlined the key elements of the document.
However, since then, New Era has repeatedly requested a copy of the manifesto from LPM’s spokesperson, Lifazala Simataa.
On 2 October 2024, this reporter contacted Simataa at exactly 10h05, seeking a copy for scrutiny and analysis, with a view to inform the public,
an element at the heart of any media institution’s mandate, even more so during an election year, where the electorate must make informed decisions.
That day, Simataa responded at 10h11, saying, “Will send once the digital link platform is out.”
After requesting a PDF version instead, Simataa replied, “I will share once it is available. Once again.”
New Era followed up again this week, eager to analyse how different political parties, including LPM, plan to address critical issues like poverty, youth empowerment, job creation, and freedom of expression.
This publication has requested manifestos from all political parties since its launch.
During a telephone conversation on Monday, Simataa admitted the manifesto’s release had been delayed due to third-party editing consultations.
“We only have an unedited version of the manifesto,” Simataa revealed.
“The document is with the consultant, who fell ill the week we intended to launch. As a result, we went ahead with the launch and opted to distribute the document once it was ready. The editor has now recovered, but the process has been slow. However, we have an event scheduled for Friday (today) where we hope the document will be ready for discussion and distribution,” Simataa said.
Simataa also offered to provide specific information from the manifesto if requested, but no such details were provided when New Era made a follow-up request on Tuesday.
When informed that the newspaper intended to publish an article that they launched an incomplete manifesto, Simataa finally shared a draft version of the document at 11h22 yesterday.
Riddled with grammatical and spelling errors, the document did not even have a cover page.
Swartbooi reacts
This prompted Swartbooi to reach out to New Era’s news editor, Edward Mumbuu, demanding to know which law mandated political parties in Namibia to submit their manifestos to the media.
“I want to know which law stipulates that parties must submit their manifestos to the media. Which law gives journalists the right to demand them from political parties?” Swartbooi asked.
He defended the party’s decision to launch the manifesto despite it being incomplete, claiming that it was only made available to members for political mobilisation and campaigns.
The editor explained to Swartbooi the role the media plays in the dissemination of information, educating, and entertaining.
Swartbooi also promised that the manifesto would be distributed at a retreat scheduled for today, where journalists and editors would be fed “finger lunch” with New Era specifically included on the invitation list.
He added that New Era would receive the complete manifesto by 14h00 yesterday afternoon.
By 14h25, New Era received a call from LPM’s William Minnie requesting an email address to share the complete manifesto.
While on the call with Mumbuu, Swartbooi seemingly directed his staff to cancel New Era’s invitation should the newspaper insist on proceeding with its article.
“If that’s the case, we will cancel your invitation. I think New Era doesn’t deserve our food,” Swartbooi said.
He alleged that New Era’s Rundu-based reporter, John Muyamba, attended the manifesto launch under the influence of alcohol.
This situation, Swartbooi said, prompted him to grant the journalist a second interview because he was too inebriated to listen.
“The issue is that New Era journalists showed up drunk. When I gave them an interview, they smelt of alcohol,” Swartbooi claimed, adding, “cancelNew Era from the list. They don’t deserve to eat our food.”
Muyamba, however, denied the accusation.
“To begin with, I don’t drink alcohol. I’m a sober guy; Swartbooi can do his research. I was at the venue long before he arrived and had been engaging with their communication staff, including youth command leader, Duminga Ndala,” said Muyamba.
Muyamba also explained that despite being on leave, he covered the event because his editors requested it, knowing the importance of covering all parties without fear, favour, or prejudice.
“I requested a side interview after the speeches to ask about issues not covered in his speech. As a journalist, I can’t just rely on a speech. I need to ask questions. His comments were included in my story, but they weren’t part of his speech,” Muyamba added.
Muyamba was not done.
“Swartbooi is a lawyer; he should know not to make accusations without facts. I demand an apology. He must stick to what’s important, like making the manifesto available, and leave me out of his politics,” Muyamba said.
Muyamba also shared that he covered the event despite personal challenges.
“My one-year-old daughter was rushed to the hospital, and I was on leave, but I still attended the event because I love my job,” he said.