Justicia Shipena
Former Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) lawmaker Maximalliant Katjimune has allegedly resigned from the party.
Sources within PDM claim Katjimune tendered his resignation this week, and that the party is withholding the confirmation.
His alleged departure follows a wave of recent resignations, including former shadow minister of education Charmaine Tjirare and former National Assembly members Yvette Araes, Esmeralda !Aebes, Vakamuina Kamutuezu and Shonena Nathaniel.
Reports last week also suggested that Katjimune and PDM leader McHenry Venaani disagreed on the reasons behind the resignations.
PDM secretary general Manuel Ngaringombe told the Windhoek Observer on Wednesday that he has not received an official resignation letter from Katjimune.
He also maintained that members are free to leave if they wish.
“I did not hear the information. But it’s true, people are resigning. Why are you calling me? Just confirm with Max,” Ngaringombe said.
He acknowledged that resignations are not good for the party but insisted they must be respected.
“I already said resignation is democratic. We are in a democratic state where people can join and leave a party. If the party do not meet their ambitions, their objectives, their whatever, then they leave,” he said.
Ngaringombe added that those departing contributed to the party and should be recognised.
“We are appreciating people for what they have delivered to the party for the last time that they were with the party. And I wish them all the best. Because people will resign,” he said.
He stressed that PDM would continue to resolve its internal issues but would not force anyone to stay.
“If people feel that the PDM vehicle is not a vehicle that will take them to the future that they want in their political life, they are in a democratic party. Fundamental rights and freedoms, freedom of association and so forth are there. It’s in our constitution. You can’t stop a person from holding on and staying in a liberal organisation,” Ngaringombe said.
Ngaringombe extended goodwill to Katjimune.
“If he really has resigned, I wish him all the best. He is a brilliant young man. I wish him the best in his future. And he is just practising his democratic rights in a democratic system that we have in Namibia,” he said.
Katjimune’s political journey within PDM has been closely tied to Venaani.
Katjimune served as a member of parliament until March this year, after the party lost seats in the National Assembly elections.
Katjimune, who was number ten on the list, failed to make the cut after PDM lost 11 seats.
The loss of these seats is estimated to cost PDM about N$12 million annually.
First nominated in 2019 at the age of 21, Katjimune became one of the youngest candidates ever put forward by PDM for the National Assembly.
Initially placed at number 22, he was not sworn in after the 2020 elections when the party secured only 16 seats.
He worked as a researcher and speechwriter for the PDM caucus from 2020 to 2022 before being sworn in as an MP in June 2022 at the age of 24, following a Supreme Court ruling on the PDM list.
In May of this year, Katjimune and five others launched legal action against PDM, the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) and the National Assembly. They are claiming N$9 million in losses, alleging Venaani unconstitutionally removed them from the parliamentary list. Tjirare and Araes, who have since resigned, are also part of the case.
When contacted for comment on reports of his resignation, he denied leaving the party.
“It’s the fakest of news. It is not true,” he told the Windhoek Observer.
