I’m not authoritarian - Venaani
The leader of the official opposition has hit back at a suspended town councillor who accused him of running the party like his “own house”.
13 August 2019 | Politics
OGONE TLHAGE
Popular Democratic Movement leader McHenry Venaani has denied an accusation that he is running the party as if it were his personal property.
PDM Grootfontein town councillor Othniel Tjikuua made the comment in response to his recent suspension form the party.
Hitting back, Venaani accused Tjikuua of actively campaigning for the National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo). Tjikuua was further accused of setting his sights on becoming a councillor for Nudo in the Okakarara constituency.
“Tjikuua wants to run as a Nudo candidate in the Okakarara elections. He should not play the victim here. He is mobilising PDM support for that,” Venaani said.
Tjikuua had also accused Venaani of denying him the right of being involved in the affairs of the Ovaherero Traditional Authority.
“There is no truth in what Tjikuua is claiming. He has been serving as a councillor in Grootfontein for the last four years,” said Venaani.
According to him, Tjikuua is not the only PDM member involved with a traditional authority.
Venaani further asked what decision he had taken to be labelled authoritarian by Tjikuua and political stray Olsen Kahriri, who had also criticised the PDM leader.
“He [Kahiriri] was not even a PDM member at the last congress. He is not a national executive council member, he is not even a central committee member,” said Venaani.
“There is no truth that I am being authoritarian. Which decision did I take to be called authoritarian? There is no truth that I am being authoritarian,” the party leader said.
Tjikuua was recently suspended from the party on charges of gross insubordination and violation of the PDM Code of Conduct.
“Mr Tjikuua has further been given 14 days from receipt of the written letter to show cause as to why he should not be subjected to a disciplinary hearing,” party secretary-general Manuel Ngaringombe said in a statement.
Tjikuua was further forbidden to attend any PDM events.
When called for comment, Tjikuua accused Venaani of running the party as if it were his personal property. He added that he was a victim of tribalism because he had backed a traditional faction Venaani did not favour.
Popular Democratic Movement leader McHenry Venaani has denied an accusation that he is running the party as if it were his personal property.
PDM Grootfontein town councillor Othniel Tjikuua made the comment in response to his recent suspension form the party.
Hitting back, Venaani accused Tjikuua of actively campaigning for the National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo). Tjikuua was further accused of setting his sights on becoming a councillor for Nudo in the Okakarara constituency.
“Tjikuua wants to run as a Nudo candidate in the Okakarara elections. He should not play the victim here. He is mobilising PDM support for that,” Venaani said.
Tjikuua had also accused Venaani of denying him the right of being involved in the affairs of the Ovaherero Traditional Authority.
“There is no truth in what Tjikuua is claiming. He has been serving as a councillor in Grootfontein for the last four years,” said Venaani.
According to him, Tjikuua is not the only PDM member involved with a traditional authority.
Venaani further asked what decision he had taken to be labelled authoritarian by Tjikuua and political stray Olsen Kahriri, who had also criticised the PDM leader.
“He [Kahiriri] was not even a PDM member at the last congress. He is not a national executive council member, he is not even a central committee member,” said Venaani.
“There is no truth that I am being authoritarian. Which decision did I take to be called authoritarian? There is no truth that I am being authoritarian,” the party leader said.
Tjikuua was recently suspended from the party on charges of gross insubordination and violation of the PDM Code of Conduct.
“Mr Tjikuua has further been given 14 days from receipt of the written letter to show cause as to why he should not be subjected to a disciplinary hearing,” party secretary-general Manuel Ngaringombe said in a statement.
Tjikuua was further forbidden to attend any PDM events.
When called for comment, Tjikuua accused Venaani of running the party as if it were his personal property. He added that he was a victim of tribalism because he had backed a traditional faction Venaani did not favour.
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