Matias Kanana Hishoono, a founding member of Owamboland People's Organisation (OPO) which evolved into Swapo, died on 14 January aged 89. Senior government officials and thousands of mourners gathered at his village for a memorial service, with a state funeral planned for Saturday at Eenhana Shrine.
24 January 2026 · The Namibian →
Matias Kanana Hishoono, a founding member of Owamboland People's Organisation (OPO) which evolved into Swapo, died on 14 January aged 89. Senior government officials and thousands of mourners gathered at his village for a memorial service, with a state funeral planned for Saturday at Eenhana Shrine.
24 January 2026 · The Namibian →
PDM president McHenry Venaani has criticized the Namibian media industry, saying journalists are inexperienced, media houses underinvest in their staff, and crucial political issues are being neglected in favor of sensational stories. He urged engagement with media editors to ensure fair and accurate coverage and called for government support to strengthen media organizations.
24 January 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs has announced shortlisted candidates for Officer Cadets, Recruits, and National Youth Service positions, who must report to regional centres on Tuesday, 3 February 2026, for Pre-Entry and Physical Fitness Tests. Only successful candidates will proceed to the next phase, with the entire process expected to be finalised by 3 March 2026.
24 January 2026 · Informanté →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, through Vice President Lucia Witbooi, delivered a memorial address for the late Mathias Kanana Hishoono, a founding member of SWAPO and veteran of Namibia's independence struggle. She described him as embodying unity, resilience, and service, and emphasised his continued contributions to nation-building after independence as a political advisor to the first two presidents.
24 January 2026 · Informanté →
Gondwana's Meet & Lead Programme offers Windhoek-based team leaders monthly full-day sessions to develop leadership skills, self-awareness, and empathetic communication over six months. Launched in 2023, the programme prioritises building real relationships and mindful leadership over hierarchical authority, with 12 leaders participating annually.
24 January 2026 · The Namibian →
Carbon Capital has invested over N$140 million in a closed production process that captures and recycles smoke to produce 'clean' charcoal with minimal emissions, primarily for export markets increasingly demanding environmental responsibility. The company also produces biochar from organic waste for soil improvement and agricultural applications.
24 January 2026 · The Namibian →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has instructed officials at the Business and Intellectual Property Authority's One Stop Centre to speed up their responses to investors, warning that delays are driving business away from Namibia and that decisions should take days, not weeks. She stressed that investors must be treated as "special partners" with red-carpet treatment and that the country's increasingly difficult business reputation must be urgently addressed.
24 January 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia is advancing plans to develop nuclear power generation through international partnerships and compliance with global benchmarks, with the National Planning Commission director noting the move aims to diversify the mining sector, reduce electricity imports, and capture greater value from uranium production. The government has approved a National Nuclear Industry Strategy that includes establishing a Nuclear Institute of Namibia and transferring atomic energy administration to the National Planning Commission.
24 January 2026 · The Namibian →
Australian mining company Deep Yellow Limited has spent N$156 million over the past three months advancing its Tumas Uranium Project in the Erongo region, with detailed engineering 60% complete and bulk earthworks 24% complete. The company is derisking the project ahead of a final investment decision, expecting uranium prices to rise in 2026, and has secured a power supply agreement with Namibia Power Corporation.
24 January 2026 · The Namibian →
Live cattle exports to South Africa declined sharply by approximately 76% in 2025 due to insufficient market-ready animals after years of environmental stress, but the Namibia Agricultural Union expects marketing volumes to recover modestly by 20-30% in 2026 as herd rebuilding stabilizes, with cattle prices remaining elevated across all categories.
24 January 2026 · Informanté →
Namibia's Hydrological Services reports that the Zambezi and Kavango Rivers in the north rose over the past week, with the Zambezi at Katima Mulilo climbing from 1.04m to 1.28m, while the Orange River in the south declined from 1.46m to 0.76m at Blouputs during the same period.
24 January 2026 · Informanté →
Namibia's Deputy Minister of Agriculture has encouraged young people in Oshikoto Region to engage in farming and livestock enterprises, highlighting the region's fertile soils, rainfall, and labour advantages. She detailed government support mechanisms including the National Youth Development Fund, which offers collateral-free loans at 2–4% interest for agricultural ventures targeting youth aged 18–45, along with backing from the Development Bank of Namibia and Agribank.
24 January 2026 · Informanté →
Deputy minister of education Dino Ballotti told Grade 11 and 12 pupils at Waldorf School Windhoek to take their studies seriously, sharing how his own neglect of academics nearly cost him his Grade 12 results. He encouraged them to discover their purpose, saying Namibia needs "great Namibians" not average ones.
24 January 2026 · The Namibian →
The ǁKharas region has marked the International Day of Education (24 January) with a week-long campaign in which newly elected regional councillors provided financial assistance to tertiary students, donated stationery and school uniforms, and made motivational school visits. The regional council also invited eligible students to apply for financial assistance for the 2026 academic year through constituency offices.
24 January 2026 · The Namibian →
The Gondwana Care Trust distributed 3,748 back-to-school bags, refurbished computers and tablets, adopted three schools for online learning support, and provided medical outreach and food aid to communities across Namibia in 2025. The trust also funded leadership camps, improved conditions at boarding hostels, and collaborated with international partners on various welfare initiatives.
24 January 2026 · The Namibian →
A public policy expert argues that Namibia's annual focus on senior secondary examination results obscures the real problem: weak foundations in early childhood, pre-primary, and primary education. He contends that investing in quality early learning centres, trained educators, and strong literacy and numeracy programmes at the base will create a healthier system than attempting costly remediation at secondary and tertiary levels.
24 January 2026 · The Namibian →
Artificial intelligence is already present in classrooms, exposing weaknesses in education systems structured around compliance rather than competence. Rather than banning AI, Namibia should redesign learning to emphasize critical thinking, real-world application, and deeper understanding—raising rather than lowering standards.
24 January 2026 · The Namibian →
Two housekeeping professionals at The Weinberg Windhoek, Sofia Nakanyala and Bernadine Sem, have attained level 3 qualifications in hospitality and tourism through the Namibia Training Authority via recognition of prior learning, which formally acknowledges skills gained through practical workplace experience. The achievement reflects Gondwana Collection Namibia's commitment to employee development and skills growth in the hospitality sector.
24 January 2026 · The Namibian →
Two Korean tourists were robbed at gunpoint at a Swakopmund hotel parking area on Thursday by four male suspects who fled with personal items including cash and travel documents. Police pursued the suspects, recovered most of the stolen goods, and arrested one suspect, with three others still at large.
24 January 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Health and Social Services will roll out a nationwide polio vaccination campaign in two rounds (26–29 January and 24–27 February) targeting children under 10, following the detection of poliovirus type 2 in sewage samples from Rundu in November 2025. Although no polio cases have been reported, laboratory investigations confirmed the virus was genetically linked to cases in neighbouring Angola.
24 January 2026 · The Namibian →
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare commended teachers for their dedication to educating Namibia's youth, describing teaching as the foundation of all professions. He emphasised the government's commitment to equitable learning environments and called on education officials to prioritise implementation of educational policies across all 121 constituencies.
24 January 2026 · The Namibian →
A reflective essay describes a journey across four Namibian landscapes—the central plateau, Namib Desert, coast, and north—using the Japanese philosophy of Kintsugi (repairing broken things with gold) as a metaphor for personal renewal and homecoming.
24 January 2026 · The Namibian →
Heinrich Stasiuk, a Namibian chef who grew up in Karasburg, has secured a 10-year contract to cater for the Heineken Formula One Grand Prix in Las Vegas, serving over 5,000 people including F1 drivers and celebrities. He operates 34 restaurant chains across five US states and recently opened two new restaurants in Windhoek, Zest and Tide Six.
24 January 2026 · The Namibian →
Theresa van der Westhuizen, who progressed from playing netball at Suiderhof Primary School to representing Namibia at international level and studying at Stellenbosch University in South Africa, has retired and now coaches and competes in age-group competitions while working in pharmaceuticals and raising three children.
24 January 2026 · The Namibian →
Inter Milan came back from two goals down to beat promoted Pisa 6-2 on Friday, moving six points clear at the top of Serie A with their ninth win in a 10-match unbeaten run.
24 January 2026 · The Namibian →
Al Ahly of Egypt defeated Young Africans of Tanzania 2-0 in the CAF Champions League group stage, with former Aston Villa striker Mahmoud 'Trezeguet' Hassan scoring both goals to give the record 12-time African champions a three-point lead in Group B.
24 January 2026 · The Namibian →
Australia won their third consecutive match at the ICC U19 Men's Cricket World Cup 2026, bowling out Sri Lanka for 58 with William Byrom taking five wickets. Bangladesh secured a place in the Super Six by defeating the USA by seven wickets, with skipper Azizul Hakim Takim scoring 64 in a winner-takes-all qualifier.
24 January 2026 · The Namibian →
Russian, Ukrainian, and US negotiators met in Abu Dhabi on Saturday to discuss a Trump administration proposal to end the war. Both sides remain deadlocked over control of eastern Ukraine's Donbas region, with Russia demanding full Ukrainian withdrawal and Kyiv rejecting such terms.
24 January 2026 · The Namibian →
USAID funding cuts under the Trump administration have deepened humanitarian shortfalls in Ethiopia's Tigray region, where aid organizations report up to 80% of the population needs emergency support and residents are dying from hunger and malnutrition. The closure of aid offices and reduced medical services have left internally displaced persons with minimal access to food, healthcare, and basic services, while the Ethiopian government denies the severity of the crisis.
24 January 2026 · The Namibian →
The United States is pursuing five-year agreements linking health funding to mineral access across Africa under an "America First Global Health Strategy," raising concerns that Namibia could be pressured into a deal that trades resource sovereignty for health support. The arrangement ties health to geopolitical competition and pathogen-sharing commitments, prompting calls for parliamentary oversight and transparency in any negotiations.
24 January 2026 · The Namibian →
South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal dismissed a bid by the heritage authority to block the export and sale of 70 personal items belonging to Nelson Mandela's daughter and a former prison guard, including a cell key from Robben Island, sunglasses, and a signed constitution copy. Mandela's daughter plans to use proceeds from the auction to build a memorial garden at the late president's grave.
24 January 2026 · The Namibian →
The US has formally withdrawn from the WHO, citing the organization's alleged mishandling of the Covid-19 pandemic and political influence from member states. The withdrawal removes one of the WHO's largest donors and has already caused job losses at the agency, though the WHO disputes the US claims and says the withdrawal is a loss for both the US and the world.
24 January 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibian editorial argues that black economic empowerment schemes have primarily enriched a small political elite rather than benefiting the broader population, citing examples like Knowledge Katti's oil licences and the Fishrot scandal. The piece calls for government to review and overhaul BEE policies, which it says discourage genuine entrepreneurship and productivity while allowing rent-seekers to hoard public resources.
24 January 2026 · The Namibian →
An opinion piece argues that Namibia's government is disrespecting war veterans through inadequate burial rites, citing the case of Swapo founding member Kanana Hishoono who is being buried at Eenhana shrine rather than Heroes Acre, and raising questions about who decides burial status for liberation struggle fighters.
24 January 2026 · The Namibian →