Swapo, LPM clash in Hardap

Members of Swapo and the Landless People’s Movement (LPM) reportedly clashed at Mariental this week.

This occurred when a convoy of Swapo supporters was allegedly blocked by their political rivals, who were putting up campaign flags.

Subsequently, a vehicle belonging to Swapo member Botha Basson was allegedly damaged in the confrontation.

Basson told The Namibian yesterday the windscreen of his rented SUV was hit with a brick by an LPM member.

He said the damage to the windscreen amounts to N$20 200, and confirmed that he registered a case with the police against the alleged perpetrator.

Hardap police regional commander Sydney Philander confirms the case, saying investigations are underway.

Swapo will have rallies in the Hardap and //Kharas regions this weekend, where party presidential candidate Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is expected to speak.

Both these regions are LPM strongholds.

Yesterday, Swapo Party Youth League central committee member Andreas Marungu accused LPM members of removing party flags from municipal street poles at Keetmanshoop.

Speaking to The Namibian yesterday, Marungu claimed he filmed opposition supporters using a bucket truck to remove Swapo flags and replace them with LPM flags at Keetmanshoop.

“We were surprised to see them doing that. We don’t want to fight, we are a peaceful party. We want a peaceful campaign. LPM must defeat Swapo [with] ballot papers, not through violence,” he said.

Marungu highlighted that removing party campaign materials is in contravention of the election code of conduct, issued recently by the Electoral Commission of Namibia.

He further claimed a Swapo convoy was blocked by LPM supporters who stood in stood in road at Mariental on Tuesday.

“They were stubborn and ill-disciplined. They hit one of our cars with a stone,” Marungu said.

LPM spokesperson Lifalaza Simataa told The Namibian yesterday the people filmed removing Swapo flags and replacing them with LPM flags are not members of the LPM, but employees of the Keetmanshoop Municipality.

“For one to put up their campaign materials, a certain fee has to be paid. It’s probably that Swapo has not paid or the time allocated to them has lapsed, and the next party can now put up their flags,” Simataa said.

On the Swapo convoy being blocked at Mariental, Simataa said Swapo vehicles turned into a street where LPM members were putting up flags. The Swapo leader reportedly started insulting LPM members, who then reiterated, leading to a scuffle.

“We LPM members don’t condone violence and attacks, especially during this election season,” Simataa said.

He alleged that Basson hit an LPM member with his vehicle, and said Swapo members also attempted to disrupt an LPM campaign at Oranjemund last Saturday.

Keetmanshoop mayor McDonald Hanse did not answer calls to his cellphone yesterday.

Namibian Police inspector general Joseph Shikongo says political parties should be tolerant of one another.

He says there was no need for the removal of campaign materials from trees or street poles.

“They should do it like in other countries, where you will find more than 20 campaign materials of different parties on a pole.”

Shikongo says the only person who can order the removal of a flag is the owner of the property.

“But if it’s a municipal pole or any other public poles, trees … Political parties must refrain from confrontations.”

According to Shikongo, police regional commanders and political party regional coordinators must be in consultation to prevent confrontations.

In July, a Swapo member allegedly drove into a crowd of Independent Patriots for Change supporters at Outapi in the Omusati region, injuring one person.

The man was arrested by the police and later released on bail.

This was not the first time a Swapo member was accused of attacking opposition party members at Outapi. In 2008, about 12 Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) supporters were injured when a large crowd of Swapo supporters prevented the party from convening a meeting at the town.

In 2009, about 200 Swapo supporters at Outapi were accused of blocking RDP members from entering the town. The police had to use teargas and rubber batons to control the crowd.

That year, a horde of school children also allegedly drove RDP organisers out of Okahao, also in the Omusati region.