Popular Democratic Movement secretary general Manuel Ngaringombe has dismissed allegations that the party is not in a sound financial position to hold an intra-party congress next month. 

“We are a serious organisation. We are not Nudo or those other small parties,” he said on Wednesday. 

Ngaringombe was seemingly taking a jibe at the National Unity Democratic Organisation, whose elective congress ended in shambles recently, flushing almost N$1 million down the drain. 

“The PDM will never say it will do something, and do the opposite. If we didn’t have money, we couldn’t have announced that we are holding a congress. You know our financials. 

You have seen our audited financial
statements. Those spreading rumours to the contrary can continue. We are going ahead with everything as planned,” he emphasised. 

Concerns

However, internal murmurs are contrary to what Ngaringombe is preaching. 

Insiders claim there is a deliberate push by party leader McHenry Venaani and his inner circle for the congress not to take place, unless the top six positions in the party remain uncontested.  These allegations come from disgruntled party members who feel the crucial event is being deliberately delayed to endorse the current leadership, and cover up the party’s lack of funds.

Ngaringombe has vehemently denied these claims as being unfounded, and aimed at causing disruptions within the party. 

So far, the PDM’s congress has been postponed three times, once in early February, then in April, and most recently last weekend. 

The new tentative date is 22 August, after the party initially said it would be held on 7 August. “The delay is primarily due to the regions not completing their processes, and the lack of funds in regional accounts. This delay has sparked accusations that the office of the secretary general is intentionally stalling the constitutional processes needed to democratically elect a new leadership,” a regional coordinator charged.  Numerous regional coordinators expressed frustration to New Era, suggesting that Ngaringombe’s office might be purposefully delaying the processes. 

The PDM constitution mandates regular congresses to ensure democratic processes within the party.  Specifically, Article 7.2 of their constitution stipulates that an elective congress should be held every five years to elect the party’s leadership. Similarly, the supreme law of the land, read with provisions of the Electoral Act, emphasises the importance of democratic practices within political parties, reinforcing the need for holding timely congresses.

On Friday, the PDM announced that it is in the final stages of preparing for the elections after hosting its first Training of Trainers’ workshop for mobilisers in all its 16 regions. 

Ngaringombe said the congress was postponed because it clashes with the National Assembly session, which will advance its sitting to complete its business before the recess for the election campaign period.

“The hours and days of the august House have been extended to convene even on Fridays. This will clash with our timeframe for our expected elective congress. Therefore, the national executive committee resolved that the PDM national elective congress be postponed to 22-24 August 2024 to give delegates undivided time and commitment to this very important exercise,” he said in a statement. On claims that there is a deliberate push to retain the current top six leaders, Ngaringombe said they are not true.  “The PDM will advance its democratic principles by going to its elective congress to democratically elect new national leaders as per the PDM constitution,” he stated.

The secretary general further urged members who want to contest for any position within the movement to start campaigning openly, and prepare to be voted into any position of their choice. In an internal memorandum, he urged the regional coordinators to ensure that delegates to the regional congresses are elected, and that regional elections proceed smoothly. 

Regional congresses were slated for 21-28 July, but they have not started yet, as the party has apparently not dispatched funds for that purpose. “As we stated in the press release, our party will proceed with the congresses, and I will not entertain any further rumours,” said Ngaringombe. 

He added that the regional congresses, where delegates to the national congress will be elected, will be completed between “this weekend and next weekend”. 

Cash money

While talk is rife that the country’s official opposition party is financially struggling, it is the second-biggest recipient of public funds from the Treasury through party funding. 

Meanwhile, the finance ministry had in an earlier response to New Era stated that Swapo received N$97.5 million from Treasury.

They were followed by PDM, who pocketed at least N$19.5 million. 

The Bernadus Swartbooi-led Landless People’s Movement, which has in recent times been at war with itself, received N$10.8 million last year.  In fourth was the green and white flag of the United Democratic Front with N$4.3 million, while Nudo collected N$3.2 million from the State’s purse.  Furthermore, Panduleni Itula’s army of patriots, the Independent Patriots for Change, the now-deregistered red-beret Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters under Epaphras Mukwiilongo’s stewardship, Henk Mudge’s Republican Party, and the Nangolo Shuumbwa-led All People’s Party all received N$2.2 million each last year. 

Based on their single seats, the rest of the parties and individuals got N$1.1 million each.

Ngaringombe was pompous about the party’s impeccable financial status. 

“If we were not in a good financial position, we wouldn’t be able to hold a congress. Those rumours are unfounded,” he reiterated. 

Millions

Information obtained from Treasury further showed that during the 2019/20 financial year (FY), political parties received N$116.5 million from the public purse.

In the following FY, 2020/21, the amount paid to political parties was N$102.8 million.

During the 2021/22 FY, political party funding increased to N$103.9 million.

The amount would increase to N$119.4 million in the following fiscal year.

The highest funding was during the just-ended 2023/24 FY, when political parties received N$149.5 million.

These funds are disbursed quarterly. Funds paid to a political party are deposited in a bank account opened by the political party concerned with a banking institution in Namibia. Between 2015 and 2020, taxpayers coughed up N$679.5 million on political parties. –ashikololo@nepc.com.na