Quote:
Phillemon Moongo
DTA vice-president
I do not want to be involved in Venaani's nonsense
WINDHOEKELVIS MURARANGANDA
The DTA of Namibia's young firebrand, McHenry Venaani, will launch his candidacy for the party's presidency this Saturday, but has drawn the wrath of senior party leaders who claim his antics are divisive.
The DTA is expected to hold an elective congress in September and Venaani has made his intentions public to wrestle the presidency away from incumbent party president Katuutire Kaura.
Kaura has described Venaani's move as 'unprecedented' in the history of the DTA and has distanced himself from his rival.
Kaura had stated late last year that he would not seek re-election as DTA president but has since been non-committal to his earlier pronouncement.
Asked whether he is considering standing again, Kaura yesterday responded: “Let us wait for September 7, I will have a proper answer by then.”
As it stands, there are strong indications that Venaani will square off against Kaura, in what would be the repeat of the 2005 DTA congress where the former narrowly lost by only 13 votes.
DTA vice-president Phillemon Moongo, whose name has also been mentioned as a possible candidate, tore into Venaani yesterday - saying the ambitious young politician is a divisive character.
“Venaani is creating division in the party and you people of the media are helping him,” an irate Moongo fumed.
“I do not want to be involved in Venaani's nonsense. He has his right to do whatever he wants.”
“There is only one party president and he is still alive. There are not two presidents in the DTA.”
During an earlier interview with Namibian Sun, Venaani a holder of several diplomas from the United Kingdom, said although he lost in 2005, this time around he has a lot more experience.
Venaani has seemingly gained the trust and support of the party's youth wing, who had vowed to stand by him in September - a decision which has angered some senior officials who called the youth “power hungry”.
The youth wing has hit back at the party leadership, saying the old guard should "go home and rest so that the youth can revive the party".
“Opuwo is the party's heartland and that is where the party's most support comes from,” said Venaani.
“I will launch my presidential bid in the party's stronghold,” he added.
Venaani could not say whether there are other candidates intending to challenge for the presidency.
“I do not know and I cannot speak on behalf of other people,” he said.
Last year he said if he is elected to the top position his immediate plans are to revive the party and make it an active one, as well as to focus on consolidating opposition parties in Namibia.
“I am not an age policeman. I will work with both the young and the old in the party. I have proved this during my tenure as a Member of Parliament. I even worked across party lines,” he said then.
Kaura said he will not follow Venaani's example by launching an election campaign.
“It is a new thing and it has never happened before in our party. I am not part of it,” Kaura said.
Another name that has emerged as a possible candidate for the presidency is that of former Omaheke Governor Paulo Thataone.
