Popular Democratic Movement (PDM)

PDM aims to bring Swapo’s votes down to 40%

PDM aims to bring Swapo’s votes down to 40%

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…
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Gay activist hits back at Venaani

Gay activist hits back at Venaani

Stefanus Nashama Gay activist, Wendelinus Hamutenya, last week hit back at the leader of the official opposition, McHenry Venaani, by saying that they do not need permission from the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) for same-sex marriages to be recognized. Hamutenya stated that Venaani should first get rid of the members of parliament who are part of the LGBTQI+ community. However, he did not mention any of the Parliament member who is part of the LGBTQI+ community. He added that politicians should respect their existence and the ruling of the Supreme Court. “This is the time for us to speak up…
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Venaani clarifies on MPs removal from standing committee

Venaani clarifies on MPs removal from standing committee

Steve Nashama Following the removal of Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) Members of Parliament, Inna Hengari and recently relinquished party Chief Whip, Vipuakuje Muharukua as members of the Parliamentary Committee on Standing Rules and Orders yesterday, PDM Leader McHenry Venaani says the removal was nothing sinister, as parties change committee members daily. “The nature and art of legislative Committees is that we all change at many intervals. The Standing Committee of Rules and Order is represented by Caucus leader. I was in the Foreign Affairs Committee and then moved to the Economic committee. What is the fuss,” he remarked. Venaani clarified…
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PDM throws Dienda under the bus for spousal consent remarks

PDM throws Dienda under the bus for spousal consent remarks

Tujoromajo Kasuto The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) has distanced itself from the parliamentary remarks made by its Deputy Chief Whip Elma Dienda on the 27th of April, that there was no such thing as ‘’spousal rape’’ while contributing to discussions on the Combating of Rape Amendment Bill in the National Assembly. According to the party, these are her personal opinions, not those of the PDM. McHenry Venaani, President of the PDM, emphasizes that his party ‘’accepts and appreciates rape to be understood as the unlawful insertion of the genitalia or any other object into another person without their consent, and…
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PDM policy conference and election review slated for next week

PDM policy conference and election review slated for next week

Tujoromajo Kasuto POPULAR Democratic Movement (PDM) Secretary General, Manuel Ngaringombe, says the party will have an policy conference from 18 to 22 October in Otjiwarongo. Themed “Shaping PDM policy towards a transformative society”, the conference is to develop the movements policies on a wide range of various pressing economic, political and societal issues such as land and housing, sustainability, the economy, education, health, climate change, youth unemployment and gender minority rights such as abortion and LGBTQ+ rights. The event will be attended by 100 delegates, carefully chosen from both within the movement and outside, based on their unique set of…
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Unprepared ECN, PDM lawyers hamper contempt of court challenge

Unprepared ECN, PDM lawyers hamper contempt of court challenge

Tujoromajo Kasuto The contempt of court application sought by three Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) members against the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) Chairperson, Advocate Notemba Tjipueja, for not adhering to a court order issued to have the member’s gazzeted as party’s rightful members of Parliament, was today struck off the roll by High Court Judges, Shafimana Ueitele, Hosea Angula and Thomas Masuku. This is due PDM’s and ECN’s lawyers heads of arguments not being finalised because internal deliberations have not been completed. The matter is struck off temporarily for the people involved to determine an appropriate date suitable for all…
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Parliament debate on youth unemployment long overdue

Parliament debate on youth unemployment long overdue

Eba Kandovazu BY the end of 2021, Namibia is expected to reach a staggering 50.3% youth unemployment rate. This is according to Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) Member of Parliament (MP), Inna Hengari, notifying Parliament today to debate the issue. Hengari says the youth labour force is 576 000 youth with 265 770 thereof unemployed and roaming the streets. This, according to her, represented by the end of 2018 a 46% youth unemployment. Hengari also notes that the youth unemployment rate in Namibia is more than twice than that of adults. “More concerning, is that the highest qualification of 229 259…
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Parliament debate on youth unemployment long overdue

Eba Kandovazu BY the end of 2021, Namibia is expected to reach a staggering 50.3% youth unemployment rate. This is according to Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) Member of Parliament (MP), Inna Hengari, notifying Parliament today to debate the issue. Hengari says the youth labour force is 576 000 youth with 265 770 thereof unemployed and roaming the streets. This, according to her, represented by the end of 2018 a 46% youth unemployment. Hengari also notes that the youth unemployment rate in Namibia is more than twice than that of adults. “More concerning, is that the highest qualification of 229 259…
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Opposition parties to challenge Noa re-appointment

Opposition parties to challenge Noa re-appointment

Andrew Kathindi Opposition parties in the National Assembly will oppose a decision by this chambers to re-appoint Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Director General, Paulus Noa, and his second in charge, Deputy Director General, Erna van der Merwe, Windhoek Observer can reveal. This was confirmed by Popular Democratic Movement Leader, McHenry Venaani, following a special session of the National Assembly today which approved President Hage Geingob’s nominations of Noa and van der Merwe. “All the opposition [parties] together have just taken a decision that we are approaching the court on an urgent basis to nullify that decision,” Venaani tells Windhoek Observer. Noa…
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PDM to oppose Noa’s re-appointment

PDM to oppose Noa’s re-appointment

Andrew Kathindi The Leader of the official opposition, Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), McHenry Venaani says his party will reject the nomination of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Director General, Paulus Noa, when the matter is brought for debate tomorrow, 28 July. Prime Minister, Saara Kugongelwa, on Tuesday afternoon confirmed to the National Assembly, which met for a special session after it has been on an indefinite break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, that Noa and his second in charge, Erna van der Merwe, have been nominated by President Hage Geingob. “We are going to vehemently argue against the reappointment of Noa. He…
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