[Namibian] The Affirmative Repositioning (AR) says it will deregister as an association when its local authority term ends in November.

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

[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.

Allexer Namundjembo The Affirmative Repositioning Movement (AR) has taken legal steps against the appointment of three Members of Parliament to the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), alleging that the process was unconstitutional and violated parliamentary procedures. In a letter addressed to the National Assembly, AR’s legal representative Norman Tjombe demanded official records and minutes related to the nomination of Phillipus Katamelo, Uahekua Herunga, and Rodney Cloete, who were recently named as Namibia’s representatives to the PAP. “The National Assembly did not consider or resolve to designate the said members to the Pan-African Parliament,” Tjombe wrote, calling the appointments “unlawful and procedurally flawed.” The AR maintains that the appointments were made without the involvement of the standing rules orders and internal administration committee, which is mandated to recommend parliamentary representatives to international institutions.  The movement argues that this omission renders the designations invalid. AR parliamentary chief Whip Tuhafeni Hangula reinforced this position in a strongly worded letter to the secretary of the National Assembly. “We have made it clear, both in the Chambers and through correspondence, that we will not allow, nor be subjected to, an incompetent and corrupt Parliament and parliamentary processes,” Hangula said. Referring to an internal memorandum dated 19 May, Hangula pointed out that the National Assembly acknowledged that the committee responsible for international nominations had not yet concluded its work.  The memorandum indicated that a meeting to finalise international representation was scheduled for 9 July 2025, but it never occurred. “Despite this, we were shocked to see a public announcement stating that Honourable Katamelo, Herunga and Cloete had been designated as Namibia’s PAP members,” Hangula said. “These individuals have since travelled to South Africa to be sworn in, knowing full well that they were never lawfully nominated.” He insisted that no resolution was passed in the National Assembly and no standing committee meeting had taken place to approve the designations. “This is not only corrupt, but a gross misrepresentation and misleading of the Namibian people and the people of Africa,” Hangula said. He argued that the move violates the Protocol to the Pan-African Parliament, especially Article 4, which outlines how members must be selected. “We are guided only by the Constitution, public interest, and our conscience,” Hangula said. Citing Section 43(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act, Hangula warned that “a public official commits an offence by using their office and position for the gratification of another person. In this case, these elements have been met without debate.” The AR has demanded the immediate withdrawal of the appointments, a halt to the swearing-in of the three MPs, and a public apology. However, Katamelo, Herunga, and Cloete were sworn in earlier this week despite the protest. “We are resolute in ensuring that the Parliament of the people of Namibia does not degenerate into organised corruption or become a theatre of illegalities,” Hangula said. The AR expects a formal response from the National Assembly and has signalled that if the matter is unresolved, more legal action will follow. However, on his social media, former member of parliament Hidipo Hamata said that parliament is breaking its own rules. “I genuinely cannot understand how a respected legislative house like the National Assembly is now being dragged to court for violating the very laws it is meant to uphold”, he said. He also added that parliament should be a place of trust where laws are made to serve the people who elected its members. Instead, it is becoming a symbol of dishonesty and corruption.  “This is deeply unacceptable and unbecoming of a democratic institution” Hamata said. 

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.

AR MP Kambala questions preferental treatment of certain religions NBC Online Thu, 04/24/2025 - 20:00

Oshimaliwa shimwe sha futwa ehangano olo la pewa otendela yokutunga eengulu dofikola moshitopolwahoololo sha//Kharas shi fike poN$700 000 okwa li vati sha futwa okaana keedula mbali. Okaana aka vati okamonakadona komukunhuwiliki ta vatele welele loshitopolwahoololo Ralph Sachika. Oshinima eshi okwa li sha etwa poluheela komuleli wongudu yoAffirmative Repositioning (AR) Job Amupanda Etine momutumba wopashiwana eshi kwa li ta pula minista wetanga leameno noipambele yoonakulwa vakulu Frans Kapofi kombinga yoshimaliwa eshi. Okwa pula oshitai shimwe shehangano ledina August 26 Holdings (Pty) Ltd shedina Auguste 26 Construction, osho kwa lopotwa kutya osha ninga omupokati wokumona eetendela kepangelo. Amupanda okwa ti kutya ehangano omafimbo amwe ohali yandje eetendele deemeliyona kookaume, oukadona vavo nokovakwapata vaavo ve li mongonga yetanga leameno. Oshiningwanima osho a tumbula kondadalunde oshi na sha notendela yokutunga eengulu dofikola di li 510 yongushu yeemiliyona N$255. Ehangano ledina Ultimate Traders CC, olo Amupanda ta ti okwa li la pewa oilonga kuAugust 26 Construction, ota kutiwa ola Titus Iipumbu oo e na ekwatafanao naSachika. Sha landula oyoongalele pokati kaIipumbu naSachika, Amupanda okwa ti oshimaliwa shi fike peemiliyona N$3 okwa li sha futwa – nepitikilo laSachika – kehangano lomalungula ledina Tushiko Internet Technologies CC. Amupanda okwa ti kutya nande oshimaliwa okwa li sha futwa kuTushiko Internet, oimaliwa okwa li ya tulwa kombaanga yehangano loTushiko Investments CC omanga inai tuminwa kombaanga yaMaria Iipumbu. Amupanda natango okwa ti kutya Maria Iipumbu okudja opo okwa tumina nee oimaliwa kovanhu va yooloka, mwa kwatelwa Titus Iipumbu oo a mona oshimaliwa shi dulife peemiliyonaN$2, omanga oN$700 000 okwa li ya tuminwa kombaanga yaLusia Jacob yoFNB, konima oimaliwa oyo ye ke lihanga kombaanga yokaana ke na eedula mbali, Robyn Sachika – omonakadona waJacob naSachika. Amupanda okwa ti, omakonakono aye okwa ulika kutya Sachika naye okwa mona oimaliwa okudja kuJacob, ya dja moimaliwa oyo ya tuminwa koTushiko Internet. Okwa ti oshimaliwa shi fike hamumbala peemiliyona N$4 osho kwa li sha tuminwa kehangano lomalungula, sha landula oyoongalele pokati kaIipumbu naSachika, okwa li yaAugust 26 Construction. “Omupokati ou August 26 Construction okwa mona otendela yokutunga eembelewa delelo loshitopolwahoololo sha//Kharas. Omupokati, August 26 Construction okwa li a yandja po oilonga kuUltimate Traders CC yokulanda nokutula mo oipundi noitaafula yongushu yeemiliyona N$3.1. “Kashi shi ngeno kutya ehangano e li lependafindani li li pokati itali dulu okulanda oipundi noitaafula kulo vene, oshe shi ashike hailwa oku na okulya. Momwaalu omu, eemiliyona N$2.9 oda futwa nale ehangano loUltimate Traders CC,” Amupanda osho a ti ngaho. Amupanda okwa ti Iipumbu okwa yandja omikanda da puka da fa da dja kuAugust 26 Construction tadi pitike eemiliyona di dje kuAugust 26 Construction da yuka kehangano lomalungula. Odula ya dja ko, Amupanda okwa li a popya kutya oministili yetanga leameno oya landa oshipaalite shohauto keemiliyona N$8. Amupanda okwa pula Kapofi kutya omolwashike ina kukufwa onghatu nande okwa li a yandja oumbangi, ta ti kutya oku wete kutya kapu na eshi sha ningwa po shaashi omwa kwatelwa ovanambelewa vakula. The post Okaana keedula mbali ka futwa oshimaliwa shi fike poN$700 000 shotendele yokutunga eengulu dofikola appeared first on The Namibian.

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) and Affirmative Repositioning (AR) have expressed frustration over the abrupt postponement of the national budget debate, which was set for Tuesday. The postponement was announced by National Assembly acting secretary Oscar Muyatwa, who informed chief whips that Parliament would now resume on 8 April 2025. No reason was provided in the official notice. “The National Assembly appreciates the public’s patience and understanding as it upholds principles of accountability and transparency in the budgetary process,” he said. He added that it will be made through the official parliament website and social media platforms. IPC spokesperson Imms Nashinge said the cancellation lacked a clear explanation and accused the Speaker of bypassing standard parliamentary procedure. “Shockingly, the Speaker ignored a prior proposal by the IPC Chief Whip for the 8 April date, only to later accept an adjournment motion from a Swapo backbencher,  Tobie Aupindi,” Nashinge said. Nashinge said the delay is believed to be linked to the Ministry of Finance’s failure to provide hard copies of the national budget to Members of Parliament. He criticised what he described as a growing trend of excluding opposition voices and a lack of transparency in parliamentary processes. “Parliament must not be held hostage by executive incompetence or partisan maneuvering. IPC MPs sought an immediate explanation from the Speaker on the rule invoked for this postponement,” he said. He added that future delays must not occur without proper consultation among all parties, as required by the standing rules. Affirmative Repositioning leader Job Amupanda also raised concern over the postponement. “The budget documents we asked for are still not here. There will be no budget discussion until the document we are asking for is around. The Parliament Session has been postponed to next week. We will only pass the budget when we have looked at all the documents,” Amupanda said.

Affirmative Repositioning (AR) member of parliament Vaino Hangula has called on minister of works and transport Veikko Nekundi to include former Air Namibia employees in the establishment and operation of a new national airline. Air Namibia was closed down and liquidated in 2021 due to financial hardships, after years of financial losses and accumulation of debt, leaving hundreds without employment. However, this year the new government announced plans to establish a new national airline by December 2026. In his maiden speech, Hangula, who is a former Air Namibia employee, stressed that he and his colleagues have the necessary tools. “My colleagues and I have rare and valuable skills and experience found nowhere else in the country. We thus call on Nekundi to involve us in the research, development, establishment and running of the new airline,” he pleaded, highlighting that they should be prioritised for employment in the new establishment. “We demand to be the first to be considered for employment in the new national airline,” he said. The post Hangula calls for inclusion of ex-Air Namibia staff in new national airline appeared first on The Namibian.

[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.