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Wednesday, 21 October 2026
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Wednesday, 21 October 2026
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Namibian press · Person

Michael Mwashindange

Independent Patriots for Change parliamentarian who questions government budgeting priorities including petroleum funding, youth employment, and Impalila import duties.

2022-10-282026-10-21

News reports

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What’s been said

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  1. September 2026
  2. The Namibian

    Michael Mwashindange raised concerns about delays in monthly pension payments

    Source

    “This was announced by finance minister Ericah Shafudah in parliament last week while responding to Independent Patriots for Change member of parliament Michael Mwashindange on delays in monthly pension payments.”

    Social grant beneficiaries to receive multiple grants in one payment
  3. August 2026
  4. The Namibian

    PAC committee member Michael Mwashindange expressed disappointment over the council's failure to consistently submit financial statements

    Source

    “PAC committee member Michael Mwashindange has expressed disappointment over the council's failure to consistently submit financial statements.”

    Eenhana told to repay overcharged residents
  5. The Namibian

    Michael Mwashindange said fiscal discipline should not mean public servants bear cost of poor fiscal management

    Source

    “He said fiscal discipline should not mean that teachers, nurses, police officers, soldiers and other public servants bear the cost of years of poor fiscal management.”

    Public servants should not take debt crisis blame – Mwashindange
  6. The Namibian

    Michael Mwashindange warned against indiscriminate job cuts

    Source

    “He warned against indiscriminate job cuts, saying Namibia already faces high unemployment, particularly among young people.”

    Public servants should not take debt crisis blame – Mwashindange
  7. July 2026
  8. The Namibian

    Michael Mwashindange says would be inappropriate to speculate while investigation ongoing

    Source

    “Independent Patriots for Change shadow finance minister Michael Mwashindange says it would be inappropriate to speculate on specific facts while the investigation is ongoing.”

    Namfisa investigates firm over N$250 million losses
  9. June 2026
  10. The Namibian

    Michael Mwashindange described Steenkamp's actions as unlawful

    Source

    “Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) national youth leader Michael Mwashindange yesterday described Steenkamp's actions as unlawful, saying the power to postpone events lies with the general assembly.”

    ‘Curse’ of the youth council
  11. The Namibian

    IPC shadow finance minister Michael Mwashindange says the country has entered the most critical phase of the budget cycle

    Source

    “Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) shadow finance minister Michael Mwashindange says the country has entered the most critical phase of the budget cycle.”

    Budget law signed,IPC demands delivery
  12. May 2026
  13. The Namibian

    Independent Patriots for Change shadow minister Michael Mwashindange said figures PSC released are deeply concerning

    Source

    “Independent Patriots for Change shadow minister for finance Michael Mwashindange yesterday said the figures the PSC released are deeply concerning.”

    Gaps in Govt hiring oversight raise concern
  14. April 2026
  15. The Namibian

    Independent Patriots for Change parliamentarian Michael Mwashindange has raised issue with the attendance monitoring system

    Source

    “In a separate concern, Independent Patriots for Change parliamentarian Michael Mwashindange has raised issue with the attendance monitoring system.”

    Kuugongelwa-Amadhila clarifies MP leave rules confusion
  16. New Era

    Michael Mwashindange described N$109 million ACC budget allocation as an insult to mandate

    Source

    “Independent Patriots for Change (IPC)'s Michael Mwashindange described as an insult to the mandate of the ACC.”

    ‘High expectations on underfunded ACC unfair’
Society

Multiple social grant payments can now be received together

The News

Finance Minister Ericah Shafudah announced that beneficiaries qualifying for more than one social grant can now receive all their payments in a single transaction on their designated payout date, eliminating the need for multiple collection trips. The change, confirmed by NamPost, aims to reduce transportation costs and financial burden on beneficiaries.

27 September 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 27 September

  1. Multiple social grant payments can now be received together

    Finance Minister Ericah Shafudah announced that beneficiaries qualifying for more than one social grant can now receive all their payments in a single transaction on their designated payout date, eliminating the need for multiple collection trips. The change, confirmed by NamPost, aims to reduce transportation costs and financial burden on beneficiaries.

    27 September 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 17 August

  1. Eenhana Town Council ordered to repay overcharged residents

    The National Assembly's public accounts committee has called on Eenhana Town Council to account for and repay millions in interest wrongly charged to residents. Auditor general findings showed the council recorded more than N$3.32 million in interest against an expected N$493 995, a difference of about N$2.8 million, which the council says it will credit to affected residents' accounts.

    17 August 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 11 August

  1. IPC warns against salary cuts to address public debt

    The Independent Patriots for Change says Namibia's fiscal crisis is a governance problem, not a wage-bill problem, and public servants should not bear the cost of years of poor fiscal management. The IMF has warned that public debt could rise to about 71% of GDP over the medium term and called for reforms to moderate personnel expenditure.

    11 August 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 14 July

  1. Namfisa investigates financial advisory firm over N$250 million client losses

    The Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority is investigating Wealth Management Solutions, owned by Hanjo Schlabitz, over losses of at least N$250 million belonging to clients, mostly pensioners and families. The liquidator estimates total losses may reach N$350 million, with 87 people and two organisations claiming as creditors, after Schlabitz allegedly used money market funds to cover failed foreign exchange investments.

    14 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 22 June

  1. Violence at National Youth Council election forces postponement

    The state-funded National Youth Council's general assembly in Swakopmund was postponed after violence erupted during the election of a new executive chairperson, injuring nine delegates. The education minister condemned the incident as "unacceptable, unruly conduct and violence," and critics are calling for the institution to be dismantled.

    22 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 1 June

  1. President signs N$104 billion national budget for 2026/27

    The 2026/27 national budget has been signed into law by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and gazetted, allowing government ministries and agencies to access approved funding. The N$104 billion budget provides N$81.3 billion for operational expenditure, N$6.5 billion for development projects and N$16.2 billion for interest payments, with a projected N$15 billion financing gap to be covered through borrowing.

    1 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 6 May

  1. PSC audited 8% of government hires in 2024/25 financial year

    The Public Service Commission audited 796 files out of 10,410 staff members at 10 government offices, ministries, agencies and regional councils during the 2024/25 financial year to assess compliance with recruitment procedures and public service regulations. PSC chairperson Patrick Nandago cited delays in resolving matters and slow institutional responses as ongoing concerns hampering the commission's oversight effectiveness.

    6 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 23 April

  1. National Assembly speaker clarifies MP leave is not automatic

    National Assembly speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila has clarified that MPs are not automatically entitled to leave of absence and that requests can be declined under Standing Rule 76. She stressed that leave is typically granted only for illness, bereavement of close family, official committee duties, or parliamentary travel, and must be formally submitted with reasons and approval from party chief whips.

    23 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 2 April

  1. MPs say ACC budget of N$109 million too low to fight corruption

    Parliamentarians from multiple parties criticized the N$109 million allocation to the Anti-Corruption Commission for the 2026/27 fiscal year as inadequate, arguing that underfunding, limited access to modern technology, and outdated legislation prevent the institution from effectively combating corruption. MPs called for increased funding and legislative amendments to enable the ACC to keep pace with evolving criminal tactics.

    2 April 2026 · New Era →

Saturday 28 March

  1. Parliamentarians question ECN's N$1.6 million legal fees allocation

    Independent Patriots for Change MP Michael Mwashindange criticised the Electoral Commission of Namibia's allocation of N$1.6 million for legal fees as wasteful, arguing the commission should prioritise improving voter turnout and drafting an electoral amendment bill instead. Other MPs also questioned whether the ECN's overall N$181 million budget for 2026/27 is adequate for national coverage.

    28 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 27 March

  1. IPC MPs question N$20 million to non-existent petroleum unit

    Opposition parliamentarians in the Independent Patriots for Change criticised the N$20 million allocation to an upstream petroleum unit in the Office of the President's budget, arguing the unit does not yet exist under law and the funding is therefore premature and amounts to corruption. They called for the money to be reallocated to the minister of industries, mines and energy pending passage of the petroleum bill.

    27 March 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. Parliament divided over petroleum bill governance structure

    The petroleum amendment bill, which proposes moving oil and gas sector oversight to the Office of the President, has faced criticism in Parliament for creating a "power vacuum" and concentrating executive control. Critics argue the measure removes ministerial accountability to Parliament and risks elite capture, while the government defends the proposal as necessary modernisation to protect the sector and ensure proper regulation.

    27 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 12 March

  1. MPs criticise 2026/27 budget for failing to address youth unemployment

    Members of parliament have raised concerns that the recently tabled 2026/27 budget, which allocates N$81.3 billion to operational expenditure and only N$6.5 billion to development spending, fails to adequately address youth unemployment and lacks a credible plan for job creation. IPC parliamentarian Michael Mwashindange argued that the fiscal framework prioritises recurring operational costs over strategic investments, while rising debt payments and interest costs continue to crowd out productive investments needed to stimulate employment.

    12 March 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. Impalila residents face high import duties, government says

    Independent Patriots for Change parliamentarian Michael Mwashindange raised concerns in the National Assembly about high import duties on goods purchased by residents of Impalila Island in the Zambezi region, forcing them to shop across the Botswana border instead of at Katima Mulilo. Finance minister Ericah Shafudah responded that the Import and Export Control Act requires levies on all imported goods without exception, and that changing this would require amending the law.

    12 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 23 February

  1. Government wage bill risks crowding out development spending

    Opposition shadow minister Michael Mwashindange warns that the government's growing wage bill—now covering 119,000 civil servants—crowds out development and infrastructure spending while increasing borrowing pressure. Political analyst Henning Melber suggests the government faces a strategic dilemma between downsizing the public service and risking electoral support, and should instead focus on attracting private-sector investment.

    23 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 15 February

  1. Judicial delays harm economic confidence and investment, says Schlettwein

    Former finance minister Calle Schlettwein and Chief Justice Peter Shivute have warned that delays in Namibia's under-staffed judiciary damage economic confidence and deter investment, with the civil division of the High Court handling an average of 614 cases per judge last year. However, some analysts dispute this, arguing that Namibia's rule of law remains strong and that executive and legislative delays have a larger impact on investment than judicial delays.

    15 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Michael Mwashindange — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute