Opposition political party in Namibia that challenges government over tender awards, pharmaceutical theft handling, and petroleum sector governance, recently suing the Electoral Commission.
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June 2026
The Namibian
Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters deputy president Longinus Iipumbuaccused state-owned enterprises of moving away from their transformation mandatemoving away from transformation mandate
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“Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters deputy president Longinus Iipumbu on Thursday accused state-owned enterprises of moving away from their transformation mandate, claiming the RCC had become a channel for foreign dominance in infrastructure delivery.”
Namibia Economic Freedom Fighterschallengedhealth ministry's decision to transfer rather than suspend officials allegedly involved in pharmaceutical theft and stock record manipulation
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“The Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters has challenged the health ministry's decision to transfer rather than suspend officials allegedly involved in pharmaceutical theft and stock record manipulation.”
Namibia Economic Freedom Fightersis seekingN$6.7 million from ECN in damages for unlawful deregistration
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“THE Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) is seeking N$6.7 million from the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) in damages following what it describes as an unlawful deregistration ahead of the 2024 national elections.”
The Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF)called forlabour reforms and transparent management of Namibia's oil and gas sector
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“The Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) has called for labour reforms and the transparent management of Namibia's emerging oil and gas sector when they met President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah at State House yesterday.”
The partyraised concerns aboutlabour hire practices disadvantaging workers through third-party employment
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“During the meeting, the party raised concerns about labour hire practices, arguing that the system disadvantages workers by allowing companies to employ staff through intermediaries instead of directly.”
NEFFsaidPresident must be final approving authority over petroleum industry decisions
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“The Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) said President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah must be the final approving authority over decisions in the country's billion-dollar petroleum industry.”
Namibia Economic Freedom Fightersthrew its weight behindthe petroleum bill
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“The Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) has thrown its weight behind the petroleum bill, saying the bill moves Namibia closer to completing the unfinished struggle for true liberation, which is economic freedom.”
Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters deputy leader Kalimbo Iipumbudescribesthe country's fiscal position as unsustainable
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“Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters deputy leader Kalimbo Iipumbu describes the country's fiscal position as unsustainable, saying the latest fiscal and debt report reflects the financial strain experienced by many Namibians.”
The Namibian Economic Freedom Fighters deputy president accused state-owned Roads Contractor Company of prioritizing foreign partners over local participation, citing a 2018 partnership with Chinese firm Nantong Sanjian in which approximately N$2 billion of N$4.1 billion in tenders went to the foreign partner. Minister of Works and Transport Veikko Nekundi rejected calls for a six-month forensic audit and disputed claims about local participation, saying the RCC's operations reflect local involvement.
The Namibian Economic Freedom Fighters deputy president accused state-owned Roads Contractor Company of prioritizing foreign partners over local participation, citing a 2018 partnership with Chinese firm Nantong Sanjian in which approximately N$2 billion of N$4.1 billion in tenders went to the foreign partner. Minister of Works and Transport Veikko Nekundi rejected calls for a six-month forensic audit and disputed claims about local participation, saying the RCC's operations reflect local involvement.
Works and Transport Minister Veikko Nekundi rejected calls for a forensic audit into tender awards to foreign nationals, saying a 10-year audit cannot be completed in 6 months and that audits are expensive. NEFF MP Kalimbo Iipumbu had argued that Namibian businesses are excluded from capital projects and cited the Roads Contractor Company's 2018 partnership with a Chinese firm, which received N$2 billion of N$4.1 billion in tenders.
Acting High Court judge Natasha Bassingthwaighte found that suspended police inspector general Joseph Shikongo unlawfully eroded the right to demonstrate by ordering that an unemployment protest could not take place on Independence Day 2023, awarding N$300,000 to activist Michael Amushelelo and N$80,000 to activist Dimbulukeni Nauyoma. The judge ruled that the Public Gatherings Proclamation of 1989 requires only notice, not permission, and the inspector general cannot use it to refuse or prevent public gatherings.
The Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters has challenged the health ministry's decision to transfer rather than suspend officials allegedly involved in pharmaceutical theft and stock record manipulation. Health minister Esperance Luvindao said due process and Public Service Commission regulations must be followed before suspensions can occur.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah answered questions from opposition MPs on the Welwitschia Sovereign Wealth Fund, land delivery, Germany's genocide reparations deal, the veterinary cordon fence, and various economic and governance matters during parliament on Wednesday.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah clarified that the government's promise to create 500,000 jobs by 2030 will be achieved through economic growth and private sector expansion rather than direct government hiring, but opposition leaders and labour experts criticized the pace of progress, with expert Herbert Jauch noting that only around 5,000 jobs have been created and that 100,000 jobs annually are needed to meet the target.
The Republican Party has backed a petroleum amendment bill that would transfer oil and gas authority from the minister of industries to the Presidency, citing anti-corruption benefits and transparency. The move has divided opposition parties, with the Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters also supporting it, while other opposition parties argue it increases corruption risk and reduces parliamentary oversight.
The Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters is seeking N$6.7 million in damages from the Electoral Commission of Namibia over its deregistration ahead of the 2024 elections, claiming the unlawful move damaged its public reputation and cost it parliamentary seats. The party was deregistered for allegedly failing to publish financial reports but successfully challenged the decision in the High Court, though the legal victory came too late to allow effective campaigning.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah met with multiple delegations at State House over the past week, including a De Beers delegation led by CEO Al Cook, the PDM party led by McHenry Venaani, NEFF and Nudo delegations, the Brave Gladiators after their 2025 COSAFA Women's Championship victory, and Namibia International Energy Conference founder Selma Shimutwikeni.
The Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters met President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to raise concerns about labour hire practices, transparency in the emerging oil and gas sector, healthcare investment, and agricultural production. The party called for direct employment of workers instead of third-party labour hire, strong governance in oil development, and increased spending on hospitals and medical infrastructure.
Abraham Ndumbu, a controversial former leader of student and political movements including NANSO and NEFF, has been arrested and charged with rape following allegations that he repeatedly raped a 13-year-old girl between February 2025 and January this year.
The Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters supports the Petroleum Amendment Bill, which would transfer core upstream petroleum powers from the responsible minister to the President. NEFF parliamentarian Kalimbo Iipumbu said the President must have final approval authority over petroleum sector decisions to protect the industry from regulatory capture and ensure it serves the people, though the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy should remain the primary technical and regulatory body.
The Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters party has endorsed the petroleum bill, arguing it strengthens the state's control over oil resources and serves the struggle for economic independence. NEFF deputy president Longinus Iipumbu told Parliament that Namibia must become the owner, controller, and beneficiary of its petroleum wealth rather than a spectator to foreign exploitation.
Namibia's government is spending faster than it generates revenue, with analysis showing the apparent healthy cash position was largely due to sinking fund reserves rather than actual revenue collection. Experts warn that without improved tax collection and controlled spending, the country risks increasing reliance on borrowing, potential social spending cuts, and possible delayed creditor payments.