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
Johanna Swartbooi describes Miss Namibia Organisation as a starter pack for adulthood
“The Miss Namibia Organisation offers far more than the opportunity to represent Namibia on an international stage. It's not just a pageant filled with appearances and interviews, it's what I like to call a starter pack for adulthood," says reigning Miss Namibia 2025 Johanna Swartbooi.”
Pageantry is a starter pack for adulthood – SwartbooiThe Namibian
Bernadus Swartbooi threatened to appeal to United States president Donald Trump for protection
“Its president, Bernadus Swartbooi, recently threatened to appeal to United States president Donald Trump for protection of non-Oshiwambo Namibians and even the secession of southern Namibia.”
Namibia: Voting With Our Feet?The Namibian
Opposition lawmaker Bernadus Swartbooi is promoting a breakaway of tribal origins through violent insurrection
“Swartbooi is now behaving like someone suffering from acute amnesia to the point of promoting a breakaway of tribal origins through violent insurrection – a "shooting war" with "guns".”
Swartbooi Copies MuyongoThe Namibian
Swartbooi is opportunistically misappropriating a genuine issue for power hunger
“While marginalisation is taking place, Swartbooi is opportunistically misappropriating a genuine issue for power hunger.”
Swartbooi Copies MuyongoThe Namibian
Johanna Swartbooi said the costume is more than aesthetic showcase; a cultural statement
“Swartbooi herself has said the costume is more than an aesthetic showcase; it is a cultural statement.”
Swartbooi’s National Costume a Vivid Heritage CanvasThe Namibian
Miss Universe Namibia 2025 Johanna Swartbooi competes at the 74th Miss Universe pageant in Thailand
“Miss Universe Namibia 2025 Johanna Swartbooi says she is determined to carry Namibia's "purpose, passion and pride" onto the international stage as she competes at the 74th Miss Universe pageant in Thailand.”
‘I’ll represent Namibia with purpose, passion and pride’The Namibian
Johanna Swartbooi (Miss Namibia 2025) founded the ||Hapo Wall project
“The ||Hapo Wall project, founded by Swartbooi, encourages schools across the country to transform blank walls into murals that symbolise hope, imagination and unity.”
Miss Namibia launches ||Hapo Wall to inspire Namibian pupilsThe Namibian
Johanna Swartbooi launched the first ||Hapo Wall at Augustineum Secondary School
“Miss Namibia 2025 Johanna Swartbooi launched the first ||Hapo Wall at Augustineum Secondary School in Windhoek last week, an initiative aimed at inspiring Namibian pupils to dream through art and creativity.”
Miss Namibia launches ||Hapo Wall to inspire Namibian pupilsThe Namibian
Bernadus Swartbooi is seeking to have Germany formally included as a respondent in Namibian-German reparations matter
“At the centre of the case is Ovaherero Traditional Authority ombara, professor Mutjinde Katjiua, Landless People's Movement leader Bernadus Swartbooi and others. They are seeking to have Germany formally included as a respondent in the Namibian-German reparations matter.”
Justice and the Law Collidein Genocide CaseThe Namibian
Bernadus Swartbooi was removed from the National Assembly at the request of then speaker Peter Katjavivi
“When, in April 2021, Landless People's Movement (LPM) parliamentarians Bernadus Swartbooi and Henny Seibeb were removed from the National Assembly at the request of then speaker Peter Katjavivi, many were surprised at the way they were manhandled.”
Is Namibia’s Democracy Under Threat?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 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 →