Allexer Namundjembo
The Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme (NGH2P) and the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR) have defended their participation in a recent SWAPO event, clarifying their roles and rejecting allegations of political bias.
NGH2P’s spokesperson, Jona Musheko explained that their attendance was aimed at raising awareness about the benefits of green hydrogen for youth, entrepreneurs, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs), without any political endorsement.
According to Musheko, the engagement was nonpolitical and focused on informing the public about the potential of green hydrogen.
“The invitation to participate at this rally presented a valuable opportunity to address a broad audience eager to understand the role of green industrialisation in Namibia’s future—an objective that echoes in SWAPO’s development manifesto.
“However, our attendance aligns with a larger strategy to meet Namibians wherever there is interest in our green hydrogen agenda. NGH2P remains fully committed to engaging with all parties and communities, ensuring equal access to green hydrogen education for all,” Musheko said.
He added that, in line with their mission, they invite all political parties, civic organisations, and stakeholders to collaborate in raising awareness about green hydrogen.
“We aim to build a well-informed conversation around renewable energy that unites us and paves the way for a brighter, sustainable future for everyone in Namibia,” Musheko said.
The NGH2P and NAMCOR were invited to a Swapo rally on Saturday, in which the two entities sent their representatives, and were given an opportunity to address the attendees, a move that sparked criticism from the public.
In a statement, NAMCOR stated that their participation aimed to provide updates on the oil and gas sector, with a particular focus on youth engagement.
NAMCOR noted that their invitation came through the Khomas Regional Council and aligned with their mandate to inform the public about sector developments.
“As a state-owned enterprise, NAMCOR’s mission is to serve the Namibian people by responsibly managing and promoting the development of the country’s oil and gas resources,” the statement reads.
The participation of NAMCOR and NGH2P at the SWAPO event drew criticism from the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC).
IPC spokesperson Imms Nashinge accused SWAPO of misusing public resources for political gain.
“SWAPO’s actions are reminiscent of their manipulation of the Namibia Statistics Agency, which has obscured the reality of Namibia’s staggering unemployment crisis—one of the highest in the world, directly attributable to SWAPO’s mismanagement and failure to foster a conducive business environment,” Nashinge said.
The IPC unequivocally condemns SWAPO for its egregious misuse of public assets during a recent rally, where they used taxpayer-funded NAMCOR and Green Hydrogen Commissioner James Mnyupe for party propaganda, he added.
“This blatant disregard for the separation between party and state illustrates SWAPO’s detachment from its responsibilities as a political entity,” Nashinge said.
