Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
June 2026
The Namibian
Melody Swartbooiwas withdrawn from her position asKeetmanshoop mayor by LPM
Source
“The Landless People's Movement has withdrawn Keetmanshoop mayor Melody Swartbooi from her position and revoked her representation on the town council with immediate effect.”
LPM deputy lead youth commander Melody Swartbooisaidthe forum marks a shift from viewing young people as future leaders to recognising them as leaders of today
Source
“LPM deputy lead youth commander Melody Swartbooi said the forum marks a shift from viewing young people as future leaders to recognising them as leaders of today.”
Melody Swartbooi, Mayor of Keetmanshoopurged trainees to adopta culture of discipline to honour government investment
Source
“Delivering the welcoming address, Melody Swartbooi, Mayor of Keetmanshoop, issued a stirring call to action, urging trainees to adopt a "culture of discipline" to honour the government's investment in their future.”
Keetmanshoop mayor Melody Swartbooisaidanti-graft body's presence was part of collective commitment to promote transparency, accountability and ethical leadership
Source
“On her part, Keetmanshoop mayor Melody Swartbooi said the anti-graft body's presence was part of a collective commitment of government, institutions, the private sector, youth and civil societies to promote transparency, accountability and ethical leadership in Namibia.”
Keetmanshoop mayor Melody Swartbooiurgedthe committee to ensure their recommendations include budgeting strategies for informal traders
Source
“Keetmanshoop mayor Melody Swartbooi urges the committee to ensure their recommendations include budgeting strategies in assisting informal traders going forward.”
The Landless People's Movement has withdrawn Keetmanshoop mayor Melody Swartbooi from her position and revoked her council representation with immediate effect, six months after her election in December 2025. The party cited internal processes and strategic redeployment of talent but provided no specific reasons for the removal.
Why it matters
LPM's abrupt withdrawal of Keetmanshoop mayor six months after her election raises questions about party stability and governance in local government.
The Landless People's Movement has withdrawn Keetmanshoop mayor Melody Swartbooi from her position and revoked her council representation with immediate effect, six months after her election in December 2025. The party cited internal processes and strategic redeployment of talent but provided no specific reasons for the removal.
The Landless People's Movement has withdrawn Melody Swartbooi as Mayor of Keetmanshoop with immediate effect, revoking her party representation on the town council in accordance with the Local Authorities Act.
Keetmanshoop municipality pays N$391,000 a month to rent 26 vehicles from Avis Fleet, including a Mercedes-Benz for the mayor, prompting criticism from councillors who call the expenditure wasteful given the municipality's financial constraints.
The Landless People's Movement faces growing internal tensions, with former councillor Joseph Isaacks accusing leader Bernadus Swartbooi of running the party dictatorially and the party suspending former mayor McDonald Hanse over alleged involvement in forming a new political party. The LPM's spokesperson denies disunity claims and says the party operates within constitutional rules, while Hanse contests his suspension and disputes the allegations against him.
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.
The Keetmanshoop Vocational Training Centre was officially inaugurated in the //Kharas region. Mayor Melody Swartbooi urged trainees to adopt a culture of discipline and take responsibility for their studies, emphasizing that the centre's success depends on the students' commitment to their education.
Some Keetmanshoop residents have criticised a Toyota Namibia advertisement on a cemetery wall, saying its "Here. For life" tagline is insensitive to families with loved ones buried there. Toyota says it donated the wall in exchange for a year of advertising and that the tagline, introduced before the cemetery opportunity arose, is meant to reflect the durability of its products rather than comment on human life.
The Anti-Corruption Commission held a consultative workshop in Keetmanshoop with //Kharas regional stakeholders to gather input for the 3rd National Anti-Corruption Strategy and Action Plan for 2026-2030. ACC Director General Paulus Noa emphasized that fighting corruption and promoting ethical values is a collective responsibility requiring preventative measures across all sectors of society.
A parliamentary standing committee has identified poor execution and delays in government-funded projects across the ||Kharas region, with committee chairperson Iipumbu Shiimi calling for officials to take project implementation more seriously and improve accountability to parliament.