Africa-Press – Namibia. .
Rudolf Gaiseb
Like the proverbial cat with nine lives, veteran politician Martin Lukato has cemented himself as a permanent feature in Namibian politics. As Namibia heads to the polls later this year, his face will once more feature on the ballot paper.
This time around, he has premised the National Democratic Party (NDP) gospel on ethnic equity, improved living standards and a multiparty governmental system. ‘Lukato Lukato’, as he is fondly known in political circles, is also knocking on the State House door.
He is expected to feature in a crowded electoral contest that is expected to pit Vice President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (Swapo) against opposition leader McHenry Venaani (PDM), her former comrades Panduleni Itula (IPC), Bernadus Swartbooi (LPM) and land activist Job Amupanda (AR). Also in the fray are economist Mike Kavekotora (RDP), unionist Evilastus Kaaronda (Swanu), businessman Epaphras Mukwiilongo (NEFF), businesswoman Ally Angula, veteran social justice activist Rosa Namises, Kunene Regional Council chairperson Hendrik Gaobaeb (UDF), veteran politician Henk Mudge (Republican Party), as well as Hewat Beukes of the Workers’ Revolutionary Party.
Lukato Lukato
To unpack and have an intricate understanding of Lukato, New Era’s Rudolf Gaiseb recently interviewed the politician.
The discussion centred around his vision for Namibia, the state of Namibian politics and education and the reforms needed to improve the lives of the masses.
New Era also sought the views of political commentators to locate him in the local political theatre, particularly due to his omnipresence and impact, as well as his never-say-die attitude.
After contesting in elections for years, NDP’s political breakthrough only came in 2020 when it secured its first seat on the Katima Mulilo town council during the Local Authority and Regional Council elections.
Weighing in on Lukato’s political dexterity, analyst and lawyer Natjirikasorua Tjirera said the determination of Martin Lukato “is out of this world”.
“His perseverance and persistence are enviable. He is the epitome of standing firm for what you believe in regardless of what people say. He has been ridiculed sometimes; he has been made fun of but he keeps soldiering on. A principle does not need a million followers to uphold. It needs a single person who is determined to uphold,” Tjirera said.
He continued: “I believe that Mr Lukato has a principled belief and vision, and he opines that the principle and vision can only be realised through the NDP and his leadership”.
Meanwhile, fellow analyst, Institute for Public Policy Research executive director Graham Hopwood, did not specifically address Lukato or NDP as individual entities.
Instead, Hopwood took issue with the general fragmentation of the smaller opposition parties.
“My general view is that we have too many small parties. Parties that were registered before the 2014 Electoral Act were carried over and did not have to meet the requirement in the Act that parties should submit the names of 3 500 voters, distributed evenly from a minimum of seven of the regions in Namibia i.e. 500 from each of at least seven regions of the country. That would mean parties have to have a minimum level of support to stand in elections,” Hopwood asserted.
He added: “This doesn’t apply to the NDP or some of the other smaller parties, while the IPC, for example, had to meet this requirement. I think if the NDP were required to meet such a threshold, it would improve their credibility. As it is, they are held up to ridicule with the media, focussing on their lack of support rather than anything they might have to offer”.
Clergyman
Speaking from the NDP national and presidential headquarters in Queensland, his home village, some 60 kilometres west of Katima Mulilo in the Zambezi region, one thing was clear: he is an ardent Christian.
Lukato says God anointed him the mandate to form a political party that will free the Namibian people who are suffering and oppressed because of inequality, tribalism and the ever-widening gap between the haves and have-nots.
Baptised on 22 June 1972, Lukato is a member of the Seventh-day Adventist church.
“Although we do not have resources, we will make sure to implement God’s message and instructions. It is not my own choosing, but God sent me to free all marginalised, oppressed, disadvantaged and ethnic groups, including the voiceless and those suffering while Namibia is rich in all resources,” Lukato stated passionately.
He then moved to take issue with the local media.
“The media should help those who advocate for better living standards. But when we send press releases, the media is so selective, selecting certain issues not to be published or broadcast,” he lamented.
According to him, Namibia lacks independent media institutions, and he wants the media to advocate for truth, objectivity and fairness.
Additionally, he described the negative impacts of what he calls “laws imposed” upon Namibians since independence.
In the same vein, he criticised Namibia’s legislative system, asserting that it deprives all ethnic groups of equally benefiting from Namibia’s resources.
Reform
In accordance with the NDP’s constitution and party manifesto, Lukato prefers to form what he calls a government of national unity.
He is advocating for the establishment of a federal system, where the NDP will govern with other political parties.
“A federal system will include all interested political parties to be part of, and puzzle in, the government of national unity,” he said.
“To govern this country alone is not a simple task. All national parties should take part in the federal system to represent their people. All ethnic groups should be there to represent their people. That is the best system of government,” said Lukato.
Patriotic and embodied by years of experience in politics, Lukato claims he is the ideal presidential candidate.
He then accused the Anti-Corruption Commission of protecting some corrupt parties, warning those who have looted the country’s resources to hand themselves to the police before the establishment of the federal system, which he says will expose them.
Another issue close to Lukato’s heart is the unimplemented 2018 land conference resolutions.
About 168 resolutions emanated from the exercise, with most to be implemented.
The removal of the veterinary cordon fence, notoriously known as the red line, is among the pending issues that were addressed at the land conference.
“At the end of the conference, resolutions were set up and we agreed that those resolutions should be implemented within a period. But unfortunately, I wonder why it took so long without implementation. I will make sure these resolutions are implemented immediately when I am in the presidential office,” Lukato added.
Free education
Furthermore, the NDP president stated that the free education policy the late Abraham Iyambo spearheaded was meant to encompass tertiary institutions as well.
He clarified that students at the tertiary education level were initially not supposed to pay for their education.
Free education was supposed to include students studying at tertiary institutions and not just primary and senior-secondary learners.
“I am the founder of free education. The late Abraham Iyambo then accepted my idea to come up with free education in Namibia. We have agreed that free education should start from pre-school up to tertiary education. We never agreed that it stops at the senior secondary level,” he said.
Politics 101
On the political front, Lukato said without funding from the State due to their absence in the Parliament or the regional councils, the NDP and other smaller parties find it difficult to spread their gospel in the face of minuscule resources.
He blamed this on the constitutional amendments of 2014, which he believes never took their concerns into consideration.
The NDP was officially registered with the Electoral Commission of Namibia in 2004. It was previously known as the Caprivi National Democratic Party.
Over the past five years, political parties represented in Parliament have received a cumulative N$592 million from the Treasury, based on the seats they have in the country’s bicameral parliament system.
Between 2015 and 2020, taxpayers coughed up N$679.5 million on political parties.
Despite not receiving public funding, the NDP, Lukato said, has been campaigning successfully for years since its inception.
“Not only do some political parties use the resources of the country, but they also use taxpayers’ money to fund their campaigns,” he complained.
If anything, their single seat in Katima Mulilo has fueled NDP’s zeal for more.
“We are moving forward countrywide. We have already recruited new members. To date, we have 72 000 registered members,” Lukato said.
Headman
Lukato is also the headman of the Queensland village.
The freedom fighter and advocate for social justice added that the party is ready to take part in the general elections, scheduled to start in November 2024.
“NDP will make sure that our message reaches all corners of our country – with or without resources. I believe any challenge here on earth can be overcome.
Lukato continued: “I respect the people of this country, of all races. The country belongs to all Namibians. It belongs to all ethnic groups. The resources of this country belong to all ethnic groups as well. It also belongs to all the political movements that are registered officially”.
He emphasised: “Since Namibia’s independence, there has been no government of national unity; what is there is a one-party-state rule. Although the country is rich in resources, only a few individuals have been benefitting and enriching themselves”.
Dark chapter
While forging ahead into the future, Lukato says it is of paramount importance to address dark historical chapters.
“People of this country are crying for their children – those who died here in Namibia and those outside the country – during the liberation struggle of the country,” Lukato said.
He served as a police officer for 45 years while simultaneously working as the acting prosecutor in the lower courts of Namibia.
“People were slaughtered and tortured during the liberation struggle. Others never came back, and others were hiding in other countries. They are hiding there from the regime in power,” he added.
“I will establish a reconciliation commission so that those hands who are full of blood must come out and apologise to the victims,” Lukato continued.
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