By-election coming after councillor burns LPM flag, pics of Swartbooi

A BY-election is looming for the Keetmanshoop Rural constituency after the recall of Gerrit Witbooi from the //Kharas Regional Council by the Landless People’s Movement (LPM) on Wednesday.

On Sunday, Witbooi burnt the party’s flag at Aroab along with two photos of LPM leader Bernadus Swartbooi after claiming that Swartbooi had sworn at his mother and threatened his wife on 18 January.

The incident was filmed and the video clip was widely circulated on social media.

A letter issued by LPM operative secretary Dawid Eigub to the //Kharas Regional Council stated that Witbooi is released from his position and duties as a councillor with immediate effect after he burnt the LPM flag and two photos of Swartbooi.
Witbooi confirmed receipt of the recall letter.

“There were further transgressions committed by Witbooi above the already existing transgressions. One example of that transgression would be his violent and gross misconduct towards the party by burning the LPM flag in public and on video footage,” said national LPM spokesperson Lifazala Simataa.

Chief electoral and referenda officer of the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) Theo Mujoro said the Regional Councils Act 23 of 1992 states that when a vacancy occurs in a regional council, a by-election needs to be held within 90 days to fill that vacancy.
“We have received communication from the LPM, but we can only act once we receive a formal notification from the office of the chief regional officer.

“Then we will announce dates, voter education will start, supplementary registrations and gazetting of certain dates when activities need to be done. Once again all political parties wanting to field candidates will be able to do so,” said Mujoro.

I AM FRUSTRATED
In the video, Witbooi said he was very angry.
“I am very angry that Bernadus and Killo came to my constituency to start a meeting that was supposed to be a feedback meeting with my name.

“ … telling the people I did not want to appoint people of the party’s choice, and blackening my name. Then they chased my wife out of the meeting, so I burnt their flag,” said Witbooi.

Witbooi reportedly fell out of favour with the LPM last year after allegedly failing to implement party decisions.
The LPM local organising committee reportedly held meetings at Koës and Aroab since last year to discuss Witbooi’s possible voluntary resignation and to prepare for the transition.

Deputy LPM leader Henny Seibeb at the time said: “The support has been overwhelming and there are hardworking cadres willing to step up and take over [the]leadership”.

Witbooi asserts that the burning of the LPM flag is not an indication that he is finished with the party or leaving it, but that he wants the leadership to resolve the issues they have with him.

He has been suspended from the LPM for three months, and is prohibited from attending ordinary and extraordinary council meetings.
The LPM noted that it was “unfortunate” that Witbooi employed “underhanded tactics in an attempt to reportedly paint himself as a victim or unsung hero”.

Simataa said the last dialogue between Witbooi and Swartbooi was a “robust conversation” about Witbooi’s conduct.
“These are the actions of an individual grasping at straws as an act of desperation,” said Simataa.