By Stefanus Nashama

Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) Secretary-General Manuel Ngaringombe says that although the party is a “wounded lion,” it remains confident of securing victory in one of its strongest support bases, the Katutura Central Constituency.
Speaking to Confidente on Wednesday, Ngaringombe said: “We are a wounded lion, and it is not easy to defeat a wounded lion. We will come prepared for positive results.”
 

He revealed that the current councillor, Rodman Katjaimo, will contest unopposed at party level for candidacy in Katutura Central in the upcoming November regional council and local authority elections. Ngaringombe added that the party fully backs Katjaimo’s bid.
“The party has confidence in Katjaimo, not just because he is a member, but because of what he stands for and his contribution to the community. He will be the victor come November. We are proud of Councillor Katjaimo, he has done a good job,” Ngaringombe said. 
 

He indicated that the only step left is for Katjaimo to go through the vetting process and receive the party’s official recommendation.
On Tuesday, Katjaimo held a public information-sharing engagement with residents, during which he faced a series of tough questions.
 

Community members raised concerns about poor service delivery, citing pensioners’ houses in poor condition, high municipal rates, inadequate street lighting, and food parcel distribution. They alleged that Katjaimo mainly directs service delivery to areas with a majority of OvaHerero residents, and accused him of being absent from the constituency office and not living in the area.
Katjaimo denied the claims, saying he has never been motivated by tribalism and is not bound to office work.
 

“Consultations take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I am often out mobilising resources for the community,” Katjaimo explained.
Seeking another term, Katjaimo pledged to prioritise bringing WiFi to the entire constituency to reduce students’ costs of accessing study centres. He also highlighted past initiatives, including using 10 percent of his own salary to feed families monthly, fighting crime, advocating for youth empowerment, and lobbying for elderly residents’ municipal debts to be written off.
Katjaimo said he is driven by love and compassion, not political agendas or tribal divisions. He also clarified that the halted Katutura Expo was not a constituency event but a private one. He added that some questions posed to Katjaimo were politically motivated.
 

Ngaringombe defended Katjaimo, saying many of the residents’ complaints were based on misunderstandings about the division of responsibilities between regional councils and local authorities. “Residents are mixing things, some matters are for the local authority, while others are for the regional council,” he said.