PDM court challenger claims victimisation

JEMIMA BEUKES

WINDHOEK

Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) member Charmaine Tjirare, who along with other party members won a High Court dispute against the party over National Assembly seats, has accused the party leadership of pushing a witch-hunt to get rid of them.

In a landmark ruling recently, PDM members Charmaine Tjirare and Hidipo Hamata won their High Court case in which they challenged their removal from the party's parliamentary list, which had been gazetted just before last year's general election.

Tjirare said the final confirmation of this supposed witch-hunt was when she went to support the PDM Katutura Central Constituency candidate Rodman Katjaimo this past weekend during his campaign and he threatened to "finish” her.

“My sister made me walk to the car as he got agitated and aggressive. It was a confrontation about the case I have against the PDM about the parliament list.

“The conversation escalated when I confidently informed him we will win the appeal. He got up and threatened that he and the party leadership will kick us out of the party and we will never set foot in parliament,” she said.

She added that she had vigorously campaigned for Katjaimo as he is a "brother" and even had his poster on her car.

“I ripped off the poster, got in the car and drove home.”

Namibian Sun has been reliably informed that Hamata too has been intimidated since the start of this legal process. Hamata declined to comment.

Katjaimo could not be reached for comment.

Shocking

Meanwhile, PDM leader McHenry Venaani says he was shocked by such exchanges between senior party members.

“The danger of drawing judgement is the absence of context. People must disagree without being disagreeable.

“I will both call them in upon my return from the regions to hear them both out. Whoever said what and is found wrong shall face the full wrath of party discipline,” said Venaani.

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