Namibia Minute

Friday, 10 July 2026

Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026

Friday, 10 July 2026

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Politics

Amupanda seeks court order to halt ECN appointment vote

The News

Parliamentary leader Job Amupanda has filed an urgent High Court application to stop the National Assembly from approving Electoral Commission of Namibia nominees, arguing that lawmakers lack access to key selection documents needed for informed decision-making. He is demanding disclosure of interview minutes, scoresheets, the selection committee's recommendation, and the President's nomination, claiming the lack of records prevents lawmakers from exercising constitutional oversight.

10 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Politics

Amupanda seeks court order to halt ECN appointment vote
Parliamentary leader Job Amupanda has filed an urgent High Court application to stop the National Assembly from approving Electoral Commission of Namibia nominees, arguing that lawmakers lack access to key selection documents needed for informed decision-making. He is demanding disclosure of interview minutes, scoresheets, the selection committee's recommendation, and the President's nomination, claiming the lack of records prevents lawmakers from exercising constitutional oversight.
10 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Fishrot review case declared ready for High Court hearing
A High Court review application brought by former justice minister Sakeus Shanghala and 14 co-applicants against the Anti-Corruption Commission and other respondents has been declared ready for hearing. The parties proposed hearing dates in July or August 2026 and seek to have the entire Fishrot investigation declared unlawful.
10 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
High Court sets aside Keetmanshoop council no-confidence vote as unlawful
The High Court declared that Keetmanshoop municipal council meetings held on 7 May and 4 June 2026, at which councillors Easter Isaak and Anneliza Knaus were removed from the management committee, violated the law, standing rules, and the Constitution. The court ruled the no-confidence motion procedurally defective and ordered that Isaak and Knaus be restored to their positions.
10 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Namibian councillors receive salary increases despite local authority revenue constraints
The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development has approved salary increases for local authority councillors nationwide, recognising their contributions while acknowledging financial challenges facing councils. Part Two municipality mayors will see annual allowances rise from N$102,246 to N$108,380.76, with similar increases across other council positions.
10 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Itula threatens court action over ECN commissioner appointments
Independent Patriots for Change leader Panduleni Itula has threatened legal action against the president's appointment of Electoral Commission of Namibia commissioners, arguing the process is unconstitutional because the president nominated rather than appointed candidates as required under Article 94B of the Constitution. Itula also raised concerns about incomplete documentation, including missing sworn declarations on political affiliations and unclear term duration for ECN chairperson Gerson Sindano.
10 July 2026 · The Namibian →
AR supports ACC director general pick, pledges vigilant oversight
Affirmative Repositioning MP Vaino Hangula backed the nomination of Bryan Eiseb as Anti-Corruption Commission director general and the extension of deputy director general Erna van der Merwe, but warned that public confidence in the ACC has eroded over two decades of unmet expectations, particularly following the Fishrot scandal, and pledged his party would subject the institution to close scrutiny.
10 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Opposition demands access to ECN selection records before vote
The Electoral Commission of Namibia leadership appointments have sparked a constitutional debate over Parliament's oversight powers. Affirmative Repositioning leader Job Amupanda demanded postponement of the vote on the President's ECN nominees until lawmakers are provided with recruitment, interview, and selection committee records, arguing MPs cannot exercise informed judgment without them.
10 July 2026 · New Era →
MPs to conduct oversight visits during parliamentary recess
Members of parliament will continue carrying out oversight visits and constituency engagements during the National Assembly recess from 10 July to 1 September, according to National Assembly spokesperson Sacky Kadhikwa, who clarified that the recess should not be interpreted as a break from parliamentary duties. The third session approved Bryan Eiseb's nomination as director general of the Anti-Corruption Commission, while appointments to the Electoral Commission remained unresolved.
10 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Business

NYEF appoints Fanuel Shinedima as new CEO
The Namibia Youth Energy Forum has appointed Fanuel Shinedima, a former director of the forum, as its new chief executive officer.
10 July 2026 · Namibian Sun →
Naloba criticises Nandi-Ndaitwah's China delegation composition
Namibia Local Business Association vice president Peter Amadhila has criticised President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah's delegation to China, claiming those surrounding her are prioritising personal interests over the country's economic needs and that Naloba members were excluded from the delegation.
10 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Marine biologist urges investment in youth ocean innovation
Josephine Edward, founder of Lady Marine Consultancy, calls for greater investment in ocean innovation and youth-led enterprises to unlock new industries and employment in Namibia's blue economy beyond traditional fishing. Edward, who studied at the University of Namibia and University of the Western Cape, previously worked at the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources on ichthyoplankton research.
10 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
President urges Chinese investors to build manufacturing in Namibia
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah called on Chinese investors to partner with Namibia in building processing industries and creating jobs, saying the country must move beyond exporting raw minerals towards investment, industrialisation, manufacturing and technology transfer. She said Namibia's mineral deposits including uranium, diamonds, lithium, copper and rare earth minerals must be used to create greater economic benefits for Namibians.
10 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Nored loses N$4.5 million yearly to cable theft and vandalism
The Northern Regional Electricity Distributor incurs N$4.5 million annually to repair sabotaged networks and replace stolen copper cables, with the worst-affected areas in Oshana, Omusati, Kavango East and Kavango West. CEO Sylvester Wayiti said the figure excludes revenue losses from power outages and broader costs including customer dissatisfaction, reputational damage, and business losses.
10 July 2026 · New Era →

Mining & Energy

Industrial catering supports Namibia's mining and energy workforce
Industrial catering is essential to Namibia's mining and energy operations, with the sector relying on food services to sustain its workforce daily.
10 July 2026 · Namibian Sun →
Namibia prioritises women, youth in green hydrogen economy
The government and international partners, launching the GEF-UNIDO Namibia Child Project, emphasised that Namibia's green hydrogen transition must create opportunities for women, young people and local communities. The project aims to strengthen the country's policy framework, institutional capacity, technical readiness and environmental safeguards as it positions itself as a green hydrogen producer.
10 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
President meets Hyphen Hydrogen leadership in China
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah met with representatives of China National Chemical Engineering and Hyphen Hydrogen Energy in Chengdu to discuss strengthening cooperation between Namibia and China in the emerging green hydrogen sector. The green hydrogen industry currently employs 800 people in Namibia, with N$2 billion invested in various projects.
10 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia and China sign clean energy and oil-gas deal
President Nandi-Ndaitwah witnessed the signing of a joint venture agreement between Namibian firm Okaparwa Investment CC and Chinese company Sany Energy Equipment Co Ltd focused on clean energy and oil and gas, with commitments to value addition, technology transfer, skills development and local manufacturing capacity. The partnership aims to support industrialisation, attract investment, create jobs and contribute to Namibia's economic transformation.
10 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia recognized for distributed electricity generation reforms
Namibia has received continental recognition for its progress in regulating distributed electricity generation through development and implementation of net metering rules and embedded generation standards. The Electricity Control Board says Namibia was identified as a leading country in the GET.transform Distributed Generation Programme and positioned as a benchmark for other African countries.
10 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia and China agree on minerals, energy, trade cooperation
Following President Nandi-Ndaitwah's state visit to Beijing, Namibia and China issued a joint statement committing to expanded cooperation in critical minerals including uranium, lithium and rare earth elements, with focus on local processing and value addition rather than raw material exports. The agreement also covers oil and gas, renewable energy, agriculture, infrastructure, technology transfer and skills development to support Namibia's industrialisation and economic growth.
10 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Agriculture & Land

Hardap farmer increases potato harvest to 30 tonnes
Lingani Sibalatani of Staamland Farm in Hardap harvested 30 tonnes of potatoes this year, up from 25 tonnes in 2024.
10 July 2026 · Namibian Sun →
Ministry invites bids for Namibia–South Africa veterinary fence amid FMD threat
The Ministry of Agriculture is preparing to construct a veterinary cordon fence along the Namibia–South Africa border to safeguard the livestock sector and prevent the spread of Foot-and-Mouth Disease, with contractors invited to bid by 14 July 2026. The fence is intended to control livestock movement across the border and reduce the risk of transboundary animal diseases that could have serious economic implications for Namibia's livestock industry.
10 July 2026 · Informanté →
Zambezi mother builds vegetable business from child grant
A 24-year-old from the Zambezi region used N$100 of her daughter's N$250 monthly child grant to start a vegetable garden in 2024, which has since grown into a thriving business selling carrots, green peppers and other produce, despite challenges from roaming livestock and water supply issues.
10 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Society

Woman denied bail in N$5m life insurance fraud case
A 36-year-old woman appeared in Swakopmund Magistrate's Court in connection with an alleged scheme in which deaths were faked to claim insurance payouts.
10 July 2026 · Namibian Sun →
Windhoek destroys 580 tonnes of unsafe food annually
The City of Windhoek destroyed about 580,000 kg of food deemed unfit for human consumption over the past year as part of efforts to improve food safety and protect public health.
10 July 2026 · Namibian Sun →
City of Windhoek warns against illegal water connections
The City of Windhoek has warned residents and businesses against illegal water connections and stated that violators will be subject to immediate disconnection.
10 July 2026 · Namibian Sun →
Edu-Pull platform uses mobile games to engage learners
Leonard Nangolo Akathingo created Edu-Pull, an educational platform that leverages mobile games to keep learners engaged in their studies.
10 July 2026 · Namibian Sun →
24-year-old's charity supports Havana informal settlement
The Havana Charity Work Foundation, founded in 2021 by Penomwene Nek, serves as a lifeline for children and families in need in Windhoek's Havana informal settlement.
10 July 2026 · Namibian Sun →
Teacher welfare crisis undermines education quality, TUN warns Parliament
The Teachers' Union of Namibia told Parliament that poor working conditions—including low salaries, inadequate housing, and rising medical aid contributions—are harming teachers' wellbeing and directly affecting classroom performance and learner outcomes. The union urged the government to address these issues and take over community hostels to ensure hostel staff receive equal salaries and benefits as other civil servants.
10 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Government to upgrade biometric system for conduct certificates
Home affairs minister Lucia Iipumbu announced that the government will upgrade the Automatic Biometric Information System (ABIS) following technical failures since 2025 that disrupted the processing of certificates of conduct required for employment. The ministry has entered an agreement with a supplier for a software upgrade aimed at improving stability, modernising the platform and reducing delays.
10 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
NTA invests N$1.1 million in seven secondary schools
The Namibia Training Authority has invested N$1.1 million across seven secondary schools to strengthen pre-vocational subject teaching and prepare learners with practical skills for the labour market. Each school received N$150,000 for equipment procurement and enhanced teaching and learning delivery.
10 July 2026 · New Era →

Culture

Azaria releases new EP 'Nog Hier' drawing on personal struggles
Namibian singer-songwriter Azaria has released her long-awaited EP, 'Nog Hier' (Still Here), turning a dark chapter of her life into music.
10 July 2026 · Namibian Sun →

Sport

Spain beat Belgium 2-1 to face France in World Cup semi-final
Mikel Merino scored a late goal to send Spain through to the World Cup semi-final with a 2-1 victory over Belgium at SoFi Stadium on Friday. Spain will face tournament favorites France in Dallas on Tuesday.
10 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Alfred sets 200m meet record; Wanyonyi breaks 1km world best
Julien Alfred won the 200m at the Monaco Diamond League in 21.51 seconds, placing her third on the all-time 200m list behind Florence Griffith Joyner and Shericka Jackson. Emmanuel Wanyonyi clocked a world's best in the men's 1,000m with 2:11.83, surpassing Noah Ngeny's previous mark from 1999.
10 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Merlier wins Tour de France stage seven sprint in Bordeaux
Belgian Tim Merlier won the Tour de France seventh stage in a sprint finish over 175km from Hagetmau to Bordeaux on Friday, with Norwegian Soren Waerenskjold second and Eritrean Biniam Girmay third. Reigning champion Tadej Pogacar retained the race leader's yellow jersey.
10 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Sinner, Zverev advance to Wimbledon final
Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev defeated Novak Djokovic and Arthur Fery respectively to reach the Wimbledon final on Friday, with Sinner chasing a second successive title and Zverev seeking a second major championship.
10 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Sundowns Namibia supporters say Shalulile exit won't weaken club
The chairperson of the Mamelodi Sundowns Namibia Supporters Club says Peter Shalulile's departure after six years will not affect the long-term existence of the supporters' branch, noting the club was established before the striker joined and has members dating back to the 1980s.
10 July 2026 · The Namibian →
||Kharas football region chairman resigns citing statutory conflict
Emrico Blaauw has resigned as ||Kharas Football Region chairman, citing that his simultaneous service as a Keetmanshoop Municipality councillor contravenes the Namibia Sports Act and NFA statutes. He recommends the vice chairperson assume the role until the next elections.
10 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Samora Apollus: Windhoek footballer celebrated for dribbling skill
Jonathan 'Samora' Apollus, a Windhoek-born player, developed his football skills on a concrete surface and became known for his extraordinary flair and ability to dribble past defenders. He played for Orlando Pirates with versatility across multiple positions and won the Katutura Derby tournament in 1989.
10 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibian Welwitschias prepare for Vodacom Blue Bulls friendly
The Namibian Welwitschias will face the Vodacom Blue Bulls in a rugby friendly at Hage Geingob National Rugby Stadium tomorrow. The teams last met two years ago when the Bulls won 92-8; the new-look Welwitschias, mostly local-based players with few foreign professionals, recently beat Zambia 71-12 and their assistant coach says the team is ready for the challenge.
10 July 2026 · The Namibian →
South Africa seeks new coach after Broos confirms exit
Hugo Broos has confirmed his exit as South Africa's national football coach after the team's elimination from the 2026 World Cup. Multiple candidates, including Pitso Mosimane, have applied to succeed him, though the football federation may retain Broos in an advisory capacity.
10 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Tigers coach urges focus despite exam disruptions
Tigers head coach Viva Kamberipa says her team must deliver their best performance this weekend in the MTC Netball Namibia Premier League despite players returning directly from examinations and disrupted training sessions. The team faces Wanderers on Saturday at 16h00 and Namibian Navy on Sunday at 10h00.
10 July 2026 · New Era →
Unam Bokkies coach Sibanda steps down after seven years
Thuba Sibanda has ended her tenure as head coach of Unam Bokkies after seven years, during which she focused on player development, professionalism, and youth structures, helping the team establish itself as a consistent force in the FNB Women Super League.
10 July 2026 · New Era →

Tourism & Environment

Spanish astrophotographer praises Namibia's dark skies and research facilities
Spanish astrophotographer Aleix Roig visited Tivoli Astrofarm in the Kalahari Desert and highlighted Namibia's exceptional dark skies, scientific infrastructure including four 60-centimetre telescopes, and potential for astrophotography and astro-tourism. Roig documented celestial objects including the Milky Way and Magellanic Clouds during the PHOTOTRIP Namibia expedition.
10 July 2026 · Informanté →
Environment ministry relocates Etosha wildlife to drought-affected areas
The Ministry of Environment has relocated wildlife from Etosha National Park to restore animal populations in drought-affected areas, including 256 springboks and 190 gemsboks to Kunene Region, 90 zebras to Nyae Nyae Conservancy, and 15 gemsboks and 24 zebras to Uukwaluudhi Conservancy. The ministry plans further translocations of gemsboks, giraffes, and impalas in coming months to restock species, provide prey for predators, and reduce human-wildlife conflicts.
10 July 2026 · Informanté →

World & Region

Mbappé scores twice as France beats Morocco in World Cup quarter-final
Kylian Mbappé scored a brilliant curling finish after a missed penalty, and set up Ousmane Dembele's goal as France defeated Morocco 2-0 to advance to the World Cup semi-finals, moving Mbappé level with Lionel Messi with eight tournament goals.
10 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Limpopo premier warns against younger romantic partners in leadership
Limpopo Premier Phophi Ramathuba cautioned women in leadership positions against allowing younger romantic partners, referred to as "Ben 10s," to influence their personal lives and leadership decisions, saying such relationships are often linked to the downfall of women leaders.
10 July 2026 · The Namibian →
President maps Chinese investment priorities in Sichuan visit
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah met with Sichuan Province officials to identify sectors for Chinese investment and expertise, including agriculture, water, transport, education, and health. Sichuan pledged closer cooperation and reported that trade with Namibia has surged by 530%.
10 July 2026 · New Era →
Namibia-China friendship marks 35 years with healthcare focus
The Chinese Embassy says healthcare is a major pillar of Namibia-China cooperation, with Chinese medical teams providing free traditional Chinese medicine services at Katutura State Hospital since 1996; the 15th team treated more than 19,000 patients over 18 months, and the 16th team arrived in 2024 to continue the programme.
10 July 2026 · Informanté →
Namibian nuclear youth leader attends Russian international forum
Namibia participated in the Obninsk New 2026 International Youth Forum in Russia, which brought together more than 700 participants from 85 countries to discuss workforce development for the global nuclear industry. Noble Eiaseb, founder of the Association of Young Generation in Nuclear of Namibia, won the Atoms Empowering Africa video contest and attended the forum alongside a specialised summer school for international students.
10 July 2026 · The Namibian →