Renthia Kaimbi
Former Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) member Richard !Hoaeb says he still considers himself part of the party despite being expelled for running as an independent candidate.
On Tuesday, PDM expelled seven of its members, citing violations of the party’s constitution.
Those expelled include !Hoaeb, Florence Uapakua Ndinda, Erenst Muraranganda, Piet Mostert, Dankeni Tjilongo, Hermina Khairabes and Jenny Kandukira.
!Hoaeb, who chairs the management committee of the Walvis Bay municipality, confirmed his expulsion but said he only learnt about it through the media.
“I did not resign from the party. They made the choice to distance themselves from me,” he said.
He explained that his decision to run independently in the Walvis Bay Rural Constituency was to “work closely and directly with community members” and avoid “political interference” in his future political aspirations.
He said his decision to run independently in the Walvis Bay Rural Constituency was driven by his desire to work directly with community members and pursue his political goals without external interference.
PDM secretary general Manuel Ngaringombe said the party’s constitution require loyalty and forbid members from contesting elections against official PDM candidates.
The members are accused of either running independently or supporting rival candidates.
In a dismissal letter, Ngaringombe informed !Hoaeb that his decision to run independently violated the PDM constitution and breached the party’s principles of discipline and loyalty.
The letter stated that his decision led to the automatic loss of his membership under Article 12, which provides that any member who contests or accepts nomination against an official PDM candidate forfeits their party membership.
The party also confirmed his removal from the PDM local authority candidate list for the Walvis Bay municipality.
While acknowledging his past contributions, the letter stated that his “recent conduct is incompatible with the unity and discipline that guide our Movement.”
Last month, several former senior PDM members, including Charmaine Tjirare, Yvette Araes, Vakamuina Kamutuezu, and Julia Nekwaya, joined Swapo during the party’s regional and local authority elections campaign launch in Walvis Bay.
