Swartbooi gets support at Swakop

Some Swakopmund residents yesterday handed over a petition to Erongo governor Cleopas Mutjavikua in which they expressed their support for former land reform deputy minister Bernadus Swartbooi's push for changes to the resettlement programme.

Swartbooi was removed from his job recently after accusing his superior, minister Utoni Nujoma, of unfair land resettlement practices.

He made the comments during a cultural festival at Hoachanas on 3 December.

The remarks prompted President Hage Geingob to give him 24 hours to apologise or lose his job. Swartbooi refused to apologise and faced the consequences – he was fired by Geingob who claimed that he resigned verbally.