civic engagement

Interview: Concerns Raised Over National Youth Service Selection Process

Social justice activist Shaun Gariseb has called for urgent scrutiny of the National Youth Service (NYS) intake process amid allegations of manipulation and lack of transparency. According to Gariseb, several constituencies, including Katutura East and Central, have expressed concerns that the NYS has sidelined local constituency councillors from the selection of youth candidates, leading to questionable lists of successful applicants. Gariseb pointed out that many names on the lists […]

30 June, 2025 8 3

Interview Transcripts

Interview: National Youth Service Dismisses Claims of Unfair Recruitment, Promises Transparency

The National Youth Service (NYS) has firmly rejected allegations circulating on social media that its recent 16th intake selection process was manipulated to favour certain individuals. Speaking to our newsroom, NYS Public Relations Officer Belinda Hamburee assured the public that the recruitment was conducted fairly and in line with the institution’s inclusive national mandate. Hamburee explained that the NYS received an unprecedented 11,000 applications for this intake — the highest […]

30 June, 2025 118

Namibia

Activist Demands Investigation Into National Youth Service Candidate List.

Shaun Gariseb, a social justice activist, questions the fairness of the National Youth Service’s candidate selection, accusing the process of being manipulated by excluding constituency offices. He highlights that some listed candidates may not be from the constituencies they represent. Gariseb is calling for urgent clarity and a probe into the matter. NYS spokesperson Belinda Hamburee was approached for comment.

30 June, 2025 19

Interview Transcripts

INTERVIEW: Justice Activist Rinaani Calls for Increased Accountability from Local and Regional Councilors Accountability Concerns

Justice activist has expressed serious concerns about the lack of accountability among local and regional councilors, despite their crucial role in addressing the needs of the communities they serve. Rinaani Musutua emphasized that councilors, who hold significant power to bring about meaningful change, are often the least held accountable by both the public and the government. Lack of Education and Awareness Rinaani pointed out that a major contributing factor to this issue […]

17 March, 2025 40

Opinion Pieces

Curating data for political purposes: NSA credibility destroyed.

Rowland Brown Opinion On the 30th of October, the Namibia Statistics Agency’s (NSA) released the 2023 Census report, around a year after the data collection for the same was completed. However, despite collecting labour force data and employment/unemployment data, in a turn of events more worthy of North Korea than Namibia, this was excluded from the report, a notable change to previous Census reports. This means that the latest official […]

1 November, 2024 19

Namibia

Ballot Paper Printing for Elections Progressing on Schedule Insists Electoral Commission

The Electoral Commission has confirmed that the final production of ballot papers, which commenced on Tuesday in Johannesburg, is proceeding as planned. ECN spokesperson De Wet Siluka noted that the printing process is being closely monitored by political party representatives.

25 October, 2024 34

Namibia

Namibia Institute for Democracy hosts civic dialogue in Otjiwarongo

To strengthen civic engagement and democratic participation, the Namibia Institute for Democracy concluded a community dialogue in Otjiwarongo on Tuesday. The event sought to bridge the gap between citizens and their local representatives, promoting a deeper understanding of democratic processes and governance—the NID’s Executive Director Naita Hishoono. The Namibia Institute for Democracy was founded in 1991 with the belief that sharing information and knowledge could enhance Namibia's democratic […]

31 July, 2024 49

Namibia

Call for ECN to engage political stakeholders fairly

Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanya has raised alarms over the low voter registration numbers ahead of the upcoming election on November 27. Kamwanya criticised the involvement of Sophia Shaningwa, the Swapo party's secretary general, in the registration process, suggesting that her presence undermines trust and appears politically motivated. Kamwanya urged the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) to engage all political stakeholders to address these concerns. He emphasized the importance of increasing […]

17 July, 2024 84

Namibia

Tech companies join forces against AI election manipulation

Tech leaders, lawmakers, and civil society groups are alarmed about the potential for artificial intelligence to disrupt elections worldwide. In response, a coalition of major tech companies have pledged to collaborate in detecting and countering harmful AI content, including deepfakes of political candidates. CEO of the National Commission on Research, Science, and Technology, Professor Anicia Peters weighs in.

27 February, 2024 75