Matheus Hamutenya
Keetmanshoop-Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) //Kharas regional coordinator Charles Pieters says he is confident members of the official opposition party will not move to any newly formed party – including the Landless People’s Movement (LPM) which is expected to transform into a political party.
LPM, formed by, amongst others, former //Kharas regional governor Bernadus Swartbooi, would soon be registered as a political party, its founders say.
Talking to New Era on a variety of party issues at regional level, Pieters admitted there has been an exodus of party members in the past, when new political parties were formed, but he is positive this will not be the case in the region, despite the support LPM enjoys in the south.
The Namibian reported this week that LPM will by the end of February be registered as a political party, and while a large following of the party is expected to come from the //Kharas Region, Pieters is convinced that PDM will not be losing its members as happened in the past.
He explained that unlike in the past when members left en masse to join new parties at the time, such as the Congress of Democrats (CoD) and Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP), the party has strengthened relations with its members and thus nothing of this nature is anticipated.
“It is true, we might have lost members in the past, but this time we are on the ground, we are moving and our members see no other alternative party, this is their political home,” he said.
The coordinator blamed former leaders of the party for the exodus of members in the past, saying they were power hungry and had lost touch with the people on the ground. He added that the leaders did not understand the needs of their members, “which is not the case under the new leadership, led by McHenry Venaani as president”.
Former DTA – which is now the PDM – president Katuutire Kaura, who lost the throne to Venaani, joined Swapo in November 2017.
Pieters said he actually expects the party to attract new members in //Kharas, especially with its vibrant young leader and the recent rebranding of the party.
He further said that the party is working towards making its presence felt in all corners by setting up branches throughout the region. This, he said, would help establish the needs of the people.
The coordinator said he also expects improved results in future elections, adding that the party is working towards regaining local authority seats lost in the past.