Six pupils from Captain Reverend Dr Hendrik Witbooi Primary School in Gibeon broke windows at Dr WM Jod Junior Primary School. The school principal resolved the matter with the pupils and parents, who will cover damages, while the Hardap education director plans to address discipline issues during an upcoming visit.
19 March 2026 · The Namibian →
The government has begun a phased project to replace informal settlements with serviced land in Otjiwarongo, starting with water infrastructure in Eie Risiko that has already connected 80 households to taps and water meters. Urban and Rural Development Minister James Sankwasa said future phases will include electricity, roads, and sewerage, with plans to eliminate shacks in the area within a year.
19 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Affirmative Repositioning MP Esther Haikola-Sakaria has raised concerns about growing hepatitis B infections among young Namibians, noting that the virus is up to 100 times more infectious than HIV-AIDS but receives far less public awareness and prevention attention from the Ministry of Health and Social Services.
19 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Vice President Lucia Witbooi opened a planning workshop for divisions handling disability affairs and marginalised communities, highlighting progress including a sign language app launch, disability cost report, and national disability policy 2025–2035, while acknowledging resource constraints and challenges such as limited funding and land disputes affecting indigenous minorities.
19 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Pupils at Captain Reverend Dr Hendrik Witbooi Primary School in Hardap are increasingly disruptive, insulting teachers and skipping classes. School officials and regional education authorities attribute the behaviour to broken homes and lack of parental involvement, urging parents to reinforce moral values and collaborate with the school.
19 March 2026 · The Namibian →
PDM parliamentarian Diederik Vries has raised concerns in Parliament about the lack of sign language interpreters in public offices, saying this excludes people with hearing impairments from essential services in healthcare, policing and welfare. He called on the government to ensure interpreters are properly trained, accredited and held to professional standards, noting the failure violates domestic disability obligations and international commitments.
19 March 2026 · The Namibian →
The Zambezi regional education directorate is considering relocating about nine schools severely affected by annual floods in the eastern part of the region, with water levels at 6.78m. Consultations with relevant authorities are ongoing, and the government has allocated N$30 million for the uprooting of at least three of the schools.
19 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Pupils at Rundu Secondary School in Kavango East reported suspected food poisoning after eating lunch, with 15 treated and four admitted to hospital. The pupils blamed the hostel kitchen's dirty conditions and poor hygiene, noting the presence of cockroaches, flies, and drainage problems; health inspectors were investigating and similar incidents have affected schools across both Kavango regions.
19 March 2026 · The Namibian →
A one-year-old child died in Omusati's Ogongo constituency after being left under minimal supervision with other children, including two-year-old twins. Police say no arrest has been made as the suspected perpetrators are too young to be held criminally accountable, and the exact cause of death remains unclear.
19 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Minister Lucia Iipumbu said the ministry will fast-track its human trafficking action plan (2023–2027) in response to parliamentary questions about the rising issue. Between June 2024 and June 2025, six cases were recorded, with five Namibian victims repatriated from Myanmar and one from Laos, while perpetrators often target vulnerable children from rural areas.
19 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Residents and health professionals in Walvis Bay are demanding government intervention over toxic smoke from illegal tyre burning on state land, with a local doctor reporting increased cases of smoke inhalation and concerns about cancer risk, particularly affecting neighbourhoods like Kuisebmand and Narraville at night. The municipality says its hands are tied because the land is government property, and has appealed to the environment ministry for action.
19 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Naomi Fisch, 31, is set to appear in Rehoboth Magistrates Court on 20 March 2026 on new drug charges after her arrest on 18 March for dealing in cocaine and crack cocaine. She was previously released on bail for a similar drug matter in February 2026.
19 March 2026 · Informanté →
Tsumeb Municipality's 14 schools serve over 10,000 learners amid rapid population growth, with some classrooms operating at a 1:40 teacher-to-learner ratio. The municipality is identifying land for new schools, with the regional education directorate planning to prioritise a new primary school by 2027.
19 March 2026 · Informanté →
The Motor Vehicle Accident Fund is pushing defensive driving training to reduce road accidents, citing data showing about 1,000 pedestrian-related incidents yearly and noting that 72% of crashes are caused by driver behaviour. The fund is launching a workplace road safety programme and calling for company partnerships and media support to combat rising road fatalities.
19 March 2026 · Informanté →
The Namibia Qualifications Authority has launched an Evaluation Automation System to replace its manual qualification evaluation process. Education Minister Sanet Steenkamp said the new digital platform will reduce processing times, provide real-time tracking for applicants, and improve accuracy and consistency.
19 March 2026 · Informanté →
Vice President Lucia Witbooi officially launched the Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) Pension-Backed Home Loan Scheme in Mariental, allowing active pension fund members to access a portion of their savings to acquire, build, or improve homes, including in unproclaimed rural areas. The initiative aims to reduce the national housing backlog, stimulate the construction sector, and create employment opportunities.
19 March 2026 · Informanté →
The Namibia Meteorological Services expects rain on Thursday to affect Omaheke, Ohangwena, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, Kavango East, Kavango West and Zambezi regions. Authorities urge the public to exercise caution during heavy rainfall, avoid crossing flooded rivers, and activate flood preparedness measures, particularly in the Zambezi Region where the river is already overflowing.
19 March 2026 · Informanté →
The Bank of Namibia has warned the public against a fraudulent investment scheme using a fake website impersonating a media outlet and falsely claiming endorsement by Deputy Governor Leonie Dunn. The central bank stressed that neither it nor the Deputy Governor endorses any investments and urged the public to verify information through official channels and avoid clicking suspicious links or sharing personal information.
19 March 2026 · Informanté →
An Acting High Court Judge has ruled that a confession and warning statement made by Protasius Kuvirua, accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend Auguste Ndemupandula Jonas in Otjiwarongo in March 2023, are admissible as evidence, rejecting the defence's challenge that the confession was involuntary and made while the accused was in shock.
19 March 2026 · New Era →
Police in Omusati are investigating the death of a 22-month-old boy who was allegedly smothered with sand by his two-year-old twin cousins while under minimal supervision in Ogongo constituency. No arrests have been made because the suspects are minors.
19 March 2026 · New Era →
Poor living conditions and lack of employment and services in rural areas are driving Namibians to towns and cities, with the rural and urban population now roughly equal. The government is implementing programmes including small-scale farming support and infrastructure development in rural areas to create opportunities and encourage people to remain in villages.
19 March 2026 · New Era →
Erongo police met with taxi operators in Walvis Bay to warn them against transporting packages without knowing their contents, after several drivers were arrested for unwittingly carrying drugs and illegal items. Police urged drivers to work with law enforcement and report suspicious activity, while drivers raised concerns about their safety and unlicensed competitors.
19 March 2026 · New Era →
An Environmental Impact Assessment consultation was held for the proposed Nkurenkuru District Hospital, with community leaders calling for it to function at intermediate or regional level with full specialist services to reduce patient referrals to distant facilities, and pressing for at least 70% local recruitment and accountability over the project's decade-long stall since 2014.
19 March 2026 · New Era →
The Oshakati Town Council has directed all long-distance transport operators to load and offload passengers only at the Oshakati Open Market bus terminal (Omatala), not at informal roadside points, to reduce congestion and improve safety. Some smaller operators have expressed concerns about space constraints and visibility at the official facility.
19 March 2026 · New Era →
The Otjozondjupa education directorate has received a two-hectare piece of land from the Otumborombonga community for the construction of a primary school, funded by a German couple and valued at approximately N$2.2 million. The school, expected to cater to learners from pre-primary to Grade 7, will ease pressure on distant schools and reduce travel burden for approximately 7,000 residents in the area.
19 March 2026 · New Era →