Lahja Nashuuta
Financially struggling Popular Democratic Movement has cut its employees from 48 to 27, removed 21 positions and reduced salaries for most staff and regional coordinators.
However, party secretary general Manuel Ngaringombe’s salary remains unscathed, New Era understands.
He currently earns a salary equivalent to that of a Member of Parliament.
These cost-cutting steps have upset many employees, with some saying they plan to leave the party or take legal action.
“We will go to the labour office. They want to pay us out at the end of the month. But that will not happen.
We are just waiting for our letters, and then we will act,” said one affected worker.
Another added, “We got a lot of money for the 16 seats over the last five years, but no one has said where that money went. I last got a salary in January, and they stopped it without telling me why.”
What is more, in minutes from a recent Human Resources Committee meeting seen by this paper, party treasurer general Nico Smit blamed the changes on a big drop in funding. This came after the party did poorly in the 2024 Presidential and National Assembly elections.
“We will get very little funding this year. Staff salaries must be reduced, and some positions must go,” Smit said, according to the minutes.
Documents seen by New Era show that PDM was spending about N$349 407 every month on salaries.
The HR committee reviewed all roles and found that some jobs overlapped or were no longer needed. This led to the removal of 21 positions.
Well-known figures who lost their jobs include deputy secretary general Linus Tobias, former information and publicity secretary Benson Katjirijova, former youth league secretary Lucas Katjiremba, transport and logistics secretary and national organiser Agaptus Antanga and logistics secretary Ignatius Semba.
Cutting these jobs is expected to save about N$106 080 every month. Regional coordinators were also affected. Those who earned N$7 000 per month will now get N$4 000. Others who earned N$4 000 will now get N$2 000. This move will save the party another N$67 265 each month.
As of April 2025, PDM’s total monthly salary bill dropped from N$349 407 to N$184 062.
Funding
Between 2019 and March 2025, PDM received over N$60.8 million in State funds from its seats in Parliament.
But after losing support in 2024, the party now has only five seats. It has also reportedly lost its head office, which it had been renting.
Some party members claimed there was a tax refund, but documents show the finance department did not submit any official paperwork for that.
Party leaders could not be reached for comment. But according to the HR meeting minutes, Ngaringombe confirmed that all staff were told earlier this year that their contracts might not be renewed after February 2025.
It is also understood that three social media team members and a bodyguard were hired only for the 2024 campaign; hence, they have been removed from the party payroll.
During the 2024/25 financial year, political parties represented in both the NA and the National Council (NC) received a combined N$181 million. The amount is expected to increase this year.
The allocation is an increase from the N$149.5 million parties received from Treasury during the 2023/2024 financial year. In the 2022/2023 year, parties got N$103.9 million.
Parties receive funds from the Treasury based on the number of seats they have in the NA and NC.
Last year, a seat in any of the parliamentary houses earned a party over N$1.5 million annually.
Last year, Swapo received N$97.5 million, while the official opposition, the PDM, received N$19.5 million. Bernadus Swartbooi’s Landless People’s Movement received N$10.8 million.
Other parties, such as the United Democratic Front, pocketed N$4.3 million, while the National Unity Democratic Organisation collected N$3.2 million.
The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), whose financial fortunes will change for the better this year with 20 seats, and the Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters and All People’s Party each received N$2.2 million last year.