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08:28Last update on: 13 Aug 2013
The Namibian
Tue 13 Aug 2013
SMS Of The Day * THIS nation is in dire need of a massive conference on housing. When we experienced a crisis in the education sector a crisis-control brain-storming conference was organised which resulted in the best deal ever for the Namibian child, nam Food For Thought * BOURGEOISIE has become a daily occupation if not the order of the day of the upper-echelons, President Hifikepunye Pohamba we urge you to revisit this unpatriotic geocentricism among your staff and the well-connected, for everybody to r Bouquets And Brickbats * COMMISSIONER of Prisons, can you please explain the strategies you use to appoint officers to certain positions? It is my observation that you are being fed with wrong information then you just promote individuals without making p SMS Of The Day * I THINK Paulus ‘The Rock’ Ambunda lost his belt because of this promoter and trainer. How can a world champion still be training at the Katutura Youth Complex where there is not enough equipment. I think they must follow the example of Ha Food For Thought * NAMIBIA Dairies are unable to match low prices of imported milk and this ultimately means the consumer will have to pay more for local milk. Look at the prices of the local chicken. All these profits are going in the pockets of a few in Bouquets And Brickbats * I AM pleased to hear that Cabinet has responded positively to the proposal of Namibia Dairies to support the industry. The restrictions which support the industry by reducing competition to ensure the survival of the industry is a SMS Of The Day * CEO’s golden handshakes. Somewhere on our statute books there must be a provision that if a board of directors suspends/dismisses a CEO without due regard to legal provision (substantive/procedural law) such board must carry the costs for Food For Thought * JACKY Asheeke was so right with her last column- why are the fathers of the dead children not being prosecuted? (Reference to the children who died in shack fires last week) Our justice system still protects men over women. In this cont Bouquets And Brickbats * ALEXACTUS Kaure, your column in Friday’s newspaper opened my eyes. One hardly finds impartial case study analysers in Namibia. Let’s not destroy the Polytechnic’s strong foundation (Tjivikua) as yet. At least wait until the transf SMS Of The Day * WHY doesn’t NBC listen when they are criticised? The little red chairs on Good Morning Namibia have done their part and are dirty especially at the arm rests. Please listen for once. You interview professionals and internationals on those Food For Thought * MINISTRY of Education, in order to address the shortages of teachers at primary schools why don’t you consider employing us who hold a diploma in lifelong learning and community education for teaching posts? We also did health education Bouquets And Brickbats * MY fellow Namibians, I am not a Swapo member but a third term for President Hifikepuye Pohamba will be a step closer towards attainment of Vision 2030. Believe me His Excellency has made crucial bold decisions, and I don’t regret
POLL
What do you think of the renaming and addition of regions and constituencies?
Results so far:
Older Polls
NEWS - NAMIBIA
| 2013-07-31
Venaani vs Kaura showdown intensifies
Tileni Mongudhi
THINGS are reaching boiling point in the DTA ahead of its elective congress next month.
Despite the party gathering to elect its leadership on 7 September, the main focus is the party presidential race, which is between party president Katuutire Kaura and Secretary- General McHenry Venaani.
Venaani launched his presidential campaign over the weekend at Opuwo, while party vice president and Kaura ally, Philemon Moongo, was quoted in the media telling members not to vote for Venaani.
Kaura made a public announcement in December last year implying that he was retiring.
Venaani was seen as the heir-apparent to the DTA throne.
Kaura recently made a u-turn and decided he was going to run for office again as he was persuaded by his supporters to continue, the 72-year-old yesterday told The Namibian.
He said his supporters felt that the decision to retire was premature because he was still mentally and physically fit to run the party.
Kaura’s u-turn is seen by many as a move which could further divide the party. He however differs stating that the party was practicing democracy at its best by allowing anyone to run for office.
Kaura further said it was not the first time that the 36-year-old Venaani challenged him for the presidency saying he had not yet announced retirement in 2004 when Venaani already decided to challenge him.
Venaani said he only wants to revive the party since it was losing votes at every election and was not moved or bothered by Kaura’s allies who call him names and said he was too young to lead the party.
“I am a steadfast political leader,” Venaani said adding that politics is about ideas.
Venaani said he served as Secretary- General with respect and tenacity and was not bothered by those trying to belittle him.
He also said age had nothing to do with leadership since people like former Namibian President Sam Nujoma took over and ran parties while they were much younger.
Political analyst Phanuel Kaapama however said he does not see how the DTA will have a major impact on the country’s political landscape, regardless of who the president is.
He said the race between Kaura and Venaani will be determined by who reaches out to the party electorate in the regions and also pointed out that, in his view, the party’s survival will depend on how those defeated at congress behave afterwards.
The director of the Institute for Public Policy and Research (IPPR), Graham Hopwood, believes Venaani is better suited to save the party from extinction.
He gave a historical background stating that the party has been in serious decline since 1994 – going from 21 seats in the National Assembly to its present two.
He added that Kaura has been in charge of the DTA since 1998 and “seems to have done little to arrest this decline”. Hopwood said “the party’s only hope, if it is to remain some kind of force in Namibian politics, is to appeal to younger voters and hence McHenry Venaani’s candidature seems to make sense”.
Hopwood called the situation within the DTA as a battle of generations, which he said was affecting most parties in the country, including the ruling party. He said younger politicians are being frustrated by party old guards who often want to cling on to the benefits and status of being an elected politician.
“In terms of broadening their political appeal it makes sense for parties to transition to younger leaders who are more likely to attract the youth vote, which is the largest segment of the electorate,” Hopwood said.
Despite the party gathering to elect its leadership on 7 September, the main focus is the party presidential race, which is between party president Katuutire Kaura and Secretary- General McHenry Venaani.
Venaani launched his presidential campaign over the weekend at Opuwo, while party vice president and Kaura ally, Philemon Moongo, was quoted in the media telling members not to vote for Venaani.
Kaura made a public announcement in December last year implying that he was retiring.
Venaani was seen as the heir-apparent to the DTA throne.
Kaura recently made a u-turn and decided he was going to run for office again as he was persuaded by his supporters to continue, the 72-year-old yesterday told The Namibian.
He said his supporters felt that the decision to retire was premature because he was still mentally and physically fit to run the party.
Kaura’s u-turn is seen by many as a move which could further divide the party. He however differs stating that the party was practicing democracy at its best by allowing anyone to run for office.
Kaura further said it was not the first time that the 36-year-old Venaani challenged him for the presidency saying he had not yet announced retirement in 2004 when Venaani already decided to challenge him.
Venaani said he only wants to revive the party since it was losing votes at every election and was not moved or bothered by Kaura’s allies who call him names and said he was too young to lead the party.
“I am a steadfast political leader,” Venaani said adding that politics is about ideas.
Venaani said he served as Secretary- General with respect and tenacity and was not bothered by those trying to belittle him.
He also said age had nothing to do with leadership since people like former Namibian President Sam Nujoma took over and ran parties while they were much younger.
Political analyst Phanuel Kaapama however said he does not see how the DTA will have a major impact on the country’s political landscape, regardless of who the president is.
He said the race between Kaura and Venaani will be determined by who reaches out to the party electorate in the regions and also pointed out that, in his view, the party’s survival will depend on how those defeated at congress behave afterwards.
The director of the Institute for Public Policy and Research (IPPR), Graham Hopwood, believes Venaani is better suited to save the party from extinction.
He gave a historical background stating that the party has been in serious decline since 1994 – going from 21 seats in the National Assembly to its present two.
He added that Kaura has been in charge of the DTA since 1998 and “seems to have done little to arrest this decline”. Hopwood said “the party’s only hope, if it is to remain some kind of force in Namibian politics, is to appeal to younger voters and hence McHenry Venaani’s candidature seems to make sense”.
Hopwood called the situation within the DTA as a battle of generations, which he said was affecting most parties in the country, including the ruling party. He said younger politicians are being frustrated by party old guards who often want to cling on to the benefits and status of being an elected politician.
“In terms of broadening their political appeal it makes sense for parties to transition to younger leaders who are more likely to attract the youth vote, which is the largest segment of the electorate,” Hopwood said.
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