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Thursday, 23 July 2026
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Thursday, 23 July 2026
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Namibian press · Organization

Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters

Also known as: NEFF

Opposition political party in Namibia that challenges government over tender awards, pharmaceutical theft handling, and petroleum sector governance, recently suing the Electoral Commission.

2023-06-212026-07-23
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What’s been said

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

  1. October 2024

  2. The Namibian

    Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters sued the ECN in the Windhoek High Court and won its case on 5 September

    Source

    “The NEFF subsequently sued the ECN in the Windhoek High Court. The party won its case on 5 September, when judge Thomas Masuku ruled that the ECN failed to give the party an opportunity to be heard before the decision to cancel its registration was taken.”

    ECN admits error in deregistration of CDV and NEFF

  3. The Namibian

    Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters won its case on 5 September against Electoral Commission of Namibia

    Source

    “The party won its case on 5 September, when judge Thomas Masuku ruled that the ECN failed to give the party an opportunity to be heard before the decision to cancel its registration was taken.”

    Electoral commission reverses decision to deregister Christian Democratic Voice

  4. The Namibian

    Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) had deregistration overturned after suing Electoral Commission of Namibia in High Court

    Source

    “The NEFF's deregistration was overturned after the party sued the ECN in the High Court.”

    Christain party takes electoral commission to court over deregistration

  5. The Namibian

    Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters expresses concerns that closing procurement would jeopardise election credibility

    Source

    “The Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) expresses concerns that closing the procurement process to open competition would jeopardise the election's credibility.”

    Electoral Commission of Namibia faces political party backlash over controversial ballot paper procurement proposal

  6. The Namibian

    Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) has been reinstated on the list of registered political parties for November elections

    Source

    “The Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) has been reinstated on the list of registered political parties to contest in the November presidential and national elections.”

    NEFF reinstated as registered political party for November elections
  7. September 2024

  8. The Namibian

    Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters says the electoral body is dragging its feet on implementing the High Court order to recognise it as a party

    Source

    “The NEFF says the electoral body is dragging its feet on implementing the High Court order to recognise it as a party after it was deregistered.”

    NEFF says ECN is deliberately delaying its party campaign after commission is declared ready for elections

  9. The Namibian

    NEFF was deregistered by ECN in June for failure to submit audited annual financial statements

    Source

    “The deregistration of the NEFF by the ECN in June stemmed from the party's failure to submit audited annual financial statements and saw the party lose its two seats in the National Assembly.”

    Electoral commission reviews NEFF High Court ruling as party remains registered
  10. April 2024

  11. The Namibian

    Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) offered N$1 000 reward to a man who assaulted a Swapo member at a public meeting

    Source

    “The N$1 000 reward by the Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) to a man who assaulted a Swapo member at a public meeting in Windhoek is disgraceful conduct that should never be tolerated in politics.”

    No Vote for Violence
Business

RCC faces scrutiny over foreign dominance in projects

The News

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.

20 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Saturday 20 June

  1. RCC faces scrutiny over foreign dominance in projects

    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.

    20 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 19 June

  1. Minister dismisses audit claim over foreign tender awards

    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.

    19 June 2026 · Informanté →

Sunday 14 June

  1. Judge awards damages to activists denied right to demonstrate

    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.

    14 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 21 April

  1. NEFF demands suspension of officials in pharmaceutical theft probe

    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.

    21 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 12 April

  1. President addresses parliament on oil, land, wealth fund

    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.

    12 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 10 April

  1. President clarifies 500,000 jobs will come from private sector growth

    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.

    10 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 7 April

  1. Opposition splits over oil and gas authority transfer bill

    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.

    7 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Saturday 14 March

  1. NEFF sues ECN for damages over 2024 election deregistration

    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.

    14 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 11 March

  1. President hosts De Beers, political parties, sports champions

    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.

    11 March 2026 · Namibian Sun →

Friday 6 March

  1. NEFF meets President, pushes labour and oil sector reforms

    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.

    6 March 2026 · New Era →

Monday 2 March

  1. Former NEFF commissar arrested for rape of child

    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.

    2 March 2026 · Informanté →

Monday 23 February

  1. NEFF backs President authority over petroleum decisions

    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.

    23 February 2026 · New Era →

Thursday 19 February

  1. NEFF backs petroleum bill as tool for economic freedom

    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.

    19 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 27 January

  1. Government spending outpaces revenue, economists warn of debt risks

    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.

    27 January 2026 · The Namibian →

Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute