Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
June 2026
The Namibian
Independent Patriots for Change leader in parliament Imms Nashingeis asking whetherconditions attached to original land allocation to Andreas were met
Source
“Independent Patriots for Change leader in parliament Imms Nashinge is asking whether the conditions attached to the original land allocation to Andreas were met.”
“Independent Patriots for Change shadow minister of home affairs, immigration, safety and security Imms Nashinge in a statement yesterday condemned the shooting at Otjiwarongo, saying the police have failed to contain the situation.”
“Responding earlier in the week to questions from official opposition leader Imms Nashinge, Nandi-Ndaitwah acknowledged the pressure on tertiary institutions due to rising enrolment.”
Imms Nashingeraised concerns aboutACC's N$109-million allocation for 2026/27 financial year
Source
“She was responding to concerns raised by official opposition leader Imms Nashinge over the ACC's N$109-million allocation for the 2026/27 financial year, announced during her state of the nation address (Sona) on Wednesday.”
Imms Nashingesaidgovernment must match rhetoric with sufficient ACC funding
Source
“Nashinge said while corruption should be treated as treason, the government must match its rhetoric with sufficient funding to enable the ACC to operate without constraints.”
Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) leader Imms NashingesaidUerikua was a vibrant, energetic and promising leader and powerful voice of a new generation
Source
“Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) leader in Parliament Imms Nashinge said Uerikua was a vibrant, energetic and promising leader, a powerful voice of a new generation determined to shape Namibia's future.”
IPC member of parliament Imms Nashingesays the arrangement isdeeply concerning
Source
“Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) member of parliament Imms Nashinge says the arrangement is deeply concerning since water is a public good that should remain under majority state control.”
Josef Andreas, a politically connected businessman, is selling 264 plots valued at N$200 million through his company Tulaing Group, including 150 residential plots near Grootfontein. The sale has drawn scrutiny from parliament over whether the original land allocation conditions were fulfilled.
Why it matters
Politically connected businessman's sale of N$200m in plots under parliamentary scrutiny reveals ongoing concerns about land allocation accountability and crony capitalism.
Josef Andreas, a politically connected businessman, is selling 264 plots valued at N$200 million through his company Tulaing Group, including 150 residential plots near Grootfontein. The sale has drawn scrutiny from parliament over whether the original land allocation conditions were fulfilled.
The Ministry of Health and Social Services acknowledged systemic failures at the Windhoek Central Mental Health Centre, citing inadequate infrastructure and human resource deficits that contributed to poor supervision. The admission followed a patient escaping and a fatal police shooting incident.
The Public Service Commission retained 16 officials over the age of 60 due to their specialised skills, citing legal provisions for critical expertise gaps, but the decision has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition over potential political patronage and youth unemployment.
Transport Minister Veikko Nekundi ordered an investigation into alleged tribal bias in recruitment at the Roads Authority, finding it employs about 74 people from the Zambezi region compared to more than 300 from northern Namibia. The probe has revived broader allegations of tribalism in hiring practices across Namibian state-owned enterprises and government offices.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah answered questions from opposition MPs on the Welwitschia Sovereign Wealth Fund, land delivery, Germany's genocide reparations deal, the veterinary cordon fence, and various economic and governance matters during parliament on Wednesday.
IPC president Panduleni Itula has accused the government of backtracking on its "fees must fall" promise, saying the revised approach only covers tuition and registration for eligible undergraduate students and excludes many families through reduced income thresholds and the replacement of grants with loans. Itula also raised concerns about continued suspension of postgraduate funding and infrastructure challenges at tertiary institutions.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah clarified that the government's promise to create 500,000 jobs by 2030 will be achieved through economic growth and private sector expansion rather than direct government hiring, but opposition leaders and labour experts criticized the pace of progress, with expert Herbert Jauch noting that only around 5,000 jobs have been created and that 100,000 jobs annually are needed to meet the target.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah responded to opposition concerns about the ACC's N$109-million budget allocation by arguing that financial resources alone cannot combat corruption without a shift in mindset and individual accountability.
James Unomasa Uerikua, a Swapo member of Parliament and former governor of Otjozondjupa region, died on Friday in a car accident between Otjiwarongo and Okakarara; his 14-year-old son also died from injuries sustained in the crash. Political leaders across parties paid tribute to him as a promising young leader and voice for the voiceless.
An opinion piece criticizes Windhoek's city administration for 35 years of poor road maintenance, excessive executive salaries (N$4.4–5 million annually), lack of industrial strategy, and failure to develop infrastructure despite being Namibia's capital and face to the world. The author calls for the president and national Cabinet to intervene and demands the city leadership develop concrete plans for urban growth, industrial zones, conference facilities, and informal settlement upgrading.
Opposition MPs and activists have criticised the government's 2026/27 budget allocation, accusing it of breaking campaign promises by increasing social grants by only N$100 rather than the promised larger amounts. They argue the government has adequate resources to fund higher increases to pensioner and vulnerable children's grants to better protect citizens from inflation.
Opposition MPs and analysts have criticized the government's agreement to give China General Nuclear Power Group a 70% controlling stake in a N$3-billion coastal desalination plant while the state retains only 30%, raising concerns about water sovereignty and affordability for poor Namibians. NamWater and Swakop Uranium defended the joint venture structure as necessary to finance critical infrastructure while maintaining public sector participation.
NUDO parliamentarian Vetaruhe Kandorozu and deputy education minister Dino Ballotti have reconciled after Kandorozu made unparliamentary remarks telling Ballotti to "go back to Italy" during a National Assembly debate. The two lawmakers announced their peace on social media, with Kandorozu describing the incident as teasing and both committing to move forward.
Nudo lawmaker Vetaruhe Kandorozu has remained defiant after making tribal and racial remarks against deputy education minister Dino Ballotti in Parliament, telling him to "go back to Italy." The party's acting president Peter Kazongominja said Kandorozu will face disciplinary action, emphasizing that Nudo is founded on principles of unity and the remarks do not represent the party.
Education Minister Sanet Steenkamp condemned remarks by National Unity Democratic Organisation MP Vetaruhe Kandorozu, who told deputy education minister Dino Ballotti that he is from Italy and that Namibians do not look like him, calling for the matter to be addressed at the highest level. Kandorozu initially refused to apologize, saying his comments were meant as a joke, though he later withdrew them; Steenkamp said the incident dehumanised Namibians and argued that Namibia belongs to all its people.
NUDO's Vetaruhe Kandorozu told Education Deputy Minister Dino Ballotti to "go back to Italy" and made comments about white people not being Namibian in the National Assembly on Wednesday, forcing Deputy Speaker Phillipus Katamelo to adjourn the session; Kandorozu later withdrew his remarks after being told they were "unparliamentary" and not in the interest of building the nation.
IPC president Panduleni Itula has criticised the national budget for maintaining high operational spending while cutting development allocation, specifically flagging N$244 million spent on 243 workshops and excessive travel allowances, which he says could instead fund promised pensioner allowances and infrastructure. Other political parties and analysts dispute whether all workshop and travel spending is wasteful, noting that some supports essential government functions.
Finance Minister Ericah Shafudah tabled a N$104 billion budget for 2026/27 with N$81.3 billion allocated to operations and only N$6.5 billion to development, drawing criticism from economists and opposition figures who warn this allocation will constrain economic growth. The government collected N$89.8 billion in revenue and plans to borrow N$15 billion, while interest payments of N$16.2 billion now exceed the development budget.
Official opposition leader Imms Nashinge has rejected a temporary government vehicle, citing disrespect as junior officials received new cars while he awaits a new fleet promised last year. The Ministry of Works and Transport says efforts have been made to assign a used car temporarily, but Nashinge insists the office warrants a brand new vehicle.
PDM leader McHenry Venaani asked Works and Transport Minister Veikko Nekundi why Imms Nashinge, leader of the official opposition, has not yet been assigned a government car as part of his benefits. Nekundi said Nashinge was previously offered vehicles which he refused, but assured that a new fleet arriving soon will include a vehicle for the opposition leader.
Members of parliament have called for a review of benefits provided to former presidents under the 2004 Former Presidents' Pension and Other Benefits Act, citing concerns over wealth accumulation and state-funded property renovations amid high poverty levels. Lawmakers and analysts debate whether the current law reasonably balances the need to secure former heads of state's living standards against public interests.
Namibian opposition leaders have divided over a proposed amendment to transfer upstream petroleum powers from the mines and energy minister to the Office of the President. While the government argues the change will strengthen governance of the emerging oil and gas sector, opposition figures including IPC leader Panduleni Itula, APP's Imms Nashinge, and PDM's McHenry Venaani warn that the shift risks undermining parliamentary oversight, constitutional separation of powers, and regulatory accountability.
Opposition leader Imms Nashinge has called on the government to pass legislation regulating Namibia's sovereign wealth fund, which has been operating for three years without a dedicated legal framework. He asked the Prime Minister for clarity on existing laws governing the fund and pressed for robust provisions ensuring public transparency and parliamentary oversight before the bill's passage.
An MP argues that Namibia's fragmented climate response is inadequate to address severe droughts and desertification, and calls for a high-level Climate Delivery Unit in the Prime Minister's Office or Presidency to coordinate climate action, drive green job creation, and prepare for the EU's incoming Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.
Opposition parties have raised concerns that Namibia's new petroleum amendment bill, which would place the Upstream Petroleum Unit under the Office of the President, could lead to unchecked executive power and corruption similar to the Fishrot scandal in the fishing sector. They point to cautionary examples from Nigeria, Ghana, Angola, and Russia, where energy sector governance failures and political manipulation resulted from poor institutional oversight.
IPC member of parliament Imms Nashinge has called for an independent corruption investigation into the Namibian Agronomic Board following whistleblower allegations of procurement bypasses, unfair salary hikes, and preferential treatment of connected individuals. Nashinge questioned the agriculture minister in parliament about alleged governance failures and asked whether the ministry would commit to a transparent investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission and auditor general.
Urban and Rural Development Minister James Sankwasa faced backlash after making xenophobic comments about journalist Tracy Tafirenyika, who is Zimbabwean-born, following her article reporting that he owed NamWater N$174,000 in bills. Media bodies, civil society, and opposition politicians condemned Sankwasa's remarks as discriminatory attacks on a journalist doing her job, with calls for him to retract and apologise.
Swapo co-founder and political advisor Kanana Hishoono (89) was buried at Eenhana Memorial Shrine on Saturday, with President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah praising his unwavering commitment to Namibia's liberation struggle and legacy of selfless dedication. Hishoono, who also served as headman of Onambutu village in Ohangwena region and died on 14 January, was remembered by mourners and political leaders as a founding figure in the national liberation movement.
Panduleni Itula, president of the Independent Patriots for Change, has dismissed media reports of internal division and a power struggle with parliamentary leader Imms Nashinge as false and malicious. Itula clarified that the party's leadership structure is constitutionally defined, with Nashinge's authority limited to parliamentary matters while strategic decisions remain with party headquarters.