Also known as: Hon. Uahekua Herunga
Swapo deputy secretary general and former chief whip who denied Russian funding allegations and opposed removal of National Assembly speaker Kuugongelwa-Amadhila.
News reports
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The Namibian
Uahekua Herunga said the affected pensioners were in dire need of the money to support themselves and their families
“In his question, Herunga said the affected pensioners were in dire need of the money to support themselves and their families.”
15 000 pensioners set for October payoutThe Namibian
Swapo deputy secretary general Uahekua Herunga said opposition cannot move motion to remove speaker without proper notice
“"You cannot move a motion to remove a speaker without giving notice of the motion. We will not allow it," he said.”
Swapo vows speaker removal ‘over our dead bodies’The Namibian
Uahekua Herunga says Swapo does not discriminate against Namibians who want to join it
“Swapo deputy secretary general Uahekua Herunga says the party does not discriminate against any Namibian who wants to join it, adding that the IPC should prove its assertions.”
IPC claims Swapo uses poverty to weaken oppositionNew Era
Uahekua Herunga is Swapo deputy secretary general
“Many of his former learners have gone on to become influential figures, including Swapo deputy secretary general, Uahekua Herunga and current Okakarara mayor Siegfried Tjehiua.”
Ernst Katjiku’s last danceThe Namibian
Uahekua Herunga led parliamentary standing committee oversight visit
“This follows the parliamentary standing committee on labour and industrial relations' oversight visit last week, which chairperson Uahekua Herunga led.”
Cash crunch stalls Eenhana town council office buildingThe Namibian
Swapo deputy secretary general Uahekua Herunga told The Namibian that the party has yet to submit a name to the National Assembly
“Swapo deputy secretary general Uahekua Herunga, however, yesterday told The Namibian that the party has yet to submit a name to the National Assembly, offering no detailed explanation for the delay.”
Swapo stalls replacing late MP James UerikuaThe Namibian
Uahekua Herunga says the decision to take the matter to court was taken by the politburo
“Swapo deputy secretary general Uahekua Herunga says the decision to take the matter to court was taken by the politburo, which runs the affairs of the party on a daily basis.”
Swapo split as ‘unauthorised’ court action against ex-combatants fails in Windhoek High CourtThe Namibian
Swapo deputy secretary general Uahekua Herunga says he will not pursue legal action following allegations he solicited millions from Russian operatives
“Swapo deputy secretary general Uahekua Herunga says he will not pursue legal action following allegations that he solicited millions of dollars from Russian intelligence operatives to support Swapo's 2024 election campaign.”
Herunga ‘will not sue’ over ‘Russian millions’The Namibian
Herunga denied the allegations, saying he has never requested funds from any external source
“Speaking to The Namibian last week, Herunga denied the allegations, saying he has never requested funds from any external source.”
Herunga ‘will not sue’ over ‘Russian millions’The Namibian
Uahekua Herunga denied requesting Russian support for Swapo's 2024 election campaign
“Speaking to The Namibian yesterday, Herunga rejected claims published by Forbidden Stories.”
Uahekua Herunga denies Swapo requested Russian support for 2024 election campaignMore than 15,000 old-age pensioners suspended from payments following a beneficiary verification exercise are expected to have their outstanding payments finalised by October, according to the minister of gender equality and child welfare. Of the 15,785 pensioners affected, 10,066 have already been reinstated and are receiving payments, which will increase from N$1,600 to N$1,700.
10 September 2026 · The Namibian →
More than 15,000 old-age pensioners suspended from payments following a beneficiary verification exercise are expected to have their outstanding payments finalised by October, according to the minister of gender equality and child welfare. Of the 15,785 pensioners affected, 10,066 have already been reinstated and are receiving payments, which will increase from N$1,600 to N$1,700.
10 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Swapo deputy secretary general Uahekua Herunga said the party would not allow the removal of National Assembly speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, dismissing an IPC motion to remove her as political theatrics and citing procedural violations. Opposition parties would need at least four Swapo votes to succeed in removing the speaker, who has faced criticism from opposition over her application of standing rules.
6 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Helao Shityuwete, a former Robben Island political prisoner who spent 18 years imprisoned during the liberation struggle, died on Saturday. His death leaves Betuel Nuunyango as the only surviving member of the group of 37 Namibian nationalists incarcerated on Robben Island in the 1960s.
31 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The environmental commissioner issued an environmental clearance certificate on 5 August for Knowledge Katti's Namibia Marine Phosphate's Sandpiper marine phosphate mining project offshore Namibia, valid until 5 August 2029. The decision has triggered opposition from the IPC and conservationists who have raised long-running environmental and industry concerns.
10 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The Independent Patriots for Change has accused Swapo of exploiting poverty and people's personal circumstances to weaken opposition parties, following the defection of former Erongo regional mobiliser Rudolf Kahingunga and others to the ruling party.
19 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Rudolf Kahingunga, Erongo regional mobiliser for the Independent Patriots for Change, resigned and joined SWAPO, citing the IPC's departure from founding principles of democracy and transparency toward centralized decision-making. His departure follows that of Ohangwena regional counterpart Erastus Mwahafa a month prior.
13 July 2026 · Informanté →
Ernst Katjiku informed the Okakarara Town Council in January that he would not seek renewal of his term as CEO, citing personal reasons for his departure when his contract expires on 31 August 2026. Katjiku has spent much of his life serving the community as a teacher, politician, and administrator.
24 June 2026 · New Era →
Eenhana Town Council's N$119-million office building project, begun in 2018, has stalled due to delayed funding; N$9 million is urgently needed to complete the finance wing so staff and customers can use it. The council has operated from an eight-office building since 1999 despite Eenhana's population growing from 2,600 to 16,000.
1 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Construction of the Eenhana Town Council building, which began in 2018, remains incomplete due to non-payment of the contractor. The N$41 million project has had approximately N$27 million spent, with an estimated N$9 million still required for completion.
16 May 2026 · Informanté →
Opposition leaders and labour experts have raised concerns about "jobs for comrades"—the practice of hiring based on political party membership and regional affiliation rather than merit. The Popular Democratic Movement secretary general Manuel Ngaringombe says the practice undermines fair employment and compromises nationalism, tracing the issue back to post-independence hiring patterns within state-owned enterprises.
29 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Swapo has not yet nominated a successor to National Assembly member James Uerikua, who died in a car accident over Easter, despite party rules indicating former minister Peya Mushelenga is next in line. The party has given no detailed explanation for the delay and says it will submit a name to the National Assembly soon.
23 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Swapo's application to evict former freedom fighters camping at its headquarters since October was struck off the High Court roll. The move has triggered internal party divisions, with former secretary general Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana questioning whether the legal action was authorised by the central committee, while deputy secretary general Uahekua Herunga says the politburo made the decision.
20 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Swapo parliamentarian James Uerikua, 43, and his 14-year-old son died Friday when their vehicle overturned on the Otjiwarongo-Okakarara road after a rear tyre burst. Colleagues remembered him as a sharp-minded, articulate, and humorous legislator with a passion for farming.
8 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Swapo deputy secretary general Uahekua Herunga has dismissed allegations published by Forbidden Stories, based on leaked documents linked to Russian intelligence, that he solicited millions of dollars to support Swapo's 2024 election campaign. He said he will not pursue legal action and denied ever requesting external funding for the party.
25 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Swapo deputy secretary general Uahekua Herunga has rejected allegations reported by Forbidden Stories that the ruling party requested Russian support for its 2024 election campaign. The non-profit news organization reported leaked documents from Russian operatives allegedly showing requests for funding and involvement in disinformation operations, including a fabricated letter claiming UK financing of the opposition IPC.
19 March 2026 · The Namibian →
National Assembly speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila announced a reshuffle of Swapo MPs across standing committees, parliamentary friendship groups and multilateral organisations, with several lawmakers removed from previous roles and reassigned with immediate effect.
18 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Former Swapo secretary general Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana has warned that the party's vacant vice presidency is unprecedented and leaves leadership exposed to unforeseen circumstances, while raising concerns about selective interpretation of party constitution as the party prepares for its 2027 elective congress.
11 March 2026 · New Era →
Minister of works and transport Veikko Nekundi has said he will not contest for the Swapo secretary general position or any of the party's top four posts at the 2027 party congress. The announcement comes amid speculation about potential candidates for the party's leadership race, including Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare and SPYL leader Ephraim Nekongo.
5 March 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 →
Elifas Dingara, a Swapo lawmaker with a 15-year parliamentary career, has announced his resignation from the National Assembly effective end of month to focus on farming in Kavango East. He said his departure aims to allow his successor Christine Haindaka to serve nearly a full term and build institutional knowledge, describing it as deliberate succession planning rather than leaving the next generation to fight for opportunity.
25 February 2026 · New Era →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah will use public health facilities after issuing a directive for state employees under the Public Service Employees Medical Aid Scheme (Psemas) to do the same as part of healthcare system reform. The Ministry of Health says it is strengthening medicine supply and staffing, though some civil servants question whether public hospitals are adequately resourced to handle increased patient loads.
25 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Swapo deputy secretary Uahekua Herunga has resigned as the party's chief whip in the National Assembly citing personal reasons, with former works and transport minister Alpheus !Naruseb appointed as his replacement. Herunga will remain a member of parliament, marking the first time a Swapo chief whip has resigned while retaining their parliamentary seat.
6 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Uahekua Herunga has stepped down as Swapo chief whip following pressure from younger MPs over parliamentary procedures, with Alpheus !Naruseb appointed to replace him. Herunga remains in parliament as a regular MP, marking the first time a Swapo chief whip has resigned while keeping their parliamentary seat.
5 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Swapo MP Alpheus !Naruseb has been announced as the party's new chief whip, replacing Uahekua Herunga. The National Assembly speaker made the announcement Wednesday, noting that Herunga has also stepped down from his position as chairperson of the whole house committee.
5 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Political analysts say the government is overloaded with overlapping committees and advisers that duplicate work and delay service delivery. Critics argue the new Swapo think tank, comprising 37 appointed members, lacks independence and will produce little meaningful output, while a defending analyst says such bodies can help the party and government reassess decisions and plans.
20 January 2026 · The Namibian →