Modesty, calmness and composure are but a few features that quintessentially set lawmaker Maximalliant Katjimune apart among the political elite, who now happen to be his peers. 

At 25, Katjimune is one of the youngest MPs. 

New Era takes a dive into the politician’s life to unveil the enigma he is. 

In the Popular Democratic Movement corridors, some attribute his meteoric political rise to his loyalty to PDM’s honcho McHenry Venaani. 

However, those who have shared trenches with him during his twilight years and as a student political leader at the university knew he was destined for something special. 

“I was the first branch chairperson of NANSO in Jan Mohr, and I was then subsequently elected to the then vibrant NANSO Khomas regional executive committee in 2016. After enrolling at the University of Namibia, I was elected as the faculty representative for the humanities and social sciences in my second year. 

“I then served as the spokesperson of SRC in my third year and then finally as speaker of student parliament in my final year. I joined the PDM and PDM youth league during my Unam years – and as we say, the rest is history,” Katjimune said, putting to rest those questioning his credentials. 

Politics 101

After graduating from the University of Namibia in 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political studies and sociology with minors in history and philosophy, he joined the PDM office at Parliament and was a researcher at the National Assembly. 

Katjimune is not done just yet. He is an ardent believer in the acquisition of a continuous process and will continue to study for as long he continues roaming the earth. 

“I am enrolled for a Bachelor of Laws at the same university, and about to register for my Master of Arts in Politics at the University of South Africa. I believe education is fundamental if we, as political and civil leaders, have to uplift our society from the trenches of poverty, inequality and corruption. Our policy interventions, as politicians, should always be backed up by scientific data and empirical evidence, rather than populism – and we can only do this if we continuously educate ourselves,” he asserted. 

No career

Unlike others who see politics as lucrative – rightly so, as many local politicians have amassed opulence – that can mostly not be explained; through the political office, Katjimune has different views. 

For him, politics is not a career. 

If anything, it is rather a temporary service to the public that can be renewed or not renewed at elections through universal suffrage.

“That is why it’s imperative that each and every politician establishes a career outside politics, so that people don’t sit in positions of power forever. This is why I continuously keep educating myself and upgrading my qualifications because political positions are not permanent,” he said.  

He continued: “We derive our mandate from the electorate – and if they do not want us anymore, we have to leave. I also believe that I can play an equally important role – either in civil society, academia or in the legal fraternity post-politics. So, I am not really much concerned about post-March 2025. I am fully concerned with my job as a legislator, and I intend to fulfil that mandate effectively.”

PDM

The PDM, he continued, remains the government-in-waiting, despite the turbulence that engulfs the party at the moment.

But when it is all said and done, PDM remains intact; its youngest member of parliament, Katjimune, said during a recent interview on NBC’s One on One talk show.

“I have to answer your last statement and state categorically that there are no tassels in the Popular Democratic Movement. There are, of course, internal [issues]; you know democratic processes where people compete with each other,” he said when quizzed if the current leadership squabbles were crippling the party. When asked about the PDM ideology and how he reconciles with the fact that the PDM worships figures like Boris Johnson and belongs to the Democratic Union of Africa (who espouse right-wing ideologies) and believes in trickle-down economics, which has proven to be a massive failure, Katjimune had a mouthful to say. 

He was quick to note that PDM, the Conservative Party of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, have long-established ties. 

“The centre-right is no longer what it was in the 19th or early 20th century – and we certainly do not subscribe to that ancient methodology of the centre-right. The centre-right ideology is now much more progressive and pro-poor – and you’ll be able to see this even if you look at the policy interventions that have been prevalent under the leadership of the conservative parties of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,” he asserted. 

Chaos

His remarks come at a time Katjimune, alongside five others, are demanding backpay from the National Assembly, citing they became duly elected MPs in 2019.

They were sworn in only mid-2022 – after the Supreme Court ruled that six PDM members – Esmeralda Esme !Aebes, Johannes Martin, Kazeongere Tjeundo, Goeffrey Mwilima, Sydney Ndumba and Pieter Mostert – were unlawfully added to the National Assembly list.

Following the ruling, they were replaced by Katjimune, Hidipo Hamata, Yvette Araes, Reggie Diergaardt, Charmaine Tjirare and Mike Venaani, father of PDM’s leader McHenry.

What is peculiar, however, is Katjimune distanced himself from Hamata and Tjirare when they mounted their legal fight, a fight from which he would eventually benefit as part of the collateral damage.

He explained his stance, saying he took a step back, as he was a subordinate of those whose legitimacy was put to test as a parliamentary researcher and speech writer.

“I took a step back and allowed the processes to unfold because it would have been the highest level of misconduct and unprofessionalism – and even malice to go behind the back of the person you are serving in order to get rid of them in Parliament,” Katjimune said.

Venaani vs Muharuka

In recent times, PDM has been rocked by a rigmarole of removals, questions around its finances and a power struggle between leader Venaani and fellow parliamentarian, Vipuakuje Muharukua.

Caught in the crossfire is another lawmaker Inna Hengari, who is believed to be a Muharukua ally.

Muharukua also supported Rally for Democracy and Progress leader Mike Kavekotora in the race for Ovaherero paramount chieftaincy, ahead of Venaani and eventual victor Hoze Riruako.

Muhurukua at the time justified his conviction, saying Kavakotora would not “sell out” the polarised Ovaherero.

Talk in the PDM corridors is now rife that Muharukua and Hengari were recently removed from a parliamentary committee for daring Venaani’s might.

The duo’s influence in the party must be diminished by any means necessary ahead of their intraparty congress next year.

In Katjimunene’s eyes, this version is far from the truth. Katjimune is considered one of Venaani’s most trusted lieutenants.

“It [removal] was a result of a resolution of a meeting that was taken in 2020 that the whippery in the shadow cabinet be filled every two years. 

Parliamentary democracies, particularly in the Commonwealth, the leader of the official opposition and the leaders of parties have a carte blanche to appoint the chief whips. [But] because of the fact that we are the Popular Democratic Movement, we believe in the democratic processes of our party. We give the [parliamentary] caucus a chance… so we must respect the PDM for being a democratic party,” he said.

He added, explaining his new role as the PDM deputy chief whip in the National Assembly.

“The whippery, in general, is a very important component of parliament because the whips are charged with the mandate of directing the business of every caucus in the National Assembly and any Parliament.

“My role, as the deputy chief, is primarily to assist the chief whip within the execution of his or her duties – and we now have a very progressive Iron Lady [Elma Dienda]. My first duty is to assist in the execution of those duties, to assist in the caucus, to coordinate the caucus, to articulate the caucus position in our meetings in parliament and coordinate the entire operations of the caucus in the National Assembly,” he elucidated.

Youth apathy

Like many Namibians, Katjimune is also concerned about the general lack of youth in contemporary politics.

Most young Namibians, held by certain quarters, have given up politics and see it as an ‘elderly forte’.“I think we are all to be concerned because in Africa, in general, Namibia in particular, we all know that young people constitute a significant majority of the electorate. Yet, we see their participation in active politics very low. So, we all have to do more as young politicians and as elderly politicians to ensure that we effectively coordinate and incorporate young people into mainstream politics so we see,” he said.

To add insult to injury, PDM is currently without a functioning youth league. Its dormancy is attributed to the factional battles for dominance between Venaani and Muharukua’s supporters.

To this, Katjimune said his party is not the only one without a functioning youth league and that plans are in place to revive it.

At the general elections next year, Namibians under the age of 40 are expected to make up more than 60% of the eligible voting population.   

“I think all of us across the political establishment have to sit together and dissect why people are not participating in politics at the level that they are supposed to. You know; don’t deny any hope in our politics.

“Even during the 2019 general elections, young people did not come out to vote – even though they constituted the biggest majority of the electorate. So, the participation of young people in politics is something that we all have to be concerned about and we have to work on as a party as a political establishment in general,” the youngest lawmaker said. - emumbuu@nepc.com.na