McHenry Venaani

Venaani proposes  re-negotiation of Genocide deal

Venaani proposes re-negotiation of Genocide deal

Eba Kandovazu POPULAR Democratic Movement (PDM) President, McHenry Venaani, is calling on a re-negotiation of the Genocide deal, with an all parties Select Committee of the National Assembly as the midwife on the road towards the re-negotiation along with the government and the affected communities. This, he says, is because the National Assembly had a 'diminished role' when it came to engaging in the Genocide debate. "If a Parliament’s membership is truly representative of the country’s population, the decisions taken by parliamentarians in respect of genocide agreements would be endorsed by the people as its democratically elected representatives bearing their…
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PDM to oppose Noa’s re-appointment

PDM to oppose Noa’s re-appointment

Andrew Kathindi The Leader of the official opposition, Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), McHenry Venaani says his party will reject the nomination of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Director General, Paulus Noa, when the matter is brought for debate tomorrow, 28 July. Prime Minister, Saara Kugongelwa, on Tuesday afternoon confirmed to the National Assembly, which met for a special session after it has been on an indefinite break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, that Noa and his second in charge, Erna van der Merwe, have been nominated by President Hage Geingob. “We are going to vehemently argue against the reappointment of Noa. He…
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LPM High Court judgement questioned

LPM High Court judgement questioned

Andrew Kathindi The High Court’s decision to dismiss the Landless People’s Movement’s (LPM) application to set aside Speaker of Parliament, Peter Katjavivi’s indefinite suspension of Bernandus Swartbooi and Henny Seibeb could set a worrying precedent. These were the views of Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) President Mike Kavekotora, who sits on the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Standing Rules and Orders and Internal Arrangements (STROC). The STROC according to parliament’s spokesperson, David Nahogandja, generally deals with matters such as misconduct before it is brought before the Privileges Committee. Kavekotora claimed that Katjavivi lied when he said the matter was dealt…
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Venaani demands answers from Parliament

Venaani demands answers from Parliament

Andrew Kathindi Parliament's Privileges Committee Vice Chairperson and leader of the official opposition, McHenry Venaani, has accused Parliament of keeping him in the dark over what it plans to charge Landless People's Movement (LPM) leader, Bernardus Swartbooi, and the party's second-in-charge, Henny Seibeb. This comes as a meeting which was scheduled to discuss the fate of two lawmakers did not take place on Tuesday, with Venaani stating that he was not even informed about the postponement. "I find it very strange that two meetings are postponed and I am the Vice Chair of the meeting and I am not being…
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Venaani to cost tax payers more

Venaani to cost tax payers more

Andrew Kathindi and Kandjemuni Kamuiiri Taxpayers are set to start incurring additional costs for the upkeep of Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader, McHenry Venaani, after he accepted President Hage Geingob’s offer for further benefits. Venaani's additional perks will include a state office at the premises of the National Assembly, a personal administrative assistant of his choice, a motor vehicle, a security aid and a driver. Political commentator Henning Melber said the official opposition leader’s acceptance of the perks was a classical case of hypocrisy and double standards, arguing the move could have an impact on voters’ perception of him in…
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Opposition MPs fume over virtual address

Opposition MPs fume over virtual address

Maria Hamutenya Drama ensued in Parliament on Tuesday after President Hage Geingob officially opened Parliament remotely, a position which did not go down well with members of the opposition. The development resulted in opposition party members walking out of the National Assembly Chamber arguing that they have not been consulted about the President addressing them virtually. Popular Democratic Movement leader, McHenry Venaani, said COVID-19 cannot be viewed as an unforeseen circumstance, because arrangements were made and how many people should be in the house to accommodate the President. “Why did the President not come? That it is threatening [to] our…
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RFA faces resistance over tolling plans

RFA faces resistance over tolling plans

Staff Writer A mooted plan by the Road Fund Administration (RFA) to introduce toll booths on certain national roads in Namibia already faces resistance from political parties and national unions. This comes as RFA stated that a feasibility study finalised a few months ago found charging tolls on certain road sections in Namibia is feasible and viable. It claims that these new revenues would generate approximately N$3.9 billion over a five-year period. This supposed finding is a direct contradiction the 2019 finding by former Minister of Finance and current Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, Calle Schlettwein who said…
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Coalitions only hope – Venaani

Coalitions only hope – Venaani

Andrew Kathindi Official opposition party leader, McHenry Venaani says divisions among parties has costed them in some areas and going forward a coalition provides the only hope to beat Swapo in future elections. This comes as Swapo candidates have managed to narrowly edge out the opposition parties in some parts of the country, while losing strongholds in other areas, as results continue to trickle in. “That whole thing really polarized the whole election, to the point where the opposition would have garnered a combined majority,” the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader told Windhoek Observer. “We knew that the election was…
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Venaani hits back at SWAPO over Zim motion

Venaani hits back at SWAPO over Zim motion

Clifton Movirongo Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) president McHenry Venaani has hit back at the ruling party’s decision to vote down a parliamentary motion tabled by his party on the current “crisis” in Zimbabwe, even before the motion was motivated. “To us, it is a greatest act of cowardice and in a gross disregard of the plight of the people of Zimbabwe. While I do respect and abide to the majoritarian rule tenet that applies to constitutional democracies such as ours, we also do not condone majoritarian rule that defies logic,” Venaani said. The PDM leader hints that instability in Zimbabwe…
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Venaani rules out support for lockdown extension

Venaani rules out support for lockdown extension

Helena Johannes Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader, McHenry Venaani has vowed that his party will not support any extension of the state of emergency, which President Hage Geingob instated earlier in the year. This comes as the President will require a two/third majority (66 members of the 95 voting members) to be able to extend the six month state of emergency which is set to lapse next week on 17 September. According to Venaani, his party will lobby other opposition parties against the extension of the state of emergency which will now require parliament approval. “The state of emergency and…
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