Placido Hilukilwa
THE Popular Democratic Movement (former DTA) has for the past 28 years limited itself in contesting only a few constituencies in the four northern regions of Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshana, and Oshikoto concentrating its efforts mostly on the few constituencies that include urban centres.
That has changed. The PDM has now multiplied the number of its candidates.
In the Oshana Region, the PDM has fielded candidates in eight constituencies: Ongwediva, Okatana, Oshakati East, Okaku, Oshakati West, Ondangwa Rural, Okatjali, and Ondangwa Urban. The party is also contesting all three local authorities in the region.
In the Ohangwena Region, the PDM is contesting only three constituencies – Ongenga, Ohangwena, and Okongo – and all two local authorities: Helao Nafidi and Okongo.
Informanté was unable to obtain information for Omusati and Oshikoto.
“We are making history, going where we never went before. We now have members and supporters all over the place. This party has been revitalized and is growing,” said Kamati Teofilus, PDM’s Oshana coordinator.
Teofilus pointed out that the official opposition is gradually gaining ground due to dynamic leadership and an awakening among the people, but other commentators attribute the PDM’s resurgence to tactical mistakes by ruling party campaigners who for years totally ignored the PDM, focusing their attention almost exclusively on Swapo’s offshoots such as IPC, RDP and the CoD.
