Stefanus Nashama
The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) wants to bring down the ruling party, Swapo, to less than 40% of the votes in the upcoming presidential and national assembly elections.
The PDM’s leader, McHenry Venaani shared this goal at the party’s Trinity Congress last week in Windhoek.
“In light of these elections, the goal is clear: we must bring the ruling Swapo party’s share of the electoral vote under 40 percent,” Venaani said.
He acknowledged that this is an ambitious target but expressed confidence in the party’s ability to achieve it.
“We are capable of reaching that target because we are the political formation that took away their two-thirds majority,” he said.
Venaani highlighted the importance of the party’s Trinity Congresses, which include the Youth League, the Women’s League, and the Elders Council.
He stressed that these congresses are crucial for setting strategies and enhancing the party’s electoral share.
“Their strength and unity are vital for a comprehensive and inclusive approach to governance,” he said.
He also encouraged delegates to maintain high standards of political maturity, emphasising the importance of respectful discourse even when there are disagreements.
Venaani used the platform to criticise the AfroBarometer survey, which predicted a strong lead for Swapo’s presidential candidate, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, with over 50 percent of the vote.
The survey also predicted that the Landless People’s Movement (LPM) would become the official opposition, with the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) in third and the PDM in fourth.
“We challenge this inaccurate and out-of-touch narrative; it does not accurately reflect what the masses feel,” Venaani stated. He compared the survey’s predictions to those made in South Africa, where polls misjudged Julius Malema of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
Venaani reiterated that PDM’s ambition is not only to hold official opposition status but also to either govern or be part of a coalition government to serve the citizens’ wellbeing.
Political analyst Ben Mulongeni commented on Venaani’s statements, noting that while Swapo’s majority can be reduced, this does not necessarily mean it will happen due to Venaani and his party.
“Venaani is saying that because every politician can say it to convince and motivate voters. But I believe he is not a threat to the government, and his party is not yet strong enough to take over the government,” Mulongeni said.
He added that the PDM might contribute to the upcoming electoral contest but cautioned that Venaani’s approach could potentially harm other opposition parties.
Mulongeni also noted the possibility of different outcomes in the elections, where opposition parties could gain a majority in the National Assembly while Swapo wins the presidency, or vice versa.
“There are so many factors that come with voting leaders. Some may prefer this or that candidate, not the party. It happens for many reasons,” he concluded.
