Also known as: Shaningwa · Secretary General Sophia Shaningwa · Swapo Secretary General Sophia Shaningwa
Swapo secretary general who has ordered eviction of refugee campers and directs party leadership compliance with dual-role restrictions.
The PDM's McHenry Venaani received a delegation of former Swapo refugees repatriated in 1989, who have been camping at Swapo headquarters since October 2025 with longstanding grievances. Venaani committed to advocating for the group at the national level, though the UN and Swapo have disputed claims regarding fund diversion and repatriation support.
29 January 2026 · The Namibian →
The PDM's McHenry Venaani received a delegation of former Swapo refugees repatriated in 1989, who have been camping at Swapo headquarters since October 2025 with longstanding grievances. Venaani committed to advocating for the group at the national level, though the UN and Swapo have disputed claims regarding fund diversion and repatriation support.
29 January 2026 · The Namibian →
Mathias Kanana Hishoono, one of the last surviving founders of Swapo and a key organiser in Namibia's liberation struggle, was buried on Saturday following his death on 14 January at age 89. His passing marks the closing of a formative chapter in Namibian political history, as a generation whose authority was rooted in lived experience of colonial repression and resistance fades away.
28 January 2026 · New Era →
Swapo co-founder and political advisor Kanana Hishoono (89) was buried at Eenhana Memorial Shrine on Saturday, with President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah praising his unwavering commitment to Namibia's liberation struggle and legacy of selfless dedication. Hishoono, who also served as headman of Onambutu village in Ohangwena region and died on 14 January, was remembered by mourners and political leaders as a founding figure in the national liberation movement.
26 January 2026 · New Era →
Minister of Urban and Rural Development James Sankwasa has rejected the National Housing Enterprise board's request to extend the contract of chief executive Gisbertus Mukulu beyond its June 2026 expiry, declining to publicly explain the decision. The rejection comes amid criticism of NHE's slow housing delivery—the organisation delivered only 445 houses in 2023/24 despite a national housing backlog of about 300,000 units.
26 January 2026 · The Namibian →
A meeting between government representatives and the Former Refugees Repatriation Association of Namibia (FRRAN) failed to resolve disputes over alleged UN-provided repatriation funds from 1989. The UNHCR representative stated that post-repatriation funds were not earmarked and that all assistance was fully accounted for, but FRRAN members rejected these explanations and plan to escalate their demands to the President.
21 January 2026 · New Era →
The UN Resident Coordinator has stated that the UN's role in the 1989 voluntary repatriation of Namibian exiles ended three decades ago and that all available funds were fully utilised and accounted for. The statement comes after refugees camping outside SWAPO headquarters demanded clarification on claims that N$21.7 million allocated by the UN for repatriated exiles was given to SWAPO but never distributed to beneficiaries, claims that SWAPO says it cannot substantiate with evidence.
21 January 2026 · Informanté →
The United Nations says all repatriation funds for former Namibian liberation war refugees were used and accounted for, dismissing claims of missing financial assistance from a group of over 400 returnees who have been protesting since October 2025. UN officials state the organization's role was limited to repatriation assistance, while rehabilitation and resettlement responsibility lies with the Namibian government.
20 January 2026 · The Namibian →
Hundreds of Namibian veterans who returned from exile in 1989 gathered at Swapo Party headquarters demanding answers about UN funds allegedly allocated for their distribution. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees representative stated that all donor funds from the 1989 repatriation were fully utilised and accounted for, with no undistributed post-repatriation funds remaining available.
19 January 2026 · New Era →
Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa has ordered a group of former refugees, who were repatriated in 1989 and have been camping at the party's head office since October, to leave by Tuesday. The group has been demanding answers from the UN regarding funds they say they were owed, but Shaningwa said the matter has been fully exhausted.
19 January 2026 · The Namibian →
SWAPO Party Secretary General Sophia Shaningwa issued a statement condemning what she characterized as US aggression against Venezuela, expressing solidarity with President Nicolás Maduro and calling for his release. Shaningwa emphasized SWAPO's commitment to principles of national sovereignty, self-determination, and adherence to international law, urging the global community to respect Venezuela's independence.
7 January 2026 · Informanté →