Also known as: Presidential spokesperson Jonas Mbambo · Press secretary Jonas Mbambo · State House press secretary Jonas Mbambo · presidential press secretary Jonas Mbambo · Mr Jonas Mbambo
State House press secretary who defended Namibia's UN General Assembly walkout during Netanyahu's address as consistent with the country's position on Palestine.
News reports
Order a long-term news report on Jonas Mbambo
Every mention in the Namibian press over the period you choose, compiled as a PDF or Word document.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
The Namibian
Presidential spokesperson Jonas Mbambo said consultations are still ongoing regarding funeral arrangements
“Presidential spokesperson Jonas Mbambo told The Namibian yesterday that consultations are still ongoing, noting that the country is dealing with a circumstance of this nature for the first time.”
Namibia has no funeral protocols for first spousesNew Era
State House Press Secretary Jonas Mbambo said BNC chaired by heads of state to ensure implementation of decisions
“State House Press Secretary Jonas Mbambo said the involvement of the two presidents was intended to ensure that decisions made under the commission were implemented.”
Namibia, Angola seek to revive declining tradeNew Era
Presidential Press Secretary Jonas Mbambo said the visit's value must be measured by what engagements deliver for Namibians what engagements help deliver for Namibians
“"Ultimately, the visit's value must be measured by what these engagements help deliver for Namibians, rather than by the number of meetings held or announcements made," Mbambo said.”
NNN’s UNGA81 trip targets investment… defends Namibia’s interests on global stageThe Namibian
Jonas Mbambo confirmed president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and the Namibian delegation's walkout
“State House press secretary Jonas Mbambo, who confirmed president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and the Namibian delegation's walkout, yesterday said Namibia's position was informed by international law and the country's history as a people who experienced oppressio”
President defends Netanyahu boycottNew Era
presidential spokesperson Jonas Mbambo said success will be measured through outcomes of high-level engagements and strengthening of strategic partnerships
“"The success of Namibia's participation will be measured through the outcomes of high-level engagements, the strengthening of strategic partnerships, and the implementation of commitments arising from the General Assembly," presidential spokesperson Jonas Mbambo said in response to questions from New Era.”
NNN sets tone ahead of UNGA81The Namibian
Jonas Mbambo told The Namibian the government intends to accord Shityuwete a state funeral in recognition of his contribution to the country's independence
“Presidential press secretary Jonas Mbambo on Tuesday told The Namibian that the government intends to accord Shityuwete a state funeral in recognition of his contribution to the country's independence and that his family has been consulted.”
‘An insult to bury Shityuwete at Pionierspark’The Namibian
Presidential press secretary Jonas Mbambo said Shityuwete's family has been consulted and government is finalising formal processes
“Presidential press secretary Jonas Mbambo said Shityuwete's family has been consulted and that the government is currently finalising the formal processes required before the funeral arrangements can be officially announced.”
Shityuwete to get state funeralNew Era
Presidential press secretary Jonas Mbambo said the Presidency could not account for access arrangements of an event it neither organised nor hosted
“Responding to the incident, presidential press secretary Jonas Mbambo on Saturday said the presidency could not account for the administration or access arrangements of an event it neither organised nor hosted.”
Diplomacy, protocol & GiordanoWindhoek Observer
Presidential press secretary Jonas Mbambo said the National Fisheries Indaba was organised by the ministry of agriculture, fisheries, water and land reform
“Presidential press secretary Jonas Mbambo said the National Fisheries Indaba was organised by the ministry of agriculture, fisheries, water and land reform, while Nandi-Ndaitwah attended as an invited guest.”
Calls grow for Trump to recall GiordanoThe Namibian
Presidential spokesperson Jonas Mbambo confirmed that Nandi-Ndaitwah directed the ministry to pursue an alternative procurement arrangement
“Presidential spokesperson Jonas Mbambo has confirmed that Nandi-Ndaitwah directed the ministry to pursue an alternative procurement arrangement, "with the Namibia Training Authority envisaged as the lead service provider".”
‘Secret’ N$540m hostel food tender ordered by NNNSecretary to Cabinet Emilia Mkusa says Namibia has no specific protocols governing the burial of former first spouses and is currently considering appropriate arrangements, following the death of former first lady Penehupifo Pohamba, aged 78. It remains unclear whether she will be accorded a state funeral or national honours, as the president is yet to decide.
14 hours ago · The Namibian →
Secretary to Cabinet Emilia Mkusa says Namibia has no specific protocols governing the burial of former first spouses and is currently considering appropriate arrangements, following the death of former first lady Penehupifo Pohamba, aged 78. It remains unclear whether she will be accorded a state funeral or national honours, as the president is yet to decide.
14 hours ago · The Namibian →
Namibia and Angola have agreed to strengthen bilateral economic cooperation through an inaugural Bi-National Commission, with Trade and International Relations Minister Selma Ashipala-Musavyi proposing a digital scorecard to monitor implementation of agreed commitments. The move aims to reverse declining trade between the two countries by leveraging their geographical proximity and people-to-people relations.
20 October 2026 · New Era →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah attended UNGA81 to promote Namibia's investment opportunities, secure financing for critical infrastructure, and defend the country's interests in the global financial system. The visit produced new investment leads, water-financing discussions, potential education cooperation, and a stronger role in implementing the Pact for the Future, though these remain opportunities for further discussions rather than concluded agreements.
7 October 2026 · New Era →
The Namibian government and French company TotalEnergies remain in talks over the country's first major offshore oil project following the 2022 Venus discovery, with reported disagreements over licence period, international arbitration, taxation, the new petroleum law, and a stabilisation clause that would limit future legislative changes.
4 October 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia participated in a mass walkout at the UN General Assembly during Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address, with State House press secretary Jonas Mbambo defending the decision as consistent with the country's longstanding position on Palestine, informed by international law and Namibia's history of oppression.
29 September 2026 · The Namibian →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah heads to the 81st United Nations General Assembly to secure investment and partnerships for economic development, with Namibia's success measured by concrete outcomes rather than speeches alone. The delegation will seek concessional development and climate finance, as well as investment in green hydrogen, energy, water and logistics infrastructure.
18 September 2026 · New Era →
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 →
The family of liberation struggle veteran Helao Shityuwete has questioned the government's decision to bury him at Gammams Cemetery rather than Heroes' Acre, asking what requirement he did not meet given his record of 18 years imprisonment on Robben Island.
14 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Former political prisoners and parliamentarians have criticised the government's decision to bury liberation struggle veteran Helao Shityuwete at Pionierspark, arguing that his 18 years on Robben Island and his role in the liberation struggle warranted burial at Heroes' Acre instead.
13 September 2026 · The Namibian →
The government will accord liberation struggle veteran and former Robben Island prisoner Helao Shityuwete a state funeral in recognition of his contribution to Namibia's independence. Shityuwete, who was imprisoned on Robben Island for 18 years during the apartheid era, died on 29 August at age 92.
10 September 2026 · The Namibian →
US Ambassador John Giordano was denied entry to the National Fisheries Indaba in Walvis Bay on Friday because he had not been invited to the paid-for event and was not listed on the guest list. The denial was based on protocol rules preventing entry after the president had already been seated.
7 September 2026 · New Era →
Critics are calling on US President Donald Trump to recall Ambassador John Giordano from Namibia, citing controversy over his conduct and diplomatic engagements. The calls follow an incident in which Giordano was reportedly denied entry to the Walvis Bay Town Hall during the National Fisheries Indaba on Friday, though the presidency has distanced itself from the event's administration.
7 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah directed the education ministry to use alternative procurement for a N$540-million school hostel food tender, with the Namibia Training Authority as lead service provider and other public entities, sparking court action from companies questioning the non-public tendering process.
2 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia and the US are negotiating new health sector funding to determine the future of HIV financing in the country, with negotiations intensifying since US President Donald Trump's return to power and the dismantling of USAID. The talks are contentious over data-sharing provisions, with recipient countries concerned that deals tie health aid to data access and critical minerals, though a US government source claims negotiations do not include sharing of personally identifiable data.
30 August 2026 · The Namibian →
President Nandi-Ndaitwah's state visit to China yielded announcements of grants, expanded market access, scholarships, and mining partnerships, but an editorial cautions that Namibia should approach these commitments with cautious optimism and insist on results rather than unquestioning celebration.
29 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Following President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah's state visit to Beijing, China has pledged additional grant funding, expanded market access for Namibian exports, and stronger investment cooperation. The countries have elevated bilateral relations to a "China-Namibia community with a shared future for the new era," with cooperation to deepen in agriculture, education, healthcare, trade, mining and industrialisation.
29 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah led a delegation of six ministers and more than 200 businesspeople to China to pursue partnerships in mining, agriculture, and logistics. China was Namibia's second-largest trading partner last year, with trade reaching N$40 billion.
7 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Kunene Regional Council employees did not receive salaries as government funds remain withheld by the urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa, who suspended disbursement in May citing concerns over the presence of acting chief regional officer George Kamseb. The suspension has also halted several development projects in the region.
26 June 2026 · New Era →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah travelled to Ghana to present the Ovaherero and Nama genocide at a High-Level Consultative Conference on slavery and colonial injustices, where Namibia advocated for a comprehensive framework to address colonial dispossession and genocide committed between 1904 and 1908.
18 June 2026 · New Era →
The founder of South Africa's March and March organisation, which focuses on illegal immigration, has said Namibians are "law-abiding citizens" and not targets of anti-immigrant sentiment, despite xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa. She described Nigerians as the most problematic nationality, saying they enter without documentation and engage in criminal activity.
17 June 2026 · The Namibian →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has ordered the Namibia Central Intelligence Service to conduct background checks on about 360 health ministry officials, mostly from the pharmaceutical services directorate at the Central Medical Stores, following allegations of fraud and corruption involving government employees and tenderpreneurs rigging medical tenders and manipulating orders worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
17 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Nearly two years after a technical committee reached agreement, the formalisation of the disputed Orange River border between Namibia and South Africa remains unresolved. The dispute centres on whether the boundary follows the high-water mark of the northern bank (South Africa's position based on the 1890 Helgoland-Zanzibar Treaty) or runs along the median line of the river (Namibia's constitutional position), with the river's diamonds, minerals, and water resources for agriculture at stake.
12 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah's newly appointed economic adviser Shali Shindume reportedly owes Agribank over N$15 million from a loan obtained while he was the bank's credit manager. Agribank sought High Court action in 2021 over breach of contract, with a settlement agreement requiring Shindume to subdivide his mortgaged farm property and make specified monthly payments.
11 June 2026 · The Namibian →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah appointed retired chief legal adviser Chris Nghaamwa, her relative, as an adviser to attorney general Festus Mbandeka effective 1 June. State House defended the appointment, stating Nghaamwa's qualifications and experience in government legal roles made him suitable, and that family relationships do not render individuals unsuitable for public service.
8 June 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibian Presidency has rejected allegations that President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and her family were involved in a proposed N$612 million solar power project linked to the Tsumeb smelter, stating the head of state played no role in negotiation, financing, approval or implementation. The denial comes after opposition leader Panduleni Itula questioned the ownership structure and alleged companies associated with the President's sons were involved.
8 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The president's son, Nande Ndaitwah, is rejecting accusations by IPC president Panduleni Itula that a N$612-million solar power plant deal with Sinomine Tsumeb Smelter benefited from family connections. Itula alleged the deal involved Farm Massaus, owned by president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, but Ndaitwah told The Namibian that the solar plant is not going on the farm and that the location is clear from environmental clearance documentation.
7 June 2026 · The Namibian →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah did not attend Genocide Remembrance Day events held at Shark Island and in six regions, drawing criticism from political and community leaders, though the vice president attended events in Ohangwena. The president's absence came despite an active public schedule that included attending agricultural and cultural festivals and other state events.
31 May 2026 · The Namibian →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has ordered a forensic investigation into Gendev Fishing Resources and its sister company amid allegations of missing millions, lack of transparency, and failure to deliver fish worth over N$49 million to clients.
25 May 2026 · The Namibian →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has not slept in her private residential wing at State House since a naked mental health patient broke into the premises nearly three weeks ago; she is staying at her private home in Hochland Park. The incident led to the suspension of police inspector general Joseph Shikongo and raised questions about security, as CCTV cameras were allegedly switched off at the time.
18 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Vice President Lucia Witbooi arrived in Nairobi to lead Namibia's delegation to the Africa Forward Summit, where African leaders and investors will discuss investment, innovation, and economic cooperation. Namibia is focusing on securing partnerships that support industrialisation and value addition rather than dependence on raw material exports.
11 May 2026 · New Era →