By Stefanus Nashama
Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) president McHenry Venaani and Landless People’s Movement (LPM) leader Bernadus Swartbooi have rejected perceptions that a new generation of opposition parliamentarians MPs has pushed them into the political shadows in the 8th National Assembly.
The two veteran opposition leaders saw their parties lose ground in the 2024 presidential and National Assembly elections, with the IPC and Affirmative Repositioning emerging as major players in Parliament.
Venaani, whose PDM lost 10 seats and was reduced to five MPs, insists his political influence cannot be measured by the number of seats his party holds.
“I am a senior statesman and a very influential legislator above parties and know when to say what and at what time,” Venaani told Confidente in an exclusive interview.
The PDM was overtaken by the IPC, led by Panduleni Itula, which secured 20 seats and became the official opposition, while AR, led by Job Amupanda, secured six seats, replacing LPM in the parliamentary pecking order.
LPM also lost one seat, leaving it with five MPs.
The electoral shift has fuelled questions over whether Venaani and Swartbooi remain as influential in Parliament as they were when their parties occupied stronger positions in the previous National Assembly.
Venaani, however, dismissed the suggestion that he has been politically eclipsed.
“I am a very principled and not a cheapskate politician; my adversaries know as much,” he said.
He argued that his parliamentary record should be judged by the work produced rather than by how visibly he engages in parliamentary exchanges.
“I can’t fight physically to prove that I am fighting,” Venaani said.
He further criticised the current parliamentary environment, saying disagreements and conflicts have made it difficult for Parliament to focus on legislative work.
“Measure my strength as leading opposition leader; then today include all leaders together; their output cannot compare to that work we did. We are trying to get the order for real work to begin,” he said.
Venaani also rejected suggestions that he is influenced by other opposition parties.
“I have no record of being anyone’s puppet and no reason to be bought by a party I have never been a member of; why have I not joined any party all my political life,” he said.
Swartbooi, who was asked for comment, referred Confidente to LPM national spokesperson Lifalaza Simataa.
Simataa rejected the perception that Swartbooi has become less active in Parliament, saying the LPM leader remains involved in parliamentary business.
“The perception is misguided. Hon. Bernadus Swartbooi remains committed to his duties in Parliament,” Simataa said.
According to Simataa, Swartbooi has continued contributing to debates on land and oil, asking questions and participating in parliamentary committees.
“He plays a proactive role in leading and guiding the parliamentary team, who are also engaged in active participation through questioning and involvement,” he said.
Simataa said Swartbooi’s only significant absence from the National Assembly this year was for medical reasons, adding that he has otherwise consistently attended parliamentary sessions and committee meetings.
Political analyst Sakaria Johannes, however, said the changing parliamentary landscape could affect the visibility and influence of the two opposition leaders.
“They may not voice their opinions as much because new lawmakers, particularly from the IPC and AR parties, are also contributing to the discussions that Venaani and Swartbooi support,” Johannes said.
He noted that the number of seats held by a party affects its parliamentary contribution because larger parliamentary groupings have more MPs able to raise issues and participate in debates.
However, Johannes cautioned against measuring parliamentary influence solely by how frequently individual MPs speak.
“The focus should not be on who is most active but rather on the topics being discussed,” he said.
“Lawmakers tend to engage more when the issues at hand are relevant to their constituents and beneficial to the nation as a whole.”
