LPM’s Swartbooi calls for NamPower monopoly to end

Landless People’s Movement (LPM) leader Bernadus Swartbooi says Namibia Power Corporation’s (NamPower’s) monopoly is “satanic”.

He says LPM plans to limit role by establishing a Namibian renewable energy corporation.

He was speaking at the party’s manifesto launch at Rundu on Saturday, where some residents raised concerns about the price of electricity.

“NamPower is such an evil company. It is satanic. NamPower cannot be trusted and it can no longer have a monopoly over the nation’s electricity supply system,” he said.

Swartbooi said he wants NamPower to focus on supplying energy to corporations, while his proposed entity will distribute renewable energy to local authorities.

“They can generate electricity for themselves and sell the rest of the electricity to that new company and make some money to access land, greater educational opportunities, and agrarian reform efforts tailored to their unique circumstances,” he said.

He said LPM will amend the Constitution to make Namibia a federal government.

“Decision making needs to be at the local level, so that people are more included in the affairs of the state,” he stated.
Swartbooi said LPM will increase social grants to N$3 000 per month for pensioners, and N$2 000 per month for orphans and vulnerable children.

He said the party will introduce a basic income grant of N$1 500 per month for three years to 500 000 Namibians facing acute hunger.

The chief of the San community, Joseph Gomoseb, yesterday welcomed this idea but raised some concerns.

Gomoseb questioned where the money would come from.

“Our people are so poor. We need money and land to farm and make a decent living.We want the money to run our own projects,” he said.

Social justice activist Nafimane Hamukoshi yesterday argued that a universal basic income should be unconditional and unlimited, as it ensures everyone’s right to financial support for survival and dignity.

It emphasises equitable access to resources regardless of one’s circumstances, said Hamukoshi.

“It is essential that any basic income scheme be designed as universal and unconditional,” she said.

Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah says it is much easier to make promises than to deliver on them.

The analyst says the promises made by LPM at Rundu, especially about reviving green schemes, “are certainly appealing and relevant to the region”.

“These promises by LPM raise important concerns about feasibility and realistic implementation.

There’s a noticeable shift happening in the two Kavango regions. People are warming up to opposition parties, something that was almost unthinkable in previous elections, especially in Kavango West,” he says.

LPM has pledged to allocate N$500 million to the youth economy so that it becomes profitable.

“We will allocate funds to develop the sport economy, so that we can fund leagues from various sport codes to become profitable,” Swartbooi said.

He added that he will make N$200 million available to arts annually. NamPower spokesperson Tangeni Kambangula yesterday said all the northern regions are under the distribution licence of the Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (Nored).

“Consequently, all electricity distribution requirements are handled by Nored, and not NamPower. In support of the national policy on rural electrification, NamPower and the Ministry of Mines and Energy contribute annually to the rural electrification needs of our communities in all regions, including the northern areas.

“Nored also contributes to the regions in its jurisdiction,” she said.

Kambangula said “residents can take up their ideas [on installing solar panels] with their supplier, which is Nored”