Namibia Minute

Saturday, 10 January 2026

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Saturday, 10 January 2026

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Business

Namibia debuts in IMD competitiveness index, reveals mixed performance

The News

Namibia participated for the first time in the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook in June 2025, showing strengths in price competitiveness and macroeconomic resilience but facing challenges in digital infrastructure, skills development and export performance. The authors argue that boosting competitiveness requires finalising key legislation, improving education-to-labour-market alignment, economic diversification and talent attraction strategies.

10 January 2026 · The Namibian →

Business

Namibia debuts in IMD competitiveness index, reveals mixed performance
Namibia participated for the first time in the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook in June 2025, showing strengths in price competitiveness and macroeconomic resilience but facing challenges in digital infrastructure, skills development and export performance. The authors argue that boosting competitiveness requires finalising key legislation, improving education-to-labour-market alignment, economic diversification and talent attraction strategies.
10 January 2026 · The Namibian →
Bipa appoints Ainna Kaundu as new chief executive
The Business and Intellectual Property Authority has appointed Ainna Kaundu as chief executive effective January for five years. Kaundu, a legal practitioner with 18 years of experience, previously served as executive of intellectual property services and acting chief executive at Bipa.
10 January 2026 · The Namibian →
Banking and telecoms stocks drive NSX gains despite muted trading
Banking and telecommunications stocks led gains on the Namibia Securities Exchange in 2025, with Standard Bank Holdings, Capricorn Group, and FirstRand Namibia recording the highest price returns, although overall trading activity remained subdued as the second-lowest year for local value traded since 2012.
10 January 2026 · The Namibian →
Lewis challenges Pepkor takeover in South African court
The Lewis Group has taken its challenge against Pepkor's proposed takeover of Shoprite's furniture assets to South Africa's Constitutional Court, arguing the R3.2 billion deal would create market dominance and harm consumers through higher prices and worse credit terms. Pepkor contends Lewis lacks standing to intervene and that the challenge would discourage investors.
10 January 2026 · The Namibian →

Mining & Energy

Erongo Desalination Plant increases water output 14% in 2025
The Erongo Desalination Plant delivered 17.59 million cubic metres of water to the Erongo Region in 2025, a 14% increase from 2024, while integrating solar power from Trekkopje Solar Plant to reduce costs and lower water prices by 2%.
10 January 2026 · Informanté →

Society

Graduate unemployment linked to lack of practical skills
Namibian universities are producing graduates faster than the job market can absorb them, yet many lack practical skills to complement their theoretical knowledge. The solution is for higher education institutions to integrate skills training alongside academic programmes, rather than maintaining the separation between academic and vocational education.
10 January 2026 · The Namibian →
Fragmented medical records across Namibia risk patient lives
Namibia's paper-based health system leaves patient medical histories isolated between facilities and sectors, creating dangerous gaps in care. A unified digital health records system linked to national ID numbers could ensure doctors have access to critical patient information regardless of location.
10 January 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia must strategically integrate AI into TVET systems
Namibia's transformation of vocational training centres into specialised TVET colleges presents an opportunity to embed artificial intelligence into education and skills development. However, successful integration requires deliberate policy, investment in digital infrastructure, instructor upskilling, and ethical frameworks to avoid deepening inequalities between urban and rural institutions.
10 January 2026 · The Namibian →
Education ministry denies Grade 9 learners can earn PhDs via TVET
Namibia's education ministry dismissed claims that Grade 9 learners can progress through the Technical and Vocational Education and Training system to obtain doctoral degrees, describing the assertion as misleading. The ministry clarified that Cabinet has not approved any pathway allowing direct progression from Grade 9 to university-level qualifications, and that current entry to TVET requires NSSCO (Grade 11) or Grade 12 qualifications.
10 January 2026 · Informanté →
Police warn travelers of thieves at bus stations
Oshana Region's Acting Police Commander Frederick Ndjadila has warned bus travelers to beware of thieves disguised as travelers at crowded bus loading zones, while also appealing to bus operators to adhere to traffic rules and avoid overloading, overpricing, and overspeeding during the post-festive season travel rush.
10 January 2026 · Informanté →
Thirteen-year-old boy arrested for killing woman and child in Epako
A 13-year-old boy has been arrested for fatally stabbing a 26-year-old woman, Nacky Macthanisia Dalime Menatzick, and her three-year-old daughter in Epako, Omaheke Region. According to police, a commotion erupted between the suspect and the woman inside a house; the woman pushed her six-year-old son through a window to seek help, and the boy ran to police, who found the mother and younger sister fatally wounded at the scene.
10 January 2026 · Informanté →
Namibia forecast hot with isolated thundershowers inland
The Namibia Meteorological Service forecasts hot to very hot conditions across most of the country with partly cloudy skies and isolated thundershowers over the northern and central-eastern interior, while the coast will remain mild with fog patches. Very hot conditions with maximum temperatures reaching 37°C are expected in the south and parts of the west, while coastal areas will experience much milder conditions around 23–27°C.
10 January 2026 · Informanté →

Culture

Thimbukushu women preserve traditional Ngoma drum culture
Thimbukushu women along the Kavango River maintain the tradition of playing the Ngoma, a traditional drum that comes in different forms for rituals, dances and celebrations, learning the skill through observation and practice. While some experts worry younger generations may not understand its significance as interest shifts toward piano and other instruments, the women assert that drumming remains deeply rooted in their culture and continues to echo through the Kavango East region.
10 January 2026 · The Namibian →

Tourism & Environment

Namibia Wildlife Resorts pledges facility upgrades and service reforms
Namibia Wildlife Resorts has acknowledged public complaints about service delivery and facility conditions at Etosha National Park, citing festive season visitor concerns raised on social media and reports of waste management failures. The company says it is implementing unannounced quality audits, phased maintenance upgrades prioritizing high-impact areas, and enhanced staff training through a partnership with NUST to improve guest experience.
10 January 2026 · Informanté →

World & Region

Iran hospitals overwhelmed as anti-government protests persist
Doctors at hospitals in Tehran and Shiraz told the BBC their facilities were overwhelmed with injuries as anti-government protests entered their second week, with at least 50 protesters reported killed. Iranian authorities issued coordinated warnings to protesters, while international leaders and US President Trump called for protection of the right to peaceful protest.
10 January 2026 · The Namibian →
U.S. clarifies Namibian students exempt from visa bond requirement
The U.S. Embassy in Namibia has clarified that Namibian students travelling on F or M visas, as well as those on J visas for U.S. government-sponsored exchanges, are not subject to the new visa bond pilot programme. The bond, of up to US$15,000, applies only to those applying for B-1/B-2 business and tourist visas and is refundable if visa terms are met.
10 January 2026 · Informanté →