Sunday, 6 September 2026

Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026

Sunday, 6 September 2026

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Namibian press · Person

McHenry Venaani

Also known as: Popular Democratic Movement leader McHenry Venaani · shadow president Venaani

PDM president and opposition MP who criticises government policies on SOE salaries, manufacturing, marine phosphate mining, dairy industry, and border disputes.

2021-08-192026-09-06

What’s been said

Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.

May 2023
29 MayThe Namibian
McHenry Venaani gave insights on the African Free Trade Area agreement at the pan-African parliament session in Pretoria
Source
“The Popular Democratic Movement president and member of the pan-African parliamentary committee on trade and immigration, McHenry Venaani, gave his insights on the African Free Trade Area agreement at the pan-African parliament session in Pretoria this week.”
The Popular Democratic Movement president McHenry Venaani
April 2022
9 AprThe Namibian
McHenry Venaani ate cake and complained about Namibians left outside stadium on Twitter
Source
“Mara this McHenry Venaani must not forget we still remember he ate the cake and went on Twitter to complain about Namibians left outside the stadium.”
National Presidential Grandstanding Day 2022
9 AprThe Namibian
McHenry Venaani allegedly wrote private love note to president Hage Geingob asking for black car
Source
“Now we are told he wrote a private love note to president Hage Geingob, asking if he could "please have a black car" to look more official.”
National Presidential Grandstanding Day 2022
9 AprThe Namibian
McHenry Venaani ate cake at stadium
Source
“Mara this McHenry Venaani must not forget we still remember he ate the cake and went on Twitter to complain about Namibians left outside the stadium.”
National Presidential Grandstanding Day 2022
9 AprThe Namibian
shadow president Venaani wrote a private love note to president Hage Geingob asking for a black car
Source
“Now we are told he wrote a private love note to president Hage Geingob, asking if he could "please have a black car" to look more official.”
National Presidential Grandstanding Day 2022
August 2021
19 AugThe Namibian
McHenry Venaani said death robbed Namibia of a dedicated servant
Source
“Similarly, Venaani said death has robbed Namibia of a dedicated servant of the people and an individual unwavering in his beliefs and ideals.”
‘He lived his life with zero fear’

Politics

PM dismisses claims task force on SOE salaries dissolved

The News

Prime Minister Ngurare dismissed allegations that an 11-member task force chaired by Professor Joseph Diecho, appointed to review public enterprise salary structures from July to September, was dissolved after senior officials objected to its composition. Opposition MP McHenry Venaani claimed the body became defunct after being established, alleging members were removed because "the authority ahead of you was not happy with the name."

3 September 2026 · Informanté →

Thursday 3 September

PM dismisses claims task force on SOE salaries dissolved
Prime Minister Ngurare dismissed allegations that an 11-member task force chaired by Professor Joseph Diecho, appointed to review public enterprise salary structures from July to September, was dissolved after senior officials objected to its composition. Opposition MP McHenry Venaani claimed the body became defunct after being established, alleging members were removed because "the authority ahead of you was not happy with the name."
3 September 2026 · Informanté →
Venaani criticises government coordination over phosphate project ECC
The PDM president McHenry Venaani has accused the government of poor coordination after the ministry of agriculture, fisheries, water and land reform appealed an environmental clearance certificate granted to Namibian Marine Phosphate for the Sandpiper Marine Phosphate Project. Venaani said the appeal exposed shortcomings in how government ministries communicate and make decisions, noting the agriculture ministry only learned of the Environmental Commissioner's decision through social media two days after it was granted on 5 August 2026.
3 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Tuesday 1 September

Venaani demands details on government's 14-region manufacturing plan
PDM president McHenry Venaani is demanding the government disclose details about its plan to establish manufacturing and processing facilities across all 14 regions, including which projects have been identified, how they will be funded, and how many jobs are expected to be created.
1 September 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 31 August

PDM leader Venaani honors late liberation veteran Shityuwete
McHenry Venaani has paid tribute to Helao Shityuwete, a liberation struggle veteran and former Robben Island political prisoner who died at 92. Venaani described Shityuwete as a courageous and humble Namibian whose sacrifice for the country's freedom, from his work at Walvis Bay docks through military service and imprisonment, should be remembered as part of Namibia's history.
31 August 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 30 August

Opposition urges broadening of national honours beyond liberation struggle
Opposition leaders say Namibia should expand its national honours criteria to recognise contributions of ordinary citizens and diverse leaders beyond those from the liberation struggle, 36 years after independence.
30 August 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 12 August

President opposes marine phosphate mining approval in Atlantic
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah reportedly objects to environmental commissioner Timoteus Mufeti's approval of an environmental clearance certificate for Namibian Marine Phosphate's Sandpiper project to mine for fertilisers in the Atlantic Ocean, saying Namibia should not be used for an ocean experiment. The president held a meeting with senior government officials this week to express concerns about the decision made without apparent consultation on a matter of massive public interest.
12 August 2026 · The Namibian →
11-member SOE pay review task force status unclear
Confusion surrounds the status of an 11-member task force chaired by Joseph Diescho, established to review governance and human resource matters at state-owned enterprises. Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare reportedly cancelled the task force after it found its mandate duplicated prior work, though task force member Conrad Lutombi says it was merely put on hold while the government reviews completed recommendations.
12 August 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 11 August

Fishing body threatens challenge to marine phosphate environmental clearance
The Confederation of Namibian Fishing Associations has threatened to challenge the validity of Namibian Marine Phosphate's environmental clearance certificate, alleging the environmental commissioner failed to respond to repeated information requests since May 2022 and broke a July 2022 promise to provide a response before the certificate was issued on 5 August.
11 August 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 10 August

Namibia Marine Phosphate receives environmental clearance for Sandpiper project
The environmental commissioner issued an environmental clearance certificate on 5 August for Knowledge Katti's Namibia Marine Phosphate's Sandpiper marine phosphate mining project offshore Namibia, valid until 5 August 2029. The decision has triggered opposition from the IPC and conservationists who have raised long-running environmental and industry concerns.
10 August 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 31 July

Presidential platforms must prioritise national interest
An editorial argues that every presidential engagement should advance national interest, citing debate over President Nandi-Ndaitwah's appearance at the MTC Kasi Vibe Festival and noting concerns from NUDO and PDM leaders about how the Presidency's time and authority should be deployed.
31 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
NUDO MP criticizes President's attendance at MTC Kasi Vibe Festival
A NUDO member of parliament has argued that the President should not officiate community and fundraising events like the MTC Kasi Vibe Festival, saying such engagements should be handled by ministers or regional leaders to preserve the dignity of the presidency.
31 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Tuesday 28 July

Civil society calls for parliament to extend sitting hours
Civil society and MPs have called for the National Assembly to extend its sitting hours from 14h30 to 17h45 to properly debate and pass laws. Institute for Public Policy Research director Graham Hopwood said parliament currently works about 90 days a year and warned that deadlocks in passing laws will be an early warning sign for Namibia's political future.
28 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 20 July

Namibia-South Africa Orange River border dispute remains unresolved
Namibia and South Africa failed to resolve their decades-old dispute over the Orange River boundary during the fourth Binational Commission in Pretoria. Namibia contends the border should run through the middle of the river under modern international law, while South Africa maintains it follows the northern bank under the 1890 Heligoland-Zanzibar Treaty; President Nandi-Ndaitwah said the matter will now be handled directly with South African President Ramaphosa.
20 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Venaani backs Nuclear Bill to grow uranium-driven economy
PDM president McHenry Venaani has endorsed the draft Nuclear Bill, arguing that Namibia should use its uranium resources to drive economic growth and value addition rather than export raw minerals. The government has concluded nationwide public consultations on the proposed legislation, which seeks to modernise the nuclear regulatory framework and establish three specialised institutions to oversee the peaceful use of nuclear technology.
20 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Friday 17 July

Venaani calls on president to address Orange River border dispute
PDM leader McHenry Venaani has urged President Nandi-Ndaitwah to use her visit to South Africa to push for resolution of the long-standing Orange River boundary dispute with South Africa. Venaani says the dispute has remained unresolved since independence and requires urgent political attention, and that he has tabled a motion in the National Assembly calling for the matter to be debated.
17 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 15 July

PDM leader urges immediate revival of Namibia's dairy industry
PDM president McHenry Venaani has called on President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to procure 1,000 high-yield dairy cattle and launch a comprehensive national dairy revitalisation programme centred on the Vhungu Vhungu Dairy Farm in Kavango East, citing food security, reduced import dependence, and job creation as aims.
15 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Monday 13 July

Parliament approves ACC chief, warns against selective justice
The National Assembly unanimously approved Bryan Eiseb as director general of the Anti-Corruption Commission while lawmakers across parties warned the institution must pursue corruption without political interference and shed its reputation for allowing politically connected cases to go unpunished.
13 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Saturday 11 July

Parliament backs Eiseb as Anti-Corruption Commission director general
Members of the National Assembly unanimously endorsed President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah's nomination of Bryan Eiseb as the next director general of the Anti-Corruption Commission, with MPs across party lines calling for stronger action against corruption and urging the commission to pursue cases without fear or favor.
11 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Opposition blocks vote on ECN chairperson without documentation
Several opposition parties are refusing to approve Gerson Sindano's appointment as Electoral Commission of Namibia chairperson until parliament provides all documentation on his nomination, including interview minutes and selection committee recommendations. Opposition leaders also raised concerns that Sindano's previous role as a personal assistant to Swapo's secretary general could undermine the commission's independence.
11 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 10 July

Opposition demands access to ECN selection records before vote
The Electoral Commission of Namibia leadership appointments have sparked a constitutional debate over Parliament's oversight powers. Affirmative Repositioning leader Job Amupanda demanded postponement of the vote on the President's ECN nominees until lawmakers are provided with recruitment, interview, and selection committee records, arguing MPs cannot exercise informed judgment without them.
10 July 2026 · New Era →

Friday 3 July

Government dispatches teams as xenophobic attacks threaten Namibians in SA
Namibia's Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security Lucia Iipumbu said the government has dispatched two teams to South Africa and identified safety shelters as xenophobic violence rises and about 100 Namibians seek repatriation from the Namibian High Commission in Pretoria.
3 July 2026 · Informanté →

Wednesday 1 July

PM dismisses salary delay claims as technical matter
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare has apologised to Kunene Region public servants over delayed salary payments and rejected claims by PDM leader McHenry Venaani that the delay was politically motivated. Venaani alleged that the Minister of Urban and Rural Development had stopped regional employees' salaries over a dispute with the former Chief Regional Officer, questioning the legal basis for withholding public servants' pay.
1 July 2026 · Informanté →

Tuesday 30 June

PDM leader accuses Swapo of delaying Kunene council salaries
PDM leader McHenry Venaani accused Swapo of political retaliation over delayed salary payments to 94 employees of the Kunene Regional Council, including four councillors, whose June salaries were blocked following intervention by the urban and rural development minister. Prime minister Elijah Ngurare denied deliberate withholding and attributed the delays to administrative and technical issues.
30 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 24 June

PM Ngurare says government has capacity to address Angolan child begging
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare responded to opposition criticism about unhoused Angolan children visible at traffic lights across Namibia, stating the government has capacity to resolve the issue and noting that bilateral discussions are underway with the Angolan government.
24 June 2026 · Informanté →

Sunday 21 June

Parliament disrupted again as opposition challenges speaker authority
The national assembly adjourned Wednesday after opposition parliamentarians clashed with speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila over her authorisation of the finance minister to speak on behalf of the prime minister. The editorial argues that repeated parliamentary disruptions reflect a failure of political leadership across parties and have prevented debate on critical legislation, including the petroleum bill.
21 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 17 June

Windhoek remembers Biggs van Wyk, city's longtime observer
Biggs van Wyk, who sat observing Windhoek's central business district for over two decades, has died at age 83. Politicians and residents paid tribute to the figure, whom many described as a guardian angel or watchman who had become part of the city's identity.
17 June 2026 · The Namibian →
National Assembly descends into disorder over speaker's rulings
Opposition parliamentarians from the PDM, AR, and IPC challenged speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila on Wednesday over the manner in which she was conducting proceedings, with members arguing she was dismissing points of order without allowing them to be heard. The confrontation erupted after finance minister Ericah Shafudah was authorised to table and read a debate speech on behalf of prime minister Elijah Ngurare, a move strongly opposed by opposition parties.
17 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 15 June

Churches welcome housing emergency but warn declarations lack teeth
Churches and analysts have welcomed Namibia's proposed housing state of emergency, but caution that declarations alone will not address a backlog of over 300,000 homes. The Council of Churches in Namibia says the move must be accompanied by concrete measures, adequate resources, and clear implementation timelines, and calls for faster implementation of free residential plots and increased investment in land servicing.
15 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Saturday 13 June

MPs demand tighter controls on microlender salary deductions
Members of parliament have called for stricter controls on microlenders' direct access to civil servants' salaries, arguing that such deductions worsen financial strain on public servants. The parliamentary economics committee heard concerns about excessive deductions and their effects on disposable income and mental health, with plans to meet with the Microlenders Association next week.
13 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 11 June

Minister seeks response from German farm owner over worker evictions
The Minister of Agriculture has expressed concern over non-response from Joachim Rust, owner of Okamuru Farm in Waterberg, who is allegedly harassing and threatening to evict fifth-generation farm workers. The farm workers, whose history on the land predates the colonial period, report facing pressure including livestock confiscation and restricted movement since the farm's sale from the previous Schneider family.
11 June 2026 · Informanté →