Venaani trounces Kaura to claim DTA presidency

WINDHOEKELVIS MURARANGANDALong-serving DTA leader Katuutire Kaura has been voted out of office after 15 years. A DTA Central Committee (CC) meeting over the weekend elected the party's secretary-general, McHenry Venaani, as its new presidents by 96 votes to 52.In their first standoff in 2005, Venaani lost to Kaura by four votes less.However, this weekend, Kaura and his vice-president and closest ally Phillemon Moongo were forced to take a bow and make way for Venaani and new vice-president Kazehongere Tjeundo. Tjeundo received 82 votes against Moongo's 60.The Executive Committee met before the elections, and allegedly dismissed Kaura's earlier decision to have a no-agenda CC meeting, proving once more that the veteran politician had lost the support of the top brass of his party. However, Kaura admitted that the meeting was procedural.Party cadres who came as far as the northern and north-eastern regions made up the more than 140 delegates to the CC meeting and there was a strong indication that the northern delegates were supporting Kaura.On the other hand, Venaani appeared to have canvassed most of his support from the central regions and Kunene, where he launched his presidential campaign.In his opening remarks, Kaura described the campaigns leading up to the watershed CC meeting as &quot;clean&quot;, while saying the meeting was an &quot;unusual&quot; one.This was the first time the party had gone into a primary - where candidates indicate their interest in positions and publicly campaign to be elected.During Kaura's remarks, slogans such as &quot;Viva, Kaura, Viva&quot; were the order of the day in a packed church hall in Katutura and the response to the slogans was overwhelming.As the votes were being counted, supporters of the two presidential candidates were agitated, eagerly waiting for an unofficial word from inside and once it was confirmed, those wearing T-shirts with the slogan &quot;100%&quot; and Venaani's picture could be seen jumping up and down in celebration.Venaani's supporters expressed appreciation and respect for Kaura, who has been part of the country's political scene since before independence.Others told Namibian Sun that they wish for Kaura and Moongo to remain in the party to help the &quot;young&quot; Venaani take the DTA to greater heights.Speaking to this paper yesterday, Kaura said: &quot;Democracy has reigned supreme and the best person won. We now need to keep the flame of democracy burning.&quot;On his future plans, he said: &quot;I still have a year and seven months in parliament and from there I will be a spectator. I will assist were my assistance is required, I will advise were my advice is needed.&quot;Kaura took over the leadership of the DTA in 1998 after Mishake Muyongo was ousted from the party because of his support for the secession of the former Caprivi, now Zambezi Region.During his leadership two key DTA affiliates - Nudo and the Republican Party (RP) - left the alliance. This led to the party losing most of its support base. At independence, the party had 21 seats in the National Assembly and it now has only two, occupied by Kaura and Moongo.Venaani based his presidential campaign on the decline of the former official opposition's seats in parliament.Venaani told Namibian Sun that Kaura has been his mentor and that he has great respect for the outgoing president.He described the election as an indication that the party has come of age.&quot;I made the call that Kaura be given an honorary chairmanship and we are in the process of officialising that,&quot; said Venaani.Vincent Kanyetu is now the party&acute;s secretary-general (SG), while Jennifer van Heerden was elected as party chairperson, deputised by Sabby Cloete.The position of secretary for information went to Pastor Welton Luskin, and Nico Smit is the secretary for finance. Agapitus Andanga is the new secretary for organisation while Rehabeam Katjiova remains in his position as the administrative secretary

Venaani trounces Kaura to claim DTA presidency

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Namibian Sun 2025-01-30

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Venaani trounces Kaura to claim DTA presidency

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Namibian Sun 2025-01-30

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