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
Presidency spokesperson Jonas Mbambo said the meeting should not be interpreted as recognition of any individual as paramount chief
“"The meeting between the president and Riruako should not be interpreted as a recognition of any individual as paramount chief of the Ovaherero Traditional Authority.”
Riruako visit not recognition as paramount chief – PresidencyThe Namibian
Presidential spokesperson Jonas Mbambo said the matter is purely a human resource issue
“Presidential spokesperson Jonas Mbambo yesterday said the matter is "purely a human resource issue" and that the Office of the President has no control over it.”
Fired minister Natangwe Ithete goes four months without salaryThe Namibian
State House spokesperson Jonas Mbambo declined to comment on the president's alleged reservations about mansions for former heads of state
“Although State House spokesperson Jonas Mbambo declined to comment on the president's alleged reservations about the mansions for former heads of state this week, he confirmed that a bill is under review to reassess the benefits of retired presidents and vice presidents.”
Mansions for presidents on chopping blockThe Namibian
State House spokesperson Jonas Mbambo confirmed a bill is under review to reassess benefits of retired presidents and vice presidents
“Although State House spokesperson Jonas Mbambo declined to comment on the president's alleged reservations about the mansions for former heads of state this week, he confirmed that a bill is under review to reassess the benefits of retired presidents and vice presidents.”
Mansions for presidents on chopping blockThe Namibian
Press secretary Jonas Mbambo told The Namibian the president does not associate herself with initiatives she is not prepared to uphold in practice
“Press secretary Jonas Mbambo yesterday told The Namibian the president does not associate herself with initiatives that she herself is not prepared to uphold in practice and that she is fully committed to strengthening the country's public healthcare system.”
President Nandi-Ndaitwah to use public hospitals under Psemas directiveThe Namibian
Press secretary Jonas Mbambo said Presidency would provide comment today
“Press secretary Jonas Mbambo yesterday said the Presidency would provide comment today.”
Govt bigwigs to swallow public health pill firstNew Era
Jonas Mbambo shared President's message on Thursday
“In a message shared on Thursday by her press secretary, Jonas Mbambo, the President encouraged citizens to look beyond gifts and celebrations and instead focus on supporting one another.”
Shikongo 14:0 Valentine’s DayNew Era
Jonas Mbambo emphasised that the president's participation reflects Namibia's active role in shaping continental decisions
“At the onset, Mbambo emphasised that the president's participation reflects Namibia's active role in shaping continental decisions.”
Inside Nandi-Ndaitwah’s AU bagThe Namibian
Jonas Mbambo said president values engagement with media through defined platforms
“In a statement yesterday, State House press secretary Jonas Mbambo says the president values engagement with the media.”
Outrage over journalist’s removal from State HouseThe Namibian
Presidential press secretary Jonas Mbambo said the Presidency is committed to upholding press freedom and access to information
“In a statement yesterday, presidential press secretary Jonas Mbambo said the Presidency is committed to upholding the principles of press freedom, access to information and open communication.”
President Nandi-Ndaitwah family oil interest allegations spark transparency row and State House media scuffleSecretary 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.
15 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.
15 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 →