Unregistered Ndama East primary school back in spotlight Unregistered Ndama East primary school back in spotlight NBC Online Tue, 09/02/2025 - 15:05

#NdamaEastPrimary #Education #SchoolReform #AffirmativeRepositioning #JobAmupanda

Amupanda demands rerouting of youth fund Allexer Namundjembo Affirmative Repositioning (AR) leader and member of parliament Job Amupanda has called on prime minister Elijah Ngurare to intervene in what he described as the “chaotic and disjointed” rollout of the National Youth Development Fund. In a letter dated 14 August, Amupanda criticised the use of different deadlines and processes across regions for a programme meant to operate uniformly in a unitary state.  In some regions, the application deadline is 18 August, in others 21 August, and in some 25 August.  The Erongo region has not set a deadline, opting instead for consultative meetings. “It cannot be correct that in a unitary state, and for a national programme, youth in some regions are being consulted and getting an opportunity to ask questions while others are on their own, given seven or ten days to submit their project proposals,” Amupanda said. He questioned the requirement for applicants to indicate “youth ownership” percentages despite the programme being limited to those aged 18 to 35.  “The only sensible explanation, as we suspect, is that older politically connected individuals are manoeuvring and positioning themselves for these millions,” he said. Amupanda also criticised the environmental requirements, saying it was unrealistic to expect applicants to secure an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) within days.  “One cannot help but decode a well-orchestrated sinister motive to instrumentalise politically connected individuals already seated with the environmental clearance certificates,” he said. He urged the Ngurare to halt the current process and implement a uniform national timeframe.  He proposed September to November 2025 be used for information-sharing in all constituencies, with a final submission deadline at the end of December.  “Intervention is required for a revised application form and criteria that safeguard the programme from diversion and capture,” he said. Regional councils have encouraged youth to submit their applications before their respective deadlines.

#YouthDevelopment #NationalYouthFund #JobAmupanda #PrimeMinister #ErongoRegion

Amupanda demands rerouting of youth fund Allexer Namundjembo Affirmative Repositioning (AR) leader and member of parliament Job Amupanda has called on prime minister Elijah Ngurare to intervene in what he described as the “chaotic and disjointed” rollout of the National Youth Development Fund. In a letter dated 14 August, Amupanda criticised the use of different deadlines and processes across regions for a programme meant to operate uniformly in a unitary state.  In some regions, the application deadline is 18 August, in others 21 August, and in some 25 August.  The Erongo region has not set a deadline, opting instead for consultative meetings. “It cannot be correct that in a unitary state, and for a national programme, youth in some regions are being consulted and getting an opportunity to ask questions while others are on their own, given seven or ten days to submit their project proposals,” Amupanda said. He questioned the requirement for applicants to indicate “youth ownership” percentages despite the programme being limited to those aged 18 to 35.  “The only sensible explanation, as we suspect, is that older politically connected individuals are manoeuvring and positioning themselves for these millions,” he said. Amupanda also criticised the environmental requirements, saying it was unrealistic to expect applicants to secure an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) within days.  “One cannot help but decode a well-orchestrated sinister motive to instrumentalise politically connected individuals already seated with the environmental clearance certificates,” he said. He urged the Ngurare to halt the current process and implement a uniform national timeframe.  He proposed September to November 2025 be used for information-sharing in all constituencies, with a final submission deadline at the end of December.  “Intervention is required for a revised application form and criteria that safeguard the programme from diversion and capture,” he said. Regional councils have encouraged youth to submit their applications before their respective deadlines.

#YouthFund #NationalYouthDevelopmentFund #JobAmupanda #ErongoRegion #PrimeMinister

On Job Amupanda, Elites and the Burdenof Responsibility - A Personal Reflection [Namibian] For some time, I have followed Job Amupanda's political ascent in Namibia, observing his academic contributions and the rise of the Affirmative Repositioning movement.

#JobAmupanda #AffirmativeRepositioning #NamibiaPolitics #PoliticalLeadership #AcademicContributions

ECN accuses Amupanda of undermining public trust Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has rejected allegations made by Affirmative Repositioning (AR) leader Job Amupanda, who alleged  that the Commission is colluding with the ruling Swapo party to delay a by-election in Outapi constituency. Amupanda took to social media last week, claiming ECN and Swapo were engaged in “behind the scenes” meetings to avoid calling a by-election in Outapi after former councillor Immanuel Shikongo was appointed governor of Omusati Region. In response, ECN spokesperson De Wet Siluka labbeled  the accusations false and aimed at creating confusion and public mistrust in the Commission. He said the ECN followed legal procedures, and the vacancy was officially declared and gazetted in government gazette No. 8692 on 18 July 2025, in line with section 10(2) of the Regional Councils Act of 1992. Siluka explained that Section 10(3) of the Act requires a by-election to be held within three months of a seat becoming vacant, unless the original term of the outgoing member ends within that same period.  He said this exception does not apply to the Outapi vacancy, as the former councillor’s term would have ended in late November 2025. “Given that the next General Regional Council Elections are scheduled to be held on 26 November 2025, and Hon Shikongo’s original term would have expired around that date, the ‘unless’ condition is demonstrably not met, thereby legally compelling the by-election within the three-month period,” said Siluka. He added that  ECN met with political parties on 14 July 2025 at Election House to present a draft election schedule and discuss the challenges of holding a by-election so close to the November elections. “The Affirmative Repositioning Political Party was not only represented at this meeting, but its representative actively participated in all deliberations and decisions taken. We wish to record that the Commission never resolved to not proceed with the by-election,” Siluka said. He said the Commission presented various options for managing the process and committed to analysing them further before informing political parties of the final decision. “This, in our view, is an exercise of due diligence, not a secret strategy to violate the law,” Siluka said.

#Namibia #PublicTrust #Election2025 #ElectoralCommission #JobAmupanda

Housing scheme not enough, says Amupanda Allexer Namundjembo Affirmative Repositioning (AR) leader Job Amupanda has questioned the government’s failure to improve civil servants’ working and living conditions, despite the recent launch of a pension-backed housing scheme. His comments come as many low-level public workers continue to struggle with poor salaries and limited access to housing.  In a social media post, Amupanda criticised the government’s slogan, “We are too few to be poor,” calling it misleading. “If three million people are few, how about the 120,000 government employees? Why is their employment condition still poor? From salaries, professional development, incentives and opportunities, government employees are left behind,: he said.  Amupanda said many lower-level public workers, including cleaners and clerks, cannot afford to buy their homes.  He compared Namibia’s situation to Botswana, where, he said, a special housing scheme exists for lower-tier employees. “In Botswana, they have a special housing scheme for these lower-level employees. We have nothing similar. They are left on their own,” he said. He suggested a collective form of protest by civil servants, proposing that all public workers stay home “sick” for a day to show their value to the state. “Perhaps we need to find a day where everyone stays home ‘sick’ so that only ministers and executive directors report for duty, even those at State House. We are tired of slogans. Over to you, sloganeering government,” he wrote.  His remarks follow the recent approval of a Pension-Backed Home Loan (PBHL) scheme for civil servants by finance minister Ericah Shafudah.  The scheme allows Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) members to use up to one-third of their pension savings as collateral for home loans. Loans under the scheme will carry interest rates capped at the Bank of Namibia’s repo rate plus 2.5%. GIPF has set aside N$900 million for the scheme.  The loans will be managed and disbursed by licensed financial intermediaries, including First Capital and Kuleni Financial Services. Borrowers can use the loans to buy land, build homes, renovate, or service plots for future development. While welcomed by some, critics say the scheme overlooks key issues affecting civil servants, especially those nearing retirement or earning low wages.  They argue that older employees may not benefit, as using their pension savings now could shrink their retirement payouts. Amupanda’s comments reflect this frustration.  “As it stands, no matter what we do, low-level government employees will continue to struggle with basic needs like housing,” he said. He also pointed to housing efforts in other African countries.  In Botswana, the Public Officers Housing Initiative (POHI) supports lower-level public workers with subsidised housing loans.  In South Africa, civil servants access the Government Employees Housing Scheme (GEHS), which provides financial advice and affordable housing loans. Rwanda has partnered with the Rwanda Housing Authority and the Development Bank of Rwanda to offer affordable housing through low-interest loans, rent-to-own schemes, and cooperatives for civil servants and middle-income earners. Amupanda said Namibia needs similar reforms to match these efforts and ensure public servants are not left behind.

#HousingScheme #Namibia #JobAmupanda #CivilServants #PublicWorkers

Amupanda cries foul over ‘malaria medicine scam’ Affirmative Repositioning (AR) leader Job Amupanda has accused the health ministry of overpaying for malaria tablets through a middleman in a questionable procurement deal. He says Ministry of Health and Social Services officials and middlemen are profiteering from government medical procurements. In a social media post on Sunday, Amupanda claimed his investigation team, ‘Eagle 25’, intercepted a consignment of malaria tablets last week, which entered Namibia through the Ngoma border post. He claimed the government paid N$1 500 per pack of 100 tablets, totalling N$450 000 for 300 packs, while the supplier’s invoice indicated a price of only N$580 per pack. “The middlemen only paid N$175 000 in total, and they made a clean N$275 000 from this single product,” Amupanda said, and added that even if transportation costs were factored in at N$50 000, the middlemen would still have pocketed N$225 000. He further claimed the specific tablets procured were no longer recommended due to adverse side effects, but were still being bought using public funds. “This is how rallies of the corrupt are funded. This is how pockets are lubricated,” he wrote. Amupanda did not disclose the names of those allegedly involved in the procurement or provide details on whether the purchase order was issued by the health ministry or another agency. The Namibian could not independently verify the documents cited by Amupanda at the time of going to print. Executive director of health and social services Penda Ithindi did not respond to calls or messages yesterday. Amupanda has called for accountability and transparency in the government’s procurement process and said he expects officials involved to “start explaining”. According to health ministry spokesperson Walters Kamaya, the ministry is working on addressing the allegations. The post Amupanda cries foul over ‘malaria medicine scam’ appeared first on The Namibian.

#MalariaScam #HealthcareCorruption #Namibia #JobAmupanda #AffirmativeRepositioning

AR Welcomes Revival of Kongola Idle Crocodile Project [New Era] Katima Mulilo -- The Affirmative Repositioning (AR) Movement has welcomed the handover of the Manyeha Crocodile Project to a private company, hailing it as a positive step forward after prolonged stagnation. The project, which had remained dormant for years, has now entered a new phase of development following a visit and intervention by the activist-in-chief of AR, Job Amupanda, last year.

#Namibia #CrocodileProject #AffirmativeRepositioning #SustainableDevelopment #JobAmupanda

Amupanda Considers Ombudsman Complaint Over Sleepy Cartoon [Namibian] Affirmative Repositioning (AR) leader Job Amupanda is considering lodging a complaint with the media ombudsman against The Namibian for publishing a cartoon showing him allegedly sleeping in parliament.

#Namibia #JobAmupanda #Ombudsman #MediaEthics #PoliticalCartoon

Amupanda's First Address to Parliament - Inspired By 'Testicular Fortitude' [Namibian] Job Amupanda in the National Assembly, Windhoek, 8 April 2025

#JobAmupanda #Namibia #Parliament #PoliticalChange #YouthLeadership

We are the small axe ready to chop a big tree – Amupanda By Ludorf Iyambo AR leader Job Amupanda says they are in parliament to ensure that the dismemberment of the Africans from their history, memory, knowledge and subjectivities ends. Addressing the...

#JobAmupanda #AfricanHistory #Knowledge #CulturalIdentity #YouthEmpowerment