Also known as: Miss Namibia 2025 · Bernardus Swartbooi · Bernadus Clinton Swartbooi · Miss Universe Namibia 2025 · party leader Bernadus Swartbooi · Mr Swartbooi · LPM leader Bernadus Swartbooi
Bernadus Swartbooi — Leader of the Landless People's Movement, involved in recent Keetmanshoop mayor recall and parliamentary debates on budget priorities.
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December 2025
The Namibian
Bernadus Swartbooithreatened to appeal toUnited States president Donald Trump for protection
Source
“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.”
Opposition lawmaker Bernadus Swartbooiis promotinga breakaway of tribal origins through violent insurrection
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“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".”
Miss Universe Namibia 2025 Johanna Swartbooicompetes atthe 74th Miss Universe pageant in Thailand
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“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.”
Johanna Swartbooi (Miss Namibia 2025)foundedthe ||Hapo Wall project
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“The ||Hapo Wall project, founded by Swartbooi, encourages schools across the country to transform blank walls into murals that symbolise hope, imagination and unity.”
Johanna Swartbooilaunchedthe first ||Hapo Wall at Augustineum Secondary School
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“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.”
Bernadus Swartbooiis seeking to haveGermany formally included as a respondent in Namibian-German reparations matter
Source
“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.”
Bernadus Swartbooiwas removed fromthe National Assembly at the request of then speaker Peter Katjavivi
Source
“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.”
Local fashion brand House of Poulton officially launched a masterclass incubator at the Creative Industry Institute Africa in Windhoek, offering mentorship, industry exposure and practical skills development to equip Namibia's next generation of artists and designers with business skills. The initiative is backed by Miss Namibia 2025 Johanna Swartbooi, who emphasized that creatives need business knowledge to sustain their work alongside their artistic talent.
Local fashion brand House of Poulton officially launched a masterclass incubator at the Creative Industry Institute Africa in Windhoek, offering mentorship, industry exposure and practical skills development to equip Namibia's next generation of artists and designers with business skills. The initiative is backed by Miss Namibia 2025 Johanna Swartbooi, who emphasized that creatives need business knowledge to sustain their work alongside their artistic talent.
Former Keetmanshoop mayor Melody Swartbooi says she remains a proud LPM member despite being recalled from the town council by the party, which has not provided reasons for her withdrawal. LPM spokesperson confirms she remains an ordinary member, neither suspended nor expelled.
Former Keetmanshoop mayor Francis Melody Swartbooi claimed at a media briefing that the Landless People's Movement's leadership forced her to award municipal projects to a preferred contractor, and dismissed her when she refused. The dispute centred on a water meter procurement tender and plans to renovate the Homs-Ai Open Market.
The Landless Peoples' Movement recalled Keetmanshoop mayor Melody Swartbooi from her position and council representation over the weekend, citing unspecified reasons. A chaotic meeting involving police and a failed follow-up discussion have left party members divided and questioning the leadership's handling of the dispute.
Political analysts say the Landless People's Movement needs stronger regional and local branches after its community meeting in Keetmanshoop was disrupted on Saturday. An analyst warned that parties without robust local structures risk becoming disconnected from supporters and overly dependent on individuals.
Landless People's Movement (LPM) leader Bernadus Swartbooi and other party leaders were forced to flee a public meeting in Keetmanshoop on Saturday after chaos erupted over the recall of town mayor Melody Swartbooi. Police advised that the meeting could not continue, though the party attributed the disruption to a small group including suspended member Joseph Isaacks and said they would address the matter at a press conference.
The Landless People's Movement rejected claims that crowds were antagonistic towards party leader Bernadus Swartbooi at a chaotic weekend meeting, saying instead that attendees were upset over the sudden end of the meeting without receiving answers they sought. The party indicated it will host a press conference on Monday following the disruption, which occurred after the firing of Keetmanshoop mayor Melody Swartbooi.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.