Venaani eligible for third term – Ngaringombe

Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader McHenry Venaani could extend his presidency by another five years when the party holds its next elective congress in 2029, potentially taking his leadership tenure to 21 years.This is according to PDM secretary general Manuel Ngaringombe, who says nothing in the party's constitution prevents Venaani from seeking another term.Ngaringombe told Namibian Sun’s The Agenda, which aired on Sunday, that the constitution as amended in 2017 allows the leader to serve three five-year terms, not two. “It is very retrospective,” he said.He said the party had not yet discussed leadership or succession ahead of the next congress, and was currently preoccupied with repositioning itself.“At the moment, the party is working on our strategy, which is [to] rebrand, redirect and expand the party,” he said.Once election and leadership discussions begin, he added, the party will keep Namibians abreast of the way forward.“Currently any member of this party, any leader of the party, stands free to become a leader and stands free to go to congress to be elected,” Ngaringombe said.Asked whether the party had groomed enough leaders, he pointed to the number of young people holding senior positions, from parliament and regional councils to local authorities and party structures such as the central committee, the national executive committee and the Top 9.“The PDM is a democratic organisation. We have changed leaders over the years, not because we were forced by the constitution of the country but by our own,” he said.He added that the party was “too mature to be lectured”, saying: “We know exactly what we are doing.”RebrandingThe prospect of another Venaani term has raised eyebrows in some circles.In 2017, the party, then known as the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA), transitioned to the PDM. Venaani led DTA for five years before the party rebranded.The rebranding attracted speculation among some that the exercise was, in part, allegedly intended to circumvent existing leadership term limits.Talks have allegedly also been rife that the rebranding potentially led to the fallout between Venaani and then PDM lawmaker Vipuakuje Muharukua in 2024.Muharukua, once widely viewed as Venaani's political protégé and potential successor, abruptly defected to Swapo in late 2024. He now serves as the Kunene governor.Venaani had previously suggested that Muharukua lacked the patience required for a smooth leadership transition.Asked whether the transition from DTA to PDM was driven exclusively by the need to modernise and reposition the party, or whether internal leadership and succession considerations also played a role, Venaani declined to address the specifics.“You are making false speculation not backed by any facts,” he told Namibian Sun this week in response to detailed questions.He argued that it is unreasonable to expect PDM to have, or be judged against, a limit that other parties don’t impose on themselves.“Which other political party in the world has term limits? Rather than states' constitutional limitation?”Familiar territoryCurrent developments within the PDM resemble circumstances surrounding Venaani's own rise to the party presidency, when he challenged his political mentor, the late Katuutire Kaura.The long-serving leader of the DTA faced mounting pressure to relinquish power amid accusations of bullying political opponents and marginalising dissenting voices.Having led the party for 15 years after succeeding the exiled Mishake Muyongo, Kaura was increasingly criticised for alleged financial mismanagement and presiding over a movement that was losing its political appeal and struggling to connect with voters.Venaani, then the party's secretary general, emerged as a formidable challenger at just 36 years old, despite, at the time, being regarded as a political novice.The contest unfolded at a difficult time for the DTA, which held only two seats in the National Assembly.However, efforts to contain Venaani's growing influence ultimately failed. At the 2013 congress, he defeated Kaura decisively, securing 148 votes against his rival's 96.–edward@nmh.com.na

Venaani eligible for third term – Ngaringombe

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Namibian Sun 2026-11-12

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Venaani eligible for third term – Ngaringombe

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Namibian Sun 2026-11-12

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