Also known as: Popular Democratic Movement leader McHenry Venaani · shadow president Venaani
PDM president and opposition MP who criticises government policies on SOE salaries, manufacturing, marine phosphate mining, dairy industry, and border disputes.
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September 2026
Informanté
McHenry Venaanidemanded that the Prime Minister explainhow the Government appointed a commission to review salaries of CEOs at SOEs, then made the body defunct a fortnight later
Source
“The Prime Minister responded to questions posed by McHenry Venaani of the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), who demanded that the Prime Minister explain to the country how Ngurare's Government appoints a commission that needs to review the salaries of CEOs at SOEs, appoint and nominate a chairman and vice-chair, and then, a fortnight later, this body is defunct.”
McHenry Venaaniclaimedtask force members were removed because authority above the Prime Minister was unhappy with their appointment
Source
“"These people, some of them had to take leave from what they are doing. The reason they were removed is that the authority ahead of you was not happy with the name," Venaani claimed.”
McHenry Venaanihas accused the government offailing to coordinate its own affairs
Source
“Sostenus Wilherm Popular Democratic Movement president McHenry Venaani has accused the government of failing to coordinate its own affairs after the ministry of agriculture, fisheries, water and land reform appealed an environmental clearance certificate granted to Namibian Marine Phosphate (NMP) for its controversial Sandpiper Marine Phosphate Project.”
Venaanicalled forthe marine phosphate report and clearance report to be made public and tabled before parliament
Source
“He called for the marine phosphate report and clearance report to be made public and tabled before parliament so that lawmakers and the public can examine the scientific evidence behind the project.”
McHenry Venaaniis demandingclarity about government's plans to establish manufacturing facilities across 14 regions
Source
“Popular Democratic Movement president McHenry Venaani is demanding clarity about the government's plans to establish manufacturing and processing facilities across all 14 of Namibia's regions, questioning how the programme will be funded, implemented and used to create jobs.”
McHenry Venaanipaid tribute toliberation veteran Helao Shityuwete, describing him as courageous and humble
Source
“Popular Democratic Movement president McHenry Venaani has paid tribute to liberation struggle veteran and former political prisoner Helao Shityuwete, describing him as a courageous and humble Namibian who sacrificed much of his life for the country's freedom.”
McHenry Venaaniaccuses the committee of being biased towardsglorifying Swapo's history
Source
“In the letter, Venaani accuses the committee of being biased towards glorifying Swapo's history, arguing that several early nationalists and other Namibians who played a role in the country's struggle and nation building had been overlooked.”
Popular Democratic Movement leader McHenry Venaanihas called forthe environmental report behind the decision to be made public
Source
“The Independent Patriots for Change has separately called for the ECC to be suspended pending an independent review, while Popular Democratic Movement leader McHenry Venaani has called for the environmental report behind the decision to be made public.”
Prime Minister Ngurare dismissed allegations that an 11-member task force chaired by Professor Joseph Diecho, appointed to review public enterprise salary structures from July to September, was dissolved after senior officials objected to its composition. Opposition MP McHenry Venaani claimed the body became defunct after being established, alleging members were removed because "the authority ahead of you was not happy with the name."
Prime Minister Ngurare dismissed allegations that an 11-member task force chaired by Professor Joseph Diecho, appointed to review public enterprise salary structures from July to September, was dissolved after senior officials objected to its composition. Opposition MP McHenry Venaani claimed the body became defunct after being established, alleging members were removed because "the authority ahead of you was not happy with the name."
The PDM president McHenry Venaani has accused the government of poor coordination after the ministry of agriculture, fisheries, water and land reform appealed an environmental clearance certificate granted to Namibian Marine Phosphate for the Sandpiper Marine Phosphate Project. Venaani said the appeal exposed shortcomings in how government ministries communicate and make decisions, noting the agriculture ministry only learned of the Environmental Commissioner's decision through social media two days after it was granted on 5 August 2026.
PDM president McHenry Venaani is demanding the government disclose details about its plan to establish manufacturing and processing facilities across all 14 regions, including which projects have been identified, how they will be funded, and how many jobs are expected to be created.
McHenry Venaani has paid tribute to Helao Shityuwete, a liberation struggle veteran and former Robben Island political prisoner who died at 92. Venaani described Shityuwete as a courageous and humble Namibian whose sacrifice for the country's freedom, from his work at Walvis Bay docks through military service and imprisonment, should be remembered as part of Namibia's history.
Opposition leaders say Namibia should expand its national honours criteria to recognise contributions of ordinary citizens and diverse leaders beyond those from the liberation struggle, 36 years after independence.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah reportedly objects to environmental commissioner Timoteus Mufeti's approval of an environmental clearance certificate for Namibian Marine Phosphate's Sandpiper project to mine for fertilisers in the Atlantic Ocean, saying Namibia should not be used for an ocean experiment. The president held a meeting with senior government officials this week to express concerns about the decision made without apparent consultation on a matter of massive public interest.
Confusion surrounds the status of an 11-member task force chaired by Joseph Diescho, established to review governance and human resource matters at state-owned enterprises. Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare reportedly cancelled the task force after it found its mandate duplicated prior work, though task force member Conrad Lutombi says it was merely put on hold while the government reviews completed recommendations.
The Confederation of Namibian Fishing Associations has threatened to challenge the validity of Namibian Marine Phosphate's environmental clearance certificate, alleging the environmental commissioner failed to respond to repeated information requests since May 2022 and broke a July 2022 promise to provide a response before the certificate was issued on 5 August.
The environmental commissioner issued an environmental clearance certificate on 5 August for Knowledge Katti's Namibia Marine Phosphate's Sandpiper marine phosphate mining project offshore Namibia, valid until 5 August 2029. The decision has triggered opposition from the IPC and conservationists who have raised long-running environmental and industry concerns.
An editorial argues that every presidential engagement should advance national interest, citing debate over President Nandi-Ndaitwah's appearance at the MTC Kasi Vibe Festival and noting concerns from NUDO and PDM leaders about how the Presidency's time and authority should be deployed.
A NUDO member of parliament has argued that the President should not officiate community and fundraising events like the MTC Kasi Vibe Festival, saying such engagements should be handled by ministers or regional leaders to preserve the dignity of the presidency.
Civil society and MPs have called for the National Assembly to extend its sitting hours from 14h30 to 17h45 to properly debate and pass laws. Institute for Public Policy Research director Graham Hopwood said parliament currently works about 90 days a year and warned that deadlocks in passing laws will be an early warning sign for Namibia's political future.
Namibia and South Africa failed to resolve their decades-old dispute over the Orange River boundary during the fourth Binational Commission in Pretoria. Namibia contends the border should run through the middle of the river under modern international law, while South Africa maintains it follows the northern bank under the 1890 Heligoland-Zanzibar Treaty; President Nandi-Ndaitwah said the matter will now be handled directly with South African President Ramaphosa.
PDM president McHenry Venaani has endorsed the draft Nuclear Bill, arguing that Namibia should use its uranium resources to drive economic growth and value addition rather than export raw minerals. The government has concluded nationwide public consultations on the proposed legislation, which seeks to modernise the nuclear regulatory framework and establish three specialised institutions to oversee the peaceful use of nuclear technology.
PDM leader McHenry Venaani has urged President Nandi-Ndaitwah to use her visit to South Africa to push for resolution of the long-standing Orange River boundary dispute with South Africa. Venaani says the dispute has remained unresolved since independence and requires urgent political attention, and that he has tabled a motion in the National Assembly calling for the matter to be debated.
PDM president McHenry Venaani has called on President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to procure 1,000 high-yield dairy cattle and launch a comprehensive national dairy revitalisation programme centred on the Vhungu Vhungu Dairy Farm in Kavango East, citing food security, reduced import dependence, and job creation as aims.
The National Assembly unanimously approved Bryan Eiseb as director general of the Anti-Corruption Commission while lawmakers across parties warned the institution must pursue corruption without political interference and shed its reputation for allowing politically connected cases to go unpunished.
Several opposition parties are refusing to approve Gerson Sindano's appointment as Electoral Commission of Namibia chairperson until parliament provides all documentation on his nomination, including interview minutes and selection committee recommendations. Opposition leaders also raised concerns that Sindano's previous role as a personal assistant to Swapo's secretary general could undermine the commission's independence.
The Electoral Commission of Namibia leadership appointments have sparked a constitutional debate over Parliament's oversight powers. Affirmative Repositioning leader Job Amupanda demanded postponement of the vote on the President's ECN nominees until lawmakers are provided with recruitment, interview, and selection committee records, arguing MPs cannot exercise informed judgment without them.
Namibia's Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security Lucia Iipumbu said the government has dispatched two teams to South Africa and identified safety shelters as xenophobic violence rises and about 100 Namibians seek repatriation from the Namibian High Commission in Pretoria.
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare has apologised to Kunene Region public servants over delayed salary payments and rejected claims by PDM leader McHenry Venaani that the delay was politically motivated. Venaani alleged that the Minister of Urban and Rural Development had stopped regional employees' salaries over a dispute with the former Chief Regional Officer, questioning the legal basis for withholding public servants' pay.
PDM leader McHenry Venaani accused Swapo of political retaliation over delayed salary payments to 94 employees of the Kunene Regional Council, including four councillors, whose June salaries were blocked following intervention by the urban and rural development minister. Prime minister Elijah Ngurare denied deliberate withholding and attributed the delays to administrative and technical issues.
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare responded to opposition criticism about unhoused Angolan children visible at traffic lights across Namibia, stating the government has capacity to resolve the issue and noting that bilateral discussions are underway with the Angolan government.
The national assembly adjourned Wednesday after opposition parliamentarians clashed with speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila over her authorisation of the finance minister to speak on behalf of the prime minister. The editorial argues that repeated parliamentary disruptions reflect a failure of political leadership across parties and have prevented debate on critical legislation, including the petroleum bill.
Biggs van Wyk, who sat observing Windhoek's central business district for over two decades, has died at age 83. Politicians and residents paid tribute to the figure, whom many described as a guardian angel or watchman who had become part of the city's identity.
Opposition parliamentarians from the PDM, AR, and IPC challenged speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila on Wednesday over the manner in which she was conducting proceedings, with members arguing she was dismissing points of order without allowing them to be heard. The confrontation erupted after finance minister Ericah Shafudah was authorised to table and read a debate speech on behalf of prime minister Elijah Ngurare, a move strongly opposed by opposition parties.
Churches and analysts have welcomed Namibia's proposed housing state of emergency, but caution that declarations alone will not address a backlog of over 300,000 homes. The Council of Churches in Namibia says the move must be accompanied by concrete measures, adequate resources, and clear implementation timelines, and calls for faster implementation of free residential plots and increased investment in land servicing.
Members of parliament have called for stricter controls on microlenders' direct access to civil servants' salaries, arguing that such deductions worsen financial strain on public servants. The parliamentary economics committee heard concerns about excessive deductions and their effects on disposable income and mental health, with plans to meet with the Microlenders Association next week.
The Minister of Agriculture has expressed concern over non-response from Joachim Rust, owner of Okamuru Farm in Waterberg, who is allegedly harassing and threatening to evict fifth-generation farm workers. The farm workers, whose history on the land predates the colonial period, report facing pressure including livestock confiscation and restricted movement since the farm's sale from the previous Schneider family.