Renthia Kaimbi
Former Landless People’s Movement (LPM) member and independent candidate in Keetmanshoop Vernon Coleman says the confrontation with LPM leader Bernadus Swartbooi began after Swartbooi insulted him.
Coleman told the Windhoek Observer that Swartbooi called him a ‘c*nt’, which led him to confront him [Swartbooi].
He said he spat on Swartbooi and reacted because Swartbooi had repeatedly referred to him as a drug dealer at campaign rallies.
The incident took place in Keetmanshoop yesterday.
Two years ago, LPM terminated Coleman’s membership with immediate effect, hours after he led a protest against LPM Keetmanshoop Urban Constituency councillor Joseph Isaack.
The expulsion letter said the decision followed Coleman’s actions and conduct, which were found to be against the values and principles of the party.
“He called me a c*nt, and that’s when I approached him and spat on him. I have also never been confronted or arrested by police for any drug-related charges, but that is what he’s been spewing at every opportunity that he gets,” Coleman said.
Coleman said bystanders intervened and stopped the fight before he went to the Keetmanshoop police station to report the matter.
On Monday afternoon, LPM, through its spokesperson Lifalaza Simataa, confirmed the confrontation between Swartbooi and Coleman after reports surfaced.
Simataa stated that the assault occurred while Swartbooi’s driver and bodyguard had already left the vehicle.
LPM said Coleman insulted, punched, and spat on Swartbooi. The party said Swartbooi defended himself from inside the car until security returned.
Simataa described Coleman as undisciplined and politically bankrupt and accused him of acting with habitual cowardice.
“This shameful spectacle exposes not only Coleman’s lack of discipline but also the troubling negligence of the police, who failed to prevent an attack on a member of parliament whose presence in Keetmanshoop was known,” Simataa added.
The party said Swartbooi has opened a criminal case and witnesses have backed his account.
“It is unacceptable that a national leader can be assaulted in broad daylight by an individual whose political behaviour increasingly resembles that of a destabilising opportunist rather than a serious contender for public office.”
The LPM has also written to the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), questioning Coleman’s fitness for office and accusing him of violating the ECN code of conduct.
However, Coleman rejected LPM’s notion of strong support in Keetmanshoop, saying the party is losing relevance.
“He has to resort to busing in supporters now because he only had one rally. When it comes to LPM in Keetmanshoop urban, there is no support,” he said.
While the LPM said Swartbooi did not suffer physical injuries, Coleman admitted that he “roughed him up well.”
The party said the incident shows the declining ethical standards among some political actors and warned that it will not be intimidated by individuals who replace political ideas with aggression.
