Political analyst warns of tense political climate in Namibia

Political analyst warns of tense political climate in Namibia

With Namibia preparing for elections on 27 November 2024, we contacted political analyst Prof. Dr. Henning Melber, a Senior Research Associate at the Nordic Africa Institute in Sweden, for his opinion on the country's current political climate. Prof. Melber describes the political atmosphere as highly competitive and tense, noting an increase in inappropriate tactics and the spread of fake news. He highlights that the electorate faces appeals to prejudices and […]

August 6, 2024 48

South Africa

South Africa’s unity government could see a continuation of the ANC’s political dominance – and hurt the DA

By Roger Southall, University of the Witwatersrand The ANC’s loss of its majority in the recent election, and President Cyril Ramaphosa’s formation of a government of national unity, have been interpreted by some commentators as indicating the end of the ANC as a “dominant party”. That is, one which recurrently wins elections and hence dominates a political system. Their argument, and it is not unconvincing, is […]

July 30, 2024 22

Namibia

Politicians urged to simplify manifestos to engage young voters

https://youtu.be/94YOzZof2fs By: Valeria Handobe, via News on One Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) Youth Leader and Head of Communications, Julia Nekwaya called on political parties to make their manifestos more digestible for young voters. Nekwaya was speaking at the EduVote panel discussion, hosted by the Global Shapers - Windhoek hub, which aims to amplify the voices and perspectives of young voters, encouraging them to actively engage […]

June 3, 2024 17

South Africa

ANC set to lose majority after watershed vote

By Umberto BACCHI with Zama LUTHULI in Durban South Africa's ruling ANC was on course to lose its 30-year-old unchallenged majority on Thursday after voters queued long into the night to cast their ballots, preliminary results and projections showed. With a fifth of votes tallied, the ANC was leading but with a score of 44 percent -- well down on the 57 percent it […]

May 30, 2024 25

Africa

Political analyst weigh in on the rise of young Presidents in Africa

Senegal’s new President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has pledged to govern with humility and transparency and vowed to "fight corruption at every level", rebuild institutions, and tackle the cost-of-living crisis. Faye, who is 44, is one of Africa's youngest Presidents. Political Analyst Rakkel Andreas says the continent is seeing a rise in young people taking over from the stalwarts of African democracy.

April 10, 2024 24

Namibia

Rosa Namises announces independent bid for Presidency

Social, gender equality, and human rights activist Rosa Namises has announced that she will run as an independent candidate for Namibia’s Presidential elections in November 2024. The former secretary general of Congress of Democrats and parliamentarian says she is running for presidency to address the country’s social issues. Political Analyst Rakkel Andreas weighs in.

April 8, 2024 66

Africa

Niger has cut military ties with the US: why this is bad for the Sahel’s security

By Olayinka Ajala, Leeds Beckett University Niger – a landlocked country of 25 million people in one of the most unstable parts of the world – recently announced it was suspending military cooperation with the United States. For over a decade, Niger has been one of America’s most reliable allies in the Sahel. The Sahel region, which stretches across Africa from the Atlantic to the Red Sea, is […]

March 20, 2024 15

Namibia

President Mbumba to deliver 2024 State of the Nation Address tomorrow

President Nangolo Mbumba is set to deliver the 2024 State of the Nation Address in the National Assembly tomorrow. He will cover the state of the nation, and future government policies, and review policies from the previous year. Political Analyst Ndumba Kamwanya says he expects President Mbumba to address the ballooning unemployment rate.

March 13, 2024 107

Africa

Are African leaders holding on to power?

Sub-Saharan Africa is home to many of the world’s longest-ruling, and oldest heads of state, including Namibia. The Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2022 Democracy Index linked entrenched leadership in the region to developmental and security challenges, including conflict or instability, stagnant or declining economies, and democratic backsliding. Here’s SA-based political analyst Professor Ntsikelelo Breakfast.

February 7, 2024 30