Swartbooi saga not over

Swartbooi saga not over The Presidency yesterday announced that President Hage Geingob had accepted former deputy lands minister Bernadus Swartbooi’s verbal resignation. In a release to the media, it was announced he would be replaced by deputy poverty minister Priscilla Boois.
This follows after Swartbooi on 4 December lashed out at his senior Utoni Nujoma at Hoachanas.
“It is unacceptable what Utoni does with resettlement. He must be called to order,” was one of his statements.
Boois’s appointment was not well received by all. Veteran Swapo politician Ida Hoffmann said she was disappointed by Boois’s decision to accept the position.
Boois confirmed to Namibian Sun that she had accepted her new position.
According to Hoffmann, Geingob is pitting Nama against Nama with this appointment.
“It is so disappointing. It was a Nama son who raised the real issues affecting the Nama people. The poverty, the unemployment and the discrimination, and yet, a Nama person decides to accept the president’s offer,” said Hoffmann.
She added that one must also understand some people may think about their bread and butter and not necessarily about the fact that someone lost their job over what is a legitimate cause.
Swartbooi, who insists he never indicated that he will resign from his position, will be replaced Boois with immediate effect.
However, since the president does not appoint parliamentarians, Swartbooi retains his position in the parliament – as a backbencher.
Support for the booted deputy minister is building and Keetmanshoop residents are calling for Swartbooi’s reinstatement and for Geingob to retract his demand for an apology.
During a peaceful demonstration Keetmanshoop residents under the leadership of land activist Paul Thomas handed over a petition directed to the president’s office at the office of the governor yesterday.
“Our cultural and traditional values like the graves of our forefathers, and the plants and objects we use for our traditional practices, are rooted on this land, therefore, by settling others on the land, you are eliminating the Nama people from their roots and culture,” read the petition.
The community further threatened to invade and lock German-owned farms in the south of the country if government does not urgently address the land concerns raised by Swartbooi.
“We are also planning to camp outside the local lands ministry office until our demands are met,” said Thomas.
According to land activist Ronnie Dempers, a mass march will take place today from Katutura to State House.
“There is also a plan to go to Heroes Acre to give honour to our fallen heroes,” said Dempers.
JEMIMA BEUKES