Promote rights
Enhancing the social and economic rights of Namibians.
About ESJT
Economic and Social Justice Trust
Formed in 2012 and registered in 2013 by activists, ESJT promotes struggles for economic and social justice in Namibia, with a focus on the rights of economically and socially excluded communities.
Download Company ProfileFormed
2012
Built by activists
Registered
2013
Established as a trust
Focus
Namibia
Economic and social rights
What ESJT stands for
Fair distribution, public accountability and dignity for all Namibians.
The Trust enhances and promotes the social and economic rights of Namibians. This includes fair and equitable distribution of resources, with particular emphasis on people who are economically and socially excluded.
ESJT also advocates for fundamental changes in the economic system to effect redistribution in favour of the poor.
ESJT is a lobby and advocacy group for economic, social and cultural rights. It campaigns on corruption, self-enrichment, labour rights, basic income, climate justice and other issues affecting communities.
The Trust consists of activists who volunteer their time and knowledge, meet several times a year, and work with organisations in Namibia, the region and internationally where there is common purpose.
Challenge inequality
Advocating for redistribution and fundamental economic change.
Work in solidarity
Cooperating with people and organisations who share the Trust's aims and objectives.
Activities
Campaigns, activist schools and public-interest work.
Since its formation until 2020, the Trust worked without donor funding and relied on the voluntary contributions of its Trustees to carry out its work.
Preventing marine phosphate mining and a tobacco plantation in the Zambezi region.
Campaigning for Shoprite workers and for a Basic Income Grant for all Namibians.
Engaging the Namibian Parliament on debt awareness in collaboration with ZIMCODD.
Participating in the People's SADC Summit and international corporate accountability campaigns.
Organising Activist Schools since 2020 for mostly young activists.
Publishing the Namibian Journal of Social Justice since 2021.
Activist Schools
Training activists for social justice work.
The Activist Schools prepare mostly young activists for their role in shaping a better Namibia, a better Africa and a better world.
The schools have taken two formats: monthly events in Windhoek over 18 months, and weekly residential schools covering poverty, inequality, unemployment, gender justice, decent housing as a human right, living wages, universal health care, climate justice and consumer rights.
Timeline
Key moments in ESJT's work.
2012
Formation
ESJT was formed by activists.
2013
Registration
The Trust was registered to promote struggles for economic and social justice.
2018
Regional solidarity
ESJT played an active role in the People's SADC Summit and works with the international campaign to hold transnational corporations accountable.
2019
BIG record
ESJT published a booklet on Otjivero, where the Basic Income Grant pilot project took place in 2008 and 2009.
2020
Activist Schools
Activist Schools began, preparing mostly young activists for social justice work.
2021
Journal launched
The Namibian Journal of Social Justice was launched.
2023
Green hydrogen conference
ESJT convened a national civil society conference on green hydrogen with the University of Hamburg, Germanwatch, Corporate Europe Observatory and Green H2 Watch in South Africa.
Journal
The Namibian Journal of Social Justice.
Since 2021, the Trust has published the journal as a platform for open and critical debate on economic and social justice from a progressive perspective.
The journal contains peer-reviewed scholarly articles, activist accounts and creative contributions, and is produced by a volunteer editorial collective.
It is available at www.namsocialjustice.org.
Volume 1
July 2021 - Housing crisis in Namibia
Volume 2
November 2022 - Inequality and social justice
Volume 3
November 2023 - Employment, livelihoods and the world of work
Volume 4
March 2025 - Climate justice and resource extractivism
Volume 5
July 2026 - Education and liberation
Trustees
Who are the Trustees?
The Trustees annually elect a Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and Treasurer from amongst their ranks.
Rinaani Musutua
A multidimensional, inventive and committed corporate communications professional with an MA in International Public Relations. She has international experience in marketing and communications for commercial, charitable and public organisations, contributed to the NGO position paper on Namibia's UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, and has coordinated the Namibian BIG campaign since 2021.
Doufi Namalambo
A specialist in training and facilitation of workshop processes. She has worked in human resources and organisation development in Namibia and South Africa, supported strategic planning assignments, and assisted process planning across sectors including water, land, energy, environment, mining, labour, youth, disaster management, donors, churches and community organisations.
John Nakuta
A social justice academic who teaches administrative law and human rights law at the University of Namibia. His socio-legal research interests include housing, sanitation, access to information, administrative justice, land justice, gender justice and reparations for historical injustices, as well as issues affecting vulnerable and marginalised groups.
Claudius Riruako
A youth leader, activist and advocate for human rights and social justice. He focuses on the Excite For Action Residential School, trains young people to be leaders, guides and fundraises for youth organisations, founded Comrades Association of Namibia, and serves on the Namibian Journal of Social Justice editorial collective.
Nafimane Hamukoshi
A University of Namibia political science student and executive director of the youth-led Comrades Association. She co-facilitates the Basic Income Grant campaign, coordinates three BIG societies at educational institutions, and is active in public accountability work.
Herbert Jauch
A long-standing labour movement researcher and activist in Southern Africa. Over the past 30 years he has carried out research for SATUCC and Namibian and South African trade unions, helped develop a labour diploma course for Namibian trade unions, directed LARRI from 1998 to 2007, and currently serves as ESJT chairperson.