Thursday, 23 July 2026

Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026

Thursday, 23 July 2026

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Namibian press · Organization

Affirmative Repositioning

Also known as: Affirmative Repositioning Movement

2022-10-022026-07-23

What’s been said

Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.

January 2025
24 JanThe Namibian
Affirmative Repositioning leader Job Amupanda sued government and other defendants over veterinary cordon fence
Source
“The government and other defendants sued by Affirmative Repositioning leader Job Amupanda in his quest to have Namibia's veterinary cordon fence (redline) declared unconstitutional and removed will ask for the dismissal of his claim.”
Government to ask for dismissal of Amupanda's redline case
23 JanThe Namibian
Affirmative Repositioning is led by Job Amupanda
Source
“Namibia's veterinary cordon fence is a colonial instrument used by the government to divide the country's people, Affirmative Repositioning leader Job Amupanda claims.”
Rights cannot be postponed, Amupanda says in redline case
23 JanThe Namibian
Affirmative Repositioning is led by Job Amupanda
Source
“Affirmative Repositioning leader Job Amupanda says he has a strong case in his bid to have the 1 200-kilometre veterinary cordon fence, commonly known as the redline, declared unconstitutional.”
We have a solid case – Amupanda on redline
December 2024
22 DecThe Namibian
Affirmative Repositioning stands for neurotic and Maoist principles
Source
“Your real little monsters are the Affirmative Repositioning and the Landless People's Movement, which are really one and the same party as they stand for the same neurotic and Maoist principles.”
Namibia Belongs to Dinosaurs
November 2024
30 NovThe Namibian
Affirmative Repositioning has filed formal complaint with Electoral Commission of Namibia citing ballot shortages and irregularities
Source
“The Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement has filed a formal complaint with the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) citing ballot paper shortages, mobile teams failing to set up shop and turning voters away illegally.”
2024 Namibian Elections: Live Coverage
October 2024
23 OctThe Namibian
Affirmative Repositioning launched its manifesto over the weekend at Katima Mulilo
Source
“AR launched its manifesto over the weekend at Katima Mulilo, detailing plans to turn the country's misfortunes into opportunities for progress.”
‘AR plans too expensive for Namibia’
22 OctThe Namibian
Affirmative Repositioning plans to appoint commissioners to the Anti-Corruption Commission if elected
Source
“The Affirmative Repositioning (AR) plans to appoint commissioners to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) if elected to the government.”
AR pledges to appoint commissioners to overhaul Anti-Corruption Commission
19 OctThe Namibian
Affirmative Repositioning has promised one-year tax holiday for companies creating over 100 permanent jobs once voted into power
Source
“The Affirmative Repositioning (AR) has promised a one-year tax holiday for companies that create over 100 permanent jobs, once voted into power.”
Affirmative Repositioning to grant companies with 100 permanent employees one-year tax exemption
17 OctThe Namibian
Affirmative Repositioning submitted presidential candidate and National Assembly list
Source
“Parties which have submitted their presidential candidate and National Assembly lists are: the Action Democratic Movement Party, Affirmative Repositioning (AR), All People's Party, Congress of Democrats, Body of Christ Party, Landless People's Movement, Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters, Swapo, United Namibians Party United Democratic Front of Namibia, Swanu of Namibia, Popular Democratic Movement, Rally for Democracy and Progress, Republican Party of Namibia and the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC).”
Six political parties opt out of 2024 presidential race, leaving 15 candidates to choose from
6 OctThe Namibian
Affirmative Repositioning (AR) does not seem to have clear political identity
Source
“Affirmative Repositioning (AR) and the Namibian Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) don't seem to have clear political identities.”
Should Namibians Vote?

Politics

Opposition challenges ECN nominee over Swapo membership ties

The News

Opposition parties oppose Gerson Sindano's nomination to chair the Electoral Commission of Namibia, citing his past role as personal assistant to a Swapo official and his current Swapo membership as undermining the commission's independence ahead of the 2030 elections. The National Democratic Party president says he would only support Sindano if he publicly renounced his Swapo membership.

15 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 15 July

Opposition challenges ECN nominee over Swapo membership ties
Opposition parties oppose Gerson Sindano's nomination to chair the Electoral Commission of Namibia, citing his past role as personal assistant to a Swapo official and his current Swapo membership as undermining the commission's independence ahead of the 2030 elections. The National Democratic Party president says he would only support Sindano if he publicly renounced his Swapo membership.
15 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 14 July

Plastic bag levy generates N$250 million since 2021/22
Namibia's plastic bag levy has generated N$249 750 858.91 between the 2021/22 financial year and the first half of the 2025/26 financial year, with the revenue funding waste management, recycling and green economy projects. The levy, introduced under the Customs and Excise Act and expanded from 2018–2019, aims to reduce reliance on single-use plastic bags and promote environmentally responsible behaviour.
14 July 2026 · New Era →
MPs warn ACC leadership must ensure impartial corruption investigations
Members of Parliament have challenged the incoming Anti-Corruption Commission leadership to demonstrate independence and impartiality, with lawmakers warning that the institution's credibility depends on investigating corruption without fear or favour. Swapo MP Tobie Aupindi criticized the outgoing ACC leadership and alleged the commission had been weaponized to settle political scores and applied investigations selectively.
14 July 2026 · New Era →

Monday 13 July

Parliament approves ACC chief, warns against selective justice
The National Assembly unanimously approved Bryan Eiseb as director general of the Anti-Corruption Commission while lawmakers across parties warned the institution must pursue corruption without political interference and shed its reputation for allowing politically connected cases to go unpunished.
13 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Sunday 12 July

ECN chairperson appointment criticized as institutional mismanagement
An opinion piece in The Namibian criticizes the Electoral Commission of Namibia's endorsement of Gerson Sindano, a University of Namibia senior lecturer in language development, to replace Elsie Nghikembua as chairperson, arguing that his appointment is unsuitable given the ECN's history of logistical failures including ballot paper shortages and communication breakdowns.
12 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Saturday 11 July

Opposition blocks vote on ECN chairperson without documentation
Several opposition parties are refusing to approve Gerson Sindano's appointment as Electoral Commission of Namibia chairperson until parliament provides all documentation on his nomination, including interview minutes and selection committee recommendations. Opposition leaders also raised concerns that Sindano's previous role as a personal assistant to Swapo's secretary general could undermine the commission's independence.
11 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 10 July

Itula threatens court action over ECN commissioner appointments
Independent Patriots for Change leader Panduleni Itula has threatened legal action against the president's appointment of Electoral Commission of Namibia commissioners, arguing the process is unconstitutional because the president nominated rather than appointed candidates as required under Article 94B of the Constitution. Itula also raised concerns about incomplete documentation, including missing sworn declarations on political affiliations and unclear term duration for ECN chairperson Gerson Sindano.
10 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Opposition demands access to ECN selection records before vote
The Electoral Commission of Namibia leadership appointments have sparked a constitutional debate over Parliament's oversight powers. Affirmative Repositioning leader Job Amupanda demanded postponement of the vote on the President's ECN nominees until lawmakers are provided with recruitment, interview, and selection committee records, arguing MPs cannot exercise informed judgment without them.
10 July 2026 · New Era →
AR supports ACC director general pick, pledges vigilant oversight
Affirmative Repositioning MP Vaino Hangula backed the nomination of Bryan Eiseb as Anti-Corruption Commission director general and the extension of deputy director general Erna van der Merwe, but warned that public confidence in the ACC has eroded over two decades of unmet expectations, particularly following the Fishrot scandal, and pledged his party would subject the institution to close scrutiny.
10 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Amupanda seeks court order to halt ECN appointment vote
Parliamentary leader Job Amupanda has filed an urgent High Court application to stop the National Assembly from approving Electoral Commission of Namibia nominees, arguing that lawmakers lack access to key selection documents needed for informed decision-making. He is demanding disclosure of interview minutes, scoresheets, the selection committee's recommendation, and the President's nomination, claiming the lack of records prevents lawmakers from exercising constitutional oversight.
10 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Thursday 9 July

ECN appointments dispute requires constitutionalism over politics
An editorial argues that the disagreement over the Electoral Commission of Namibia's appointments process—specifically a dispute between the Attorney-General and the Affirmative Repositioning movement over access to documents related to the President's nominations—should be resolved through constitutional principle rather than partisan rivalry, given Namibia's reputation for rule of law.
9 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Speaker refuses delay on ECN vote, agrees to release documents
The Office of the Attorney-General has rejected demands to postpone Parliament's vote on the Electoral Commission of Namibia chairperson and commissioners, but agreed to make documents bearing President Nandi-Ndaitwah's signature available to MPs during the sitting. The legal challenge, filed on behalf of AR leader Job Amupanda, argued that MPs lacked critical documents needed for an informed constitutional decision.
9 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Wednesday 8 July

Speaker rejects demand for ECN selection process records
The Speaker of the National Assembly has dismissed demands by Affirmative Repositioning leader Dr Job Amupanda to provide internal records from the Electoral Commission of Namibia chairperson and commissioner nomination process. The Speaker cited the Electoral Act, stating the National Assembly's role is confined to approving or rejecting the President's nominations, not scrutinising the selection committee's internal processes.
8 July 2026 · Informanté →
Opposition MP threatens court action on ECN appointments
AR leader Dr. Job Shipululo Amupanda has threatened urgent High Court action to halt a National Assembly vote on Electoral Commission of Namibia appointments, demanding Parliament defer the vote until records from the nomination process are made available. Amupanda's legal representatives argue MPs cannot properly evaluate nominees without access to interview scoresheets, minutes, and the President's signed nomination, and question the legality of a nine-month chairperson term instead of the constitutionally prescribed five years.
8 July 2026 · Informanté →

Thursday 2 July

Works minister rules out electronic tolls for Namibia
Works and transport minister Veikko Nekundi told Parliament that neither his ministry nor the government has adopted a policy to introduce electronic tolls in Namibia, stating that the proposal originated from the Road Fund Administration and was previously rejected.
2 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Thursday 25 June

Parliamentarian seeks grain storage plans ahead of bumper harvest
Affirmative Repositioning MP Vaino Hangula is asking the government to explain its plans to procure and store locally produced maize, citing projections that white maize production will exceed 100,000 tonnes this year following good rainfall. He also raised concerns about poor-quality imported rice distributed through government aid programmes and reports of spoilage at the Namibia Correctional Service farm at Divundu due to inadequate storage facilities.
25 June 2026 · The Namibian →
AR MP questions US ambassador's judicial interference remarks
Affirmative Repositioning MP Tuhafeni Kalola is questioning remarks made by US ambassador John Giordano to chief justice Peter Shivute, in which Giordano allegedly told judges they could call him to contact people he knows to help with their cases. Kalola argues the remarks appear to breach Article 78(3) of the Namibian Constitution, which safeguards judicial independence, and has asked the justice minister whether the government has assessed the ambassador's statements and whether they constitute an attempt to interfere with the Judiciary.
25 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Redline removal blocked by uncontrolled cattle and disease risks
An estimated 200,000 to 300,000 uncontrolled cattle roaming the Namibia-Angola border annually, slow uptake of northern abattoirs, and lack of alternative grazing areas make removal of the veterinary cordon fence (redline) practically impossible in its current form, the agriculture minister told Parliament. The redline maintains the southern zone's foot-and-mouth disease-free status; its removal would risk compromising this countrywide.
25 June 2026 · New Era →

Wednesday 24 June

NMRC clears Fabu-Paracetamol after independent safety testing
The Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council has confirmed that Fabu-Paracetamol meets required safety and quality standards following independent laboratory testing of samples from health facilities. The tests found all batches complied with quality specifications, contained correct active pharmaceutical ingredient levels, and contained no toxic contaminants such as diethylene glycol or ethylene glycol.
24 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Monday 22 June

Erongo governor wins praise for fiscal management and infrastructure
Erongo governor Natalia /Goagoses has received cross-party recognition for her financial stewardship, including clean audits as a regional officer and moving the governor's office from costly hotel accommodation to a renovated government building funded by donations.
22 June 2026 · New Era →

Sunday 21 June

Parliament disrupted again as opposition challenges speaker authority
The national assembly adjourned Wednesday after opposition parliamentarians clashed with speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila over her authorisation of the finance minister to speak on behalf of the prime minister. The editorial argues that repeated parliamentary disruptions reflect a failure of political leadership across parties and have prevented debate on critical legislation, including the petroleum bill.
21 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 17 June

National Assembly descends into disorder over speaker's rulings
Opposition parliamentarians from the PDM, AR, and IPC challenged speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila on Wednesday over the manner in which she was conducting proceedings, with members arguing she was dismissing points of order without allowing them to be heard. The confrontation erupted after finance minister Ericah Shafudah was authorised to table and read a debate speech on behalf of prime minister Elijah Ngurare, a move strongly opposed by opposition parties.
17 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Amupanda challenges Sindano ECN chairperson endorsement motion
A parliamentary motion to endorse Gerson Sindano as Electoral Commission of Namibia chairperson has been postponed after Affirmative Repositioning leader Job Amupanda objected, citing constitutional and Electoral Act breaches. Amupanda argues that Sindano's current commissioner term does not expire until 21 June 2027, conflicting with the requirement for a five-year chairperson tenure, and that the position should have been publicly advertised and subjected to an interview process.
17 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 16 June

Tsumeb councillor denies N$80,000 bribery allegation
Tsumeb councillor Sem Nghuulikwa has denied soliciting N$80,000 from a tenderer in exchange for an N$800,000 housing contract, calling a leaked WhatsApp screenshot "AI-generated" and a politically motivated smear campaign. The alleged chat, posted by businessman Nico Kaiyamo, appears to show Nghuulikwa offering 10 houses and requesting a sum to share with town engineer Pedro Manuel.
16 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Thursday 11 June

Acting prosecutor general plans to exit by year-end
Martha Imalwa, the acting prosecutor general, says she is looking forward to leaving office at the end of the year. The Judicial Service Commission has restarted recruitment for a substantive prosecutor general after none of the eight shortlisted candidates met the required standard in a written assessment.
11 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 8 June

AR proposes tax on absentee urban landlords and vacant land
Affirmative Repositioning lawmaker Vaino Hangula proposed creating an "absentee urban landlord" category with higher levies and possible government acquisition of urban land for public housing, arguing the current land bill fails to address Namibia's urban housing crisis by excluding local authority and settlement areas. He called for levies on vacant serviced land, progressive property ownership limits, and stricter accountability for urban land held for commercial purposes.
8 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Government launches EV charging pilot as part of nationwide rollout strategy
The Ministry of Works and Transport launched a pilot electric vehicle charging station at its headquarters in Windhoek, with Works and Transport Minister Veikko Nekundi describing it as a strategic pilot project intended to inform the expansion of an EV charging network across the country. The ministry, which manages government-owned infrastructure, plans to eventually serve both government fleet vehicles and the public.
8 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Thursday 4 June

Government launches EV charging station pilot at ministry headquarters
The Ministry of Works and Transport has installed an electric vehicle charging station at its Windhoek headquarters as a pilot project to assess the feasibility of a nationwide charging network. The facility, designed by ministry engineers, will serve as a case study to guide future EV charging infrastructure deployment across the country, initially targeting government-owned vehicles and government employees before expanding to the public.
4 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Minister denies illegality of exclusive fuel supply mandate to Vitol
Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy Modestus Amutse denied that Vitol Bahrain's appointment as sole fuel supplier to Namibia for three months was illegal, responding to AR leader Job Amupanda's claim that the arrangement violates the Petroleum Products and Energy Act, which requires fuel importers to hold a wholesale licence and be registered in Namibia.
4 June 2026 · Informanté →

Wednesday 3 June

Bank of Namibia vows gradual banking fee reduction over three years
The central bank governor told parliament that reducing high banking fees will take time as new regulations are implemented, though he expects significant progress within three years. Banks earned N$5.0 billion from fee income last year, representing 31.3% of their total income.
3 June 2026 · The Namibian →