Venaani denies N$2.5 million luxury car claims

Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader McHenry Venaani has dismissed allegations that the party is planning to buy him a luxury Land Cruiser worth N$2.5 million.

He said the new vehicle is simply a work bakkie, adding that 12 years of party duties had left four of his personal vehicles worn out, with each recording over 400 000 kilometres on the clock.

Venaani told Namibian Sun on Wednesday there is "no truth to the claim that there is any Land Cruiser costing N$2.5 million. This is a bakkie; it is not the proposed VX station wagon."

He also dismissed suggestions that the planned purchase was extravagant, insisting the party was merely considering a practical 4x4 bakkie capable of handling difficult terrain during campaigns.

“It is simply a bakkie to be used for work. It is also informed by the fact that I travel through tough terrain while campaigning in mountains and other difficult areas,” he said.

He added that the option of purchasing a second-hand vehicle remains under consideration and denied claims that any deposit had already been paid.

“No deposit has been paid at this point, and no final decision has been implemented,” he underlined.

A source recently claimed that the PDM is in the process of buying the new Land Cruiser, with a deposit allegedly already paid.

The source claimed the vehicle was being purchased for Venaani because he has been using his personal car for party-related work.

12 years without an official car

Venaani told Namibian Sun he is the only leader without an official car.

“All national leaders of the party, including the vice-president, chairman, secretary-general, deputy secretary-general and treasurer-general, have party vehicles to do party work," he said.

"The only person over the last 12 years who has not had a vehicle is the president of the organisation."

He said the decision to purchase a vehicle for work-related activities "is not something extraordinary", adding that "people like dramatisation, and those saying the president should not have a car must explain how they expect me to do the work. How must I do the work? Must I continue being abused?"

Venaani said years of travelling for political campaigns and party duties across the country had taken a heavy toll on his private vehicles.

“I have worn out four of my vehicles. All my cars are already at 400 000 kilometres,” he noted.

Venaani also explained that the proposed purchase would not create a new expense line for the party, as it would instead utilise existing repayments linked to vehicles from the party fleet that have been written off.

“The same amount will be used to purchase a vehicle, whatever that vehicle may be, for the use of the president. So it is not something new in the organisation,” Venaani explained.

He added that the party has operated over 50 vehicles, and some of those vehicles were overturned due to drunk driving or other accidents.

'Eating last'

The source alleged that the proposed vehicle purchase comes at a time when PDM has retrenched its regional coordinators, who are only expected to receive their final payments in July.

The source also argued that the alleged amount set aside for the car would cover staff salaries for several years

Venaani, however, argued the layoffs were a consequence of the party losing parliamentary seats and the resulting decline in financial capacity.

He added that he has never personally benefited financially from the party during his tenure as president.

“I have always maintained a culture of eating last and never benefiting personally," he said.

"I am the only leader who does not even get a phone allowance or any allowance while leading the organisation".

Responding to further allegations that the treasurer-general had received N$60 000, Venaani said there is no truth to that.

"There is simply no truth in it. These are just people making false allegations," he said.

"The treasurer-general has been one of the officers rendering services to the party while serving as a member of parliament, and even after leaving parliament, he has continued rendering services to the party while on pension. So those making such huge claims are being dishonest."

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