Africa-Press – Namibia. POPULAR Democratic Movement (PDM) youth league leader Benson Katjiriova on Monday could not report on the achievements of the party’s youth wing during his 10-year tenure despite claiming “a lot has been done” to advance the youth agenda.
Katjiriova said he cannot recall specific youth-related activities the PDM youth league conducted successfully under his leadership. He made these remarks at a media briefing held in Windhoek where he announced that the party’s youth league will elect new leaders at an elective congress to be held at Rietfontein Training Centre from 9 to 12 December.
DORMANT Katjiriova ascended to the helm of the party’s youth league in 2012 when PDM was known as the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA). That year, Elvis Japuhua from the Kunene region was elected as Katjiriova’s deputy and Agatus Antanga was made the national chairperson.
During Katjiriova’s tenure, the PDM’s youth league has been pronounced dead and dull by many commentators. To the contrary, Katjiriova claimed “a lot has been achieved”. He said the youth wing was instrumental in bringing young people into the ranks of the PDM, including party leader McHenry Venaani.
He added that under his watch, the party’s youth league played a pivotal role in various youth mobilisation activities resulting in more young people voting for the party and in turn increasing the PDM’s seats in the National Assembly from two to the current 16.
According to him, the PDM’s youth league was the reason the party stole 16 seats from the ruling Swapo party in the National Assembly and not the effect of current Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) leader Panduleni Itula. CONGRESS FACTIONS
Katjiriova however, indicated he will not contest any position at next month’s PDM congress. He urged those vying for positions to campaign in a peaceful manner and avoid factions. The Namibian has learnt that PDM’s parliamentarian Inna Hengari and the current youth league spokesperson Maximilliant Katjimune are among those jostling for positions at next month’s congress.
The party’s youth league precedes the mother body’s congress to be held next year where Venaani could face off in a presidential contest with vibrant parliamentarian Vipua Muharukua. CLUELESS
Yesterday, Katjiriova could not articulate specific events or initiatives that the youth league introduced to advance the interests of young people in the country. According to him, the PDM’s youth league does not have a policy or stance on various socio-economic issues in the country at the moment. He also did not articulate the party’s policies that were adopted at the recently held policy conference.
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