Also known as: MP Willem Amutenya
Parliamentarian advocating for TVET innovation, youth employment, and mental health training expansion in Namibia.
News reports
Order a long-term news report on Willem Amutenya
Every mention in the Namibian press over the period you choose, compiled as a PDF or Word document.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
The Namibian
Amutenya says NYS requirements appear inconsistent with National Youth Service Act objectives
“In a letter dated 29 July, Amutenya says the requirements for the 17th voluntary national service training programme appear inconsistent with the objectives of the National Youth Service Act.”
NYS entry rules ‘shut out’ vulnerable youth, MP warnsWindhoek Observer
Committee member Willem Amutenya questioned the impact of accreditation delays on students
“Committee member Willem Amutenya questioned the impact of accreditation delays on students, asking what becomes of those enrolled when institutions fail to secure timely accreditation.”
MPs question health training qualityThe Namibian
Willem Amutenya called on health training institutions to expand mental health training
“Member of parliament Willem Amutenya has called on health training institutions to expand mental health training to support the new Mental Health Act.”
MP Amutenya pushes for mental health coursesThe Namibian
Amutenya urged health training institutions to introduce mental health programmes
“He urged health training institutions, especially private institutions, to introduce programmes that will prepare professionals to support the implementation of the new law.”
MP Amutenya pushes for mental health coursesThe Namibian
Willem Amutenya called for urgent extraordinary meeting of SPYL central committee
“A Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) central committee member has called for an urgent extraordinary meeting of the youth league's central committee following the chaotic National Youth Council (NYC) general assembly that was cancelled at Swakopmund last week.”
SPYL leader demands urgent meeting over NYC chaosNew Era
Swapo parliamentarian Willem Amutenya described Uerikua as a remarkable human being
“Swapo parliamentarian Willem Amutenya described Uerikua as a remarkable human being, noting that he was always youthful in spirit, juvenile in the most admirable sense, vibrant, full of life, and unapologetically present.”
Comrades, colleagues mourn UerikuaThe Namibian
Willem Amutenya is a member of the National Assembly
The Namibian
Willem Amutenya describes Uerikua as a 'committed leader' who brought energy, intellect and humour to parliamentary debates
“Fellow Swapo MP Willem Amutenya describes Uerikua as a "committed leader" who brought energy, intellect and humour to parliamentary debates.”
Uerikua remembered as ‘fearless debater, vibrant voice’The Namibian
Swapo lawmaker Willem Amutenya urged individuals and businesses to support the gym through donations
“Amutenya urged individuals and businesses to support the gym through donations.”
Former Convict Raises Bar With ‘Kasi’ GymThe Namibian
Committee member Willem Amutenya said the visits were fruitful as it helps them plan better in next budget
“Committee member Willem Amutenya on Friday said the visits were fruitful as it now helps them to plan better in the next budget to address some of the loopholes in the implementation of capital projects and realign administration structures where necessary.”
Shiimi flags poor execution of projects in ||Kharas regionParliamentarian Willem Amutenya told school principals in the Onankali Circuit that innovation among staff should be encouraged rather than suppressed.
1 October 2026 · Namibian Sun →
Parliamentarian Willem Amutenya told school principals in the Onankali Circuit that innovation among staff should be encouraged rather than suppressed.
1 October 2026 · Namibian Sun →
The Namibia College of Open Learning is working towards transforming into an open university with a targeted launch in 2028 or 2029, though the ministry still needs Cabinet approval before the transformation can proceed.
22 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Former first lady Monica Geingos told a panel discussion that leadership is demonstrated through willingness to serve and volunteer rather than formal positions, and that young people should build qualifications and financial independence before entering politics to enable principled decision-making.
14 September 2026 · The Namibian →
One Economy Foundation executive chairperson Monica Geingos has called for greater tolerance of youth organisations that fail and for stronger investment and collaboration between young people and older generations. She made the remarks at a panel discussion on youth leadership in Windhoek, noting that young Namibians face high unemployment and challenges moving into sustainable employment and entrepreneurship.
14 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Monica Geingos, executive chairperson of One Economy Foundation, called for greater tolerance of youth organisations that fail and urged investment in youth-led ideas and intergenerational collaboration. She said young people should not wait for perfect conditions to take up leadership roles, as they face high unemployment with 44.4% joblessness among those aged 15 to 34.
14 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Former first lady Monica Geingos has called for greater tolerance for failure among young people and youth-led organisations, saying mistakes can become opportunities to learn and improve, provided they do not involve integrity violations or wrongdoing. She said institutions should extend grace to young people who make mistakes but are willing to learn from them.
12 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Parliamentarian Willem Amutenya says Namibia should shift its vocational training system to develop young entrepreneurs capable of building businesses rather than merely seeking employment. He called for TVET institutions to become engines of innovation, production and rural industrialisation, with workshops transformed into production centres and a national innovation seed fund established to support young innovators.
8 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 →
The National Assembly failed to reach the required 49-vote quorum to decide on Gerson Sindano's nomination as Electoral Commission of Namibia chairperson, with only 45 MPs supporting the motion on Tuesday. Opposition MPs walked out of the chamber in protest, with disagreement over whether this constitutes a genuine absence of quorum or a deliberate obstruction of the voting process.
1 September 2026 · The Namibian →
National Assembly member Willem Amutenya has called on the National Youth Service to extend its recruitment age limit to include Namibians aged 31–35, arguing that this age group remains critical to social and economic development and should not be excluded from youth empowerment initiatives.
12 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Swapo MP Willem Amutenya has urged the education minister to review the National Youth Service's admission requirements, arguing that the academic threshold and age limit (16–30) exclude disadvantaged youth the programme was intended to assist, and calls for broadened access.
3 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The National Assembly unanimously approved Bryan Eiseb as director general of the Anti-Corruption Commission while lawmakers across parties warned the institution must pursue corruption without political interference and shed its reputation for allowing politically connected cases to go unpunished.
13 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Parliament's Standing Committee on Education has launched an inquiry into Namibia's health training sector over concerns about graduate unemployment, accreditation delays, and training quality as the number of health training institutions has grown. The committee convened a two-day consultation with institutions, regulators, and students, with representatives from 12 health training institutions citing prolonged accreditation processes and overlapping regulatory requirements as obstacles.
6 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Member of parliament Willem Amutenya has called on health training institutions to expand mental health training to support the new Mental Health Act, saying most institutions made little or no mention of mental health programmes during a parliamentary consultation. He noted that Namibia has too few psychiatrists and community health workers to meet the country's growing mental health needs, and urged especially private institutions to introduce programmes to prepare professionals for the law's implementation.
3 July 2026 · The Namibian →
A Swapo Party Youth League central committee member has requested an urgent extraordinary meeting to address public claims linking SPYL members and senior party leaders to the disruption of the National Youth Council general assembly that was cancelled in Swakopmund last week.
24 June 2026 · The Namibian →
South African farmers have become interested in the Herero chicken, an indigenous breed brought from Namibia's Gobabis region in 2001, which sells for up to N$1,000 each. The breed is valued for its meat quality and dual-purpose utility, including egg-laying and tick removal from livestock.
26 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Swapo member of Parliament and former Otjozondjupa governor James Unomasa Uerikua died in a car accident between Otjiwarongo and Okakarara on Friday, along with his 14-year-old son. Parliamentary colleagues and opposition leaders mourned him as a capable legislator, committed servant, and respected figure across political divides.
8 April 2026 · New Era →
A National Assembly member has penned a tribute to fellow lawmaker James Unomasa Uerikua following his sudden death. The piece describes Uerikua as an articulate and intellectually fearless parliamentarian whose sharp political contributions enriched legislative debate, and notes that his son died alongside him.
8 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 →
James Unomasa Uerikua, a Swapo member of Parliament and former governor of Otjozondjupa region, died on Friday in a car accident between Otjiwarongo and Okakarara; his 14-year-old son also died from injuries sustained in the crash. Political leaders across parties paid tribute to him as a promising young leader and voice for the voiceless.
7 April 2026 · New Era →
Swapo member of parliament James Uerikua, 43, died in a road accident between Otjiwarongo and Okakarara in the Otjozondjupa region while travelling with his family. Colleagues remembered him as a fearless, articulate debater who brought intellect and humour to parliamentary discourse and strengthened national security and international cooperation.
5 April 2026 · The Namibian →
At least 91 parliamentarians have submitted asset and interest declarations as required under parliamentary standing rules, with MPs disclosing shareholdings in telecommunications, banking, and brewing companies, as well as residential and commercial properties across Namibia. Failure to comply with annual declaration requirements constitutes a breach of parliamentary rules and may result in referral to the Committee of Privileges for disciplinary measures including fines or formal reprimands.
25 March 2026 · New Era →
Johannes Jackson, who served eight years in prison, co-founded Ondumbo Niise Gym in Katutura's Ombili area in 2020 with Phillip Shikemeni to keep young people off the streets and build community fitness. The gym has grown from five to 150 members at N$30 per day or N$200 monthly, with free training available to those who cannot afford fees, and is now seeking expansion support and sponsors.
22 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Oshikoto Governor Sacky Kathindi denied that keynote speakers for regional Independence Day celebrations were chosen based on political affiliation, saying the selection was a collective decision focused on the region's challenges and service delivery rather than party considerations.
17 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Nahas Angula and regional officials have defended the selection of 11 Swapo members as speakers for Oshikoto's 36th Independence Day event, saying the invitations were issued by the regional council and constituency leadership based on availability and status as leaders, not political affiliation. They acknowledge that Independence Day is a national event open to all Namibians and claim non-Swapo members were also invited, though specifics were not provided.
16 March 2026 · The Namibian →
A parliamentary standing committee has identified poor execution and delays in government-funded projects across the ||Kharas region, with committee chairperson Iipumbu Shiimi calling for officials to take project implementation more seriously and improve accountability to parliament.
4 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Deputy agriculture minister Ruthy Masake told young Namibians at an Oniipa engagement that the future of agriculture rests in their hands, urging them to embrace modern farming practices and access low-interest loans through the National Youth Development Fund launched in September 2025. Legislator Willem Amutenya stressed the need to commercialise production on communal land and secure reliable markets for northern region produce.
26 January 2026 · New Era →
Lawmaker Willem Amutenya donated 30 pairs of school shoes to learners at Kandume Combined School in Oshikoto region, which serves over 1,000 students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Amutenya and local councillor Erastus Nekomba, both former teachers, urged learners to study hard and called on parents to prioritize education over household chores.
14 January 2026 · New Era →