The Popular Democratic Movement has commenced its three-day Leadership Training Indaba at Otjiwarongo, aimed at enhancing leadership capacity, improving coordination, and aligning the party on key national issues.

Addressing delegates, Konrad-Adenauer Resident Representative Anna Hoffmann-Kwanga highlighted the importance of continuous leadership development and collaboration in advancing democratic governance.

“Namibia is an impressive country. I will say it is a democracy and unlikely one, despite the odds that to me is a lot to do with political and decision-makers in this country. Democracy should not stand on the shoulders of the ruling party, they very much stand on the shoulders of their the opposition parties because without them, we cannot call a country, a democracy, where there isn't diversity to be voices of the people, and to give them choices in the political spectrum,” she said.

PDM President McHenry Venaani stressed that tackling unemployment should be a central priority for the party.

“Youth unemployment and unemployment in general unemployment rates are so high that it will send our country into the place of poverty on a much faster, trajectory. Imagine what do we do as leaders that are leading local authority councils is Regional Council assembly; how do we make sure that we address the complex issue of use unemployment in the country,” Venaani said.

He said the purpose of the indaba is to further strengthen cohesion among members, allowing them to work together more effectively and share ideas for better governance. 

The party leader also called for discipline among members, expressing disappointment at those who failed to attend the training.

“I am seeing the disconnection between elected officials of the party in the organization. If this conference was a conference of sports activity that's taking people to rear both or in South Africa ,our local authority counselor school have participated because of SNT. But when it comes to party work, we are moving slower to partway, but I want to reemphasize it is the party that makes you it is the party that makes me we are awakening the structures that we serve,” he said.