SWAPO’s Air Namibia Revival Criticized by PDM

Namibia’s ruling party, SWAPO, has unveiled plans to revive the bankrupt national carrier, Air Namibia, drawing sharp criticism from opposition figures who argue that the move lacks economic sense. The revival plan, part of SWAPO’s 2024 election manifesto, outlines a strategy to restore the carrier “under very well thought-out strategies to avoid pitfalls of the past.” However, not everyone in Namibia’s political landscape is convinced that such an initiative is a prudent use of government resources.

The recently released implementation plan sets the stage for reviving Air Namibia and is expected to be incorporated into national policies following the Namibian cabinet’s endorsement in February. With the formal implementation scheduled to begin on April 1, 2025, the move represents a significant shift in government policy aimed at leveraging the national carrier to boost regional connectivity and tourism. One key aim of the plan is to transform Air Namibia into a viable enterprise that can overcome the financial and operational challenges that led to its voluntary liquidation in March 2021.

According to reports by New Era, the revival plan has sparked concerns among opposition leaders. Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) member of parliament Maximalliant Katjimune voiced strong reservations over the project, stating, “It is deeply concerning that this plan seems fixated on reviving a national airline, which we clearly cannot afford and do not need at this time.” Katjimune’s comments reflect a broader sentiment among critics who believe that the focus should instead be on addressing more pressing socioeconomic issues in Namibia.

The financial burden of Air Namibia’s previous struggles looms large over the revival debate. Over the past decade, the Namibian government spent NAD9 billion (approximately USD495 million) in bailouts in an attempt to keep the carrier afloat. Despite these efforts, Air Namibia’s chronic losses and mismanagement eventually forced the government to liquidate the airline. In addition to the substantial bailout costs, a South African logistics broker’s unsuccessful attempt to purchase the bankruptcy estate in September 2022 further underscored the challenges associated with reviving the national carrier.

SWAPO’s push to revive Air Namibia dates back to December 2022, when the party’s national congress directed the government to take steps to reinstate the national carrier. The move was partly motivated by the goal of enhancing regional air connectivity and attracting tourists to Namibia. In 2023, the late President Hage Geingob had engaged with Ethiopian Airlines to explore potential partnerships for reviving the carrier, with claims that Emirates had also expressed interest. Yet, despite these international overtures, the plan remains controversial.

While SWAPO and government officials insist that reviving Air Namibia will bring long-term benefits to the country, including job creation and enhanced national prestige, opposition voices continue to argue that the revival is a costly distraction from more critical economic challenges. Currently, FlyNamibia—majority owned by Westair Aviation and partially held by South Africa’s Airlink—is the only Namibian-based scheduled passenger airline operating with leased aircraft. Critics suggest that focusing on strengthening existing aviation assets might be a more practical solution for the nation’s transportation needs.

As Namibia moves forward with this ambitious proposal, the debate over economic priorities and the future of the national airline is expected to intensify, with both political factions closely monitoring the implementation of the revival plan.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com