DTA sets sights on November elections

THE race is officially on to select a new national leadership for the country’s main opposition party, the DTA.

Yesterday, the party announced the start of primaries across the 112 political constituencies to nominate candidates to represent the party in the National Assembly as well as the National Council. The party’s official lists, as well as its presidential candidate, will be determined at its Central Committee meeting to be held at the NamPower Convention Centre in Windhoek from August 21 to 22.Addressing a press conference in Windhoek, DTA Secretary General McHenry Venaani said that about 240 delegates were expected to attend the Central Committee meeting and decide on the party lists.The meeting is also expected to adopt and ratify the party’s national manifesto and campaign strategies in the run-up to elections in November.Presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for November 15 and 16, and Regional Council elections for November 29 and 30.The party has given each political constituency the mandate to nominate one candidate for the National Assembly list as well as one person to serve as a regional councillor.Each of the 13 regions is expected to nominate not more than four people as presidential candidates.”The party is urged to nominate the best able men and women as they would have the functionary role to serve all Namibians if elected,” said Venaani.The party told the media that it would campaign vigorously for the reform of the public service labelling it “the worst run institution in our country”.Venaani maintained that the management of State resources and Government over-expenditure had continued to escalate in recent years despite advice on the need for it to be brought under control.”The sector remains too large and very inefficient.Nearly every sector of the public service handles all services longer than any private institution in the country,” bemoaned Venaani.He cited the health and home affairs sectors and the Police service in particular of being inefficient.”The DTA believes that unless the public service is correctly managed, service delivery will continue to be slow and uneven in our country,” said Venaani, The DTA MP claimed that Swapo’s ‘Jobs for Comrades’ policy had contributed to the underperformance of the civil service because incompetent people were allegedly being appointed based on their party affiliation.The party’s official lists, as well as its presidential candidate, will be determined at its Central Committee meeting to be held at the NamPower Convention Centre in Windhoek from August 21 to 22.Addressing a press conference in Windhoek, DTA Secretary General McHenry Venaani said that about 240 delegates were expected to attend the Central Committee meeting and decide on the party lists.The meeting is also expected to adopt and ratify the party’s national manifesto and campaign strategies in the run-up to elections in November.Presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for November 15 and 16, and Regional Council elections for November 29 and 30.The party has given each political constituency the mandate to nominate one candidate for the National Assembly list as well as one person to serve as a regional councillor.Each of the 13 regions is expected to nominate not more than four people as presidential candidates.”The party is urged to nominate the best able men and women as they would have the functionary role to serve all Namibians if elected,” said Venaani.The party told the media that it would campaign vigorously for the reform of the public service labelling it “the worst run institution in our country”.Venaani maintained that the management of State resources and Government over-expenditure had continued to escalate in recent years despite advice on the need for it to be brought under control.”The sector remains too large and very inefficient.Nearly every sector of the public service handles all services longer than any private institution in the country,” bemoaned Venaani.He cited the health and home affairs sectors and the Police service in particular of being inefficient.”The DTA believes that unless the public service is correctly managed, service delivery will continue to be slow and uneven in our country,” said Venaani, The DTA MP claimed that Swapo’s ‘Jobs for Comrades’ policy had contributed to the underperformance of the civil service because incompetent people were allegedly being appointed based on their party affiliation.