Namibia Minute.
Sunday, 25 January 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Sunday, 25 January 2026
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Archive Minute from Sunday, 25 January 2026
Politics

Employment Equity Commission disapproves RFA and 14 other entities' reports

The News

The Employment Equity Commission has summoned 15 entities, including the Road Fund Administration, for noncompliance with the Affirmative Action Act, citing discrepancies in workforce profile data, missing evaluation reports, and failure to correct shortcomings identified in previous years. The commission warned that continued noncompliance could result in criminal charges under the act.

25 January 2026 · The Namibian →

Politics

  1. Employment Equity Commission disapproves RFA and 14 other entities' reports

    The Employment Equity Commission has summoned 15 entities, including the Road Fund Administration, for noncompliance with the Affirmative Action Act, citing discrepancies in workforce profile data, missing evaluation reports, and failure to correct shortcomings identified in previous years. The commission warned that continued noncompliance could result in criminal charges under the act.

    25 January 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. Former presidents honour deceased liberation hero Kanana Hishoono

    Former presidents Hifikepunye Pohamba and Nangolo Mbumba paid tributes to Swapo founding member Kanana Hishoono at his memorial service, describing him as a unifier and principled servant who played a critical role in Namibia's liberation struggle and later served as political adviser to founding president Sam Nujoma. Hishoono, who died on 14 January at age 89, was one of the few remaining original torchbearers of Namibia's independence movement.

    25 January 2026 · The Namibian →

  3. Minister Sankwasa owes NamWater N$174,000 amid debt criticism

    Urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa owes N$174,000 to NamWater, drawing accusations of hypocrisy after he recently pressured councillors to settle outstanding bills. Sankwasa attributed the debt to an account inherited from his late mother and said he is attending to its settlement, while critics argue he should have led by example.

    25 January 2026 · The Namibian →

  4. Liberation struggle veteran Matias Hishoono laid to rest

    Swapo stalwart and liberation struggle veteran Matias Hishoono was laid to rest at the Eenhana Heroes Shrine in Ohangwena, with hundreds of mourners including government officials, traditional leaders and party members paying tribute to his lifelong commitment to Namibia's independence and nation-building.

    25 January 2026 · The Namibian →

  5. EEC issues final orders against non-compliant employers' affirmative action

    The Employment Equity Commission has issued final orders against seven of eight designated employers who failed to comply with Affirmative Action reporting requirements under the 1998 Act. Two employers' reports were approved after corrective action, while five others faced disapprovals with potential criminal enforcement consequences.

    25 January 2026 · Informanté →

  6. President pays tribute to liberation hero Mathias Kanana Hishoono

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah honored the late Mathias Kanana Hishoono, a SWAPO Party founding member and liberation struggle icon, at his state funeral in Ohangwena Region. She called on Namibians to safeguard his legacy by upholding the values that underpin the national agenda.

    25 January 2026 · Informanté →

Business

  1. China dominates Namibia's imports, sparking global supply chain shift

    Chinese imports to Namibia surged to 7.3% of GDP in 2024, up from 3.1% in 2021, making China the second-largest source after South Africa. Globally, China is the top import source for two-thirds of countries, though geopolitical tensions are driving deglobalisation and economies are seeking supply chain alternatives despite China's entrenched manufacturing ecosystem.

    25 January 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. Walvis Bay Corridor Group consults on regional trade gateway strategy

    The Walvis Bay Corridor Group held stakeholder meetings to strengthen Namibia's position as a preferred trade gateway for SADC, consulting with transport and logistics partners to identify operational bottlenecks and inform the organisation's 2026–2031 strategic framework.

    25 January 2026 · Informanté →

Mining & Energy

  1. Ministry allocates N$12m to electrify 969 households in southern regions

    The Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy has allocated N$12 million to electrify 969 peri-urban households across Hardap and ǁKharas regions in towns including Rehoboth, Mariental, Aranos, and others, with work already underway in some areas and contractors appointed for others. The ministry aims to use grid extensions where feasible and solar systems where more practical or cost-effective, with plans to increase the electrification allocation to at least N$20 million.

    25 January 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. Energy ministry launches electricity access programme for southern regions

    The Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy launched a service level agreement with the Southern Regional Electricity Distributor (Sored) to electrify 969 peri-urban households across Hardap and ǁKharas regions with an initial allocation of N$12 million, with plans to increase funding to at least N$20 million. The programme will benefit communities in Rehoboth, Mariental, Aranos, Hoachanas, Gibeon, Aroab, Bethanie, Berseba, Aus, Grünau and Warmbad, with implementation already underway in some areas.

    25 January 2026 · The Namibian →

Agriculture & Land

  1. OPM owes meat producers N$28.1 million in delayed payments

    The Meat Corporation of Namibia says the Office of the Prime Minister owes N$28.1 million to livestock producers who supplied animals under last year's drought relief programme, with the delays affecting producers' confidence in timely settlement. Meatco also reports that a Cabinet-approved N$100 million Equalisation Fund to narrow price gaps for communal and commercial farmers has not yet been allocated to the company to administer.

    25 January 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. Namibian poultry sector expands despite continued high imports

    Namibia's poultry industry is expanding with new processing plants and breeder-hatchery systems, and SME production of 60,000 broilers weekly, but the country still imports over 11,388 tons in the first half of 2025—about 30% of domestic consumption. The Namibia Agricultural Union forecasts continued growth supported by increased capacity and improved biosecurity, though feed cost volatility and avian influenza risks remain challenges.

    25 January 2026 · Informanté →

Society

  1. Namibia must strengthen protection of biological resources: researcher

    A researcher at NUST warns that Namibia's access and benefit-sharing framework for biological resources is crucial for national sovereignty and resilience, and that weak governance allows materials such as pathogen samples and human biological data to leave the country without adequate benefit-sharing arrangements or capacity-building for local scientists. She advocates for stronger local research capacity, clearer benefit-sharing obligations in access agreements, and a dedicated coordinating mechanism to ensure communities and patients who contribute samples gain lasting benefits.

    25 January 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. Short-term rentals worsen Cape Town's affordable housing crisis

    Rising rents and the conversion of long-term rental units into short-term holiday rentals are displacing low- and middle-income families in Cape Town, with studies showing thousands of affordable homes have been lost to Airbnb-style accommodation over the past five years. The city's population has grown nearly 28% since 2011, creating a housing shortfall estimated at around 400,000 households, particularly in well-located areas near transport, schools and jobs.

    25 January 2026 · The Namibian →

  3. Okahandja power lines pose safety risk to residents

    Elderly electricity poles positioned dangerously close to homes in Okahandja's Nauaib area have prompted five years of complaints to Cenored. The distributor says it has completed underground cable replacement work costing N$322,420, with further maintenance planned for Okahandja North and West by June 2026.

    25 January 2026 · The Namibian →

  4. Namibia launches nationwide polio vaccination drive after virus detection

    The Ministry of Health detected poliovirus Type 2 in sewage samples from Kavango East in November 2025, ending Namibia's polio-free status since 2006, though no actual cases have been reported. In response, a nationwide vaccination campaign targeting all children under 10 years will be conducted in two rounds in January and February 2026, using the Novel Oral Polio Vaccine Type 2.

    25 January 2026 · Informanté →

Culture

  1. Community art workshop empowers local artists with new skills

    A 12-day workshop at Ombili Community Centre in Windhoek trained 12 aspiring artists in knitting, tie-dye, and painting, with participants now selling their work in the community. The workshop, supported by the National Arts Council of Namibia, aims to expand nationally and include school-based programmes such as mural painting.

    25 January 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. Taimi Nuunyango: discipline and credibility over hype

    Travel influencer Taimi Nuunyango reflects on 2025 as a year of discipline and resilience, emphasizing how professional reliability and intentional content strategy—rather than trend-chasing—have built her credibility with audiences and established brands. She now approaches social media as a business with systems and accountability, believing long-term success comes from authenticity, ethical partnerships, and consistency rather than constant visibility.

    25 January 2026 · The Namibian →

Sport

  1. Berkane, Pyramids draw in CAF Champions League clash

    Renaissance Berkane of Morocco and Pyramids of Egypt played to a 0-0 draw in a CAF Champions League Group A match on Saturday. The result left both sides level on seven points, with Berkane holding the edge on goals scored, and set up a return fixture in Cairo on February 1.

    25 January 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. Lakers defeat Mavericks behind Doncic's 33 points

    Luka Doncic scored 33 points with 8 rebounds and 11 assists as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Dallas Mavericks 116-110 on Saturday in his second return to his former team. In other NBA action, the New York Knicks edged the Philadelphia 76ers 112-109 with Jalen Brunson scoring 31 points to help the team snap a recent slump.

    25 January 2026 · The Namibian →

  3. American Josh Hoey breaks 800m indoor world record in Boston

    American Josh Hoey clocked 1min 42.50sec to break the 800m indoor world record at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in Boston on Saturday, surpassing Denmark's Wilson Kipketer's mark set in 1997. Hoey, the 2025 indoor world champion, was paced by his brother Jaxson Hoey and said he tried to stay calm and felt the support of everyone in the final 200 metres.

    25 January 2026 · The Namibian →

  4. Augsburg ends Bayern Munich's 27-match Bundesliga unbeaten run

    Augsburg defeated Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich 2-1 on Saturday, ending a 27-match unbeaten league run dating back to March. Second-placed Borussia Dortmund won 3-0 at Union Berlin to cut their deficit to eight points.

    25 January 2026 · The Namibian →

  5. Australian Open: heat halts play, Djokovic reaches landmark

    Extreme heat forced a five-hour suspension of outdoor matches at the Australian Open on Saturday as temperatures reached 38°C. Novak Djokovic advanced to the last 16 and became the first player to win 400 Grand Slam matches, while two-time champion Naomi Osaka withdrew due to an abdominal injury.

    25 January 2026 · The Namibian →

  6. India wins group stage; Japan advances in U19 cricket play-offs

    India defeated New Zealand by seven wickets to complete a perfect group stage at the ICC Men's U19 Cricket World Cup, while Japan beat Tanzania by nine wickets in the 13th to 16th-place play-offs, with Nihar Parmar taking four wickets and scoring an unbeaten half-century.

    25 January 2026 · The Namibian →

  7. PNG defeats Namibia in tight T20 World Cup qualifier

    Papua New Guinea beat Namibia by three wickets in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 Qualifier, with Isabel Toua hitting the winning boundary in the final over. Namibia set 123 but PNG reached the target with two balls to spare.

    25 January 2026 · The Namibian →

  8. Scotland replaces Bangladesh in ICC T20 World Cup 2026

    The ICC announced that Scotland will replace Bangladesh in the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup after the Bangladesh Cricket Board refused to participate in the tournament scheduled in India. The ICC rejected Bangladesh's request to move its matches to Sri Lanka, citing no credible or verifiable security threat, and proceeded with replacement after Bangladesh failed to confirm participation within a 24-hour deadline.

    25 January 2026 · The Namibian →

World & Region

  1. Cuban diplomat accuses US of piracy, blockade against island

    Cuba's ambassador to Colombia has accused the United States of "international piracy" and imposing a "marine siege" on the island by blocking Venezuelan oil shipments following a US military action against Venezuela's president Nicolás Maduro. Cuba has sought alternative oil suppliers including Mexico, though analysts warn the already struggling economy could face a breaking point and potential humanitarian crisis without Venezuelan oil.

    25 January 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. South Africa's DA party fractures over leadership, GNU role, Zille influence

    The Democratic Alliance is heading into a leadership contest marked by deep internal tensions over its participation in the Government of National Unity, the outsized influence of federal council chairperson Helen Zille, and broader questions of party identity and inclusivity. The departure of former MP Dion George—who accused the party of lacking transparency—has exposed a climate of fear and accusations that the DA practices internally the opposite of the values it preaches nationally.

    25 January 2026 · The Namibian →

  3. Indonesia resumes search for 80 missing in deadly West Java landslide

    Indonesian rescuers have resumed searching for some 80 people missing after a landslide in West Java's residential areas killed 10 people on Saturday, with operations suspended overnight due to harsh weather and unstable terrain. The landslide was triggered by heavy rain and buried villages, forcing dozens to evacuate.

    25 January 2026 · The Namibian →

  4. Mbappe scores twice as Real Madrid tops La Liga

    Kylian Mbappe scored a brace as Real Madrid defeated Villarreal 2-0 on Saturday, moving the club two points clear atop La Liga. The win marked Madrid's third consecutive victory under new coach Alvaro Arbeloa.

    25 January 2026 · The Namibian →

  5. U.S. Ambassador opens counterproliferation finance training in Windhoek

    U.S. Ambassador John Giordano opened a three-day National Counterproliferation Finance Legal Frameworks Training workshop in Windhoek, organized by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Arms Control and Non-proliferation in collaboration with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The initiative aims to strengthen Namibia's legal frameworks and operational capacity to address proliferation finance risks and improve coordination among stakeholders.

    25 January 2026 · Informanté →

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