Landless People's Movement (Namibia)

The Landless People's Movement (LPM) is a political party in Namibia. It is led by former deputy minister of lands and resettlement Bernadus Swartbooi, who serves as its president and chief change campaigner, and Henny Seibeb, the party's deputy leader.[5][6][7] The party has four seats in parliament, which are occupied by the Party's President, Bernadus Swartbooi, Mootu Utaara, Isaacks Edison and Seibeb Henry.[8]

Landless People's Movement
AbbreviationLPM
PresidentBernadus Swartbooi
Deputy Leader and Chief StrategistHenny Seibeb
Treasurer GeneralAina Kodi
National Events CoordinatorIvan Skrywer
Operative SecretaryEdson Isaacks
Founded2017
Registered8 February 2019 (2019-02-08)
Split fromSWAPO
Headquarters11 Sauer Street
Windhoek
Khomas Region
Student wingLPM Youth and Student Command Element
IdeologySocial democracy[1][2]
Democratic socialism[3]
Land reform[4]
Agrarian reform[4]
Progressivism
Federalism[1]
Political positionCentre-left to left-wing[3]
International affiliationProgressive International
Colors  Orange
  Black
  Green
SloganRestoring Our Dignity
Seats in the National Assembly
4 / 104
Seats in the National Council
6 / 42
Regional Councillors
12 / 121
Local Councillors
16 / 378
Pan-African Parliament
0 / 5
Website
www.lpmparty.org

History

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The Landless People's Movement was formed after Bernadus Swartbooi, deputy minister of land reform, was fired by President Hage Geingob in December 2016 after refusing to apologise to then Land Reform Minister Utoni Nujoma, whom he accused of resettling people from other regions into the south of the country ahead of the Nama.[9][10][11]

Policies

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Swartbooi has been a vocal advocate of land restitution and restorative justice for landless Namibians who were dispossessed of their land, including indigenous communities.[12] The party also favours LGBT rights,[citation needed] and it plans on addressing the issues of abortion and marijuana legalization. The party's youth wing is the LPM Youth and Student Command Element.

Electoral history

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National Assembly elections

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Regional Councilors

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In 2023, Keetmanshoop by-election, LPM candidate Petrus Labuschagne won by 1,270 votes to claim victory for Keetmanshoop Rural Constituency Regional Councilor.[13]

Election Party leader Votes % Seats +/– Position Result
2019 Bernadus Swartbooi 38,956 4.75%
4 / 104
  4   3rd Opposition

References

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  1. ^ a b The Constitution of the Landless People’s Movement
  2. ^ "Namibia: Economic and Political Overview". Retrieved 2023-10-15.
  3. ^ a b "Opposition parties say PDM coalition efforts too late". Windhoek Observer. 30 August 2019. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  4. ^ a b Miyanicwe, Clemans (11 November 2019). "LPM launches climate-focused manifesto". The Namibian. p. 6.
  5. ^ Cloete, Luqman (8 May 2018). "Landless People's Movement wants Geingob to apologise". The Namibian. p. 5.
  6. ^ "LAND OWNERSHIP LOBBY GROUP FORMS POLITICAL PARTY". Saba-news.org. 13 September 2018. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  7. ^ "Landless People's Movement seeking restorative justice". Lelamobile.com. Archived from the original on 4 May 2019. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  8. ^ "Landless People's Movement (LPM) – Namibian Parliament". Retrieved 2022-05-23.
  9. ^ "Geingob fires Swartbooi". The Namibian. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  10. ^ "I was fired by thieves - Swartbooi - Politics". Namibiansun.com. 23 March 2018. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  11. ^ "The Villager Newspaper Namibia". www.thevillager.com.na. Retrieved 2020-12-24.
  12. ^ "Swartbooi slams Govt's resettlement programme". Lelamobile.com. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  13. ^ Sun, Namibian; Ndjembela, Toivo (2023-05-16). "#JustIn: Final results for the Keetmanshoop Rural Constituency by-election". Namibian Sun. Retrieved 2023-05-18.