Bernadus Clinton Swartbooi (born 11 October 1977) is a Namibian politician.
Bernadus Swartbooi | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Swartbooi in 2018 | |
| Leader of the Landless People's Movement | |
| Assumed office 16 June 2018 | |
| Deputy Minister of Land Reform | |
| In office 21 September 2015 – 4 December 2016 | |
| President | Hage Geingob |
| Prime Minister | Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila |
| Succeeded by | Priscilla Merjam Boois |
| Governor of ǁKaras Region | |
| In office 2010–2015 | |
| President | Hifikepunye Pohamba |
| Prime Minister | Hage Geingob |
| Succeeded by | Lucia Basson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 11 October 1977 Tses, South West Africa (now Namibia) |
| Political party | LPM (since 2017) SWAPO (until 2017) |
| Spouse | Moetie Swartbooi |
| Alma mater | University of Namibia |
Swartbooi was governor of ǁKaras Region before being appointed as Namibia's deputy Minister of Land Reform in 2015 by President Hage Geingob, a position he subsequently was forced to resign from in January 2017.[1][2] On 27 July 2017, Swartbooi was removed from Parliament and resigned from SWAPO. In 2016 he formed the Landless People's Movement.
Early life and education
editSwartbooi attended secondary school at Suiderlig Senior Secondary School in Keetmanshoop. While at studying at the University of Namibia, he served as the secretary-general of Namibia National Students Organisation and later its president.
Swartbooi worked as a prosecutor in Tsumeb and Khorixas and served as special assistant at the office of the Prime Minister. Swartbooi holds a Basic Education Teaching Diploma from Windhoek College of Education (now University of Namibia Khomasdal Campus) and B juris as well as Bachelor of Laws from University of Namibia in 2001.[3]
Landless People's Movement
editIn 2017, after being fired by president Hage Geingob from his ministerial position, Swartbooi formed the Landless People's Movement (LPM), a new political party with the aim to bring about change in the country through equitable land redistribution. LPM advocates for distribution of ancestral land to Namibians whose land was dispossessed by German settlers in the 1900s.[1][4] He is the party's president and chief change campaigner.[5]
In the 2019 Namibian general election, Swartbooi ran as presidential candidate of the LPM. They gathered 2.7% and four seats in Parliament.[6]
Awards and recognition
editIn 2024, while the respective local authorities were under LPM government, streets were renamed after Swartbooi in Keetmanshoop, Mariental and Oranjemund.[7]
References
edit- ^ a b "Geingob fires Swartbooi". The Namibian. 13 December 2016. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019.
- ^ "President announces governors". The Namibian. 10 April 2015. Archived from the original on 14 April 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
- ^ "Know your leaders". The Land (15). Ministry of Land Reform: 6. June 2015. Archived from the original on 10 September 2017.
- ^ https://www.namibiansun.com/news/i-was-fired-by-thieves-swartbooi2018-03-23 | I was fired by thieves - Swartbooi - Politics - Namibian Sun
- ^ "We will give them a tough time – Swartbooi". The Namibian. 13 June 2018.
- ^ Iikela, Sakeus (2 December 2019). "Reduced victory ... Swapo, Geingob drop votes". The Namibian. p. 1.
- ^ Albertz, Ellen; Matheus, Envaalde (16 October 2024). "Swapo says 'Swartbooi streets' were not approved; LPM lauds leader's contribution to development". The Namibian. p. 1.
