By Stefanus Nashama
Landless People’s Movement (LPM) leader Bernadus Swartbooi may have loudly thrown his weight behind Israel in its war with Iran, but political analysts say his declaration is little more than political noise with no bearing on Namibia’s official foreign policy.
In June, Swartbooi stunned many when he declared solidarity with Israel, praising pre-emptive strikes on Iran at the time.
He argued that Israel had every right to strike first, claiming Iran had for decades vowed to “wipe Israel off the map.”
“We support Israel. We are fully in solidarity with the people of Israel and the Government of Israel for having made pre-emptive strikes against the evil Republic of Iran to whom we sell uranium,” he said.
Swartbooi further tied his position to Israel’s past support for the Ovaherero/Nama genocide case in New York, insisting the Jewish State understood the pain of being genocide survivors.
However, his remarks sharply contrast Namibia’s official position.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has condemned Israel’s June 13 attacks on Iran as “a violation of international law and a threat to global peace and security,” urging restraint and diplomacy under the United Nations framework.
Analyst Andrew Niikondo said: “LPM is not a ruling party. Such a statement does not represent the policy of the government. That was just a political statement from someone. Government statements are what carry weight in the world of international matter.”
He, however, warned that reckless comments by politicians could backfire in unpredictable ways.
“Like now, Israel is being condemned by many countries. Why does Swartbooi have to make such a statement?” he asked.
Another analyst, Sakaria Johannes, echoed the view, saying Swartbooi’s remarks align only with his party’s ideology and not the state’s position.
“Although he is a national leader, he has no power to influence the country’s policy at the international level. All in all, what matters is what the government says, not him,” Johannes stressed.
Swartbooi was not the only political figure stirring the pot.
Christian Democratic Voice Party (CDV) leader Gotthard Kandume also declared his party’s support for Iran on social media comments
“Christian Democratic Voice Party supports Iran,” Kandume commented.
Meanwhile, the Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) have taken an entirely different route, aligning themselves with Palestine.
This week, NEFF hailed the 157 United Nations member states that now recognize Palestine as a sovereign state.
“To us, this overwhelming historic majority, a staggering 81 percent of the global community, is not just a statistic. It is a resounding victory for humanity,” said NEFF deputy leader Kalimbo Iipumbu.
Iipumbu blasted Western “war-mongering and monopolized media” while praising what he called the global rejection of “barbaric politics of genocide.”
“The winds of change are blowing. The time for peace is now. The dream of Palestine must finally be realized. The NEFF stands resolute in its unwavering support for a two-state solution,” he said.
