LPM prioritises land, pledges N$1 500 grant for the hungry

Landless People&#039;s Movement (LPM) leader Bernadus Swartbooi has pledged social and economic reforms if elected into power, including a basic income grant of N$1 500 per month for three years, targeting 500 000 Namibians affected by acute hunger.Swartbooi made these announcements during the LPM manifesto launch in Rundu on Saturday.Additionally, LPM is proposing a N$3 000 non-contributory social grant per month and a N$2 000 grant for orphans and vulnerable children.Swartbooi committed N$500 million annually to develop and professionalise sports, alongside N$200 million for arts and music investment. He also proposed establishing a Citizens&#039; National Council on Natural Resource Protection, which would have the power to initiate legal action against public officials for resource mismanagement.“This body will report to citizens and parliament and will be subsidised by the state and the natural resource sector. It will be chaired by a retired justice,” he said.‘Frontal attack&#039; on poverty, inequalityHe further promised to create a First Nations&#039; Fund to support San people with access to land, education and tailored agrarian reforms, managed by academics, state and international organisations with experience in uplifting marginalised communities.Swartbooi outlined plans for an Oil Revenue Fund to ensure direct transfers of oil revenues to Namibians, rejecting reliance on trickle-down economics.“We must enter a frontal attack on poverty and inequality,” he said. He pledged to create the Oil and Gas Products Administration Acts to manage resources effectively, citing Saudi Arabia as a model for best practices in resource management.Resource management In terms of energy, Swartbooi announced the creation of a Namibian Renewable Energy Corporation to fund, source and distribute renewable electricity.“NamPower can no longer be trusted and should not have a monopoly over the nation’s electricity supply,” he said.The LPM leader further proposed providing free urban plots in informal settlements to facilitate property ownership for Namibians without homes.According to him, this initiative would be paired with housing construction led by local authorities, creating jobs reserved for residents. He also promised to establish the Office of the Land Protector, which would handle complaints about communal, commercial, urban and mining land, with the authority to pursue legal actions.Swartbooi called for changes to the Minerals Act, giving communities veto power over exclusive prospecting licenses and exploration activities on their land.“People must have a say in land use, not the Minerals Act dictating changes based on potential mineral discoveries,” he said.‘Agitate for change’He proposed a youth leadership training programme, in collaboration with international foundations, to equip 500 youth annually with the skills to represent Namibia globally. Another initiative, the Youth International Business and Technology Programme, would connect 300 young people per year with internships and job opportunities at globally reputable corporations.In the education sector, Swartbooi vowed to abolish barriers that prevent children from accessing education, aiming to increase university enrolment rates to 15%. A portion of this target will be achieved through partnerships with international universities to absorb Namibian students, he explained.He also committed to an annual N$8.9 billion investment in agriculture under the Comprehensive African Agriculture Initiative to fight hunger, create jobs and diversify the economy through value chain production and sales.Swartbooi said the party has used the past five years to "agitate for change" and to speak on behalf of all Namibians."We worked hard to let it be seen there can be an alternative to the current governance systems and structures. We have nurtured this party therefore to be aligned with the central aspirations of the people of this country: for land, for housing, for jobs, for youth and women&#039;s advancement,” he added. - nikanor@erongo.com.na

LPM prioritises land, pledges N$1 500 grant for the hungry

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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LPM prioritises land, pledges N$1 500 grant for the hungry

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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