The Landless People’s Movement (LPM) says it is facing infiltration by dark forces hoping to capture power to dismantle it as a formidable force in the political fiefdom.
While the LPM’s dirty laundry plays out, with members hurling insults at each other on social media platforms, its deputy leader, Henny Seibeb, said the party remains intact and united.
The ruckus comes just a few weeks after LPM celebrated its third anniversary, with cracks now beginning to show within the rank and file of the orange army.
Inside sources also claim a fallout ensued between Seibeb and former LPM operative secretary (OS), Edson Isaacks, which led to the latter’s removal from the portfolio.
However, Seibeb said Isaacks’ resignation is purely an administrative matter as there is a need for a full-time OS.
Since Isaacks is a Parliamentarian, he is unable to execute two critical duties simultaneously, Seibeb explained.
The sharp-tongued Seibeb stands accused of driving a wedge between the LPM and its members in the south. Allegations are also rife that Seibeb uses party resources to satisfy personal needs and interests.
This came to light during a social media row between Seibeb and other LPM members, including the movement’s elections director, Ziggy Isaacks, over the handling of affairs within the movement.
Seibeb confirmed the legitimacy of the social media posts but did not respond to questions around some seemingly derogatory remarks he made.
Seibeb, highlighting Isaacks’ alleged incompetence, said: “We wheelbarrowed you [in] as elections director. What did you do? Nothing. You wanted us to fire Bennie Killo so you could stand alone. We rejected such evil plans. Today you are just a useless human being.”
Seibeb did not say if those who purportedly wheelbarrowed Isaacks in would be held liable.
Efforts to get comment from Isaacks were fruitless.
Seibeb, however, maintains the party’s systems and counter-intelligence are watertight and ready to respond decisively.
“This is simply what some five insignificant individuals in LPM do not want to fathom, despite numerous political education and the promise of service delivery to our constituents,” Seibeb said at a press conference on Wednesday.
The LPM, Seibeb added, remains a force to be reckoned with.
The LPM chief whip in the National Assembly also refuted claims that the party intends to purge some members who seem not to be toeing the line, including Mariental Municipality mayor, Adam Kuhlman and Gertjie Witbooi from the ||Karas Regional Council.
“The mayor of Mariental has done nothing wrong. Why should we just wake [up] and [start] purging? We don’t have any problem since we replaced the other two councillors there,” Seibeb dismissed.
Contacted for comment, Witbooi did not want to be dragged into the fracas, while Kuhlman was unreachable on his mobile phone.
The party stressed that punitive measures will be taken against ill-disciplined members.
“We reject such tendencies of factionalism, foul play, vulgar language, rumour-mongering, mudslinging and character defamation in the strongest terms,” Seibeb said.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
