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Thursday, 22 October 2026
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Namibian press · Person

Willem Amutenya

Also known as: MP Willem Amutenya

Parliamentarian advocating for TVET innovation, youth employment, and mental health training expansion in Namibia.

2024-10-242026-10-22

News reports

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What’s been said

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  1. January 2026
  2. New Era

    Swapo legislator and poultry farmer Willem Amutenya stressed that engaging youth in agriculture must go beyond traditional farming methods

    Source

    “Amutenya stressed that engaging youth in agriculture must go beyond traditional farming methods and focus on economic returns.”

    ‘Youth must lead agri trans-formation’
  3. New Era

    Amutenya noted that the value-addition agenda championed by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah must include communal farming areas

    Source

    “Amutenya noted that the value-addition agenda frequently championed by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah must include communal farming areas.”

    ‘Youth must lead agri trans-formation’
  4. New Era

    Lawmaker Willem Amutenya has donated 30 pairs of school shoes to learners at Kandume Combined School

    Source

    “Hilma Hashange Lawmaker Willem Amutenya has donated 30 pairs of school shoes to learners at Kandume Combined School in the Omuthiya constituency in the Oshikoto region.”

    MP donates school shoes to vulnerable learners
  5. New Era

    Amutenya started his schooling career at Iihongo Combined School in Onyaanya

    Source

    “According to Amutenya, he started his schooling career at Iihongo Combined School in Onyaanya, noting that he too knows very well the hardships that come along with schooling at a rural school.”

    MP donates school shoes to vulnerable learners

Thursday 1 October

  1. Amutenya urges principals to support teacher innovation

    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 →

Tuesday 22 September

  1. Namcol targeting 2028-2029 launch as open university

    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 →

Monday 14 September

  1. Leadership defined by service, not titles, Geingos says

    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 →

  2. Geingos urges tolerance for failing youth organisations

    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 →

  3. Geingos urges tolerance for youth-led initiatives, investment

    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 →

Saturday 12 September

  1. Geingos calls for greater tolerance of youth leadership failure

    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 →

Tuesday 8 September

  1. TVET system must produce job creators, not job seekers

    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 →

Sunday 6 September

  1. Swapo vows to block removal of National Assembly speaker

    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 →

Tuesday 1 September

  1. ECN chairperson nomination stalled over quorum shortfall

    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 →

Wednesday 12 August

  1. Amutenya urges NYS to raise recruitment age limit to thirty-five

    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 →

Monday 3 August

  1. MP warns NYS admission rules exclude vulnerable youth

    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 →

Monday 13 July

  1. Parliament approves ACC chief, warns against selective justice

    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 →

Monday 6 July

  1. Parliament inquires into health training quality and graduate unemployment

    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 →

Friday 3 July

  1. MP urges health training institutions to expand mental health courses

    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 →

Wednesday 24 June

  1. SPYL leader calls urgent meeting over NYC assembly chaos

    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 →

Sunday 26 April

  1. Indigenous Namibian chicken breed gains popularity in South Africa

    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 →

Wednesday 8 April

  1. Swapo MP James Uerikua dies in car accident

    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 →

  2. Namibian lawmaker James Unomasa Uerikua dies suddenly

    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 →

  3. Swapo MP James Uerikua dies in Easter road accident

    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 →

Tuesday 7 April

  1. Swapo MP James Uerikua dies in car accident at 43

    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 →

Sunday 5 April

  1. Swapo MP James Uerikua dies in road accident aged 43

    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 →

Wednesday 25 March

  1. At least 91 MPs declare assets and business interests

    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 →

Sunday 22 March

  1. Former prisoner opens affordable gym in Katutura community

    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 →

Tuesday 17 March

  1. Oshikoto governor denies political bias in Independence Day speaker selection

    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 →

Monday 16 March

  1. Oshikoto Independence Day speakers defended as national, not partisan

    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 →

Wednesday 4 February

  1. Parliamentary committee flags slow project execution in ||Kharas region

    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 →

Monday 26 January

  1. Deputy minister urges youth toward modern, value-driven agriculture

    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 →

Wednesday 14 January

  1. MP donates shoes to disadvantaged learners in rural school

    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 →

Willem Amutenya — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute