PDM succession: Katjaimo blasts ‘insignificant’ Muharukua

MATHIAS HAUFIKU WINDHOEK Two senior figures in the country’s official opposition party are embroiled in a spiteful dispute over the party’s future leadership prospects - in what is the latest incident exposing the Popular Democratic Movement’s (PDM) ongoing factional battles ahead of the 2024 congress.Rodman Katjaimo, PDM’s regional councillor for Katutura Central constituency, has accused party parliamentarian Vipuakuje Muharukua of using dirty tactics to get his way and branding him as an insignificant figure in the race for the PDM top seat.Muharukua is seen as one of the possible contenders to challenge party president McHenry Venaani at the party’s internal polls in 2024.The two were at each other’s throats on PDM’s official WhatsApp group on Tuesday evening, much to the surprise of the over 240 members. The group comprises of party leaders and sympathisers.“Vipua will never be a close contender to challenge Venaani, stop cooking unnecessary pressure from external forces. In PDM, we know Venaani [has] got one more term to go before he relinquish[es] power to any other person. “Currently Muharukua is very insignificant,” Katjaimo, who is related to Venaani, wrote on social media earlier this week following the cancellation of the party’s youth wing’s congress last weekend.The congress was cancelled because youth factions supporting Venaani and Muharukua respectively could not reach a consensus over delegates who should be present.‘The system will retaliate’Katjaimo, a radio journalist-turned-politician, on Tuesday warned Muharukua to tread carefully.“If you are fighting the system, be ready [because] the system will retaliate. We are responding to dirty tactics, fiercely we shall, the same way you cause confusion in youth matters thinking we are sleeping,” he warned.Muharukua responded by accusing Katjaimo of being sent to attack him.“I stayed out of this boy’s [Katjaimo] way. He comes and mentions my name here, brings us half messages from people we know. He thinks we do not know who is sending him. It’s not my intention to fight family battles within the party. But this foolishness must stop,” the lawyer-turned-politician said.Muharukua added that he is ready to battle any challenge that comes his way because “I fear no one and I am ready to go down with my dignity intact”.Katjaimo yesterday said “it [the squabble] is water under the bridge”.“We solved it at a party level internally,” he added.Family feudOn his part, when contacted yesterday, Muharukua said “I have no issue with Katjaimo. It appears he, his mother and his nephew have a problem with the rumour that I’ll be contesting for party presidency”.“They felt since the party presidency is occupied by their family member, they should insult me. They can carry [on] as a family infantry against Muharukua. I’m attacked by a family of leaders. Maybe ask the ones who attacked me or even better the brigadier that ordered the attack, if any,” he said.According to Muharukua, there is a strategy to make him look greedy and “that I want the president’s position when he [Venaani] is the one who brought me”.“They tried isolating me. Then it was that I’m causing division. And now public insults. All these have been failing and will continue to fail,” he said.Keen interestThe verbal spat comes at a time when the party’s top leadership finds itself in Kavango West canvassing for support for candidate Chimbango Frans in tomorrow’s by-elections at Ncamangoro.The party is already faced with the unenviable split in its youth ranks. The youth wing’s internal elections are seen as a precursor for the looming leadership battle at the party’s 2024 congress, with talks making the rounds about a challenge between Venaani and Muharukua.This, party insiders said, is one of the reasons why PDM’s top leadership is watching the events unfolding in the youth league with keen interest.PDM secretary-general Manuel Ngaringombe this week said the leadership of the party will address the youth fights after the by-elections.

PDM succession: Katjaimo blasts ‘insignificant’ Muharukua

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Namibian Sun 2025-01-07

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PDM succession: Katjaimo blasts ‘insignificant’ Muharukua

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Namibian Sun 2025-01-07

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