Namibia Minute.
3 January 2026
A daily Namibian brief · Est. 2026
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Archive Minute from 3 January 2026
Politics

Traditional authority condemns fatal shooting at community court proceedings

The News

The Ondonga Traditional Authority condemned a violent shooting in Oshikoto Region during a community court dispute resolution session in which village headman Sam Nepando was fatally wounded and headman I-Ben Nashandi (also Executive Director of the National Planning Commission) was seriously injured. The OTA pledged to work with government and law enforcement to ensure justice and protect community court leaders.

3 January 2026 · Informanté →

Politics

  1. Traditional authority condemns fatal shooting at community court proceedings

    The Ondonga Traditional Authority condemned a violent shooting in Oshikoto Region during a community court dispute resolution session in which village headman Sam Nepando was fatally wounded and headman I-Ben Nashandi (also Executive Director of the National Planning Commission) was seriously injured. The OTA pledged to work with government and law enforcement to ensure justice and protect community court leaders.

    3 January 2026 · Informanté →

Agriculture & Land

  1. Heavy New Year rains cause flooding, river flows across Namibia

    Significant rainfall across parts of Namibia, particularly in Erongo and Kunene regions, brought flowing rivers, thunderstorms and localised flooding on New Year's, with authorities warning motorists of hazardous road conditions including flood damage to the C36 route between Uis and Omaruru. The Namibia Meteorological Service expects continued partly cloudy conditions with isolated thundershowers in the north.

    3 January 2026 · Informanté →

Society

  1. Police arrest suspect in community court shooting

    A male suspect has been arrested for allegedly shooting and killing village headman Sam Nepando and injuring National Planning Commission Executive Director I-Ben Nashandi during a Community Court session in Ondangwa dealing with a land dispute. The suspect fled the scene after the incident but was later apprehended by police and is expected to appear in court on Monday.

    3 January 2026 · Informanté →

  2. Police seek public help tracing theft suspect

    The Namibian Police in Khomas Region are appealing for public assistance in locating 33-year-old Lavinia Kakehongo, wanted in connection with a theft-from-employer case, after unsuccessful efforts to trace her.

    3 January 2026 · Informanté →

  3. NPC Executive Director shot, assistant killed in land dispute

    I-Ben Nashandi, Executive Director of the National Planning Commission, was shot and seriously wounded while presiding over a land dispute case in the Onayena area of Oshikoto Region; another person was killed in the incident. The Ondonga Traditional Authority confirmed the shooting and said an emergency meeting would be held to discuss the matter.

    3 January 2026 · Informanté →

Tourism & Environment

  1. Canada warns citizens to exercise caution visiting Namibia

    Canada has issued an updated travel advisory urging its citizens to exercise caution when visiting Namibia, citing concerns about muggings, burglaries, carjackings, and financial fraud particularly targeting tourists in Windhoek and at ATMs. Local tourism operators acknowledge crime remains a concern but stress most visits are trouble-free when basic safety precautions are followed, as the sector rebounds to 79 percent of pre-pandemic tourist levels.

    3 January 2026 · Informanté →

World & Region

  1. Trump threatens response to Iran killings during protests

    US President Donald Trump said Washington is "locked and loaded" to respond if Iran kills more protesters after cost-of-living demonstrations turned deadly with six reported deaths. Iran's security council secretary Ali Larijani condemned Trump's remarks as interference that would destabilize the region.

    3 January 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. Namibia and Angola partner on shared water security project

    The UNDP is supporting Namibia and Angola through a USD 11.17 million transboundary water security project in the Cuvelai–Kunene Basin, which includes infrastructure upgrades, community-led governance, and climate-resilient technologies such as rainwater harvesting and solar-powered systems to improve water access for households, livestock and farming in drought and flood-prone areas.

    3 January 2026 · Informanté →

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