Namibia Minute.
Friday, 24 April 2026
A daily Namibian brief · Est. 2026
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Organization

Landless People's Movement

Also known as: LPM · Landless Peoples Movement

Landless People's Movement — opposition political party raising concerns in parliament on agriculture, land reform, budget priorities, and government procurement practices.

Politics

LPM raises concerns over foreign dominance in government tenders

The News

The Landless People's Movement has raised concerns in Parliament about government procurement practices that allegedly favour well-funded foreign firms over local contractors, citing high start-up capital requirements of N$20 million to N$70 million that local companies struggle to meet. The Works and Transport Minister acknowledged the issue and promised to discuss prioritising local companies with the Roads Contractor Company, though he noted current law prevents him from directly intervening in the procurement system.

29 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 29 March

  1. LPM raises concerns over foreign dominance in government tenders

    The Landless People's Movement has raised concerns in Parliament about government procurement practices that allegedly favour well-funded foreign firms over local contractors, citing high start-up capital requirements of N$20 million to N$70 million that local companies struggle to meet. The Works and Transport Minister acknowledged the issue and promised to discuss prioritising local companies with the Roads Contractor Company, though he noted current law prevents him from directly intervening in the procurement system.

    29 March 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. LPM launches youth governance forum for democratic change

    The Landless People's Movement has launched a Youth Governance Forum to position young people as key drivers of democratic transformation through active participation in implementing the party's agenda. The forum, aimed at addressing governance, accountability, and inequality, marks a shift toward recognizing youth as leaders of today rather than the future.

    29 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 27 March

  1. Speaker defends parliamentary rulings as consistent application of rules

    Speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila has responded to opposition criticism—particularly from Popular Democratic Movement legislator Inna Hengari—that she arbitrarily interrupts members and rules them out of order, saying her interventions are constitutional duties applying Parliament's own Standing Rules consistently and without exception, not personal acts.

    27 March 2026 · New Era →

Thursday 26 March

  1. Landless People's Movement seeks productivity audit in land reform

    LPM parliamentarian Utaara Mootu tabled a motion calling for a national land productivity audit, arguing that Namibia's land redistribution framework focuses on allocation rather than productive use and economic impact. The motion proposes measurable productivity indicators and transparent beneficiary monitoring to address underutilisation and ensure land reform supports food security and agricultural growth.

    26 March 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. Train accident causes amputation of child in Oshivelo area

    A TransNamib train accident in the Oshivelo area on 24 March resulted in the amputation of a one-year-old's leg. An LPM parliamentarian attributed the incident to a contractor's failure to clear bushes in the area, prompting questions about compensation avenues for TransNamib-related injuries.

    26 March 2026 · Informanté →

Thursday 19 March

  1. Safety ministry to accelerate human trafficking action plan

    Minister Lucia Iipumbu said the ministry will fast-track its human trafficking action plan (2023–2027) in response to parliamentary questions about the rising issue. Between June 2024 and June 2025, six cases were recorded, with five Namibian victims repatriated from Myanmar and one from Laos, while perpetrators often target vulnerable children from rural areas.

    19 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 17 March

  1. LPM leader criticises budget's security focus over development

    Landless People's Movement leader Bernadus Swartbooi has criticised the 2026/27 national budget for prioritising security sector recruitment over infrastructure development and agricultural investment, saying the government is hiring for security jobs to meet political demands because there is insufficient money for real job creation. He argued that increasing operational budgets while declining development budgets keeps the country in a cycle of poverty and unemployment, and that rural development through agriculture should be non-negotiable.

    17 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 16 March

  1. Mariental council chair prioritises accountability and service delivery

    Hermanus Isaaks, 28-year-old chairperson of Mariental's council management committee, says his leadership focuses on accountability, service delivery and formalising informal settlements. The town is emerging as a hub for young political leadership, including William Minnie, 23, Namibia's youngest elected councillor.

    16 March 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. LPM proposes labour export to address Namibia's unemployment crisis

    Landless People's Movement leader Bernardus Swartbooi has called on the government to consider exporting labour to address Namibia's 36.9% unemployment rate, citing examples from Kenya, Uganda and Ghana that place workers in Gulf Cooperation Council states. He criticised the government's emphasis on education without corresponding job creation and argued that investment in productive sectors like agriculture and energy should be prioritised over social spending.

    16 March 2026 · New Era →

Friday 13 March

  1. LPM leader proposes labour export to tackle unemployment

    Bernadus Swartbooi, leader of the Landless People's Movement, has proposed that Namibia explore exporting qualified workers abroad to generate remittances, citing examples from Nigeria and South Africa. He argued the government overemphasises education spending relative to job creation, leaving about 130,000 skilled young Namibians without employment opportunities.

    13 March 2026 · The Namibian →

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