Patience Makwele
SWAPO Party Youth League (SPYL) Secretary Ephraim Nekongo has welcomed what he described as “tangible progress” towards the revival of Namibia’s national airline.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Nekongo said the recent handover of licences by the Transport Commission to Works and Transport Minister Veikko Nekundi and the Namibia Air Committee marked a “significant milestone” in the process.
“The current progress, including the acquisition of aircraft and the scheduled first flight in the first week of December, demonstrates that lessons have been drawn from past failures and that a more sustainable foundation is being laid,” Nekongo said.
He said the SPYL viewed a national airline as a strategic state asset essential for national connectivity, economic sovereignty, trade, tourism and people-to-people relations.
Nekongo also welcomed the government’s N$10 million allocation towards the revival of the Namibia Annual Music Awards (NAMAs), saying the launch of the 2027 awards marked a renewed commitment to Namibia’s creative industry after a six-year hiatus.
The SPYL further called on government ministries and agencies to accelerate the implementation of commitments under the SWAPO Party Elections Manifesto 2025–2030, including the development of water infrastructure from Angola to northern Namibia to support agriculture, food production and job creation.
