Namibia Minute.
Tuesday, 26 May 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Tuesday, 26 May 2026
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Archive Minute from Tuesday, 26 May 2026
Politics

Windhoek mayor's Azerbaijan trip draws scrutiny from activists

The News

Activist Sem David has called on the City of Windhoek and Ministry of Urban and Rural Development to release full details of mayor Sackarias Uunona's trip to the World Urban Forum in Baku, Azerbaijan, questioning the purpose and cost of the visit and why technical officials were not sent instead.

Why it matters

Activist calls for transparency over the mayor's Azerbaijan trip raise accountability questions about official travel spending and decision-making.

26 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Politics

  1. Windhoek mayor's Azerbaijan trip draws scrutiny from activists

    Activist Sem David has called on the City of Windhoek and Ministry of Urban and Rural Development to release full details of mayor Sackarias Uunona's trip to the World Urban Forum in Baku, Azerbaijan, questioning the purpose and cost of the visit and why technical officials were not sent instead.

    26 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

  2. NDF 18th Intake graduates at Osona ceremony Thursday

    The Namibian Defence Force will on 21 May 2026 graduate its 18th Intake at Osona Military Base after 12 months of training, with recruits taking the oath of allegiance and being formally commissioned as soldiers. The ceremony will be officiated by the Defence Minister and presided over by the Chief of Defence Force.

    26 May 2026 · Informanté →

Business

  1. Telecom Namibia summoned over nationwide broadband outages

    Telecom Namibia has been summoned by the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia following repeated nationwide broadband disruptions affecting businesses, institutions and households. The company attributed the outages to infrastructure-related problems and system faults, and said it will provide a full briefing on technical causes and measures to restore stability.

    26 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

  2. Telecom Namibia expands fibre and mobile infrastructure nationwide

    Telecom Namibia is executing a nationwide network modernisation programme under its 2027 Integrated Strategic Business Plan, upgrading core infrastructure, backup power systems, and mobile and fixed broadband services to improve reliability and speed, despite acknowledged recent disruptions.

    26 May 2026 · Informanté →

  3. TransNamib to relaunch N$1.7 billion locomotive procurement tender

    A year after cancellation over single-sourcing concerns, TransNamib will restart the process to buy 23 new locomotives for N$1.7 billion following an independent technical evaluation of manufacturers. The procurement will proceed through the Central Procurement Board of Namibia using secured development finance.

    26 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

  4. Namibia Producer Price Index declines 1.7% in Q1 2026

    Namibia's Producer Price Index fell 1.7% in the first quarter of 2026, driven mainly by lower prices in mining and quarrying—particularly salt, diamonds, and uranium—though the index grew 2.7% annually over the same period.

    26 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

  5. Meatco and union agree to salary increases for 2026–2028

    Meatco and the Namibia Food and Allied Workers Union have finalised wage negotiations, with employees receiving a 5% salary increase and N$200 monthly housing allowance rise in 2026/2027, followed by a 6.5% salary increase in 2027/2028 with no changes to housing or cold allowances.

    26 May 2026 · Informanté →

  6. NAM reports assets above N$23 billion, interim profit growth

    Namibia Asset Management Ltd reported improved financial results for the six months ended 31 March 2026, with operating profit rising to N$9.4 million from N$7.3 million a year earlier and assets under management increasing to N$23.1 billion.

    26 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

  7. Novaship acquisition approved with job protection conditions

    The Namibian Competition Commission approved Murrelets Investments' acquisition of Novaship Namibia while imposing conditions to protect workers, including a three-year ban on merger-related retrenchments and consultation and reporting obligations.

    26 May 2026 · The Namibian →

  8. Cran proposes fixed levy that would hurt small radio stations

    The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia has proposed switching from a progressive fee structure to a fixed 1.2% levy on broadcaster revenue, a change that would dramatically increase costs for small radio stations already struggling with the shift to digital platforms.

    26 May 2026 · The Namibian →

  9. Namdock seeks recovery of N$4m in failed Chinese steel purchase

    Namibia Drydock and Ship Repair (Namdock) lost about N$4 million in a 2024 steel purchase from a Chinese supplier that never delivered the consignment. The board has asked that efforts be pursued to recover the funds, with the chairperson noting the supplier company was either not legitimate or fake.

    26 May 2026 · Namibian Sun →

  10. Mediclinic-Treeside merger approved with three-year retrenchment freeze

    The Namibian Competition Commission has approved the acquisition of Treeside Medical Suites by Mediclinic Windhoek, finding no significant competition concerns but imposing a three-year moratorium on merger-related retrenchments and requiring existing employment conditions to be maintained.

    26 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Mining & Energy

  1. Namibian delegation visits Russian uranium mine to study extraction methods

    A delegation of Namibian farmers, a journalist, and employees from Headspring Investments visited the Dalur in-situ uranium mine in Russia to learn about its operations and extraction methods. The mine uses in-situ leaching, which dissolves uranium underground and pumps it to the surface, avoiding open-pit mining, tunnelling, and tailings ponds.

    26 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

  2. Parliamentary committee chair calls for greater Namibian participation in mining, energy

    Dr Tobie Ocean Aupindi, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources, has advocated for greater Namibian representation in management structures and increased participation by local entrepreneurs and professionals in the mining, oil, gas and energy industries. He also proposed that Namibia receive dividends in physical commodities such as gold, uranium, or lithium to build strategic national reserves.

    26 May 2026 · Informanté →

  3. African producers stockpile diamonds amid synthetic competition

    Natural diamonds face pressure from cheaper laboratory-grown synthetics, prompting African producers, particularly Botswana, to withhold inventory from the market to signal scarcity and protect long-term value rather than compete on depressed prices.

    26 May 2026 · The Namibian →

  4. Mining sector paid N$7.8b in taxes in 2025

    Namibia's mining sector paid N$7.8 billion in taxes to government in 2025, a 39% increase from N$5.6 billion in 2024, driven largely by corporate income tax from gold mining operations. Royalties rose 9% to N$2.5 billion and export levies increased 90% to N$685 million, while the mining sector's real value added contracted 9.4%.

    26 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Agriculture & Land

  1. Namibia must balance tradition with communal land reform progress

    An opinion piece argues that while traditional leaders' concerns about communal land reform deserve respect, Namibia cannot allow defence of custom to obstruct economic transformation. The article contends that current customary systems leave communal land residents trapped in poverty, unable to use land productively or secure financing, and vulnerable to inconsistent allocation practices.

    26 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

  2. Traditional leaders oppose government communal land reforms policy

    Chiefs from Kavango East and West say government-driven communal land reforms could weaken customary authority and increase pressure on ancestral land. They warned that formal land registration could lead to increased land sales and leave future generations without access to ancestral land, citing a conflict between customary practices and statutory law.

    26 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

  3. Ministry of Agriculture appoints Land Reform Advisory Commission

    The Ministry of Agriculture has appointed new members to the Land Reform Advisory Commission, which advises the Minister on acquisition, allocation and administration of commercial agricultural land for land reform purposes. The term of office runs from 1 May 2026 to 30 April 2029.

    26 May 2026 · Informanté →

  4. Namibia produces 52% of its mahangu demand, FAO says

    Namibia produces approximately 371,800 metric tonnes of mahangu annually, meeting only 52% of national demand and requiring imports for the rest, according to the FAO Interim Representative. The country launched a project to improve mahangu productivity and value chain development.

    26 May 2026 · Informanté →

  5. PM says two boreholes per village is achievable under Nandi-Ndaitwah

    Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare says providing every village with two boreholes is possible under president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah's leadership. He visited a community garden project at Otjombinde and said the initiative would fight malnutrition, create rural employment, improve food security, and support livestock farming and irrigation.

    26 May 2026 · The Namibian →

  6. Desert locust outbreak spreads across Erongo and Hardap regions

    A desert locust outbreak has been detected in parts of Erongo and Hardap, with swarms destroying grazing and vegetation across at least 15 farms covering 300–400 square kilometres. The Ministry of Agriculture says the locusts are in the flying stage, making control difficult, and has deployed vehicle-mounted sprayers to contain the outbreak.

    26 May 2026 · The Namibian →

  7. Kavango East governor revives stalled Uvhungu-Vhungu dairy farm

    The governor of Kavango East is reviving the government's idle Uvhungu-Vhungu dairy farm, which has been non-operational for 16 years. About 70% of the resuscitation work is complete, with plans for joint ventures and approximately N$160 million needed to make the farm operational.

    26 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Society

  1. Young people discuss social media restrictions at hackathon

    Young people shared mixed views on a potential social media ban for under-16s at a problem-solving event organised by Volunteering Matters.

    26 May 2026 · Namibian Sun →

  2. Five inmates escape Onandjaba Police Station after overpowering officers

    Five trial-awaiting inmates staged an escape from Onandjaba Police Station on Sunday afternoon after allegedly overpowering officers and stealing firearms.

    26 May 2026 · Namibian Sun →

  3. PM Ngurare criticises decade-long Nkurenkuru hospital delay

    Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare said government will no longer tolerate delays to critical health infrastructure projects, speaking at Triumphant College's graduation ceremony.

    26 May 2026 · Namibian Sun →

  4. Police and Navy conduct joint operation against illegal fishing

    Members of the Namibian Police from Impalila and Kasika police stations in the Zambezi Region, together with the Namibian Navy, conducted a joint operation on Saturday to clamp down on illegal fishing.

    26 May 2026 · Namibian Sun →

  5. Over 1,000 cadet constables graduate after nine-month police training

    More than 1,000 cadet constables completed their nine-month training course at the Ruben Danger Ashipala Police Training Centre and paraded in Oshakati and Ongwediva ahead of Friday's graduation ceremony, where the Minister of Home Affairs will deliver the keynote address on behalf of the President.

    26 May 2026 · Informanté →

  6. New union leader pledges to defend Namibian media workers' rights

    The newly elected president of Namibia Media Professionals Union, Shelleygan Petersen, has pledged to defend media workers' rights and ensure employers comply with labour laws, citing long-standing exploitation in the industry. The union plans to establish branches across the country and organize its first congress.

    26 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

  7. Three copper cable theft suspects remanded in custody

    Three suspects were arrested by Windhoek City Police Service in Dorado Valley after being caught digging up and cutting copper cables in the riverbed along the Western Bypass. They appeared in Windhoek Magistrate's Court, were denied bail, and remanded in custody with the matter postponed to 13 July 2026.

    26 May 2026 · Informanté →

  8. Namibia records 184 road deaths in under five months

    Namibia recorded 1,072 crashes, 1,767 injuries and 184 fatalities between 1 January and 17 May 2026. The Roads Authority has appealed to the public for assistance regarding videos of reckless driving and urged early emergency response following accidents.

    26 May 2026 · Informanté →

  9. Mother accused of interfering in N$2.1m Sanlam fraud probe

    The mother of Onandjokwe intern doctor Kelsey Kudumo is accused of repeatedly contacting and bothering a police officer investigating her daughter's alleged involvement in a N$2.1 million Sanlam fraud scheme. Kudumo is among medical staff members from Onandjokwe Intermediate Hospital arrested in connection with an alleged fraudulent Sanlam insurance scheme involving falsified medical reports and laboratory results.

    26 May 2026 · The Namibian →

  10. Prominent Namibian women leaders discuss personal growth and leadership

    An inaugural 'Inspired By Sessions' public dialogue event will bring prominent Namibian women leaders to Windhoek this Saturday to discuss personal growth and leadership, based on four main principles from the book 'The Four Agreements'. The session will be held at The Barn, Klein Windhoek, from 10h00 to 14h00 for N$300 per person.

    26 May 2026 · The Namibian →

  11. Kavango East governor urges healthy eating and organic farming

    Kavango East governor Hamunyera Hambyuka called on residents to adopt healthier lifestyles and embrace organic food production at a health awareness walk, warning against reliance on processed foods and encouraging families to start backyard gardens.

    26 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

  12. City explains brown water, pipeline damage, and body discovery

    The City of Windhoek has disclosed that brown discoloration in tap water results from sand mixing with water when pipes burst or corrode, and from residue stirred up by low reservoir levels following damage to the Von Bach pipeline. The disclosures came during a media tour of the water treatment plant, held after a body was discovered in a water treatment machine and residents raised safety concerns.

    26 May 2026 · The Namibian →

  13. Ministry considers private oncology contract for cancer patients

    The Ministry of Health and Social Services is considering a proposal to refer state cancer patients from the northern regions to the Namibian Oncology Centre for chemotherapy and radiation treatment at state cost, under a proposed contractual agreement. The proposal aims to ease pressure on patients who currently travel long distances to Windhoek, though it has sparked internal debate about outsourcing care while government facilities face funding shortages.

    26 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Culture

  1. Film commission hosts Kino Namibia workshop for emerging filmmakers

    The Namibia Film Commission is running a Kino Namibia workshop at the MICT Zambezi Regional Office with around 45 aspiring filmmakers, providing hands-on training in storytelling, scriptwriting and film production ahead of the Kino Namibia Film Festival scheduled for 6 June. Participants are organised into three production teams to create short films based on stories from their own communities.

    26 May 2026 · Informanté →

Sport

  1. Reyna named to US World Cup squad after Doha controversy

    US coach Mauricio Pochettino included midfielder Giovanni Reyna in his 26-player World Cup squad on Tuesday, four years after Reyna was nearly sent home from the 2022 tournament in Qatar following a clash with then coach Gregg Berhalter.

    26 May 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. Deon Hotto wins first PSL title with Orlando Pirates

    Namibian forward Deon Hotto won his first South African Premiership Soccer League title as Orlando Pirates defeated Orbit College FC 2-0 on the final day of the season, marking the club's first league championship in 14 years and ending Mamelodi Sundowns' eight-year winning streak.

    26 May 2026 · The Namibian →

  3. Gunners win first trophy, beat Unam 2-1 in Top 8 Cup

    Mighty Gunners won the Standard Bank Top 8 Cup after defeating Unam 2-1 on Saturday, breaking their cup drought following previous final losses. The victory earned them N$600,000 in prize money.

    26 May 2026 · The Namibian →

  4. Brazil seeks sixth World Cup title against Morocco and Scotland

    Brazil, hunting their first World Cup title in 24 years, face Morocco—semi-finalists in 2022—and Scotland in Group C, with new coach Carlo Ancelotti tasked with optimizing an unbalanced squad featuring strong defensive options but clear gaps at full-back, midfield, and centre-forward.

    26 May 2026 · The Namibian →

  5. NDF Raptors end NCS unbeaten run in volleyball

    In Round 3 of the 2026 MTC Volleyball National League, NDF Raptors defeated defending champions Namibia Correctional Service 3-2 in the men's division, ending NCS's unbeaten streak with a 15-13 tie-break victory after NCS won the first two sets. Raptors remained unbeaten at the top of the standings with 17 points from six matches.

    26 May 2026 · The Namibian →

  6. Glasner urges Palace to win Conference League final

    Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner says defeating Rayo Vallecano in the UEFA Conference League final would atone for their Europa League demotion due to UEFA multi-club ownership rules, and return them to the competition they "deserved" to play in this season.

    26 May 2026 · The Namibian →

  7. Canada seeks first World Cup win under coach Marsch

    Canada, co-hosts for an upcoming World Cup, are targeting their first-ever tournament victory after losing all six previous matches across appearances in 1986 and 2022. Coach Jesse Marsch's squad, featuring Bayern Munich's Alphonso Davies and Juventus's Jonathan David, reached the 2024 Copa America semi-finals and will face Bosnia-Herzegovina, Qatar, and Switzerland in their group.

    26 May 2026 · The Namibian →

  8. Son Heung-min faces World Cup pressure amid faltering form

    South Korea heads to the 2026 World Cup in North America with 33-year-old captain Son Heung-min likely playing his last tournament, amid concerns over his declining performance and coach Hong Myung-bo's unpopularity after pre-World Cup friendly losses to Ivory Coast and Austria. Son has scored 54 goals in 143 games for South Korea and has been their key player for over 15 years, but his recent form has waned since joining Los Angeles FC.

    26 May 2026 · The Namibian →

  9. Mexico seeks quarter-final return in World Cup co-hosting bid

    Mexico, co-hosting the World Cup, reached the quarter-finals when it hosted the tournament in 1970 and 1986. Under veteran coach Javier Aguirre, Mexico opens Group A against South Africa, followed by matches against South Korea and the Czech Republic.

    26 May 2026 · The Namibian →

  10. South Africa coach Broos relies on local stars for 2026 World Cup

    South Africa coach Hugo Broos has selected 25 South African Premiership players in his 32-man provisional squad for the 2026 World Cup, bucking the trend among African qualifiers to favour Europe-based players. Broos, retiring from football after the tournament, notes that few South Africans play abroad due to good salaries and working conditions in the Premiership, Africa's richest national league.

    26 May 2026 · The Namibian →

  11. Arsenal's defence meets PSG's attack in Champions League style

    Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain meet in Saturday's Champions League final in a clash of styles—PSG with continental attacking prowess against Mikel Arteta's pragmatic, defensive Arsenal, who have conceded only six goals in 14 matches while PSG have let in 22.

    26 May 2026 · The Namibian →

  12. Three Namibian athletes compete at Cape Town marathon

    Jeremia Shaliaxwe, Salmi Nduviteko and Ottilie Aimwata represented Namibia at the 2026 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon in South Africa on Sunday following sponsorship from SanlamAllianz, after winning at the SanlamAllianz Coastal Marathon in Swakopmund on 25 April. Aimwata finished 156th overall and 2nd in the senior women's category, while Nduviteko placed 10th among female runners out of 6,910.

    26 May 2026 · The Namibian →

  13. Vingegaard wins fourth stage to extend Giro d'Italia lead

    Jonas Vingegaard soloed to victory in the 16th stage of the Giro d'Italia on Tuesday in Switzerland, claiming his fourth summit finish win and extending his overall lead to more than four minutes with five stages remaining. The Dane, bidding to become the eighth rider to win all three Grand Tours, has secured ten stage wins this season.

    26 May 2026 · The Namibian →

  14. Messi sidelined with left hamstring muscle fatigue before World Cup

    Lionel Messi was diagnosed with muscle fatigue in his left hamstring after leaving Inter Miami's match on Sunday, with no clear return date announced. The injury comes weeks before the World Cup, which kicks off June 11 with Argentina's first match scheduled five days later against Algeria.

    26 May 2026 · The Namibian →

  15. Scotland seeks World Cup success after 28-year absence

    Scotland return to the World Cup for the first time in 28 years, determined to break a history of group-stage exits after 12 previous failed attempts at major tournaments. With an experienced squad featuring players from Liverpool, Aston Villa, and Napoli, and the new 48-team format offering expanded knockout qualification, Scotland opens against Haiti before facing Morocco and Brazil in Group C.

    26 May 2026 · The Namibian →

World & Region

  1. East Africa seeks curb on used clothing imports

    East African countries want to restrict imports of used clothes, though implementation remains challenging.

    26 May 2026 · Namibian Sun →

  2. Dr Kamwi appointed president of Africa's AIDS body

    Former Namibian health minister Dr Richard Kamwi has been appointed president of the Society for AIDS in Africa, an organisation focused on strengthening the continent's response to HIV, tuberculosis, hepatitis, emerging infectious diseases and broader public health issues. The appointment followed a leadership handover ceremony and executive board transition meeting held in Accra, Ghana on 14–15 May.

    26 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

  3. Morocco eyes World Cup success after AFCON and coaching turnover

    Morocco reached the 2022 World Cup semi-finals and are ranked eighth globally, but face fresh ambitions after a turbulent period including a loss in the Africa Cup of Nations final and the departure of coach Walid Regragui in March. Supporters hope for more expansive play than the defensive style that worked in Qatar, where Morocco lost to France and then Croatia in the third-place play-off.

    26 May 2026 · The Namibian →

  4. USA aims for knockout round after poor pre-World Cup form

    The US enters World Cup Group D with questions to answer after losing recent friendlies to Belgium (5-2) and Portugal (2-0). Coach Mauricio Pochettino will rely on European-based players including Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Tyler Adams for group matches against Paraguay, Australia, and Turkey.

    26 May 2026 · The Namibian →

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