President Nandi-Ndaitwah has directed senior government officials to move to public healthcare facilities from 1 April as part of a five-year development plan to upgrade public hospitals and clinics. The phased transition aims to secure high-level support for healthcare reforms, though civil servants have raised concerns about public facility overcrowding, staff shortages, and medication supply issues.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah has directed senior government officials to move to public healthcare facilities from 1 April as part of a five-year development plan to upgrade public hospitals and clinics. The phased transition aims to secure high-level support for healthcare reforms, though civil servants have raised concerns about public facility overcrowding, staff shortages, and medication supply issues.
Political analysts and opposition figures say proposed legislative changes—transferring petroleum sector control to the presidency and restructuring regional councils to report through governors to the president—could concentrate executive authority and undermine democratic checks and balances. Defenders including a Swapo MP argue the measures are necessary to manage Namibia's emerging oil industry, but critics warn the pattern signals democratic backsliding and erosion of decentralisation.
The Namibia Industrial Development Agency says it cannot pay its N$3.9 million water and electricity debt to Keetmanshoop municipality because tenants have failed to pay rent, creating cash flow problems. The municipality offered Nida a 100% interest waiver if it settled N$3.1 million in capital debt over three months, but Nida declined, citing inability to pay N$1 million monthly and is now requesting treasury assistance through its line ministry.
Namibia's public sector workforce has grown to 119,000 employees with a wage bill expected to reach 38% of the budget by 2026/27, prompting analysts to warn of reduced productivity and poor service delivery. Political analyst Sakaria Johannes says government may be spending more on unproductive workers, though parliamentarian Kennedy Simasiku argues the spending is necessary for government to deliver essential services despite the fiscal strain.
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah opened an induction workshop for Swapo parliamentarians on 4 February 2026, emphasizing the party's mandate following electoral success and calling on members to deliver on commitments through results-oriented leadership and coordinated service delivery.
National Council Chairperson Lukas Muha called on the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association to strengthen support for member countries facing political instability and conflict, citing Sudan and Zimbabwe as examples. He stressed that dialogue and cooperation among lawmakers are crucial to prevent disputes from escalating into conflict.
Swapo President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah told party lawmakers at an induction workshop that discipline, coordination, and service delivery must define their work, warning that public trust depends on visible improvements in people's lives. She stressed that Swapo's electoral dominance brings responsibility to deliver on its manifesto and the Sixth National Development Plan.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has called on all SWAPO Party members to fully dedicate themselves to implementing the party's election manifesto as integrated into the 6th National Development Plan. She stressed that with SWAPO holding the majority in parliament and controlling most local authorities, members have a constitutional obligation to coordinate their work and deliver tangible improvements to citizens' lives.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah opened the third session of parliament with a focus on inclusive development and participatory democracy, calling on lawmakers to pass laws addressing high unemployment, inequality and poverty, and to add value to Namibia's natural resources through local beneficiation. She noted that only two of nine bills were passed in the past year and urged parliament to rise above partisanship to deliver tangible outcomes for citizens.
Speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila opened the third session of Namibia's eighth parliament, emphasising the theme of enhancing parliament's role for inclusive development and participatory democracy. She stressed the importance of complementarity between the executive, legislature, and judiciary, and called for MPs to recommit to inclusivity, participation, and service to all Namibians.