The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) is advocating for more women and youth to take up leadership roles ahead of the Regional Councils and Local Authorities Elections.

Party Secretary General Manuel Ngaringombe reaffirmed this at the official opening of the one-day PDM Central Committee members' leadership training at Otjiwarongo.

Ngaringombe explained the need to include youth, women, and minorities to fully align with the party's central ideologies and agenda.

"We must bring women, youth, and minorities to the centre of our political life. not just to tick a box, but to embrace their ideas, their energy, their struggles, and their dreams. The future is not women, and the future is not youth; the present is women, and the present is youth. If we are not bringing women and youth and building them and helping them to become leaders in our movement, we will miss the direction."

Ngaringombe called on members of the party to mobilise in their regions.

"As leaders, we must also internalise the message that PDM is not a simple vehicle for electoral power but a platform of hope for thousands of Namibians. We must ensure that our structures and systems do not become barriers to innovation but bridges to inclusion. Please listen to me: don't use politics as your escape to create a career and wealth for yourself; you must be able to serve. We must be able to bring change."

PDM Treasurer Nico Smit urged members to work hard to recover the seats it had lost in the last elections, from 16 seats to five. 

"To stay effective in the politics of Namibia, we have to do something very serious: to get our house in order, to find what is wrong, to correct the wrongs, and to move forward."

The training is aimed at equipping the central committee members with skills and knowledge on the party's performance as well as the issue of coalition.