Namibia will have a new official opposition party in the National Assembly by the end of next week.

McHenry Venaani, who has held the title of Leader of the Official Opposition for a decade, will no longer occupy the position following the Popular Democratic Movement's (PDM) decline from 16 seats to just five in the National Assembly. As a result, Venaani will serve as an ordinary Member of Parliament.

The title of Leader of the Official Opposition is held by the leader of the party with the second-most seats in the National Assembly. Following the recent elections, the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) have secured this position.

However, IPC president Dr. Panduleni Itula is not on the party’s parliamentary list, meaning the IPC will likely select a leader from the 20 members it will send to the August House.

According to National Assembly spokesperson Sakeus Kadhikwa, the Leader of the Official Opposition plays a crucial role in Namibia’s democracy by holding the government accountable, proposing alternative policies, and influencing legislation.

“The Leader of the Opposition is tasked with presenting their party as a viable alternative to the ruling government. This includes preparing to take over governance should the ruling party lose power,” Kadhikwa explained.

Additionally, the opposition leader coordinates legislative efforts among opposition parties, appoints shadow ministers to monitor government ministries, and serves as the main public representative of the opposition.

A 2021 Government Gazette stipulates that the Leader of the Official Opposition must be provided with an office at the National Assembly and a personal or administrative assistant of their choice, funded by the government.

The position also comes with state-funded transportation, including a fully maintained government vehicle, a bodyguard, and a slightly higher salary than regular MPs. As of the last update, this salary stood at N$996,006.