Bernadus Swartbooi – Page 2 – Windhoek Observer

16 Jul

Swartbooi – the game changer

ObserverNational NewsBernadus Swartbooi, Swapo Party

Bernadus Swartbooi, head of the Landless People’s Movement (LPM) is loud and emotive. he has a dedicated constituency that is growing and as an MP, he has a legitimate platform. He has tolled the bell for new politics in Namibia; he is a game-changer. Recently, Swartbooi gave his reactions to comments made at a Swapo Party media conference. Doubling down on his critics, he labeled Former Swapo Prime Minister Nahas Angula and former Minister of Justice (and Swapo Secretary-General) Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana embittered opportunists. His words raise the stakes. He said that no Swapo leaders or senior members, either in current…

15 Jul

Noble ideas unfulfilled

ObserverNational NewsBernadus Swartbooi, Government, Hifikepunye Pohamba, Mass Housing Program (MHP), President

When we admire someone personally and recognize their achievements, objective political analysis of what they say is a challenge. Such is the case as we ponder the nbc interview by the distinguished Former President of Namibia, Hifikepunye Pohamba that aired on Monday. The Former President defended the Founding President. His defense regarding the startling adjectives used by Landless People’s Movement (LPM) leader Bernadus Swartbooi was not unexpected. There have been condemnations from a line of Swapo wings, supporters, and leaders. He gave one more. Pohamba emerged from retirement to defend power, but not the pleas of the poor. This is…

10 Jul

Take the high road and move on

ObserverNational NewsBernadus Swartbooi, Founding President Sam Nujoma, Henny Seibeb, Landless People’s Movement (LPM)

The blunt statements of Landless People’s Movement (LPM) members Bernadus Swartbooi and Henny Seibeb rocked the status quo. Their controversial clap-back to a Swapo MP’s ill-advised use of the Founding President Sam Nujoma’s book in a political context announced that Parliament is no longer controlled by Swapo. All sides of the issue have been active in the mainstream and social media regarding their positions on the matter. It is time to take the high road, deescalate and address the real issues facing the suffering people of Namibia during these tough times. In emotive issues surrounding the distinguished Founding President, voices…

01 Jul

Parliamentary bout – round two

ObserverNational NewsBernadus Swartbooi, Henny Seibeb, LPM, Parliament, Speaker Peter Katjavivi

…as both sides forget that democracy is not easy Democracy is hard work. This week in Parliament, Speaker Peter Katjavivi, and LPM leaders Bernadus Swartbooi and Henny Seibeb forgot this. Each resorted to dictatorship, emotion and anger. The Speaker told two elected leaders to get out of the building. The two, Seibeb and Swartbooi, engaged in a goal-less diatribe, hurling personal insults at a citizen. To what end? Did their outburst create a single job? How is the drowning Namibian economy saved by that clash? In the Speaker’s case, there was a dangerous precedent set. Arguably, there was a misuse…

05 Jun

Offer solutions, not drama

ObserverUncategorisedBernadus Swartbooi, Landless People’s Movement (LPM), Parliament

Comments by Landless People’s Movement (LPM) leader Bernadus Swartbooi calling for monthly $750 income grants for two years are unnecessary. Such pronouncements offer no solution, they only increase the drama. The new voices in the Parliament are the will of the Namibian people as democratically expressed at the ballot box last November. That vote was for increased debate and new ideas. The voters wanted competent challenges to the status quo of Swapo dominance in law-making that was not working. In light of the Finance Minister’s recent budget speech and statistics, anyone seriously demanding two years of N$750 per month payments…