Allexer Namundjembo
As President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah prepares to deliver her first State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Parliament today, opposition political leaders are calling for a clear plan to address unemployment, land reform, corruption, and the rising cost of living..
Nandi-Ndaitwah’s maiden SONA comes at a time when many citizens are struggling to make ends meet, and opposition parties have made it clear that vague promises will not be enough.
Political parties, especially those in opposition, are calling on the president to provide concrete strategies on key national issues, including food security, land reform, governance, education, and economic recovery.
The National Democratic Party’s (NDP) leader, Martin Lukato, said the president must be serious about delivering on the promises she made during the elections, including the pledge to increase the old-age pension to N$3 000.
“The promise was made, and she must act now, not next year,” said Lukato. “
He also called on the government to implement the long-overdue resolutions from the second national land conference.
“I was also at the conference, and those resolutions are still pending. When will the government implement them? I hope she will answer that today,” he added.
Lukato said free education also remains a concern for many families.
He called on the government to reignite the late education minister, Abraham Iyambo’s, vision of genuinely free education.
The Landless People’s Movement (LPM) has expressed dissatisfaction with the appointment process of ministers, accusing the ruling party of disregarding allegations against cabinet members.
“There is a worrying lack of scrutiny in selecting leaders. It’s not just about qualifications. It’s about trust, transparency, and a shared vision for the country,” Simataa said.
Simataa also demanded clarity on how the SWAPO-led government plans to meet its Vision 2030 targets, particularly in service delivery and restoring public confidence.
The Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement, through its spokesperson, George Kambala, said the nation is tired of speeches that ignore the reality on the ground.
“Our expectations are grounded not in political theatre but in the lived realities of our people, those who wake up to empty pots, unpaid electricity bills, and the ache of being unheard in their country,” Kambala said.
He challenged the president to speak to the struggles of ordinary Namibians, which include youth unemployment to landlessness, and delayed housing delivery.
“This must be the year we stop managing poverty and start dismantling it. If this address is to mean anything, it must speak to the mother selling fatcakes to pay rent, the graduate waiting years for a job, the pensioner in a shack with no water, and the young entrepreneur stifled by too much red tape,” he said.
Political analyst Sackaria Johannes said the SONA must provide answers.
“This is a new government. We’re not expecting a record of achievements, yet we want to hear the roadmap. How they plan to tackle hospital shortages, unemployment, and land reform,” he said.
Johannes also called for greater investment in technical and vocational education, which he believes is key to creating jobs and reducing poverty.
