Hardap governor hits back at LPM

Hardap governor Riaan McNab has defended his online call for Landless People’s Movement leader Bernadus Swartbooi to return to Swapo following criticism from councillor Ivan Skrywer.

This comes after Skrywer on social media accused McNab of incompetence and lacking vision.

McNab defended his comments yesterday, saying Facebook is a private platform where he is entitled to express himself as a Namibian citizen.

“Tell them I’m their governor and I also have a private Facebook page as a Namibian citizen,” McNab said in response to Skrywer’s criticism.

Skrywer on Saturday accused McNab of using social media for political propaganda instead of addressing development challenges in the Hardap region.

“Governor McNab is incompetent and lacks vision put in one skull,” Skrywer said.

He questioned why McNab was engaging in political exchanges online while the region needed investment and opportunities for young people.

“When does he source investment? When does he source the young people?” Skrywer asked.

McNab said Skrywer and the LPM should recognise that freedom of speech is not exclusive to any political party.

“Let me advise them properly that freedom of speech does not belong to the LPM. It belongs to Namibians,” he said.

McNab also defended his administration’s record, claiming the Hardap region is “far better off” than it was under the previous LPM administration.

He challenged his critics to compare the region’s 2026 state of the region address with the LPM administration’s 2025 address.

McNab urged the LPM to move away from political confrontation and instead contribute to the development of the region.

“My advice to them is to build bridges and contribute constructively to nation building,” he said.

The exchange follows McNab’s recent post featuring Swartbooi dancing, in which he described the former deputy minister as his “honourable former deputy minister of lands” and “intelligent brother”.

“Just apologise and come back home. I have no doubt your blood is Swapo,” McNab wrote.

The post Hardap governor hits back at LPM appeared first on The Namibian.