Staff Reporter
THE Landless People’s Movement has justified the actions of Maltahohe village council chairperson, who blocked the construction of a N$3 million sanitation project, saying that the employees are not her supporters.
In a video clip of the debacle, Hanna Swartbooi is seen throwing rocks into trenches that were dug by the contractor, halting construction work. She is also heard telling the workers that she has the final say as to who should be appointed to do the work because she is the Council Chairperson.
The construction tender was awarded to Capital Technical Services.
A statement from the LPM suggests that internal processes of “self-correction” have already been set in motion.
LPM Operative Secretary, Edson Isaacks said that an agreement to employ 95% local unskilled labour was reached with the contractor. He stated that the contractor did not honour the agreement and that was what gave rise to the outburst from the councillor.
Swartbooi, according to Isaacks, attempted to engage the contractor but appeared to have hit a brick wall, via insults and undermining her authority, which he says resulted in the councilor’s remarks.
The remarks, he says are “repugnant” to the objectives of LPM.
“The matter will be dealt with in terms of the consensus spearheaded by the Regional Council Chairperson. Our Councilor has been warned not to repeat any similar conduct and we are satisfied that she understood the error of judgment upon her and the consequent outcry it has created. Further action regarding the Councilor will be internal,” Isaacks said, before adding “The party is also mindful of the realities that in northern regions, even employment for other ethnic groups is a taboo. Namibians should also not forget that at the national level, the National Procurement Board was exclusively constituted by one ethnic group, which was corrected only recently.”
He said that as a movement, the LPM stands for a united Namibia, wherein all her citizens share, regardless of race, creed, or any language affiliation.
“We as LPM also hereby express to the Namibian nation our sorrow and sadness over the incident and pledge to work harder for a stronger, unified Namibia,” Isaacks concluded.
