Renthia Kaimbi
Human rights lawyer Norman Tjombe says the assault on Landless People’s Movement (LPM) leader Bernadus Swartbooi amounts to criminal self-help and has no place in a constitutional democracy.
Tjombe was reacting to an incident in Keetmanshoop on Monday in which independent candidate Vernon Coleman confronted and assaulted Swartbooi. Tjombe said the act shows Coleman is unfit for public office.
“Criminal self-help is impermissible in a constitutional democracy and blatantly unacceptable as a means to drive home your political message. He must have a serious and honest self-introspection if he is fit for public office as an important councillor, because surely he is not,” he told the Windhoek Observer.
He said public officials must be prepared to face harsh criticism without resorting to violence.
“Should he win public office, he will be called a c*nt by many and on many occasions. He cannot go around beating people who call him all sorts of names,” Tjombe said.
He added that anyone who feels aggrieved should use lawful channels by reporting criminal conduct to the police or seeking civil remedies, not confronting people physically.
Coleman, in a press release, gave his account of the confrontation and claimed it followed months of what he calls political bullying by Swartbooi. He alleges that Swartbooi has harassed him on social media, at rallies and on the radio.
Coleman said tensions date back to 2023 when Swartbooi and a group allegedly arrived at his home at night, insulted him, threw stones on the roof and jumped on his fence.
According to Coleman, Monday’s confrontation started when Swartbooi allegedly called him a c*nt. He said he approached Swartbooi’s vehicle, which led to a scuffle that escalated when Swartbooi’s “henchmen” intervened.
He denies initiating a planned attack and says it would make no sense for him to confront a group of men who could be armed.
Coleman accused Swartbooi of being a provocative figure who undermines the Constitution and of promoting divisive politics while living a lifestyle detached from the people he represents. He said he has opened a police case and will not be intimidated.
The LPM, in its statement, condemned the incident and said Swartbooi was attacked by Coleman in a disgraceful and chaotic scene.
The movement characterised Coleman as lacking discipline and a “political lightweight”.
According to the LPM, the incident occurred after Swartbooi’s driver and bodyguard briefly entered a shop.
The party says Coleman then threw punches and spat on Swartbooi, who defended himself from inside the vehicle until security intervened.
The LPM confirmed that a criminal case has been opened against Coleman and said it has informed the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) of what it considers a violation of the ECN code of conduct.
