Erasmus Shalihaxwe
The Popular Democratic Movement’s (PDM) secretary general, Manuel Ngaringombe has urged party members who wish to contest for any position at the upcoming elective congress to start campaigning publicly.
Ngaringombe made the call during the party’s training of trainers workshop, which took place at Otjiwarongo over the weekend.
‘’I am therefore calling upon all members of the PDM who want to contest for any position within the movement to please start campaigning openly and prepare themselves to be voted into any position of their choice, in order to advance the mission and vision of this great movement,’’ said Ngaringombe.
He said the congress, which was initially set to take place from 8 to 10 August at Katima Mulilo, Zambezi Region, has been postponed to 22 to 24 August.
“Due to the National Assembly’s that will advance its sitting to complete its business before recess for the election campaign period, hours and days of the August House have been extended to even convene on Fridays, and this will clash with the party’s time frame for the expected elective congress,” he said.
He refuted claims that the party’s leadership is pushing for an automatic endorsement to remain in their current positions unchallenged.
According to him, all the positions in the party are going to be up for grabs.
‘’I would also like to bring to the attention of the rank and file of the PDM, the Namibian nation at large, and the members of the media that the rumours going around that the Top 6 leaders of the PDM are pushing for an automatic endorsement into their current positions are devoid of any truth. The PDM will advance its democratic principles by going to its elective congress to democratically elect new national leaders as per the PDM constitution,’’ said Ngaringombe.
He added that the movement shall never relent in advancing the functional internal democracy within the movement.
