Namibia Minute.
Sunday, 10 May 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Sunday, 10 May 2026
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Archive Minute from Sunday, 10 May 2026
Politics

ACC warns against public resource mismanagement at strategy workshop

The News

The Anti-Corruption Commission's Deputy Director-General Erna van der Merwe called public resource mismanagement "a cancer that eats away at the moral fabric of society" while delivering remarks at a consultative workshop in Omusati Region. The workshop aimed to gather stakeholder input for the development of the 3rd National Anti-Corruption Strategy and Action Plan for 2026–2030.

Why it matters

Anti-Corruption Commission's warning on resource mismanagement signals ongoing high-level accountability concerns ahead of the new national strategy.

10 May 2026 · Informanté

Politics

  1. ACC warns against public resource mismanagement at strategy workshop

    The Anti-Corruption Commission's Deputy Director-General Erna van der Merwe called public resource mismanagement "a cancer that eats away at the moral fabric of society" while delivering remarks at a consultative workshop in Omusati Region. The workshop aimed to gather stakeholder input for the development of the 3rd National Anti-Corruption Strategy and Action Plan for 2026–2030.

    10 May 2026 · Informanté

  2. Windhoek requires N$353 million for 2024/25 rainy season road damage

    The City of Windhoek has repaired over 76,000 potholes but faces funding pressures exceeding N$737 million. Mayor Sakarias Uunona states the city needs N$384 million annually for routine maintenance plus an additional N$353 million for damage from the 2024/25 rainy season, though it receives only 5–10% of required support from the Road Fund Administration.

    10 May 2026 · The Namibian

  3. Erna Kambalantu becomes Oshana SPYL youth league secretary

    Swapo Party Youth League member Erna Kambalantu was declared Oshana youth league secretary after contender Oshotuli Ngolo was disqualified for reportedly not meeting election requirements. Ngolo disputed the decision, saying she was only informed on the day of the election and claimed she had previously submitted all required documents.

    21 hours ago · The Namibian

Business

  1. NamPower schedules maintenance outage in Rehoboth on May 13

    NamPower will conduct a planned power outage on 13 May from 08:00 to 16:00 affecting Rehoboth and surrounding areas including farms, to perform maintenance on high-voltage equipment and power lines at the Rehoboth and Oanob substations.

    10 May 2026 · Informanté

  2. Government loses N$157.5m to illegal hake bycatch in 2025

    The government may have lost N$157.5 million from 17,500 tonnes of hake caught as bycatch by 15 horse mackerel freezer trawlers in 2025. The Ministry of Agriculture has admitted that current penalties may not be stopping repeat offenders, with hake bycatch in the horse mackerel fishery increasing sharply from 3,203 tonnes in 2020 to 17,500 tonnes in 2025.

    10 May 2026 · The Namibian

  3. Motorists hoarding fuel cost government N$300m extra

    Fuel panic buying in April drove consumption to 125 million litres versus the usual 100 million monthly average, forcing the government to pay N$805 million in subsidies through the National Energy Fund instead of the expected N$500 million. To curb hoarding, service stations have been directed to refuel customer vehicles directly only for the next three months.

    10 May 2026 · The Namibian

  4. Namibia's trade deficit narrows to N$2.3 billion in March 2026

    Namibia recorded exports of N$13.2 billion and imports of N$15.5 billion in March 2026, resulting in a trade deficit of N$2.3 billion—an improvement from the N$5.2 billion deficit in February. China was the largest export market and South Africa the main source of imports, with mining commodities (uranium, gold, nickel ores, diamonds) dominating exports alongside fish, while re-exports increased significantly.

    10 May 2026 · Informanté

  5. Minister to clarify anti-hoarding fuel directive next day

    The minister of industries, mines and energy said he would clarify a directive issued Thursday that banned service stations from selling fuel in jerry cans or oil drums, after stakeholders in farming and tourism raised concerns. The ministry said the aim was to prevent panic buying, not to prevent legitimate purchases, though the Fuel and Franchise Association noted most Namibian farmers lack the consumer installation certificates required under the directive's exemption.

    10 May 2026 · The Namibian

Mining & Energy

  1. Namibia, SADC face opportunity in minerals value addition

    Southern Africa is entering a new minerals cycle driven by the energy transition and demand for critical minerals, giving Namibia and the SADC region a chance to capture deeper industrial value through local processing. Success requires more than regulation — it demands reliable electricity, water, environmental systems, skilled technicians, infrastructure, finance and customers.

    10 May 2026 · The Namibian

Agriculture & Land

  1. Namibian student joins global agriculture collaboration in Peru

    A Namibia University of Science and Technology agriculture student is participating in the Global Intercultural Project Experience (GIPE+ 2026), a DAAD-funded programme bringing together students from four universities to address agricultural challenges such as water scarcity and climate variability in Quilca, Peru, an area facing conditions similar to Namibia's.

    10 May 2026 · The Namibian

Society

  1. Police arrest two in separate drug seizures, Outjo and Oshakati

    Police arrested a 27-year-old woman in Outjo after seizing skunk cannabis valued at over N$50,000 from her vehicle during a roadblock search, and a 34-year-old man in Oshakati after cannabis was found at his residence. Both remain in custody pending court appearance and further investigation.

    18 hours ago · Informanté

  2. Man breaks into police chief's house, cooks and claims ownership

    On 21 April, a man broke into the house of the head of Namibia's VVIP Protection Unit, was found cooking and wearing the owner's uniform, and claimed ownership of the property. The suspect, identified as Giano Seibeb, was eventually transferred to a mental health facility after interrogation.

    10 May 2026 · The Namibian

  3. Windhoek High Court overturns prison study restrictions

    Eighteen sentenced prisoners at Windhoek Correctional Facility won a court order setting aside restrictions on their study activities. Acting judge David Mangota reversed decisions by senior correctional officers to reduce study time from six to two hours daily and to prohibit mixing between prisoners of different security classifications for educational purposes.

    10 May 2026 · The Namibian

  4. Transport fares rise N$13 to N$15 amid stagnant commuter wages

    Public transport fares between towns will increase from N$13 to N$15 from 18 May, according to Transport Minister Veikko Nekundi, following taxi drivers' complaints about fuel price hikes with no fare adjustment since 2021. Commuters say the increase will worsen their financial difficulties while their salaries remain unchanged.

    10 May 2026 · The Namibian

  5. Namibia monitoring global hantavirus outbreak, no local cases recorded

    Namibia has not recorded any hantavirus cases, but health authorities are closely monitoring the global and regional situation and urging the public to seek immediate medical attention if experiencing symptoms, especially after rodent exposure or travel to affected regions. As of 6 May, eight cases including three deaths have been reported globally, five confirmed as the Andes strain, the only hantavirus strain known to allow limited human-to-human transmission.

    10 May 2026 · The Namibian

  6. Armed robbers steal N$200,000 at Oshikango business

    Police are investigating an armed robbery at Oshikango in which four unidentified suspects allegedly stole about N$200,000 in cash from a business early Saturday morning after overpowering a security guard. The suspects also took the guard's pistol and shotgun before fleeing; no arrests have been made.

    22 hours ago · The Namibian

  7. Ministry warns of fake officials scamming public for documents

    The Ministry of Home Affairs has warned the public against scammers posing as ministry officials to demand money for national documents, permits and residency papers, sometimes issuing fake documents. Most victims are foreign nationals who, unable to qualify through official channels, pay large sums to fraudsters; the ministry has identified suspects using the names "Martin Tangeni" or "Martin Tangeni Ndeitwa" and stressed it does not use intermediaries or authorise officials to solicit money.

    23 hours ago · The Namibian

  8. Man arrested after grandmother killed, child injured in Oshana

    An 83-year-old woman was killed and a 4-year-old boy seriously injured in an alleged attack at Ondiyamande village in Oshana region on Friday. The suspect, the woman's 30-year-old grandson, was arrested on Saturday and is expected to appear in Oshakati Magistrate's Court on Monday; police say he smashed a window and forced entry into the house while the victims slept, and the motive remains under investigation.

    10 May 2026 · The Namibian

  9. Three men killed in minibus rollover near Otjinene

    Three Namibian males died in a fatal rollover crash on the Omitara–Otjinene road (C29) on Friday, 8 May 2026, after a rear tyre burst and caused the minibus driver to lose control; several of the fifteen occupants sustained injuries.

    20 hours ago · Informanté

  10. Elderly woman killed, child injured in Ondiyamande attack

    An 83-year-old woman died and a four-year-old boy sustained head injuries after a violent assault at Ondiyamande village near Ongwediva in the early hours of Friday. A 30-year-old male suspect allegedly smashed a window and assaulted the victims with an unknown object; the suspect remains at large and the motive is unknown.

    22 hours ago · Informanté

  11. Regional Governor praises healthcare workers at awards ceremony

    Ohangwena Regional Governor Kadiva Hamutumwa encouraged leaders and public servants to build an efficient, accountable healthcare system at the second Ohangwena Regional Health Directorate's Health Professionals' Award Ceremony. Awards were presented to district hospitals, management teams, and individual healthcare workers based on measurable indicators including patient care, infection prevention, hospital cleanliness, data management, leadership and timely reporting.

    10 May 2026 · Informanté

  12. NamPower outage on 22 May will disrupt Windhoek water supply

    NamPower has scheduled a planned power outage at the Von Bach Base substation on 22 May 2026 from 07:00 to 18:00 to extend busbar connections to a mobile substation. The outage will temporarily disrupt water supply operations at the NamWater Von Bach Treatment Plant and affect customers in Windhoek, Okahandja, and surrounding areas including Hosea Kutako International Airport.

    10 May 2026 · Informanté

Culture

  1. Windhoek-born saxophonist Suzi Eises blends multiple musical cultures

    Suzi Eises, a Windhoek-born alto saxophonist raised in Oranjemund, began playing saxophone at age 16 while attending boarding school in South Africa and was inspired by jazz bands and festivals there. She has released a self-titled album and describes her music as a blend of the different cultures she has been exposed to.

    10 May 2026 · The Namibian

  2. Omagongo Festival celebrates cultural heritage and national unity

    Vice President Lucia Witbooi said the Omagongo Festival, scheduled for 23 May in the Omusati region, is a symbol of unity and preservation of Namibia's heritage, reflecting community values and the transfer of knowledge between generations. Omagongo, a traditional fermented beverage made from the marula fruit, was recognised by UNESCO in 2015 as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

    10 May 2026 · The Namibian

Sport

  1. AC Milan's Champions League return jeopardized after loss

    AC Milan suffered a 3-2 home defeat to Atalanta on Sunday that put their Champions League return at risk, while rival Como qualified for Europe for the first time. Milan remain in Serie A's top four but level on points with fifth-placed Roma and have collected just seven points in their last two months.

    17 hours ago · The Namibian

  2. Barcelona wins La Liga title with Clasico victory over Madrid

    Barcelona secured their 29th Spanish league title after defeating Real Madrid 2-0 in the Clasico on Sunday, clinching La Liga in consecutive years and moving 14 points clear of second-place Madrid with three matches remaining.

    18 hours ago · The Namibian

  3. Bayern beats Wolfsburg 1-0 despite Kane penalty miss

    Bayern Munich defeated Wolfsburg 1-0 on Saturday with a second-half goal from Michael Olise, despite Harry Kane missing a penalty in the first half. The win came after Bayern's Champions League exit to Paris Saint-Germain midweek.

    10 May 2026 · The Namibian

  4. Guardiola praises Doku's outstanding form in Man City win

    Pep Guardiola praised Jeremy Doku's "outstanding" performance after the winger scored in Manchester City's 3-0 victory over Brentford, keeping them two points behind Arsenal in the Premier League title race.

    10 May 2026 · The Namibian

  5. Arsenal near Premier League title after West Ham win

    Arsenal beat West Ham 1-0 to move five points clear of Manchester City in the Premier League title race, with a controversial VAR decision ruling out West Ham's late equaliser. Aston Villa drew 2-2 with Burnley, slipping further behind in the Champions League chase.

    21 hours ago · The Namibian

  6. 2026 World Cup faces ticket prices, political tensions

    The one-month countdown to the 2026 Fifa World Cup begins Monday with a record 48 teams descending on the United States, Canada and Mexico, though soaring ticket prices, political tensions, and conflict in Iran have cast an early shadow over the tournament.

    10 May 2026 · The Namibian

World & Region

  1. PM Ngurare attends Museveni's seventh inauguration in Uganda

    Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare will travel to Uganda to represent President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah at the inauguration of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni (82) in Kampala on Tuesday, and is expected to hold engagements to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.

    10 May 2026 · The Namibian

  2. Global Water Partnership moves African headquarters to Windhoek

    The Global Water Partnership Organisation (GWPO) will officially commence operations in Namibia on 23 May 2026, relocating its global headquarters from Stockholm, Sweden, to Windhoek, with a dual-headquarters model also including Cape Town, South Africa. The organisation aims to mobilise up to US$15 billion in global water investments by 2030.

    10 May 2026 · Informanté

Opinion

  1. Media ownership strategy crucial for responsive municipalities

    An opinion piece argues that local governments across Africa must develop integrated strategies for owning media assets—including community radio and digital platforms—treating them as essential infrastructure rather than add-ons, to reduce dependence on external media and enable direct citizen engagement.

    10 May 2026 · The Namibian

  2. Physical security breaches caused by eroded controls, not technology

    Physical security breaches result not from absent technology but from the gradual erosion of controls that exist on paper but are no longer enforced, driven by repetition, social judgment based on appearance, and executive exemption from security policies.

    10 May 2026 · The Namibian

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