Also known as: Miss Namibia 2025 · Bernardus Swartbooi · Bernadus Clinton Swartbooi · Miss Universe Namibia 2025 · party leader Bernadus Swartbooi · Mr Swartbooi
Bernadus Swartbooi — leader of the Landless People's Movement, recently suspended former councillor over remarks accusing him of dictatorship.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
The Namibian
Bernardus Swartbooi proposed two-year full joint scientific investigation into Namibia's ocean biomass
“At its press conference yesterday, Landless People's Movement leader Bernardus Swartbooi proposed an investigation, citing ongoing mistrust between government scientists and those in the fishing industry over "biomass" estimates.”
Call for probe to defuse fish stocks rowThe Namibian
Bernardus Swartbooi warned failure to address disagreement risks alienating stakeholders and undermining sector
“Swartbooi warned that failure to address the disagreement on fishing stocks between the government and the industry risks alienating stakeholders and undermining a sector that is internationally recognised.”
Call for probe to defuse fish stocks rowThe Namibian
LPM leader Bernadus Swartbooi questioned why parastatals continue to receive funding despite failing to innovate
“LPM leader Bernadus Swartbooi made the remarks during a press conference on Thursday, in which he questioned why parastatals continue to receive funding despite failing to innovate or generate sustainable revenue.”
Landless People’s Movement demands an end to bailouts for state-owned enterprisesThe Namibian
Swartbooi attributed poor performance to politically motivated appointments and lack of merit
“He attributed poor performance to politically motivated appointments, saying merit is often overlooked, while victimisation and tribalism persist within many SOEs.”
Landless People’s Movement demands an end to bailouts for state-owned enterprisesThe Namibian
Bernadus Swartbooi is accused of running the LPM in a dictatorial manner
“A Former Landless People's Movement regional councillor has accused party leader Bernadus Swartbooi of running the LPM in a dictatorial manner amid growing internal tensions.”
LPM cracks widenThe Namibian
Landless People's Movement leader Bernadus Swartbooi warned that agriculture remains poorly funded, placing national food security at risk
“He cautioned that agriculture remains poorly funded, placing national food security at risk while also affecting efforts to address unemployment.”
Agriculture funding woes deepen as MPs warn of food security risksThe Namibian
Bernadus Swartbooi criticised the government's 2026/27 budget prioritising security sector recruitment over essential infrastructure development and agricultural investment
“Landless People's Movement leader Bernadus Swartbooi has criticised the government's 2026/27 budget prioritising security sector recruitment over essential infrastructure development and agricultural investment.”
LPM slams Govt for prioritising security jobsThe Namibian
Bernadus Swartbooi is LPM president
“He mentions the influence of LPM president Bernadus Swartbooi, crediting him with shaping his approach to accountability and social justice.”
Mariental emerging as young leadership hubNew Era
Swartbooi says the government must consider exporting labour to reduce unemployment
“Bernardus Swartbooi says the government must consider exporting labour to reduce the all-time high unemployment rate in Namibia.”
Swartbooi proposes skills exportNew Era
Swartbooi stressed that overemphasis on social sector and underemphasis on productive sectors are unsustainable
“However, he stressed that overemphasis on the social sector and underemphasis on the productive sectors that grow the economy are unsustainable.”
Swartbooi proposes skills exportThe 2026 Miss Namibia preliminary competition narrowed the field from 18 contestants to 10 finalists over the weekend in Windhoek. The crowning ceremonies will be held in Gobabis as part of an effort to decentralise the event, with Miss Teen Namibia scheduled for 31 July and the main Miss Namibia event on 1 August.
11 May 2026 · The Namibian →
The 2026 Miss Namibia preliminary competition narrowed the field from 18 contestants to 10 finalists over the weekend in Windhoek. The crowning ceremonies will be held in Gobabis as part of an effort to decentralise the event, with Miss Teen Namibia scheduled for 31 July and the main Miss Namibia event on 1 August.
11 May 2026 · The Namibian →
The Landless People's Movement has proposed a two-year investigation into Namibia's ocean fish stocks to enable informed government decisions and job creation in the fishing sector, amid tensions between workers' organisations and the government over reduced allowable catch limits.
26 April 2026 · The Namibian →
The Landless People's Movement has suspended former Keetmanshoop councillor Joseph Isaacks following remarks he made accusing party leader Bernadus Swartbooi of being a dictator. The party said his public statements have tarnished the party and its leadership and violated the LPM's core values.
25 April 2026 · The Namibian →
The Landless People's Movement is calling for state-owned enterprises to become financially independent and end their dependence on public funds, arguing that since 1999 most SOEs have underperformed and failed to innovate. LPM leaders attribute poor performance to politically motivated appointments and said limited public resources should instead address urgent socio-economic needs.
23 April 2026 · The Namibian →
The Landless People's Movement faces growing internal tensions, with former councillor Joseph Isaacks accusing leader Bernadus Swartbooi of running the party dictatorially and the party suspending former mayor McDonald Hanse over alleged involvement in forming a new political party. The LPM's spokesperson denies disunity claims and says the party operates within constitutional rules, while Hanse contests his suspension and disputes the allegations against him.
19 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Members of parliament have expressed concern over the continued underfunding of the agriculture ministry, with lawmakers warning that declining allocations for land distribution, drought support, and veterinary services risk compromising national food security and employment. The ministry received N$1.8 billion for the current financial year, with over N$1.4 billion allocated to operations and over N$300 million to development.
14 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Landless People's Movement leader Bernadus Swartbooi has criticised the 2026/27 national budget for prioritising security sector recruitment over infrastructure development and agricultural investment, saying the government is hiring for security jobs to meet political demands because there is insufficient money for real job creation. He argued that increasing operational budgets while declining development budgets keeps the country in a cycle of poverty and unemployment, and that rural development through agriculture should be non-negotiable.
17 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Hermanus Isaaks, 28-year-old chairperson of Mariental's council management committee, says his leadership focuses on accountability, service delivery and formalising informal settlements. The town is emerging as a hub for young political leadership, including William Minnie, 23, Namibia's youngest elected councillor.
16 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Landless People's Movement leader Bernardus Swartbooi has called on the government to consider exporting labour to address Namibia's 36.9% unemployment rate, citing examples from Kenya, Uganda and Ghana that place workers in Gulf Cooperation Council states. He criticised the government's emphasis on education without corresponding job creation and argued that investment in productive sectors like agriculture and energy should be prioritised over social spending.
16 March 2026 · New Era →
Bernadus Swartbooi, leader of the Landless People's Movement, has proposed that Namibia explore exporting qualified workers abroad to generate remittances, citing examples from Nigeria and South Africa. He argued the government overemphasises education spending relative to job creation, leaving about 130,000 skilled young Namibians without employment opportunities.
13 March 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibian's opinion piece supports Swartbooi's concerns about presidential oversight of the petroleum bill, but cautions that concentrating all executive power in State House risks undermining democracy and institutional checks—citing Hage Geingob's academic warning against presidentialism as the concentration of political power in individual hands.
21 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Political analysts and opposition figures say proposed legislative changes—transferring petroleum sector control to the presidency and restructuring regional councils to report through governors to the president—could concentrate executive authority and undermine democratic checks and balances. Defenders including a Swapo MP argue the measures are necessary to manage Namibia's emerging oil industry, but critics warn the pattern signals democratic backsliding and erosion of decentralisation.
20 February 2026 · The Namibian →
The Petroleum Amendment Bill, which would vest petroleum sector oversight powers in the Office of the President rather than the Ministry of Mines and Energy, faced mixed scrutiny in the National Assembly. Critics including Bernadus Swartbooi raised concerns about the legal doctrine of functus officio limiting presidential review powers and complicating court challenges, while others questioned whether oil advisors at State House are already performing duties that legally belong to the ministry.
19 February 2026 · New Era →
Landless People's Movement leader Bernadus Swartbooi told Parliament that instead of placing a petroleum products upstream unit under the president's office, it should be converted into a monitoring and evaluation component, citing concerns about recentralisation of power, accountability loopholes, and the inability to review presidential decisions without court involvement.
18 February 2026 · The Namibian →
The Miss Namibia Organisation has closed applications for 2026 competitions and completed candidate screening. The pageant continues to position itself as a platform for leadership and social impact, with winners and finalists involved in charity work, mentorship, and national development initiatives.
7 February 2026 · New Era →
The Landless People's Movement confirmed that U.S. President Donald Trump has responded to a letter from party leader Bernadus Clinton Swartbooi sent during last year's election claiming minority groups faced discrimination and pressure in Namibia. Meanwhile, several parliamentarians reacted positively to President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah's recent address, though some cautioned that scrutiny of pending bills—particularly the Petroleum Amendment Bill—is essential before passage.
6 February 2026 · New Era →
An opinion piece examines Bernadus Swartbooi's calls for southern Namibian independence in light of historical land dispossession and upcoming oil revenues, arguing that Nigeria's civil war over oil-driven regional wealth division offers cautionary lessons for resolving Namibia's north-south divide through fair resource sharing rather than armed conflict.
28 January 2026 · The Namibian →
The Miss Namibia Organisation has opened entries for the 2026 pageants, with applications closing 30 January. Reigning Miss Namibia Johanna Swartbooi describes the competition as a "starter pack for adulthood" requiring professional coaching in public speaking, interviews and presentation skills, while the winner receives a house, car, cash and scholarship plus the chance to represent Namibia at Miss Universe.
26 January 2026 · The Namibian →