Also known as: Nawases-Taeyele · !Nawases-Tayele
Deputy minister of urban and rural development who has called for property valuation reforms and firefighter hiring standards.
News reports
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Windhoek Observer
Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyele was eliminated from the deputy secretary-general contest at the 2022 congress despite finishing ahead in the first round
“This tension became particularly visible during the 2022 congress, when Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyele was eliminated from the deputy secretary-general contest despite finishing ahead of another candidate in the first round, because of the interpretation of the party's gender-balancing provisions.”
OBSERVER FEATURE | SWAPO at the crossroads: Can Nujoma’s party become its own party?New Era
Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyele told the gathering she had been delegated by the minister to receive their petition
“However, tensions quickly escalated when !Nawases-Taeyele told the gathering that she had been delegated by the minister to receive their petition.”
Choas as /Khomanin meet SankwasaInformanté
Deputy Minister Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyele said future resource allocations would be linked to performance
“The deputy minister said the ministry would introduce measures to address persistent underperformance and low project execution rates, adding that future resource allocations would increasingly be linked to performance.”
Rural councils warned over poor performance as government allocates N$10 million for Food/Cash for WorkInformanté
Deputy Minister Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyele announced N$10 million allocation to Food/Cash for Work Programme
“The deputy minister announced that the ministry has, for the first time, allocated N$10 million during the current financial year to the Food/Cash for Work Programme.”
Rural councils warned over poor performance as government allocates N$10 million for Food/Cash for WorkNew Era
Deputy minister Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyele announced the allocation during the opening of the three-day annual Rural Development Review and Planning
“Deputy minister of urban and rural development Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyele made the announcement of the allocation during the opening of the three-day annual Rural Development Review and Planning in Swakopmund yesterday.”
Govt intervenes with N$10m cash-for-workThe Namibian
Deputy minister Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyele delivered the message on behalf of James Sankwasa during the opening of the 2026 Annual Rural Development Progress Review and Planning Workshop
“The message was delivered on his behalf by deputy minister of urban and rural development Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyele during the opening of the 2026 Annual Rural Development Progress Review and Planning Workshop at Swakopmund yesterday.”
Business as usual era is over – SankwasaThe Namibian
Deputy minister Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyele says local authorities must hire trained firefighters for efficient emergency response
“The deputy minister of urban and rural development, Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyele says it's imperative that local authorities hire trained firefighters who can respond to emergency situations efficiently.”
Need for trained firefighters for public safetyThe Namibian
Deputy minister of urban and rural development Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyele said the decision is prudent and not unprecedented
“Deputy minister of urban and rural development Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyele, in her contribution, said the decision is not only prudent but also not unprecedented, as it is common practice for states to place nationally significant resources under their direct supervision”
RP sees oil bill as anti-corruption toolNew Era
Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyele said the Baseline Report is a critical, evidence-based instrument to guide national policy direction
“Also speaking at the opening, the deputy minister of urban and rural development Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyele said the Baseline Report is a critical, evidence-based instrument that will guide national policy direction, strategic planning and coordinated interventions aimed at addressing informal settlements across the country.”
Namibia’s over 400 informal settlements … 200 000 live thereNew Era
Deputy Minister Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyele admitted that Rents Ordinance (No. 13 of 1977) is completely outdated and non-functional since Independence
“Responding to questions from the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) in Parliament last week, Deputy Minister of Urban and Rural Development Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyele admitted that the country's main rental law, the Rents Ordinance (No. 13 of 1977), is "completely outdated" and has effectively been non-functional since Independence.”
Archaic laws have tenants in chokehold … as the rent control debate resurfacesAn analysis of SWAPO's position as it prepares for its 2027 elective congress, asking whether the party can develop an independent political identity beyond its founder Sam Nujoma. The ruling party retained a parliamentary majority in 2024 with 51 of 96 directly elected seats, but its support has declined from approximately 80% in 2014 to just over 53% in 2024.
16 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
An analysis of SWAPO's position as it prepares for its 2027 elective congress, asking whether the party can develop an independent political identity beyond its founder Sam Nujoma. The ruling party retained a parliamentary majority in 2024 with 51 of 96 directly elected seats, but its support has declined from approximately 80% in 2014 to just over 53% in 2024.
16 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
A peaceful demonstration by a /Khomanin Traditional Community faction at the Government Office Park descended into chaos when deputy minister Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyele was sent to receive their petition, despite the community saying it had already submitted documents and sought answers about Gaos Julien Gawanas, whom they accuse of mismanaging community funds.
2 September 2026 · New Era →
The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development has warned regional councils to improve project implementation and service delivery while announcing a N$10 million allocation for the Food/Cash for Work Programme to provide temporary income support to vulnerable households and strengthen rural resilience. According to the deputy minister, 50.5% of Namibia's population lives in rural areas, and while some regional councils have made progress, others struggle with poor implementation.
22 July 2026 · Informanté →
The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development has allocated N$10 million towards a Food/Cash-for-Work Programme for the current financial year to provide temporary income support to vulnerable households and create community assets, in response to Namibia's unemployment rate of 36.9% and youth unemployment of 44.1%.
22 July 2026 · New Era →
Minister of urban and rural development James Sankwasa has warned that the era of 'business as usual' in rural development is over, cautioning regional councils to improve project implementation and ensure public resources deliver measurable benefits for communities. He expressed concern over incomplete projects, unspent development funds and idle rural development centres, calling for performance-based resource allocation and improved accountability.
21 July 2026 · The Namibian →
The Minister of Urban and Rural Development resolved a salary dispute at the Kunene Regional Council by securing agreement to relieve Chief Regional Officer George Kamseb of his duties and appoint an acting chief regional officer, allowing the ministry to release funds for employees' outstanding June 2026 salaries. Kamseb's case remains before the Supreme Court, and he would be reinstated and receive all due remuneration should the court rule in his favour.
2 July 2026 · Informanté →
The deputy minister of urban and rural development called for local authorities to employ permanent, trained firefighters, citing concerns that some use untrained personnel to operate emergency vehicles and equipment. The appeal was made during International Firefighters Day commemorations in Katima Mulilo, where firefighters conducted a simulation exercise and wreath-laying ceremony.
22 May 2026 · The Namibian →
The Republican Party has backed a petroleum amendment bill that would transfer oil and gas authority from the minister of industries to the Presidency, citing anti-corruption benefits and transparency. The move has divided opposition parties, with the Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters also supporting it, while other opposition parties argue it increases corruption risk and reduces parliamentary oversight.
7 April 2026 · The Namibian →
A baseline report presented by the Namibia Statistics Agency found that 419 informal settlements across Namibia accommodate more than 200,000 urban residents, with significant service delivery gaps: only 24% have water infrastructure, 10% have sewer services, and 22% have electricity. The government aims to reduce informal settlements by 50% by 2029 and will use the report as a benchmark to measure progress.
4 March 2026 · New Era →
Namibia's main rental law, the Rents Ordinance of 1977, has been non-functional since Independence, leaving tenants vulnerable to rising rents and disputed deposits. The government is reviewing the law and appointing consultants to draft new legislation, but has set no timeline, while civil society groups criticize decades of inaction as Namibians suffer from market-driven rent increases.
25 February 2026 · New Era →
The African Labour and Human Rights Centre accuses the government of failing to enforce existing rental laws under the Rental Ordinance No 13 of 1977, leaving tenants vulnerable to exploitation. The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development is drafting a new bill and reviving a rent control board, but the Centre's director argues the government should immediately enforce the laws already in place while rental prices surge in urban areas.
24 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Urban and rural development deputy minister Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyele has called for property value-based reforms to address rising property prices, highlighting the establishment of the Namibia Council for the Property Valuers Profession to remove banks' regulatory dominance and stabilize the property market.
21 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Urban and Rural Development Minister James Sankwasa has called on regional and local authority councillors to award tenders to Namibian companies and ensure local participation in development projects. He emphasized that procurement must promote job creation and empower Namibian-registered small and medium enterprises, while cautioning councils to conduct thorough background checks on company ownership and ensure genuine Namibian involvement rather than token partnerships.
11 February 2026 · New Era →