PDM Leader Venaani critiques President Nandi-Ndaitwah’s leadership PDM Leader Venaani critiques President Nandi-Ndaitwah’s leadership NBC Online Mon, 07/14/2025 - 21:52

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PM Ngurare refutes Venaani’s neglect claims PM Ngurare refutes Venaani’s neglect claims NBC Online Fri, 07/04/2025 - 16:59

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National Assembly Clarifies Withdrawal of Venaani's Baster Recognition Bill [Namibian] The National Assembly (NA) on Monday clarified that the private member's bill seeking to legally recognise the Baster traditional authority was not blocked by speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila.

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PDM leader Venaani warns against one-party dominance in Namibia PDM leader Venaani warns against one-party dominance in Namibia NBC Online Tue, 04/29/2025 - 22:05

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Venaani challenges President on Genocide talks and free tertiary education Venaani challenges President on Genocide talks and free tertiary education NBC Online Sat, 04/26/2025 - 17:57

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Venaani wants to recycle ex-presidents’ offices to save cash Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) president McHenry Venaani has called for cost cutting by repurposing state offices for former presidents instead of building or renting new ones. He proposed on Tuesday that the office space previously used by former president Sam Nujoma be allocated to accommodate living former heads of state, such as Hifikepunye Pohamba and Nangolo Mbumba. Former presidents are currently given government mansions worth over N$35 million each. However, the former official opposition leader said the ex-presidents should rather be given office space. “Can the government repurpose the offices of the late former president to accommodate the remaining former presidents, thereby minimising costs associated with office space,” Venaani said in parliament. He said reports suggest Pohamba is operating from rented premises, while Mbumba is entitled to similar provisions under the existing law. While the Constitution is clear on matters relating to a presidential tenure, Venaani said the question of privileges, entitlement, and support afforded to former presidents falls under various policy decisions and administrative practices, particularly guided by the Presidential Emoluments and Pensions Act of 2004. This act specifies what benefits are due to former presidents, including office space, staff, transport, and security, all of which are funded by the state. Although Namibia has rightly chosen to honour former heads of state, and in doing so is acknowledging their service to the country, it is equally important that such an honour is balanced with fiscal responsibility, Venaani said. He said the state has an obligation to ensure all resources, including immovable property and office infrastructure, are managed efficiently, transparently and sustainably. Venaani said the current framework and practice around the allocation of offices to former presidents should be revisited. The deaths of founding president Sam Nujoma and former president Hage Geingob raises practical questions about the continued use and future management of their state-provided offices, Venaani said. He asked whether there are plans or budgetary provisions for the construction of a new office for Mbumba, and if so, whether a cost-benefit analysis has been been conducted. “Can the prime minister provide a breakdown of the total annual expenditure for each former president’s office, including security, utilities, personnel, and maintenance costs?” he asked. Venaani further asked prime minister Elijah Ngurare whether the office currently occupied by Pohamba is indeed a rental property and if so what its annual rental cost involves. Given the precedent being set, Venaani asked if the current model of provisioning is scalable and fiscally sustainable over the coming decade. He also wanted to know if the government intends to review or amend the former presidents’ pension and other benefits to reflect changing economic realities. In 2022, former presidents are reported to have pocketed a total of close to N$140 million as part of of their privileges after retiring. As part of their privileges, heads of state get a tax free salary, lifetime tax free pension payment, paid travel allowances, as well as a house when they retire. The post Venaani wants to recycle ex-presidents’ offices to save cash appeared first on The Namibian.

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Nandi-Ndaitwah payinglip service – Venaani President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s decision to focus on current rather than past corruption has drawn criticism from opposition leaders and analysts, who argue it undermines accountability. Popular Democratic Movement leader McHenry Venaani has described the president’s decision not to pursue ‘old’ cases of corruption as paying lip service. Nandi-Ndaitwah announced this at the opening of the eighth Cabinet yesterday. “She must not hide corruption. Let’s pursue it whenever it manifests itself – old or new. Anything less is paying lip service,” Venaani told The Namibian. Nandi-Ndaitwah at her first Cabinet meeting yesterday said: “I’m not going to follow things that happened before I was here, but things happening from 21 March. “I’m not going to witch-hunt anybody, but from now on, there should be no delay.” National Unity Democratic Organisation secretary general Joseph Kauandenge described the president’s decision as “strange and sad”. He said when one takes over any administration, one takes it over with its good and bad aspects. “If there were acts of corruption committed before she took over, that remains her responsibility. She must make sure she persecutes those who are guilty,” he said. Kauandenge believes Nandi-Ndaitwah is sending the bad and dangerous message that those guilty of corruption will not be prosecuted. ‘BREAK FROM THE SHACKLES’ Advocate Richard Metcalfe says it is high time that Namibia break free from the shackles of the past. “We continue to waste time and money on selective Anti-Corruption Commission prosecutions. It would be far more effective to go for asset forfeiture orders where cases are alleged to exist from the past,” he says. Metcalfe says prosecution is, however, at the discretion of the prosecutor general, and not that of the president. The president would then have to pardon suspects in cases of corruption which arose prior to her tenure, he says. Metcalfe says Nandi-Ndaitwah has the constitutional authorisation to do so. South West Africa National Union president Evilastus Kaaronda says it’s hard to know exactly what the president meant, adding that matters before court must reach their natural conclusion. “Others coming anew must follow the established legal process,” he says. Kaaronda says it is not up to the president to choose which cases to pursue. Nandi-Ndaitwah yesterday urged Cabinet ministers to make sure all public servants in offices, ministries, and agencies maintain high ethical standards at all times. “We, as ministers, have a responsibility to do this. Let me emphasise the fact that the attainment of sustainable economic development in Namibia can only be realised through an accountable and efficient administration,” she said. She reminded ministers that their duty is to serve the citizens, investors, and visitors timelessly and equally. She acknowledged that there may be challenges in the pursuit of fair tax lending, but the ministers must act decisively and with focus to deliver tangible and lasting changes in the socio-economic status of the people. McHenry-Venaani “We made a promise to improve their lives. I shall maintain a position that we are too few to be poor. We have a responsibility to deliver on our promises,” she said. The president urged her ministers to hit the ground running to fulfil their mandates. United People’s Movement president Jan van Wyk said cases of alleged corruption need to be dealt with to ensure accountability. His concern is that if perpetrators are linked to the misuse of public funds, there is no way any government can look the other way unless involved itself. “If she decides to kick off on that note, her government is going down from the onset. Who is she afraid of?” Van Wyk asked. The post Nandi-Ndaitwah payinglip service – Venaani appeared first on The Namibian.

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