Allexer Namundjembo
Namibians have reacted with anger after American YouTuber Darren Watkins Jr, popularly known as IShowSpeed could not land in Namibia on the planned date after required aviation permits were not submitted on time.
Watkins was expected to include Namibia as part of his “Speed Does Africa” tour, a 28-day live-streaming journey across several African countries. Namibia was scheduled to be the second stop.
Namibians critiqued the outcome, describing it as a missed opportunity for tourism and global exposure.
Landless People’s Movement (LPM) youth leader Duminga Ndala said the government must improve how it manages red tape and bureaucratic processes.
She said laws and regulations must be respected but warned that rigid bureaucracy can undermine national interests.
“In this case the relevant line ministries, Environment and Tourism, Home Affairs and ICT, should have proactively coordinated and fast-tracked the processes to ensure that he obtained the necessary documentation to enter the country,” Ndala said in response to questions from the Observer on Tuesday.
She said the failure to act decisively cost Namibia a chance to market itself on a global platform.
“Tourism remains one of the largest contributors to our GDP, supporting jobs, local businesses and national revenue. When bureaucracy hinders such opportunities, it does not merely delay processes; it actively undermines economic growth and development,” Ndala said.
On Monday, the Namibia Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) confirmed that a foreign operator permit for the Kenyan-registered private jet meant to transport Watkins and his team could not be issued because the application was submitted less than 11 hours before the aircraft’s intended landing.
Its manager for stakeholder relations and communications, Nelson Ashipala, said the operator failed to submit all required documentation within the prescribed regulatory timeframe, making assessment and processing impossible.
Ashipala explained that foreign operator permit applications require extensive documentation and coordination with multiple stakeholders, a process that can take up to 14 days.
The permit denial also affected planned drone operations for content creation, as no application or permit was submitted for drone use.
Meanwhile, Independent Patriots for Change’s (IPC) leader in parliament, Immanuel Nashinge, called the situation “shameful.”
In a social media post, Nashinge said Namibia needs a system that welcomes visitors who can boost the economy and share the country’s story.
“Why subject a respected high-value visitor to useless bureaucratic chaos? We must be dynamic! This is shameful! Those responsible must call his team and beg him to reconsider unless there is something else that we are not being told,” Nashinge wrote.
On Sunday, IPC’s international relations shadow minister Rodney Cloete described the incident as a missed strategic opportunity for Namibia’s global positioning.
“Are we ready to turn this into a real opportunity?” Cloete asked in a public statement.
He referred to Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton’s visit to Africa, including Namibia and Rwanda, saying Rwanda used the visit to build long-term value.
“When Lewis Hamilton visited Africa, including Namibia and Rwanda, the Rwandese didn’t just take photos. They built a relationship. Now Rwanda is on the cusp of hosting Formula 1,” Cloete said. “One visit. Strategic follow-through. Global positioning.”
Cloete said IShowSpeed’s global reach made the loss more significant, noting that the influencer has more than 30 million subscribers and direct access to a young digital audience.
“This is free publicity that money can’t buy. The question is, will we have a plan, or will we watch another opportunity come and go?”
On Tuesday, Watkins confirmed on social media that Namibia is still on his travel list, dismissing claims that he had cancelled the stop.
He made the confirmation during a livestream on Twitch and YouTube while in Gaborone, Botswana.
Watkins explained that he is no longer using a private jet after permits were not arranged in time in several countries. He said he is now travelling on commercial flights. The private jet was only used for Angola and South Africa, where permits were approved.
Although he did not give a specific date, Watkins said Namibia remains part of his African tour.
He is currently in Botswana and has already visited Angola, South Africa and Eswatini.
