Tuesday, 6 October 2026

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

Tuesday, 6 October 2026

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Namibian press · Person

Ephraim Nekongo

Also known as: Swapo Party Youth League secretary Ephraim Nekongo

Swapo Party Youth League secretary general who advocates on education reform, environmental policy, and youth employment programmes.

2023-04-212026-10-06

What’s been said

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

March 2026
12 MarThe Namibian
Ephraim Nekongo says the budget protects essential needs, productivity, investment, advanced youth empowerment and physical discipline
Source
“Swapo parliamentarian Ephraim Nekongo says the budget protects essential needs, productivity, investment, advanced youth empowerment and physical discipline, while striking a balance between ambition and affordability.”
Youth unemployment not adequately addressed – MPs
7 MarThe Namibian
Ephraim Nekongo demanded an apology from Kandorozu over remarks made
Source
“Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) secretary general Ephraim Nekongo has demanded an apology from National Unity Democratic Organisation parliamentarian Vetaruhe Kandorozu over remarks he made.”
Swapo youth league wants Kandorozu to apologise to Ballotti
5 MarThe Namibian
SPYL leader Ephraim Nekongo stated it is too early to say whether he will vie for one of the party's top four positions
Source
“Meanwhile, SPYL leader Nekongo, a protégé of Nekundi, says it is too early to say whether he will vie for one of the party's top four positions.”
Veikko Nekundi rules out Swapo secretary general bid ahead of 2027 congress
February 2026
6 FebNew Era
Ephraim Nekongo refuted the claim that Swapo has become a rubber stamp
Source
“In response to Kauandenge, Swapo's youth league secretary, Ephraim Nekongo, refuted the claim.”
Swapo turning Parliament into rubberstamp – Kauandenge
6 FebNew Era
Ephraim Nekongo stated that in Parliament they do not simply approve things without discussion
Source
“According to Nekongo, "in Parliament they do not simply approve things without discussion; they engage in discussions about the issues at hand, and if amendments are necessary, they are made."”
Swapo turning Parliament into rubberstamp – Kauandenge
February 2025
9 FebThe Namibian
Ephraim Nekongo said Nujoma profoundly shaped Namibia's identity and values
Source
“Following the death of founding father Sam Nujoma on Sunday, Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) secretary general Ephraim Nekongo said Nujoma profoundly shaped Namibia's identity and values.”
Swapo Party Youth League describes Nujoma as ‘man of values’
March 2024
4 MarThe Namibian
Ephraim Nekongo said party should win two-thirds of vote in presidential and National assembly elections
Source
“Swapo Party Youth League secetary Ephraim Nekongo said that in order to honour president Hage Geingob, the party should win two-thirds of the vote in both the presiential and National assembly elections later this year.”
Honour Geingob by winning elections – Nekongo
April 2023
21 AprThe Namibian
Ephraim Nekongo has agricultural partnership with Laban Kandume
Source
“Kandume has also established himself among the top echelons of Namibia's political elite, including an agricultural partnership project with Swapo Party Youth League secretary and member of parliament Ephraim Nekongo.”
The darling of agriculture tenders

Agriculture & Land

Parliament warns of land reform financial management gaps

The News

Members of parliament have called for tighter financial and administrative oversight of Namibia's land reform programme, citing weaknesses in resource management and pointing to an adverse audit opinion on the Land Acquisition and Development Fund for the year ended 31 March 2025, which included approximately N$24.4 million in land-tax income recognition errors and N$11 million in overstated receivables.

25 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Friday 25 September

Parliament warns of land reform financial management gaps
Members of parliament have called for tighter financial and administrative oversight of Namibia's land reform programme, citing weaknesses in resource management and pointing to an adverse audit opinion on the Land Acquisition and Development Fund for the year ended 31 March 2025, which included approximately N$24.4 million in land-tax income recognition errors and N$11 million in overstated receivables.
25 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Saturday 19 September

Youth leaders push compulsory national service bill
An opinion column criticizes a proposed compulsory national service policy for post-puberty citizens, questioning whether it is driven by genuine patriotism or merely control, and warns against conflating patriotism with uncritical obedience to state leadership based on examples from other African countries.
19 September 2026 · Namibian Sun →

Friday 18 September

NYS urged to track young people's outcomes after programmes
Education minister Sanet Steenkamp said the National Youth Service should measure success beyond recruitment and training figures, tracking how many former recruits pursue further education, secure employment, or contribute to their communities. The call comes as demand for NYS programmes grows, with about 18,000 young people applying for the 17th intake this year.
18 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Wednesday 16 September

Swapo Youth League supports compulsory national youth service
Swapo Party Youth League secretary Ephraim Nekongo has backed a government proposal for compulsory national service, arguing it could promote discipline, patriotism, and practical skills to combat youth unemployment. He notes the programme would require additional government funding to expand effectively.
16 September 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 15 September

Opposition rejects health directive requiring state hospital use
A presidential directive requiring senior public servants to use state health facilities instead of private ones took effect 1 April, but several parliamentarians have opposed it, citing shortages of equipment, medicines, and staff in public hospitals. The president has not visited a hospital under the directive, saying she remains in good health.
15 September 2026 · The Namibian →

Saturday 12 September

Swapo youth league opposes street vendor evictions by authorities
The Swapo Party Youth League has called on the City of Windhoek and local authorities to stop evicting street vendors and instead create designated trading spaces where they can work legally. The league says street vending is vital income for thousands of Namibian families, particularly young people, women and low-income households, and urged authorities to move toward formalisation and integration of informal trading rather than enforcement-centred approaches.
12 September 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 3 September

Agriculture minister appeals Sandpiper phosphate environmental clearance
Agriculture minister Inge Zaamwani has appealed against the environmental commissioner's decision to grant an environmental clearance certificate to Namibian Marine Phosphate for the Sandpiper marine phosphate mining project, appealing against the decision in its entirety and all conditions in the certificate.
3 September 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 23 August

Swapo youth league seeks one-year delay for education points system
The Swapo Party Youth League has welcomed the Ministry of Education's new standardised admission point scale for higher education but wants its implementation delayed by a year from 2027 to allow pupils, teachers and schools more time to adjust. The system will calculate admission points using a pupil's best five subjects with English compulsory and applies to multiple qualifications including Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate and International Baccalaureate.
23 August 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 17 August

Swapo youth league calls Cabinet oversight of environmental permits
The Swapo Party Youth League wants the Cabinet to oversee environmental clearance decisions, arguing that ministers must supervise decisions within their ministries. Critics including former Cabinet minister Helmut Angula warn that Cabinet involvement could politicise the process and that administrators should remain responsible for ECC applications.
17 August 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 14 August

SPYL calls for review of phosphate mining environmental certificate
The SWAPO Party Youth League has renewed its opposition to phosphate mining in Namibia, calling for the Environmental Clearance Certificate to be reviewed and set aside, citing risks to the fishing industry (which contributes 4.1% to GDP and employs about 19,440 people) and concerns about habitat destruction, water pollution, and radioactive waste generation.
14 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Swapo youth wing opposes phosphate mining environmental clearance
The Swapo Party Youth League has called for the environmental clearance certificate granted to Namibian Marine Phosphate to be reviewed and set aside, citing concerns that the project could threaten Namibia's fishing industry and marine environment through pollution and habitat damage.
14 August 2026 · The Namibian →
SPYL welcomes progress on national airline revival plan
SWAPO Party Youth League Secretary Ephraim Nekongo has welcomed progress toward reviving Namibia's national airline, citing the handover of licences, acquisition of aircraft, and a scheduled first flight in the first week of December as evidence that lessons from past failures have been drawn.
14 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Sunday 26 July

MPs reject Itula's call to dissolve parliament
Opposition leader Panduleni Itula called on the president to dissolve the National Assembly, arguing parliament has been ineffective and slow in lawmaking since 2025; lawmakers rejected the proposal, saying parliament's shortcomings do not justify fresh elections.
26 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 29 June

SPYL denies involvement in Swakopmund youth council violence
The SWAPO Party Youth League distanced itself from violent scenes at the National Youth Council General Assembly in Swakopmund on 21 June, which left at least nine delegates injured and prompted an indefinite postponement. SPYL said it had repeatedly raised unresolved concerns with the NYC administration and Ministry of Education about affiliate participation, bogus delegates, and legal compliance violations, but these issues were not adequately addressed.
29 June 2026 · Informanté →

Tuesday 16 June

SPYL urges youth to champion education on African Child Day
The Swapo Party Youth League calls on young Namibians to become ambassadors of education and contribute to national development on the Day of the African Child, citing Namibia's progress in expanding educational access since independence while noting remaining challenges in quality education and digital literacy for rural and marginalised communities.
16 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 4 June

SPYL Kavango East suspends regional secretary pending investigation
The SWAPO Party Youth League regional executive committee in Kavango East suspended regional secretary Bibiana Shapi pending investigation into allegations that she undermined the committee's authority and unity by participating in efforts to remove elected members. Shapi rejected the suspension as unconstitutional and politically motivated, amid preparations for an extraordinary regional conference to fill a vacant position.
4 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Wednesday 20 May

PM Ngurare backs Nandi-Ndaitwah for second term
Prime minister Elijah Ngurare publicly supports president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah serving a second term, arguing that previous elected presidents served more than one term and that premature succession debates distract from government service delivery. Swapo's elective congress to choose a presidential candidate for the 2029 elections is expected next year.
20 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 5 April

Swapo MP James Uerikua dies in road accident aged 43
Swapo member of parliament James Uerikua, 43, died in a road accident between Otjiwarongo and Okakarara in the Otjozondjupa region while travelling with his family. Colleagues remembered him as a fearless, articulate debater who brought intellect and humour to parliamentary discourse and strengthened national security and international cooperation.
5 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 13 March

Swapo succession talks premature before 2027 congress
Swapo Party Youth League secretary Ephraim Nekongo says discussions about leadership succession ahead of the party's 2027 congress are premature, as the party is still completing internal renewal processes at grassroots level before national leadership decisions are made.
13 March 2026 · New Era →

Thursday 12 March

MPs criticise 2026/27 budget for failing to address youth unemployment
Members of parliament have raised concerns that the recently tabled 2026/27 budget, which allocates N$81.3 billion to operational expenditure and only N$6.5 billion to development spending, fails to adequately address youth unemployment and lacks a credible plan for job creation. IPC parliamentarian Michael Mwashindange argued that the fiscal framework prioritises recurring operational costs over strategic investments, while rising debt payments and interest costs continue to crowd out productive investments needed to stimulate employment.
12 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Saturday 7 March

Swapo youth league demands apology from Kandorozu over Ballotti remarks
Swapo Party Youth League secretary general Ephraim Nekongo has called on National Unity Democratic Organisation parliamentarian Vetaruhe Kandorozu to apologize and withdraw comments made to education deputy minister Dino Ballotti during National Assembly proceedings, citing the need for respectful parliamentary conduct and saying personal attacks undermine the Namibian Constitution.
7 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 5 March

Minister Nekundi rules out bid for Swapo secretary general position
Minister of works and transport Veikko Nekundi has said he will not contest for the Swapo secretary general position or any of the party's top four posts at the 2027 party congress. The announcement comes amid speculation about potential candidates for the party's leadership race, including Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare and SPYL leader Ephraim Nekongo.
5 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 6 February

Swapo accused of treating Parliament as rubber stamp for bills
Joseph Kauandenge, president of the Association of Localised Interests, has accused Swapo of using its parliamentary majority to rush legislation without proper debate or public input, resulting in bills that fail legal scrutiny. Swapo's youth league secretary Ephraim Nekongo disputed this, stating that the party has proper review processes and engages in parliamentary discussion before passing laws.
6 February 2026 · New Era →

Tuesday 6 January

Namibia condemns US military action against Venezuela, Maduro captured
Namibia's Ministry of International Relations and Trade, alongside political parties, condemned the United States' military strike against Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, citing violations of international law and national sovereignty. The government reaffirmed solidarity with Venezuela based on shared anti-colonial history, though some opposition figures questioned the framing while still opposing unilateral military intervention.
6 January 2026 · New Era →