LPM meets with Geingob ‘for the sake of the people’

JEMIMA BEUKES WINDHOEKThe Landless People’s Movement (LPM) top brass paid a courtesy visit to President Hage Geingob yesterday. The visit was aimed at finding common ground for cooperation regarding the genocide and land issues, and to pledge their support for a green hydrogen project mooted in the south of the country.According to a 20-page document presented at the meeting, the LPM rejects the current resettlement policy, which they believe creates a façade for indigenous communities to access land, adding that the lands ministry and the Ombudsman’s Office have done “absolutely nothing” to counter the “continued elite capture of land”.Speaking to the media after the closed-door session, LPM leader Bernadus Swartbooi said they have not changed their views on the Swapo-led government and Geingob, but have decided to put politics aside to bring prosperity and welfare to Namibians.The delegation presented Geingob with the document titled ‘Building a Capable State Post-Covid-19’, which details investment opportunities, possibilities in LPM-led regions and critical development issues.Swartbooi informed Geingob that the deterioration of the Namibian economy is real and should it collapse, the country risks unprecedented socio-economic and political uproar and instability, he said.“One key lesson for this government, with a 30-year record of not-so-good-economic management, is that in the good times you need to save so that you can use your savings in bad times, to be sustainable. This is common sense for any household and should be applied to a small economy such as Namibia.”Agriculture is the keyLPM also wants government to diversify and modernise the agriculture industry, adding that N$5 billion should be invested into the sector annually.Furthermore, the lands ministry should avail land to the //Karas regional council for investment creation and co-ownership, the party said.Swartbooi and co also want government to purchase irrigation land and start irrigation schemes alongside the Neckartal Dam, saying Namib Mills has already shown interest in the dam.“Overall inclusion in the national development plans and Vision 2030 must be made for public-private partnerships [PPP] with relevant individuals and institutions to avoid the pitfalls of Naute Dam. Naute Dam failed. The Hardap Dam model, led by private investors, is a much more prudent policy mix and we propose that Neckartal Dam should follow limited PPP and allow a free market enterprise-led approach,” Swartbooi said.LPM also wants government to access an additional 1 000 hectares of land at the Hardap Dam scheme to change the flood irrigation model to drip irrigation, which will save more water and enlarge irrigation at the site. Write off debtThe party also proposed an urgent investment of N$50 million annually to fast-track development at Aussenkehr, including the development of decent housing for workers currently living in reed houses.They also want government to write off the crippling water and electricity debt of local authorities in the Hardap and //Karas regions to allow municipalities and village councils to perform their duties efficiently and deliver services.Swartbooi also informed Geingob that landlessness and elite land-grabbing continue at an unprecedented scale, adding that it is clear that land reform efforts did not produce tangible results and continue to be based on favouritism. jemima@namibiansun.com

LPM meets with Geingob ‘for the sake of the people’

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-31

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LPM meets with Geingob ‘for the sake of the people’

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-31

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