Independent Patriots for Change parliamentarian who questions government budgeting priorities including petroleum funding, youth employment, and Impalila import duties.
News reports
Order a long-term news report on Michael Mwashindange
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The Namibian
Independent Patriots for Change shadow minister for finance Michael Mwashindange says Namibia cannot afford institutional inefficiencies that undermine its attractiveness
“In a competitive global market, Namibia cannot afford institutional inefficiencies that undermine our attractiveness," he says.”
Namibia judicial delays damaging economic confidence and investment, says SchlettweinThe Namibian
Michael Mwashindange will release first solo album 'Sikiliza' next month
“His first solo album, 'Sikiliza', will be released next month, he told unWrap.online recently.”
Patrick Goes SoloFinance 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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →