Africa-Press – Namibia. THE Popular Democratic Momevent (PDM) wants to be known as a party which is able to address the needs and aspirations of the poor and working class in the country.
This was announced by PDM president McHenry Venaani at the party’s policy and elections review conference at Otjiwarongo this week. Venaani said by dissecting the key areas of the economy, land, education, health, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and others’ (LGBTQI+) rights, abortion and gender, climate change, and international conflicts, the movement will emerge stronger as a disciplined force of the centre right.
Venaani said dynamic societies in future may achieve both individual and social goals by enhancing decision-making capacities, guided by policies that seek to uplift and empower.
“Having been afforded the status of the official opposition in 2019 came with considerable expectation on the part of the electorate. It is now up to each of us in attendance to repay that faith and fulfil the expectation by adopting resolutions that respond to social, economic and political dynamics of contemporary Namibia,” he said.
The PDM’s conference is themed ‘Shaping PDM Policy Towards a Transformative Society’. The movement seeks to craft economic transformation policies to achieve increased per capita income, employment, and visible progress in reducing wealth and income inequalities.
It also strives for regional development in southern Africa by fostering integration, Venaani said. He said the PDM would like to see policies that can produce less bureaucracy in managing small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and can create a more user-friendly and vibrant SME sector with less reliance on the government.
Venaani said the perception exists that the Namibian microfinance model is too bureaucratic and more market driven than developmental, which is why the movement’s policies must provide an improved alternative.
“With a modernised economy and the right policies to guide it, Namibia can have competitive manufacturing industries, a dynamic services sector, and a growing knowledge economy,” he said. He said the PDM would like Namibia to live within its means and bring its budget under control.
Speaking at the conference, Lihestie Meiring, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung country representative, said the party should look for urgent interventions in youth unemployment, gender-based violence, teenage pregnancy, and the sprawling informal settlements with unhygienic living conditions.
“This touched my heart deeply as young people have little prospect for the future to support themselves and their elderly. All these social ills are the result of the economic downturn, and leaders must make decisions on addressing these too,” Meiring said.
The policies adopted at the conference will set the tone for the PDM as it works towards the 2024 presidential elections. PDM chairperson Ricky Vries urged attendants to give the Namibian electorate the best policy frameworks as parties are built on the strength of the people.
“Let us seek to ensure a truly non-racist, non-sexist, non-discriminatory, egalitarian, united and prosperous nation, as outlined in our Constitution,” he said. About 100 delegates are currently attending the conference, representing the national executive, women and youth leagues, mayors and councillors.
