Africa-Press – Namibia. Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) president McHenry Venaani says president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah had considered him for the position of ambassador, but a faction within Swapo held a different view on his appointment.
His comments came after sources told The Namibian that Venaani was recently being considered for a diplomatic post and was allegedly planning to resign from the party.
Venaani, however, says he was only aware of the president’s intention to approach him for a ministerial post and not a diplomatic post.
Presidential spokesperson Jonas Mbambo was not reachable yesterday to confirm Venaani’s claim, and did not respond to a text message sent to him.
The Namibian in June reported that Nandi-Ndaitwah was expected to announce a new slate of ambassadorial and high commission appointments, with former National Unity Democratic Organisation president Esther Muinjangue reportedly under consideration for a post in Germany.
Former presidential spokesperson Alfredo Hengari was reportedly being considered for a post in France, while former minister of justice Yvonne Dausab is tipped for Washington to take over from Margaret Mensah-Williams.
Venaani says he has not been approached for an ambassadorial position and that he is not aware that he is being considered.
He says he is a member of parliament who is “doing a good job”.
“What I am aware of, however, is that Meme Ndaitwah did consider my name, of her own volition, for a ministerial position. But because there was a faction in her party with various views, she did not approach me,” Venaani told The Namibian yesterday.
He said the president holds him in high regard, which could be the reason for the speculation that he is being considered for a diplomatic post.
Had the president approached him for the position, it would have been the prerogative of the PDM to decide whether he should accept the job, Venaani said.
“I have never been selfish as a leader to make decisions based on my stomach. The movement deployed me as their member of parliament.
“I can’t accept an ambassadorial role to which I am not deployed. I am a man of political principles, that is why I haven’t left our movement for my life amid life offers,” he said.
The PDM has recently been rocked by resignations of party members, including former members of parliament such as Yvette Araes and Esmeralda !Aebes.
A party member who spoke on condition of anonymity yesterday said some people decided to resign because they were being insulted by some senior party members, but the leadership did not take action against them.
“Now they are saying people are resigning because of politics of the belly. That’s also an insult. We need to call a meeting and introspect to arrest the situation. If you’re saying it’s politics of the belly, you’re not addressing the issue,” the party source said.
However, party secretary general Manuel Ngaringombe yesterday said although the party is worried about the resignations, it has not panicked or lost focus.
He said this is not the first time the party has lost members and it is also not the only party to lose members.
“We are worried, but we are not panicking. We are also not losing direction. We are working on the issue. We are carrying on with our political programme; we are busy helping to build the party,” he said.
Ngaringombe said the number of those who resigned from the party is below 10, but the media, according to him, has reported that it is a big number.
“We will not sit and mourn and be destitute. The PDM knows when it’s bad and good,” he said.
Ngaringombe said he was not aware of insults hurled at party members.
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