Stefanus Nashama
A member of the Popular Democratic Movement’s (PDM) central committee, Hidipo Hamata, is advocating for the party members to give the current top six leaders another term.
In an interview with the Windhoek Observer on Wednesday, Hamata said the upcoming election requires PDM to maintain the current leadership to navigate and ensure the party’s continuity, leveraging their necessary experience and strategic insight.
“As our party approaches the upcoming national congress in the Zambezi region, I strongly urge all delegates to endorse the current top six leaders for another term. The forthcoming election is a pivotal moment for the PDM, and continuity in leadership is essential to navigate these challenging times with the necessary experience and strategic insight,” he said.
The current leadership consists of McHenry Venaani as president, Jennifer Van Den Heever as vice president, Manuel Ngaringombe as secretary-general, Lunis Tobias as deputy secretary-general, Diederick Ricky Vries as national chairperson, and Nico Smit as treasurer-general.
According to Hamata, the current leadership has navigated PDM through intricate political terrain, steadily expanding its influence and reinforcing the internal structures.
As a result, he believes it is not the right time for the party to disrupt the momentum it has established.
“It is a moment to consolidate our gains and prepare for the battles ahead. The stakes are high, and the most prudent course of action is to ensure that we are led by those with proven experience and a deep understanding of our movement’s goals and challenges,” he stressed.
According to Hamata, by supporting the current leadership for another term, the party not only ensures the continuation of the progress it has made but also prepares itself for a strong performance in the upcoming elections.
He said the political landscape is unpredictable, and experienced leadership is critical.
“It is under this leadership that PDM has made significant strides, and it is with this leadership that we will face the elections with confidence and clarity of purpose,” he said.
At the same time, Hamata believes a change in leadership at this critical moment could introduce unnecessary risks and instability.
He understands that the upcoming party national congress in 2029 will provide ample opportunity for any desired changes.
“Until then, it is vital that we prioritise the success of the upcoming elections by allowing our seasoned leaders to continue their work,” he mentioned.
To Hamata, the current leadership’s experience is the greatest asset for the party to achieve the results all members aspire to.
“In politics, timing and continuity are everything. Now is the time to stand united and strong behind the leaders who have brought us this far. Let us give them the mandate to complete the journey they have started, ensuring that PDM emerges from the upcoming elections stronger than ever before,” he reiterated.
Meanwhile, Inna Hengari, a young parliamentarian of the PDM, retaliates by emphasising the party members’ need to comprehend the PDM’s ideological positioning on the political spectrum.
“I, for one, cannot associate myself with baseless positioning that is made in the personal interest of an individual. Our mantra has always been that the interests of the individual are subordinate to the interests of the collective,” she said.
Hengari added that, as a collective, party members should adhere to the principles of democracy, constitutionalism, and liberty.
“I therefore cannot associate myself with ideological positioning that takes the shape of an amoeba,” she reiterated.
Hengari expressed her confidence that the central committee, set to convene on Thursday, will establish the necessary guidelines and due process for the upcoming national congress in accordance with the democratic constitution.
Sakaria Johannes, a political analyst, said that it is unwise for Hamata to campaign for the current leadership while other members want to exercise their democratic right to the top leadership positions in terms of politics.
“In that position, he is already indicating who the electorates should vote for. Who knows, maybe those to be elected will be the best?” he questioned.
Johannes added that keeping the same individuals in opposition poses a danger to the party.
“To me, it is not a good idea to tell the electorate to keep the same leadership. That violated the principles of participatory democracy and made the leadership boring at some points. However, if the idea can work to save the party at the upcoming elections, they should see what they can do,” he stressed.
He believes that there are young people in PDM who have more knowledge and political expertise to seize such opportunities.
He also questioned why the party is hosting a national congress if some members see it as not relevant to allow other members to participate.
On Wednesday, secretary-general of PDM, Manuel Ngaringombe said the party’s top six leadership has distanced itself from the need for endorsement.
“The notion of an unopposed retention of the top six is not aligned with the values that PDM stands for. Endorsement without contest undermines the democratic processes that are the foundation of our movement. Therefore, we, the top six of the PDM, unequivocally distance ourselves from the idea that our positions should be retained without competition,” he stated.
Ngaringombe emphasised the congress provides a chance for all delegates to engage in thorough discussions, articulate their perspectives, and participate in the voting process.
“It is a time for the movement to reflect on its achievements, challenges, and the path forward, guided by the voices of its members,” he added.
PDM’s national congress is slated to take place this coming weekend in the Zambezi region.
Only the party’s secretary for sport, Martin John, has expressed intentions to contest for the position of secretary general, while the majority of party members are contesting to be part of the central committee.
