Josef Kauandenge — president of the Asoli Progressive Party, criticizing government on drought preparedness, parliamentary dysfunction, and healthcare shortages.
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September 2026
The Namibian
Asoli party leader Josef Kauandengewarns thatNamibia could face an unprecedented El Niño phenomenon severely affecting farmers and livestock
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“Asoli party leader Josef Kauandenge warns that Namibia could face an unprecedented El Niño phenomenon, which could severely affect farmers and livestock across the country.”
Kauandengequestionsthe government's silence on the El Niño crisis
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“He questions the government's silence, saying it would be "suicidal" for the authorities to wait until the drought had already affected communities before responding.”
Asoli president Josef Kauandengeaccusesruling party and speaker of contributing to dysfunctional parliament
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“Asoli president Josef Kauandenge accuses the ruling party and speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila of contributing to a dysfunctional parliament, saying parliamentary business has increasingly been replaced by political grandstanding and unnecessary disruptions.”
Asoli president Josef Kauandengesaid the newly formed party was delighted to jointhe alliance
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“Asoli president Josef Kauandenge on Sunday said the newly formed party was delighted to join the alliance, describing it as an opportunity to learn from established political parties across Africa and strengthen its organisational structures.”
Josef Kauandengecondemned findings of tribalism inteacher promotions
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“Former National Assembly lawmaker Josef Kauandenge yesterday condemned findings of tribalism in teacher promotions, saying such practices have no place in Namibia's education system.”
Josef Kauandengesaysthe situation is more complicated, with both Katjiua and Riruako having Ovaherero supporters
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“However, Asoli Progressive Party president Josef Kauandenge says the situation was more complicated, arguing that both Katjiua and Riruako currently have Ovaherero supporters behind them.”
Josef Kauandengesaidthe president should have informed the nation about causes of medicine shortages and measures to address them
Source
“In a statement issued on Saturday, the party's president, Josef Kauandenge, said the president should have informed the nation about the causes of the shortages and outlined measures being implemented to address the situation.”
The Asoli Progressive Party has called on the government to disclose its preparedness measures for a potentially severe drought expected during the 2026/27 rainy season due to an intensifying El Niño climate pattern. Party leader Josef Kauandenge warns that the phenomenon could severely affect farmers and livestock and criticizes the government's silence on mitigation strategies.
The Asoli Progressive Party has called on the government to disclose its preparedness measures for a potentially severe drought expected during the 2026/27 rainy season due to an intensifying El Niño climate pattern. Party leader Josef Kauandenge warns that the phenomenon could severely affect farmers and livestock and criticizes the government's silence on mitigation strategies.
The Asoli Progressive Party has called on President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to intervene in what it characterizes as dysfunction in the National Assembly, with party president Josef Kauandenge accusing the ruling party and speaker of contributing to parliamentary disruptions and a slow pace of legislation. Kauandenge urges greater consultation between Swapo and opposition parties to improve parliamentary proceedings.
The Asoli Progressive Party has joined the African Democratic Alliance for Freedom and Progress, a continental political alliance founded in February with 46 members from 24 African countries. Party president Josef Kauandenge said the membership will allow Asoli to participate in continental activities and learn from established political parties.
The Teachers Union of Namibia has raised concerns that tribal favouritism in promotions has resulted in unequal representation in senior teaching positions in some regions. A National Council standing committee acknowledged the concerns but cautioned that such claims should be supported by statistics, and stressed the need to balance inclusivity and diversity with merit and good performance.
The Ovaherero Traditional Authority has rejected calls to abolish the paramount chieftaincy amid an ongoing leadership dispute between rival factions over succession following the 2021 death of paramount chief Vekuii Rukoro. The matter is currently in the High Court, with competing factions supporting different candidates and legal costs reaching an estimated N$10 million.
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.
Martha Imalwa, the acting prosecutor general, says she is looking forward to leaving office at the end of the year. The Judicial Service Commission has restarted recruitment for a substantive prosecutor general after none of the eight shortlisted candidates met the required standard in a written assessment.
The National Assembly faces criticism over legislative effectiveness as the annual budget remains the only bill to make significant progress in 2024; major legislation including the land bill and regional councils bill failed to pass and remain under discussion. Political analysts and former lawmakers attribute the slow pace to institutional, procedural and political challenges including poorly prepared draft legislation, extensive public consultations, limited sitting days, and capacity constraints within sponsoring ministries.
Mathews Hamutenya has denied having political connections to State House or involvement in the government's decision to appoint Vitol as Namibia's sole fuel supplier, though his son recently bought 52 service stations and Hamutenya is a partner in a storage facility with Vitol. The Independent Patriots for Change have linked Hamutenya to what they describe as a "conglomerate at the centre of Namibia's petroleum oil takeover."
The Asoli Progressive Party president Josef Kauandenge has criticized President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and Health Minister Esperance Luvindao for not addressing public shortages of critical medicines in state hospitals, saying the president should have explained the causes and outlined remedial measures, and questioning the ministry's commitment to eliminating middlemen in procurement.
The Asoli Progressive Party has criticized President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah for what it describes as insufficient response to ongoing medicine shortages in public hospitals, with the party's president Josef Kauandenge saying the government has not acted with enough urgency. Public concern has grown in recent weeks after patients were referred to private pharmacies due to stock-outs, though the Ministry of Health and Social Services announced it will now provide monthly updates on pharmaceutical supplies, with current stock levels at about 60% of required quantities.
The Asoli Progressive Party's Josef Kauandenge has criticized what he calls "theatrics and hypocrisy" surrounding the death of James Uerikua in a car accident on 3 April, questioning why someone now widely praised was never appointed as a Cabinet minister during his lifetime. Kauandenge urged Namibians to recognize individuals while they are alive rather than only after death, and criticized the politicization of funerals.
Asoli Progressive Party president Josef Kauandenge has criticized president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah's first year in office, saying her key policy promises—including free tertiary education, public healthcare use by officials, stadium rebuilding, and airline revamp—are unrealistic political statements made without implementation timelines or feasibility studies.
Josef Kauandenge has announced that the Association of Localised Interests (Asoli) has become the Asoli Progressive Party and will submit registration documents to the Electoral Commission of Namibia for the 2029 elections. The party, formed following Kauandenge's departure from Nudo, aims to address social and economic issues that Kauandenge says other political parties have neglected.
Minister of urban and rural development James Sankwasa and political analysts are calling for mandatory education and qualifications for councillors to improve governance and development, citing concerns that unqualified councillors struggle to understand council documents and may be manipulated by officials. Sankwasa said political parties are reluctant to set minimum requirements because they fear losing candidates to other parties.
The Association for Localised Interest has called for the Development Bank of Namibia to explain and publicly name those responsible for the N$579 million in loans written off this week, questioning why well-connected defaulters are freed from repayment obligations while poor Namibians are denied access to credit.