Ngurare - Namibia's smiling prime minister

In Namibia and, by extension, Africa, a smile does not go unnoticed, because life does not always offer many reasons for one, especially after the long, dry month of January.

Most days are about making ends meet, finding work, juggling debt, or worrying about what comes next. Faces are often serious, not because people are unfriendly, but because the pressure is unrelenting.

When someone smiles calmly in the midst of all that, it stands out.

A smile does not fix problems. It does not put food on the table or lower fuel prices. But it can change how people speak to one another. It can cool a heated exchange. It can say, without words: I hear you.

For many Namibians, smiling is not about happiness. It is about getting through the day. People smile at taxi ranks, in queues, at funerals and at work, not because life is easy, but because it must go on.

A smile often becomes the glue that holds you together. It can also speak of forgiveness.

In a small country – Namibia is often cited as one of the least populated in the world – people keep bumping into each other. Old arguments rarely disappear.

Sometimes a smile is not approval. It is simply a choice not to keep fighting. It says: Let’s not make this heavier than it already is.

That is why those who meet Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare can relate. His smile has become a familiar feature of public life, noticeable at formal ceremonies, community engagements and even moments of national tension.

He smiles easily. At official events. During community visits, even during tense and terse conversations. In a political arena defined by sharp criticism and high expectations, his calm presence stands out.

Rising from the ashes of despair

His smiling demeanour carries even more weight when people remember what he has endured.

In July 2025, amid a national discussion on debt and financial strain, Ngurare made a deeply personal confession – one rarely heard within the elite political ranks he occupies. He spoke frankly about a time when economic pressure nearly broke him.

The prime minister admitted to a previous debilitating struggle with debt, including the prospect of losing his house and car to repossession.

Reflecting on that period, he wrote: “The thought crossed my mind to commit suicide, with the hope that my family could benefit from my life cover and pay off the debt in full.”

This admission struck a chord with many Namibians, because it touched a familiar nerve. Debt is a quiet burden in countless households. People carry it alone, often too ashamed to speak about it.

Ngurare did not share his story in a public forum to score political points. He shared it to say: You are not the only one; you are not alone.

Intense public limelight

His political life has not been smooth either. He has navigated internal party tensions, leadership changes and prolonged periods of intense public pressure.

These pressures are not always visible, but they shape how leaders carry themselves. Remaining calm in such moments takes effort and grit.

Since then, his public messages have often touched on endurance. In January 2026, speaking at a disaster preparedness and resilience workshop in Windhoek, the premier urged Namibians to face hardship without giving up, saying shocks and crises should be met “with hope rather than despair.”

He has repeated the same message to young people. At the Namibia University of Science and Technology, he spoke about discipline and responsibility, reminding students that success is not just personal but reflects on families and communities.

Viewed in this light, the prime minister’s smile does not look rehearsed. It looks lived in. Earned. 

Lighting the way

For someone who has spoken openly about how close he once came to profound despair, smiling is not pretending that everything is fine. It is a refusal to be crushed by what weighs heavy.

In a country long grappling with unemployment, inequality and slow economic recovery, that matters. People do not expect miracles. They expect steadiness. They expect leaders who understand pressure because they have felt it themselves.

A smile will not solve problems. But when it comes from people in high positions like Ngurare, finding time to smile offers strength and reassurance and promises of a softer tomorrow.

Keep smiling, Prime Minister. Hopefully, more leaders will be infected by your sunny resolve. May your smile continue to shine in the corridors of power.