Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader and member of parliament, McHenry Venaani, has stressed that Namibia must not become a one-sided nation dominated by a single party.

He made the remarks ahead of the nomination and election of two deputy chairpersons of the Whole House Committee, urging fellow lawmakers to promote inclusivity in parliamentary leadership.

Venaani criticised the continued dominance of the ruling party in all parliamentary roles, saying that such monopolisation undermines the spirit of democratic governance.

He proposed that one of the two deputy chairperson positions be allocated to the ruling Swapo Party and the other to an opposition party, advocating for a spirit of fairness and cooperation. “Have a culture of give and take,” he urged.

Venaani further cautioned MPs against turning the Namibian Parliament into a “consistent laughing stock” on regional and global platforms, calling instead for a united effort in building a consolidated and democratic country.

Despite his appeal, the house went on to elect Uahekua Herunga and Paula Kooper, both members of the Swapo Party, as the two deputy chairpersons.