Windhoek, 31 August 2026.
Introduction remarks by Hon. Lukas Sinimbo Muha, MP, Chairperson of the National Council
Right Honourable Dr. Elijah Tjitunga Ngurare, Prime Minister of the Republic of Namibia;
Hon. Emma Tangi Muteka, Vice Chairperson of the National Council;
H.E. Zhao Weiping, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China;
Ms Toshiko Takahashi, Deputy Country Representative for UNICEF Namibia;
Members of Parliament;
Members of the JNC;
Staff members of the National Council;
Mentors of the JNC;
The media;
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Good Morning,
We are gathered here today to witness the official opening of the 1st Session of the 4th Junior National Council (JNC), which will run from 31 August to 04 September 2026.
My duty this morning is to introduce our distinguished guest of honour. This is indeed a rare and special occasion, and I am delighted to welcome him among us. Before I proceed with this important task, allow me to provide a brief background on the Junior National Council and the significance of this session.
The Junior National Council was formalised through a motion passed by the National Council in 2013 and was inaugurated in 2017. Since its inception, the JNC has served as the voice of Namibia’s school-going youth, providing them with a platform to express their views and debate issues of community, regional, national and international importance. The Council is dedicated to nurturing leadership qualities and promoting civic engagement among the young people of our nation.
Membership of the JNC is drawn from learners in Grades 8 to 11. Each of Namibia’s 14 regions nominates three school-going children, bringing the total membership to 42. This initiative offers young leaders a unique opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue, exchange diverse perspectives, and cultivate unity and collaboration as future custodians of Namibia’s progress.
It is important to note that hosting the Junior National Council entails considerable costs, which the National Council alone cannot shoulder. In this regard, I am pleased to announce that the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Namibia has made a significant financial contribution since 2023, and UNICEF has joined this year as a partner for the next three years. We thank you for the kind gesture extended to the Namibian youth through the National Council.
Allow me now to briefly introduce our guest of honour:
Born: 28 October 1970, Nkure-nkuru.
Education: Kolin Foundation Secondary School (Grade 12); Bachelor of Science (Magna Cum Laude), Central State University, USA; Master of Laws in International Water Law and Policy, University of Dundee, Scotland, UK; PhD in Environmental Law, National University of Ireland, Republic of Ireland.
Career: Personal Assistant to the Minister of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development; Secretary of the SWAPO Party Youth League; Director of Water Supply and Sanitation Coordination; Deputy Executive Director, Department of Water Affairs; Appointed to Parliament and as Prime Minister of the Republic of Namibia by H.E. Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.
Corporate Governance: Chairman of NAMDEB Holdings Pty Ltd; Board Member of Kalahari Holdings Pty Ltd and MultiChoice Namibia Pty Ltd; Commissioner of the National Planning Commission.
With these distinguished credentials, it is my honour to invite The Right Honourable Dr. Elijah Tjitunga Ngurare to take the floor and address the Junior National Council Members.
I thank you.
