Africa-Press – Namibia. Austin Samupwa’s journey from a humble classroom in the Zambezi region to Namibia’s National Assembly is a story of commitment, transformation and service.
The seasoned educator and former Swapo executive director now represents the ruling party in the National Assembly.
In this interview with Lahja Nashuuta (LN), Samupwa (AS) reflects on his career path, party work and hopes for Namibia.
LN: Who is Austin Samupwa?
AS: I was born in Ngozi village in the Zambezi region. My education started at Malegalenga and Sangwali before I matriculated in Katima Mulilo.
I began teaching at Ulonga Primary School in 1991, but soon left to further my studies.
I had hoped to pursue law – but since it wasn’t offered yet, I chose a BA in Economics and English at the University of Namibia (Unam), where I was honoured twice for academic excellence.
I returned to teaching, first in Katima Mulilo, then in Windhoek. I taught at various schools, including A. Shipena and Augustineum secondary schools. I also lectured English at Unam.
I later became an education inspector, first in Swakopmund and Opuwo, and then helped open an inspector’s office in Outjo. I earned a master’s in economics of education in Malaysia and a PhD in Policy Studies from Stellenbosch University.
In 2013, I was appointed director of education for the Zambezi region. Five years later, I moved to Windhoek to serve as the executive director of Swapo.
LN: What did you accomplish as Swapo executive director?
AS: My role was to bring professionalism and structure to the party’s administration.
We developed human resources, procurement and financial management policies. I also assembled a dedicated team to implement them. I believe we created a more efficient and accountable party office.
I was later elected to Swapo’s Central Committee in 2022. That same year, I was nominated to run for Parliament. I accepted and now serve in the National Assembly – thanks to the trust of the party and its members.
LN: During your time as executive director, one of the major undertakings was the construction of the Swapo headquarters – an impressive, large-scale building. What was the primary purpose of this project?
AS: The idea for building the Swapo headquarters in Windhoek has been around for many years since my time in the Youth League, we even started contributing as members back then. But the actual implementation happened while I was serving as executive director under comrade Sophia Shaningwa, our secretary general (SG). I supported her in bringing that long-standing vision to life.
By the time I left office, the structure was already up. Today, the building is nearly complete. We’ll be advised soon when it will be officially in use. It’s a major achievement for the Swapo Party, and we are proud of it. Credit must go to comrade Shaningwa, one of the most active SGs the party has had, for spearheading the project.
LN: Was the building envisioned solely for party administration, or will there be a commercial aspect like rental offices?
AS: The primary purpose is administrative, and that’s to house party operations. Whether there will be a commercial component remains to be seen once it’s fully operational. But as far as I know, it was built mainly to support the effective running of the party.
LN: Education remains a national priority. In your view, how should Namibia tackle issues such as unequal resource distribution, the growing number of unemployed qualified teachers, and the systemic pressures introduced by free education policies?
AS: Education funding is generally allocated based on student numbers, so every region receives funds proportionally. I don’t believe there’s deliberate inequality in resource distribution.
Regarding unemployed teachers, it’s true we have an oversupply in certain subjects. Government is aware, and steps are being taken. Many of the issues stem from training institutions not aligning their programmes with labour market needs. If we’re still training hundreds of teachers in oversaturated subjects, we’re creating a bottleneck. We must realign training with actual needs like indigenous languages, for example.
LN: Some graduates claim that corruption and nepotism influence hiring in the education sector. What do you have to say about this?
AS: I understand their frustrations, but I urge them to distinguish between perception and proof. Allegations should be reported through the proper channels – school principals, inspectors and directors.
Often, there are too many applicants. For a single teaching post, there could be 300 candidates. Not getting selected repeatedly doesn’t necessarily mean foul play.
LN: Should we be revisiting what teachers are trained in, based on current shortages?
AS: Yes. We need to match training to market demands. That means shifting away from fields where there’s already a surplus like business studies or biology, and focusing more on subjects where there are shortages. We also need to improve career guidance, so that prospective students understand where job opportunities lie.
LN: You’ve spoken out in Parliament about land and housing. Why is that a priority for you?
AS: It’s a major concern, especially for rural communities. In Parliament, I stressed that people aren’t asking for luxury homes but basic shelter and dignity. Swapo has committed to building 10 000 affordable houses each year for the next five years, and resources are being allocated accordingly. The process has started, and I’ll keep pushing to ensure it stays on track.
LN: As a Swapo member of Parliament, how do you balance loyalty to your party with your constitutional duty to hold the government accountable, especially when tough decisions must be made in the public interest?
AS: I’ve never seen a conflict between my loyalty to Swapo and my duty to the public. The party’s mission is to serve all Namibians. Its policies are grounded in public interest – that’s why it continues to receive electoral support. If anything, being loyal to Swapo strengthens my commitment to constitutional values and good governance. There’s no contradiction in that.
LN: As a new MP, what do you hope to accomplish?
AS: My focus is on improving people’s lives, especially around service delivery. Namibians want land, homes, water, roads and power. These are essentials – not luxuries. I also want to play an active role in legislative reform, amending outdated laws and making room for progressive, inclusive governance.
Source: neweralive
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