Venaani, Van den Heever on a political warpath
‘I will not sell my soul’
The relationship between the party's most senior leaders broke down after the VP learnt that the party leader wanted a younger person to take her seat.
Popular Democratic Movement’s (PDM) vice president Jennifer van den Heever says not even the promise of a parliamentary seat will make her consider abandoning her plans to contest to retain her position in the party.
In the build-up to the party’s elective congress, taking place in Katima Mulilo today, the party's top two leaders, McHenry Venaani and his deputy Van den Heever, are said to be on a collision course over cushy positions in the party.
Namibian Sun has been reliably informed that Van den Heever wants to contest to retain her vice presidency seat, but Venaani allegedly wants the more youthful Winnie Moongo to be his deputy for the next five years.
The source, a member of the party's top structures, said: “Venaani wants Winnie to come up the ranks because of her age, as well as to try and capture the northern votes. But she is a political novice, so one wonders whether she has the political muscle to make inroads in the northern areas where the party has struggled for years.”
Not backing down
Van den Heever yesterday made it clear that she will not back down from her candidacy, saying: “I will not sell my soul for a parliamentary seat.”
“I am not considering once to stand back from the vice president position of the Popular Democratic Movement. I was asked by a journalist while at Oanob and in Opuwo whether I will stand for the position, and both times I said I am standing. I have given my intention that I will stand and I have lobbied with the members that support me. I will stand, whether I lose or win. I want to stand with integrity,” she said.
Van den Heever, who has always been a Venaani loyalist, said there are talks within the party’s ranks that she should stand down as VP hopeful to make way for Moongo.
Consensus reached
However, she and Venaani allegedly reached an agreement that she would vie for the VP position.
“The president and I had a conversation and we have reached consensus that I will stand for the VP position. I am not a betrayer of my people. I came with honour and when the party members asked me whether I wished to stand for the position, I assured them. If congress decides they will not elect me, then that is it, but even if I don't make it, I will remain a PDM member. I grew up in this party, I worked hand in hand with my president to transform and rebrand this party. I was one of the strong influencers that enabled him to take over from former Katuutire Kaura,” she said.
Discussing the future
Venaani said there is nothing strange about having conversations about the progression within the party.
“PDM is a progressive and democratic movement where we converse with each other about the future of the party. She [Van Den Heever] is an MP. How can I change what she is? In a democracy, leaders always discuss the future. As president and deputy, we hold conversations over the future and there is nothing untoward,” he said.
The party’s top leadership structure is currently made up of Venaani as president, Van Den Heever as vice president, Manuel Ngaringombe as secretary-general, Lunis Tobias as deputy secretary-general, Diederick Ricky Vries as national chairperson and Nico Smit as treasurer-general.
[email protected]
In the build-up to the party’s elective congress, taking place in Katima Mulilo today, the party's top two leaders, McHenry Venaani and his deputy Van den Heever, are said to be on a collision course over cushy positions in the party.
Namibian Sun has been reliably informed that Van den Heever wants to contest to retain her vice presidency seat, but Venaani allegedly wants the more youthful Winnie Moongo to be his deputy for the next five years.
The source, a member of the party's top structures, said: “Venaani wants Winnie to come up the ranks because of her age, as well as to try and capture the northern votes. But she is a political novice, so one wonders whether she has the political muscle to make inroads in the northern areas where the party has struggled for years.”
Not backing down
Van den Heever yesterday made it clear that she will not back down from her candidacy, saying: “I will not sell my soul for a parliamentary seat.”
“I am not considering once to stand back from the vice president position of the Popular Democratic Movement. I was asked by a journalist while at Oanob and in Opuwo whether I will stand for the position, and both times I said I am standing. I have given my intention that I will stand and I have lobbied with the members that support me. I will stand, whether I lose or win. I want to stand with integrity,” she said.
Van den Heever, who has always been a Venaani loyalist, said there are talks within the party’s ranks that she should stand down as VP hopeful to make way for Moongo.
Consensus reached
However, she and Venaani allegedly reached an agreement that she would vie for the VP position.
“The president and I had a conversation and we have reached consensus that I will stand for the VP position. I am not a betrayer of my people. I came with honour and when the party members asked me whether I wished to stand for the position, I assured them. If congress decides they will not elect me, then that is it, but even if I don't make it, I will remain a PDM member. I grew up in this party, I worked hand in hand with my president to transform and rebrand this party. I was one of the strong influencers that enabled him to take over from former Katuutire Kaura,” she said.
Discussing the future
Venaani said there is nothing strange about having conversations about the progression within the party.
“PDM is a progressive and democratic movement where we converse with each other about the future of the party. She [Van Den Heever] is an MP. How can I change what she is? In a democracy, leaders always discuss the future. As president and deputy, we hold conversations over the future and there is nothing untoward,” he said.
The party’s top leadership structure is currently made up of Venaani as president, Van Den Heever as vice president, Manuel Ngaringombe as secretary-general, Lunis Tobias as deputy secretary-general, Diederick Ricky Vries as national chairperson and Nico Smit as treasurer-general.
[email protected]
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article