Namibia Minute

Saturday, 25 July 2026

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

Saturday, 25 July 2026

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Politics

Draft copyright bill proposes levy on hardware, exempts streaming platforms

The News

Namibia's proposed copyright and related rights protection bill would fund a cultural fund by levying physical storage devices and copying services, but exempts online platforms and streaming services where music is primarily stored and shared. The bill establishes a cultural fund managed by the Business and Intellectual Property Authority, financed through levies on imported or locally manufactured digital storage devices and commercial copying services.

25 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Politics

Draft copyright bill proposes levy on hardware, exempts streaming platforms
Namibia's proposed copyright and related rights protection bill would fund a cultural fund by levying physical storage devices and copying services, but exempts online platforms and streaming services where music is primarily stored and shared. The bill establishes a cultural fund managed by the Business and Intellectual Property Authority, financed through levies on imported or locally manufactured digital storage devices and commercial copying services.
25 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia to roll out electronic ID cards September 2026
Namibia will begin issuing electronic identity cards in September 2026 to modernize public service delivery, strengthen digital security, and support e-government programmes. The smart cards will contain biometric and biographical data and enable secure digital verification and online transactions.
25 July 2026 · Informanté →
Government advances trade management bill and investment laws
The government is progressing on a draft international trade management bill to establish an International Trade Management Commission that will oversee trade remedies, tariff investigations, and import-export controls. A separate investment promotion and facilitation bill, which completed public consultations between December 2025 and January 2026, is being prepared for parliament to create a more transparent investment process.
25 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Business

Gendev Fishing sued over non-delivery of N$3.1 million fish
Local company CitiProduce CC has taken Gendev Fishing Group to court over failure to deliver fish worth N$3.1 million under an oral agreement from December 2025. Gendev is separately embroiled in a salary dispute with workers and is the subject of a forensic audit ordered by the President in May 2026 following allegations of missing millions.
25 July 2026 · Informanté →
Walvis Bay airport installs N$1.3 million flight information system
Namibia Airports Company has introduced a modern Flight Information Display System at Walvis Bay International Airport to provide passengers with real-time flight updates, including arrivals, departures, boarding times, and gate allocations through digital screens across the terminal.
25 July 2026 · Informanté →
No leadership posts filled for Namibia Air yet
The Ministry of Works and Transport says no executive or leadership appointments have been made for the planned national airline Namibia Air, dismissing reports linking individuals to top positions. The ministry said a technical committee was established in 2025 to prepare for the airline's creation, but no formal vacancies exist and candidates will go through normal government recruitment and vetting processes when the airline is ready to recruit.
25 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Agriculture & Land

Namibia shifts water strategy to desalination and renewable energy
Facing drought and climate uncertainty, Namibia is moving away from traditional surface water sources toward desalination, water reclamation, groundwater management, and renewable energy-powered systems. The country's Cabinet Committee on Water Supply Security, established in 2016, has expanded its mandate from securing Windhoek's supply to addressing water challenges across coastal regions and the broader country.
25 July 2026 · Informanté →
Police and farmers' groups sign 10-year agreement against stock theft
The Namibian Police and four farmers' organisations have signed a 10-year agreement to strengthen efforts to prevent stock theft and crimes affecting farmers. The partnership, which replaces a 2020 agreement that ended in March 2024, brings together the police, the Namibia Agricultural Union, the Namibia Emerging Commercial Farmers' Union, the Namibia National Farmers' Union, and the Previously Disadvantaged Namibians' Farmers' Union to work on prevention, detection, and reduction of crimes in rural areas.
25 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Society

How Kahungu's payday proposal addresses worker cash shortfalls
The article examines a payday proposal through the budget of Selma Andreas, a cleaner earning N$3,500 monthly who struggles to cover rent, transport, food, and family support across two households, leaving her short of cash before month-end.
25 July 2026 · Namibian Sun →
Taxi driver's mistake leads to lost shotgun in Oshakati
A resident of Oneshila informal settlement in Oshakati lost his shotgun after a taxi driver mistakenly handed his concealed bag to the wrong passenger. The driver realised the error and returned to the drop-off point, but both the passenger and the bag had vanished; police have been unable to trace either.
25 July 2026 · Informanté →
St. Mary's Hospital opens N$3.93 million radiology and laboratory unit
St. Mary's Hospital in Rehoboth has inaugurated a new N$3.93 million Radiology and Laboratory Unit, equipped with digital radiography technology and designed to serve over 53,000 residents. The facility is expected to improve diagnostic accuracy and efficiency, with the laboratory processing up to 78,000 specimens annually.
25 July 2026 · Informanté →
Mentor urges men to speak openly about mental health struggles
Mentor and life coach Sidney Boois told a men's mental health awareness event at Eros Primary School that men must speak about challenges rather than suffer in silence, emphasizing that talking is the first step toward protecting mental health. The call comes as Namibia reported 1,474 suicides last year, with local figures including a soccer coach and hockey player supporting the need for open conversations and mutual support.
25 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Burst pipeline disrupts water supply to Otjituuo region
A pipeline between Otjituuo and Elandspan burst on Friday, interrupting water supply to Otjituuo and customers served by NamWater branches 7, 1, and 4. NamWater is carrying out repairs expected to take some time, with normal supply targeted for Monday; a water tanker is being dispatched to affected areas as an interim measure.
25 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Public Service Commission warns against fake recruitment notice
The Public Service Commission has cautioned the public against a fraudulent government recruitment notice circulating on social media, stating that no nationwide recruitment programme has been launched. The commission emphasized that all official government recruitment is advertised through official circulars and authenticated government channels, not through unofficial online links or social media.
25 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Culture

President urges cultural preservation and unity at Masubia festival
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah called on Namibians to preserve their cultural heritage while promoting national unity and economic development at the Masubia Cultural Festival in Bukalo, Zambezi Region. She welcomed attendance from traditional leaders across Namibia and delegations from Botswana and Zambia, emphasising that cultural festivals play an important role in preserving traditions and strengthening understanding among diverse communities.
25 July 2026 · Informanté →
Gospel singer Manda Gabriel hosts live recording at Zoo Park
Award-winning gospel singer Magdalena 'Manda' Gabriel is hosting a live recording at Zoo Park in Windhoek featuring Namibian gospel artists and South African gospel star Zaza Mokheti, marking her birthday month as what she describes as worship and gratitude to God.
25 July 2026 · The Namibian →
King Tedee, Jericho, Dixon perform at Walvis Bay event
Three major Namibian music artists—kwaito star King Tedee, hip-hop icon Jericho, and Afro-pop/ma/gaisa artist Dixon—are set to perform at the Wizy Man Lounge in Walvis Bay on Saturday night, performing classic hits alongside emerging talent.
25 July 2026 · The Namibian →
President calls for universities and museums to preserve cultural heritage
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has urged traditional authorities to collaborate with universities, schools, historians, museums, and research institutions to document and preserve languages, customs, traditions, indigenous knowledge, and cultural practices. She made the remarks at the annual Masubia Cultural Festival, noting that such preservation efforts and cultural education equip youth with conflict-resolution knowledge and strengthen national unity.
25 July 2026 · The Namibian →
President calls cultural unity foundation for Namibia
At the Masubia Cultural Festival, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah called on Namibians to preserve their cultural heritage as a foundation for national unity, urging young people to learn from elders and embrace indigenous knowledge while rejecting division based on cultural, ethnic or political differences.
25 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Sport

Noah Lyles wins US 100m title in world-leading 9.79 seconds
Olympic gold medallist Noah Lyles won his third US 100m title in 9.79 seconds at the US athletics championships, a world-leading time that matched his personal best from the Paris Olympics. Sha'Carri Richardson, the 2023 world champion, won the women's 100m title in 10.77 seconds for her third national crown.
25 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Team Namibia records victories, records at Glasgow Commonwealth Games
Team Namibia achieved success across multiple sports at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, with boxer Phillip Hoaseb winning his opening bout by unanimous decision, swimmer Jessica Humphrey setting national records in the women's 50m butterfly (27.97 seconds), and the women's bowls team defeating Malta in a tie-break and South Africa.
25 July 2026 · Informanté →
Duncan Scott wins Scotland's first gold at Commonwealth Games swimming
Duncan Scott claimed Scotland's first gold medal of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, winning the 200-metre individual medley with a Games record time of 1min 56.38sec. Australia's swimmers also dominated the opening day of the pool competition, with Australian mining baron Gina Rinehart funding a bonus scheme of 20,000 Australian dollars for every gold medal won.
25 July 2026 · The Namibian →