Swanu of Namibia

2024-10-172026-07-23

What’s been said

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

July 2026
14 JulThe Namibian
Swanu of Namibia received for the year ended 28 February 2025 N$1.34 million in government grants
Source
“Swanu of Namibia's financial report for the year ended 28 February 2025 shows the party received N$1.34 million in government grants, of which N$1.29 million was used during the year.”
Swapo grows assets while IPC battles deficit
April 2026
8 AprThe Namibian
Swanu of Namibia said it would keep the revolutionary torch burning until final victory
Source
“Swanu of Namibia on Tuesday said it would "keep the revolutionary torch burning until final victory".”
He could imitate people brilliantly – former minister Schlettwein on Uerikua
January 2026
20 JanThe Namibian
Swanu of Namibia chief whip Evilastus Kaaronda said Venaani sounds characteristically off base at best and impetuous at worst
Source
“Swanu of Namibia chief whip Evilastus Kaaronda says employment creation falls within the purview of Cabinet's responsibilities."Venaani sounds characteristically off base at best and impetuous at worst," Kaaronda says.”
Early parliament call divides lawmakers
October 2025
27 OctThe Namibian
Swanu of Namibia has youth leader Ripuree Mbakurupa
Source
“"Youth are not the leaders of tomorrow; youth are the leaders of today," says Swanu of Namibia youth leader Ripuree Mbakurupa, a youth advocate and candidate with a deep-rooted connection to Windhoek's disadvantaged communities.”
Young leaders rise as Namibia prepares for regional, local elections
May 2025
17 MayThe Namibian
Swanu of Namibia supported the submission to Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee designating 28 May as Genocide Remembrance Day
Source
“Muundjua, as then patron of the Ovaherero and Ovambanderu Genocide Foundation supported the foundation's submission to the Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee of the National Assembly, stating that 28 May "is a day that is common to especially the foremost affected communities – the Ovaherero and Nama people – who were incarcerated in those concentration camps, in which many of them succumbed".”
28 May Is Important on the Genocide Timeline

Politics

Swapo's assets more than double; opposition IPC faces deficit

The News

Ruling party Swapo ended the 2025/26 financial year with more than N$7 million in assets and a surplus of nearly N$4 million, while official opposition party IPC reported total liabilities of N$1.8 million and a deficit of N$777 217. Swapo recorded political funding income of N$107.7 million against spending of N$104.5 million; its asset base more than doubled from N$3.1 million the previous year.

14 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 14 July

Swapo's assets more than double; opposition IPC faces deficit
Ruling party Swapo ended the 2025/26 financial year with more than N$7 million in assets and a surplus of nearly N$4 million, while official opposition party IPC reported total liabilities of N$1.8 million and a deficit of N$777 217. Swapo recorded political funding income of N$107.7 million against spending of N$104.5 million; its asset base more than doubled from N$3.1 million the previous year.
14 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 8 July

Speaker's office denies fault in parliamentary question backlog
The Office of the Speaker has rejected claims that National Assembly speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila is responsible for a growing backlog of unanswered parliamentary questions, stating the delays lie with the executive. Of 550 National Assembly questions tabled since the eighth parliament began, 166 have been disposed of and one was withdrawn for a ministerial statement.
8 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 25 June

Bryan Eiseb nominated to lead Namibia's Anti-Corruption Commission
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has nominated Bryan Eiseb, currently head of the Financial Intelligence Centre, to lead the Anti-Corruption Commission, with Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare tabling a motion in the National Assembly for parliamentary approval. Eiseb, 55, would succeed Paulus Noa, whose term as director general ends this month.
25 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 31 May

President absent from Genocide Remembrance Day events
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah did not attend Genocide Remembrance Day events held at Shark Island and in six regions, drawing criticism from political and community leaders, though the vice president attended events in Ohangwena. The president's absence came despite an active public schedule that included attending agricultural and cultural festivals and other state events.
31 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 28 May

PM calls for continued documentation of 1904–1908 genocide
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare, speaking at Genocide Remembrance Day commemorations in Otjinene, urged ongoing academic research and publication of the 1904–1908 genocide to preserve memory of colonial-era atrocities. He stressed that documentation through books, archives, universities, museums, and films is essential to prevent historical records from fading and to ensure future generations have access to truthful accounts of the affected communities' suffering and resilience.
28 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 4 May

GIPF board members earned N$666,000 in two months in sitting fees
The Government Institutions Pension Fund paid its board of trustees chairperson Penda Ithindi N$114,000 for attending three meetings in two months, and Napwu general secretary Petrus Nevonga N$92,163 during the same period, according to payroll records reviewed by The Namibian. The payments have revived concerns that clustered board and sub-committee meetings have become a parallel income stream for trustees already drawing civil service or union salaries.
4 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 23 April

National Assembly speaker clarifies MP leave is not automatic
National Assembly speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila has clarified that MPs are not automatically entitled to leave of absence and that requests can be declined under Standing Rule 76. She stressed that leave is typically granted only for illness, bereavement of close family, official committee duties, or parliamentary travel, and must be formally submitted with reasons and approval from party chief whips.
23 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 15 April

PM Ngurare defends VIP wards plan as healthcare upgrade
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare dismissed claims that planned VIP wards at public hospitals would create a two-tier healthcare system, saying the government's objective is to upgrade public health services accessible to all Namibians and that the controversy has been "dramatised". Opposition lawmakers questioned whether the initiative contradicts government policy on equality, with some arguing it risks reinforcing inequality within public healthcare.
15 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 14 April

Former diplomats defend Namibia's US partnership as unfair criticism
Former diplomats have rejected lawmakers' criticism of Namibia's relationship with the United States, arguing that the government has maintained independent foreign policy while working with the US as part of the global community. President Nandi-Ndaitwah clarified that cooperation with the US does not mean endorsing its foreign policy, noting Namibia's recent support for South Africa's genocide case against Israel.
14 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 10 April

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 →

Wednesday 8 April

Former governor James Uerikua dies in road accident
Former Otjozondjupa governor and Swapo MP James Uerikua died in a road accident on Friday, with his son Venturo also killed in the incident. Former agriculture minister Calle Schlettwein paid tribute to Uerikua as a brilliant mind and kind-hearted person, while Swapo held a candlelit vigil in Windhoek.
8 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 1 April

Chief Clemens Kapuuo: Namibian nationalist and land rights champion
An opinion piece reflects on the legacy of paramount chief Clemens Kapuuo, assassinated in 1978, who was instrumental in Namibian anti-colonial movements and the struggle for Herero land rights. The author argues that Kapuuo's inclusive leadership style should serve as a model for contemporary political figures in fostering community unity.
1 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 27 March

NBC claims N$3m owed Huawei, not N$184m flagged
The Namibian Broadcasting Corporation told Parliament it owes Huawei only N$3 million, not the N$184 million cited in the auditor general's report, citing a reporting threshold and incomplete project agreements. The NBC has received adverse audit reports for five consecutive years.
27 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 8 March

Namibia debates social media ban for children under 15
Namibian lawmakers and child welfare experts are divided over whether to ban social media for children under 15, with supporters citing mental health and cyberbullying concerns while critics argue for evidence-based regulation rather than an outright ban. Experts also note that enforcement would be technically challenging given the ease of age verification manipulation.
8 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 3 March

Opposition walkout halts parliament vote on commissioners
Opposition MPs staged a walkout from the National Assembly on Thursday when the government sought urgent approval of four Public Service Commission commissioners, citing concerns about their age, qualifications, ethnic representation, and lack of adequate debate. The walkout left no quorum for the vote to proceed.
3 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 10 February

Namibia urged to negotiate stronger US resource deals
Lawmakers have urged the government to negotiate stronger, value-driven deals as the US seeks to position Namibia as a strategic partner for uranium and offshore oil and gas resources. Parliamentarians stress that Namibia must prioritize national interests and negotiate from strength, with some citing Venezuela's institutional collapse as a cautionary lesson.
10 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 4 February

President's family oil interests spark transparency calls, journalist escorted out
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah faces mounting calls to disclose her family's alleged business interests in Namibia's oil and gas sector, after a journalist was removed from State House for pressing her on the matter. Political analysts, parliamentarians, and civil society groups are demanding transparency and parliamentary scrutiny, citing concerns about accountability and conflict of interest given the president's direct control over the industry.
4 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 20 January

Parliamentarians divided over Venaani's early recall proposal
Popular Democratic Movement leader McHenry Venaani has called on President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to recall parliament early to address youth unemployment and other national issues, but lawmakers are divided on the proposal, with some opposing it as a breach of agreed standing rules while others support early resumption to hold government accountable.
20 January 2026 · The Namibian →