Also known as: Political analyst Sakaria Johannes · businessman Sakaria Johannes
Political analyst who comments on public sector wage bill and productivity concerns in Namibian government.
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The Namibian
Sakaria Johannes is a political science and history graduate from the University of Namibia
“Sakaria Johannes is a political science and history graduate from the University of Namibia”
Your Vote is Your PowerPrime Minister Elijah Ngurare has declared the Swapo Party Youth League's endorsement of Ester Simon for National Youth Council executive chairperson non-negotiable, warning that continued disruption will damage the institution's credibility. The statement follows a violent collapse of the NYC's general assembly in Swakopmund over the weekend that left nine delegates injured.
23 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare has declared the Swapo Party Youth League's endorsement of Ester Simon for National Youth Council executive chairperson non-negotiable, warning that continued disruption will damage the institution's credibility. The statement follows a violent collapse of the NYC's general assembly in Swakopmund over the weekend that left nine delegates injured.
23 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
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 →
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare said President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah should be allowed to serve her full two constitutional terms without distraction from succession debates, which he called premature and deliberately designed to undermine the administration.
20 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah has questioned whether President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah's recent remarks about the boy child—prompted by lower male graduation numbers at Nust—will produce actual policy changes, cautioning that past public discussions on the issue have not yielded major reforms and that conclusions should not be drawn from graduation statistics alone without broader evidence-based research.
13 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
A Windhoek resident submitted a 161-page dossier to the Security Commission in April 2025 requesting President Nandi-Ndaitwah remove inspector general Joseph Shikongo from office, alleging corruption, criminal interference, intimidation and abuse of state institutions. Nandi-Ndaitwah appointed major general Anne-Marie Nainda as acting inspector general, though the president did not publicly state reasons for the suspension.
8 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
IPC president Panduleni Itula called on President Nandi-Ndaitwah to publicly explain why former deputy prime minister and industries minister Natangwe Ithete was dismissed last year, citing concerns about government transparency and corruption despite the president's constitutional authority to dismiss officials without explanation.
14 April 2026 · The Namibian →
An opinion piece argues that while Namibia achieved political independence in 1990, economic independence remains limited, with foreign interests controlling much of the country's natural resources and wealth inequality persisting. The author contends that genuine independence demands mental emancipation and economic transformation, not merely symbolic sovereignty.
22 March 2026 · The Namibian →
An LPM parliamentarian has criticized the green hydrogen project as a political campaign tool rather than a genuine development plan, citing the lack of a dedicated legislative framework. The government's press secretary defended the project as part of Namibia's development vision alongside oil and gas initiatives, while the minister acknowledged no standalone green hydrogen act exists but said the sector is governed by existing environmental and energy legislation.
12 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Six Namibian participants and sports journalist Marco Ndlovu won all-expenses-paid trips to South Africa to attend the Soweto Derby between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium, after entering an MTC eSIM promotion draw.
27 February 2026 · New Era →
Three opinion pieces debate the government's plan to redirect Public Service Employee Medical Aid Scheme members to public healthcare facilities, weighing concerns about private sector job losses, the fairness of restricting access for those paying contributions, and whether equalisng access will worsen already strained public hospital capacity.
26 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Elifas Dingara, a Swapo parliamentarian of 16 years, has resigned from the National Assembly and defended his 2023 proposal to allocate N$1 million to each Namibian as economically grounded, arguing it would convert natural resource wealth into citizen holdings before minerals lose relevance. Dingara is leaving for the agriculture sector, and analysts suggest his departure may reflect internal party dynamics.
26 February 2026 · The Namibian →
At Ethiopia's 39th African Union Summit, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah advocated for Africa to remain a sovereign partner rather than a battleground for competing global interests, and called for continental investment in water infrastructure and climate solutions. She reported that Namibia's youth unemployment programme has disbursed N$62.3 million to 140 projects creating about 722 jobs, though analysts cautioned that strong speeches must be accompanied by measurable policy implementation results.
17 February 2026 · The Namibian →
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.
11 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Politicians have criticised the Office of the President for failing to hold Minister James Sankwasa accountable after he made xenophobic comments about a Zimbabwean journalist, with opposition figures and analysts arguing the Presidency should have condemned his remarks rather than deflecting responsibility to the relevant line ministry.
30 January 2026 · The Namibian →
Minister of urban and rural development James Sankwasa and political analysts are calling for mandatory education and qualifications for councillors to improve governance and development, citing concerns that unqualified councillors struggle to understand council documents and may be manipulated by officials. Sankwasa said political parties are reluctant to set minimum requirements because they fear losing candidates to other parties.
28 January 2026 · The Namibian →
The Minister of Urban and Rural Development has warned ministries and councillors to settle outstanding municipal debts or face disconnections and sanctions. As of March 2025, local authorities and councils owed the Namibia Water Corporation N$2.4 billion, with the City of Windhoek reporting residents, businesses, and government combined owe the municipality N$1.2 billion.
22 January 2026 · The Namibian →