Namibia Minute.
Saturday, 16 May 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Saturday, 16 May 2026
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Archive Minute from Saturday, 16 May 2026
Politics

Eenhana Town Council building stalled; N$9 million needed

The News

Construction of the Eenhana Town Council building, which began in 2018, remains incomplete due to non-payment of the contractor. The N$41 million project has had approximately N$27 million spent, with an estimated N$9 million still required for completion.

Why it matters

Eenhana Town Council infrastructure project stalled for years; N$9 million funding gap threatens local service delivery in the north.

16 May 2026 · Informanté →

Politics

  1. Eenhana Town Council building stalled; N$9 million needed

    Construction of the Eenhana Town Council building, which began in 2018, remains incomplete due to non-payment of the contractor. The N$41 million project has had approximately N$27 million spent, with an estimated N$9 million still required for completion.

    16 May 2026 · Informanté →

  2. President, VP attend burial of Swapo regional coordinator

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and Vice President Lucia Witbooi attended the burial service of Joplin Pagley !Gontes, Swapo's Hardap regional coordinator, on Saturday at Pioneerspark cemetery in Windhoek. !Gontes died on 4 May in Mariental after a short illness.

    16 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

  3. President praises late Swapo coordinator for unity, compassion

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has described Swapo's late Hardap coordinator Joplin !Gontes as a unifying and compassionate leader who believed in uplifting others and treating people with dignity. Speaking at her funeral service in Windhoek on Saturday, Nandi-Ndaitwah said !Gontes' values of humility, compassion and commitment to serving communities should continue to inspire Namibians.

    16 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Business

  1. Chinese enterprises contribute N$6.6 billion taxes 2020–2024

    Chinese enterprises operating in Namibia contributed more than N$6.6 billion in taxes, spent about N$50 billion on local procurement, and created about 48,690 jobs for Namibians between 2020 and 2024, according to figures cited by Chinese embassy counsellor Wei Jinming at the Huawei Namibia ICT Congress.

    16 May 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. Namibia's northern regions pay most for diesel

    Namibia's annual inflation rate slowed to 3.1% in April 2026, though transport and fuel costs remain under pressure. Consumers in northern regions (zone 1) paid the highest diesel price at N$24.31 per litre, while Khomas residents (zone 2) paid the lowest at N$24.12.

    16 May 2026 · The Namibian →

  3. President inspects BIPA One-Stop Centre to assess service delivery

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah visited the Business and Intellectual Property Authority One-Stop Service Centre to assess operational progress and efforts to improve ease of doing business in Namibia. She expressed satisfaction with progress and emphasised the centre's role in reducing administrative bottlenecks and creating a conducive business environment.

    16 May 2026 · Informanté →

Mining & Energy

  1. Appian Capital acquires 95% stake in Omitiomire copper project

    Global mining investment firm Appian Capital Advisory has acquired a 95% controlling equity interest in the Omitiomire copper project and plans to invest more than US$400 million to bring it into production, with capacity to produce about 30,000 tonnes of copper annually over a projected 15-year mine life.

    16 May 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. Koryx Copper reports strong drill results at Haib project

    Koryx Copper S.A. reported exceptional results from 17 drill holes at its Haib Copper project in southern Namibia, with consistent wide intercepts of up to 599m and copper equivalent grades exceeding average mineral resource estimate, including byproduct credits from gold and molybdenum.

    16 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Agriculture & Land

  1. Brahman bull sells for record N$800 000 at Windhoek auction

    A junior champion Brahman bull fetched N$800 000 at the Okabra Signature Sale in Windhoek, purchased by Shamrock Investments' Collin Venaani. The sale was historic for the Schneider family, whose bulls typically sell for around N$250 000.

    16 May 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. PM highlights agricultural production and youth employment cooperation

    Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare reaffirmed government commitment to expanding agricultural production and youth empowerment through cooperation with traditional authorities and regional partners. He outlined efforts to establish community-based food production projects across traditional authority areas, citing the Otjombinde project as a successful pilot where young people were employed through food-for-work and cash-for-work schemes to clear and prepare land.

    16 May 2026 · Informanté →

Society

  1. Government may launch fourth polio vaccination round if coverage falls short

    If polio vaccination coverage falls below the 80% target, the government may roll out a fourth round of vaccinations. The third round, conducted 27–30 April, achieved 47% coverage in the first two days, prompting the Cabinet to consider door-to-door vaccinations in certain areas if necessary.

    16 May 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. |Khomanin community moves to remove queen and council

    Members of the |Khomanin Landless Association are preparing to push for the removal of Gaos Juliane Gawa-!Nas and her traditional council, citing allegations of unlawful land sales, lack of accountability, and financial mismanagement over the past 15 years. The |Khomanin Traditional Authority has rejected the planned change and threatened legal action, describing the allegations as a smear campaign.

    16 May 2026 · The Namibian →

  3. Katima Mulilo proposes servicing 200 plots annually

    Katima Mulilo mayor Kabende Kabende has proposed servicing 200 residential plots annually for five years to address a housing backlog exceeding 6,000 units and over 2,000 applicants on a waiting list dating back to 2008. The plan aims to reduce informal settlements and introduce predictability and accountability in addressing land demand.

    16 May 2026 · The Namibian →

  4. Roads Authority seeks public help on reckless truck overtaking incident

    The Roads Authority has appealed to a member of the public who captured images of a truck overtaking on a solid line to come forward and assist police investigations, saying the footage is important in addressing reckless driving and improving road safety. Commissioner Petrus Swartz said authorities are committed to tracing drivers involved in dangerous conduct and can pursue both transport company owners and private vehicle owners through official registration records.

    16 May 2026 · Informanté →

  5. Two people die in motor vehicle accident on Long Beach service road

    Two people died in a motor vehicle accident on the Long Beach service road. Emergency rescue teams and law enforcement are at the scene; the cause and identities of the deceased are expected to be released as investigations continue.

    16 May 2026 · Informanté →

  6. First Gentleman calls for action on boys' education, mental health

    First Gentleman General (Rtd) Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah has urged urgent national action to address boys' disengagement from Namibia's education system and support their mental health, citing Ministry of Education data showing 8,720 boys dropped out of school in 2023 and a 2023 UNICEF report finding that only 76% of boys progressed from Grade 5 to Grade 6 compared to 85% of girls. Ndaitwah attributed the trend to absent fathers, lack of mentorship, substance abuse, violence, and gaps in sexual and reproductive health education, and announced that his office is developing national programmes targeting educational disengagement, mentorship, mental health, and father involvement.

    16 May 2026 · Informanté →

  7. Roads Authority to open Natis centres on weekends

    The Roads Authority plans to open all Natis centres countrywide over weekends to improve accessibility for clients. Extended weekend operations at Natis Valley Centre in Windhoek are scheduled for 16–17 May and 23–24 May from 08h00 to 14h00, with all services and bookings available during those periods.

    16 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Culture

  1. Mortal Kombat II film review: nostalgia and strong cast

    A reviewer finds Mortal Kombat II delivers childhood nostalgia and a strong cast led by Karl Urban as Johnny Cage, though the film is not flawless. The cast, including Adeline Rudolph as Kitana and Josh Lawson as Kano, helps keep the story engaging despite the film's shortcomings.

    16 May 2026 · Namibian Sun →

  2. Namibian artist Anne Lacheiner-Kuhn explores identity and belonging

    Namibian artist Anne Lacheiner-Kuhn, who grew up on a farm near Otjiwarongo in the 1980s, creates work using collage, found materials and reconstructed imagery. Her practice explores themes of identity, queerness and belonging, with her latest exhibition 'Be Longing' centring on those themes.

    16 May 2026 · Namibian Sun →

Sport

  1. McNealy leads PGA Championship after second round

    Maverick McNealy seized the lead at five-under par Friday in the second round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink, where cold, windy conditions created difficulty for the field. The 30-year-old American, in his 14th major start, made an eagle and two birdies in a five-hole span to reach the solo lead.

    16 May 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. Aston Villa beats Liverpool 4–2, secures Champions League spot

    Aston Villa defeated Liverpool 4–2 on Friday to secure Champions League qualification, with Ollie Watkins scoring twice. Liverpool slip to fifth place, four points ahead of Bournemouth with two games remaining, raising questions about manager Arne Slot's future.

    16 May 2026 · The Namibian →

  3. Svitolina wins Italian Open; Sinner advances to men's final

    Elina Svitolina defeated Coco Gauff 6-4, 6-7 (3/7), 6-2 to claim her third Rome title and first WTA 1000 victory in eight years, while Jannik Sinner set up a men's final against Casper Ruud.

    16 May 2026 · The Namibian →

  4. Messi and Ronaldo prepare for sixth World Cup appearance

    Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are set to become the first players to appear in six different World Cups at this year's tournament in North America, two decades after their debuts at the finals. Despite Messi suggesting his career was complete after Argentina's 2022 World Cup victory, he has continued playing, most recently winning the MLS Cup with Inter Miami and captaining Argentina to Copa America victory in 2024.

    16 May 2026 · The Namibian →

  5. Sinner defeats Medvedev to reach Italian Open final

    Jannik Sinner defeated Daniil Medvedev 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 in the Italian Open semi-final to advance to the men's final against Casper Ruud. The match, which was interrupted overnight due to rain, will give Sinner the chance to claim a record-extending sixth Masters 1000 title on Sunday.

    16 May 2026 · The Namibian →

  6. Duplantis wins Shanghai pole vault, misses world record attempt

    Armand Duplantis won the opening Diamond League pole vault in Shanghai but failed to improve his own world record after clearing 6.12m, then attempting to exceed his 6.32m mark. Gift Leotlela of South Africa won a Diamond League 100m for the first time, while Karsten Warholm was upset in the 300m hurdles by Brazil's Alison Dos Santos.

    16 May 2026 · The Namibian →

  7. South Korea coach backs Son for fourth World Cup campaign

    South Korea's coach named captain Son Heung-min in his 26-man World Cup squad and backed him to return to goalscoring form despite recent struggles at Los Angeles FC, believing a change of role could help him perform better in the tournament.

    16 May 2026 · The Namibian →

  8. Orlando Pirates need final-match win to claim South African title

    Orlando Pirates drew 0-0 at home against Durban City and must win their final match to end a 14-year wait for the South African Premiership title, currently two points behind defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns.

    16 May 2026 · The Namibian →

  9. Harry Kane hat-trick as Bayern win 35th Bundesliga title

    Forward Harry Kane scored a hat-trick as Bayern Munich won the German Bundesliga title 5-1 over Cologne on the final day of the season, finishing as the league's top scorer with 36 goals. St. Pauli and Heidenheim were relegated while Wolfsburg secured the relegation play-off place.

    16 May 2026 · The Namibian →

  10. Semenyo's back-flick goal secures Man City FA Cup final victory

    Antoine Semenyo scored a late back-flick finish to give Manchester City a 1-0 FA Cup final victory over Chelsea at Wembley, clinching City's eighth FA Cup triumph and second silverware of the season.

    16 May 2026 · The Namibian →

World & Region

  1. Namibia and India deepen partnership ahead of New Delhi summit

    India has supported Namibia's independence since 1946 and hosted Swapo's first embassy abroad in 1986. The Fourth India-Africa Forum Summit in New Delhi (28–31 May) will align India's development vision with Africa's Agenda 2063 and strengthen the relationship through business and ministerial meetings.

    16 May 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. Monica Geingos appointed Board Chair of global maternal health alliance

    Former First Lady Monica Geingos has been appointed Board Chair of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (PMNCH), the world's largest alliance focused on the health and well-being of women, children and adolescents. She succeeds former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, whose tenure ends in November 2026.

    16 May 2026 · Informanté →

  3. Namibia and EU extend strategic partnership roadmap to 2030

    The EU and Namibian Government have agreed to extend their Strategic Partnership Roadmap until 2030, originally launched in 2023 to promote cooperation in renewable hydrogen and critical raw materials value chains. The extension will deepen cooperation through European investment, technology transfer, and improved market access.

    16 May 2026 · Informanté →

Opinion

  1. Medicine shortages drive patients toward traditional healers

    An opinion piece argues that Namibia's pharmaceutical shortages in public hospitals and clinics are creating opportunity for traditional healers and sangomas, who operate without supply-chain constraints and face no medication stock problems.

    16 May 2026 · Namibian Sun →

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