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
Miss Namibia 2025 Johanna Swartbooi encouraged audience to never stop dreaming
“Miss Namibia 2025 Johanna Swartbooi encouraged the audience to never stop dreaming.”
Youth week celebrations act towards Namibia’s futureThe Namibian
Bernadus Swartbooi accused the government on television of promoting a one-sided narrative and refusing to unify commemoration dates
“Among the boycott leaders was Landless People's Movement (LPM) president Bernadus Swartbooi, who accused the government on television of promoting a one-sided narrative and refusing to unify commemoration dates observed separately by the Nama and Ovaherero communities.”
Reparations Demands Need UnityThe Namibian
Bernadus Swartbooi boycotted the inaugural Genocide Remembrance Day
“Among the boycott leaders was Landless People's Movement (LPM) president Bernadus Swartbooi, who accused the government on television of promoting a one-sided narrative and refusing to unify commemoration dates observed separately by the Nama and Ovaherero communities.”
Reparations Demands Need UnityThe Namibian
Bernadus Swartbooi received 40 votes in the National Assembly speaker election
“She was competing with Landless People's Movement leader Bernadus Swartbooi, who received 40 votes.”
Kuugongelwa-Amadhila elected as first woman National Assembly speaker after decade as prime ministerThe Namibian
Swartbooi said 71% of National Assembly and leadership should be constituted by youth
“The party's leader on Saturday said 71% of the National Assembly and leadership should be constituted by the youth.”
LPM calls for 71% youth leadership and 50% state-owned miningThe Namibian
LPM leader Bernadus Swartbooi called for resignation of commissioners
“At a press conference following yesterday's meeting, LPM leader Bernadus Swartbooi called for the resignation of the commissioners.”
Electoral Commission of Namibia faces political party backlash over controversial ballot paper procurement proposalThe Namibian
Bernadus Swartbooi pledged to allocate to the youth economy N$500 million
“The Landless People's Movement (LPM) has pledged to allocate N$500 million to the youth economy.”
Promises made at presidential debateThe Namibian
Party head Bernadus Swartbooi is criticized for vulgar manner of engaging opponents in parliament
“Since the LPM's inception, The Namibian has criticised the party's two founders (Henny Seibeb and party head Bernadus Swartbooi) over the vulgar manner in which they engaged opponents even in parliament, which has a set decorum.”
Hell Hath No Fury Like LPM ScornedThe Namibian
Bernadus Swartbooi responded by labelling entire ethnic groups as thieves
“Sadly, the response to Nujoma's stereotypes by younger lawmakers like Landless People's Movement (LPM) leader Bernadus Swartbooi labelling entire ethnic groups as thieves seems to suggest these fierce political rivals are cut from the same cloth.”
Fire Nujoma, Build One NamibiaThe Namibian
Bernadus Swartbooi alleged that N$1.2 billion was funnelled from MTC account to pay for legal representation in Fishrot case
“Landless People's Movement leader Bernadus Swartbooi, in a question to finance minister Iipumbu Shiimi that was tabled in the National Assembly on Wednesday, alleged that N$1,2 billion was funnelled from an MTC account to pay for the legal representation of accused persons in the Fishrot case.”
MTC rubbishes claim about loss of fundsThe 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 →