The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia and the Namibia Public Workers Union signed a Memorandum of Agreement on 12 August 2026 providing for a five percent wage increase for employees in the bargaining unit for the 2026/2027 financial year, following wage negotiations concluded on 27 July 2026.
16 August 2026 · Informanté →
The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia and the Namibia Public Workers Union signed a Memorandum of Agreement on 12 August 2026 providing for a five percent wage increase for employees in the bargaining unit for the 2026/2027 financial year, following wage negotiations concluded on 27 July 2026.
16 August 2026 · Informanté →
Trade unions are demanding a greater role in parliamentary workplace oversight visits, saying their involvement is crucial to address widespread labour law violations. Mineworkers Union general secretary George Ampweya said unions have welcomed parliament's efforts but questioned their exclusion, arguing parliament should focus on legislation while unions represent workers and address workplace disputes.
16 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Windhoek Mayor Sakarias Uunona attended an international transport summit in Moscow with representatives from more than 40 cities and is considering adapting some of Moscow's infrastructure, technology and safety systems to improve public transport, traffic management and commuter safety in Windhoek. Uunona identified passenger rail transport within the city as a priority, though he acknowledged the initiative would require significant investment.
16 August 2026 · Informanté →
Minister of urban and rural development James Sankwasa has denied corruption allegations after a leaked council document alleged he acquired four Bukalo business plots for N$45,000 in total. A source claims Bukalo Village Council passed a resolution in July offering the plots to Sankwasa without him applying or being on a waiting list, and alleges the purchase price does not reflect the land's value under the council's approved tariff structure.
16 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The IPC shadow minister of works and transport Nelson Kalangula has raised governance and legal concerns over the government's establishment of the Public Assets Management Agency (Pama) as a profit-oriented entity before dedicated legislation governing public assets has been enacted. He argues that state properties should not be handed to a commercially driven entity without full parliamentary scrutiny and explicit legislative boundaries, and warns that interim board appointments could undermine corporate governance and be subject to political control.
16 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Works and Transport has appointed a temporary board of directors for the Namibia Airports Company to strengthen governance, accountability, and performance. The board, chaired by Rosalinde Nakale, has been tasked with guiding the company towards greater efficiency while ensuring it operates lawfully.
16 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The Social Security Commission will increase the contribution ceiling for its Maternity Leave, Sick Leave and Death Benefit Fund from 1 September 2026, raising the maximum monthly employee contribution from N$99 to N$112.50. The ceiling will rise progressively over four financial years to reach N$16,000 by 1 March 2029.
16 August 2026 · Informanté →
FNB Namibia has expanded its local banking network in Khorixas from two merchants in 2017 to seven CashPlus agents and seven Cashback merchants, allowing residents to withdraw cash, make deposits, and access eWallet services at retailers including Shoprite, Choppies, Caltex, and NamCor without traveling to Outjo or Otjiwarongo.
16 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources, following an oversight visit to mining sites in Erongo Region, calls for urgent legislative and institutional reforms to address challenges and unlock the potential of Namibia's small-scale mining sector. Key issues include disputes between Exclusive Prospecting Licence holders and mining claim holders, and the need to amend mineral laws to formally recognize small-scale mining as integral to socio-economic development.
16 August 2026 · The Namibian →
At a Bank of Namibia public lecture, the governors of Namibia and Botswana stressed that natural resource wealth alone cannot guarantee broad-based prosperity, emphasizing the need for economic diversification, strong institutions, local value addition, technology transfer, and saving for future generations.
16 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia is set to sign a memorandum of understanding with Cuba on water harvesting and distribution, with technical expertise to develop canals, tunnels and other infrastructure to move floodwater from regions prone to flooding to water-scarce areas across nine regions.
16 August 2026 · Namibian Sun →
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has allocated N$8 million to service and repair 508 tractors ahead of the 2026/27 rain-fed cropping season (scheduled from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027), with work to be carried out by qualified ministry-employed diesel mechanics across Agricultural Development Centres in 14 regions.
16 August 2026 · Informanté →
Jacobus Gawaseb was convicted and sentenced to 22 years' imprisonment for the fatal assault of his pregnant girlfriend, Fransiska Naobes, in March 2023. Judge Dinnah Usiku noted widespread outrage over domestic murders and said courts cannot ignore public concern without risking a breakdown of law and order.
16 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Anti-poaching rangers exchanged gunfire with two men who entered a farm in Outjo district on Saturday; one suspect, aged 30, was injured, a 45-year-old fled, and a 35-year-old getaway driver was arrested with a rifle and ammunition recovered at the scene.
16 August 2026 · Informanté →
Fall n Opstaan kindergarten in Gobabis's Turiandjera township, founded in 2016 under a tree, now enrolls 143 children from kindergarten to preschool at no cost. Owner Johanna Nakale and three volunteer teachers provide free education and a safe environment for children from impoverished families.
16 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Cleaners at Tondoro Health Centre in Kavango West have been assigned to construct an administrative building while continuing their normal duties, with no agreement on additional payment. The Ministry of Health and Social Services confirmed staff were asked to assist with construction due to lack of funds to hire a contractor.
16 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibia National Students Organisation is seeking N$445,000 to fund its 19th National Students Congress scheduled for 20 to 23 August at Eheke Senior Secondary School after the Ministry of Education cut government funding. About 300 delegates from all 14 regions are expected to attend.
16 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibian Defence Force Vocational Training Centre, which opened in 2020 and enrolled its first students in 2021, has graduated its first intake in Level 3 vocational training including air-conditioning and refrigeration, bricklaying, carpentry, plumbing and pipe fitting, and welding and metal fabrication. Defence Minister Frans Kapofi called for greater use of vocational skills to strengthen the NDF, reduce unemployment, and support economic and industrial development.
16 August 2026 · Informanté →
In Windhoek, rental costs consume 30% to 50% of household income for many residents, with roughly 60,000 to 75,000 households directly affected by rising rents and housing shortages. While calls for rent control have grown, lessons from Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana, Ghana, and Sweden show that strict regulation can produce unintended effects and enforcement challenges.
16 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The ombudsman has identified cases of malnutrition among trial-awaiting inmates in police holding cells, with findings confirmed by the Ministry of Health and Social Services' Oshana regional office. Overcrowding and delays in the criminal justice system are straining resources, including food budgets.
16 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Police are investigating a housebreaking and robbery in Windhoek's Eros area on Friday, in which male suspects broke into a home on Kilimanjaro Street, tied up a 44-year-old woman, used her cellphone to access her internet banking application, and stole items valued at about N$51,000. No arrests have been made and none of the stolen property has been recovered.
16 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Officer Cadet M.P. Kavari, 19, collapsed while training at Farm Berquell near Osona Military Base on 14 August and was declared dead on arrival at Okahandja State Hospital. Police investigations continue.
16 August 2026 · Informanté →
A 34-year-old woman has been arrested after allegedly abandoning her four-month-old baby at a shebeen in Takarania, Mariental, while the child's parents were drinking and arguing. A Good Samaritan brought the baby to the Gender-Based Violence Protection Office; both children were placed in a shelter pending investigations.
16 August 2026 · Informanté →
Cameroon defeated Malawi 3-0 in the final in Rabat to win the Women's Africa Cup of Nations for the first time after finishing runners-up on three occasions. Cameroon had initially failed to qualify but received a second chance when the tournament organisers increased the field from 12 to 16 teams.
16 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Real Madrid defeated Schalke 3-0 in a friendly with Kylian Mbappe on the scoresheet and record signing Yan Diomande debuting; Barcelona won 5-2 at Basel with summer signings Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi featuring.
16 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Arsenal beat Manchester City 3-0 in the Community Shield on Sunday, with goals from Riccardo Calafiori, Kai Havertz, and Martin Odegaard, as Mikel Arteta's side showcased their intent ahead of their Premier League title defence.
16 August 2026 · The Namibian →
American swimmer Kate Douglass set the 50m freestyle world record twice on Saturday at the Pan Pacific Championships in California, first clocking 23.49sec in the heats and then 23.19sec in the final to win gold.
16 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Amy Hunt claimed her third European championship gold by anchoring Britain to victory in the women's 4x100m relay in Birmingham, completing a sprint double after winning the 100m and 200m. The quartet clocked 42.05 seconds at Alexander Stadium in front of a 23,000 sell-out crowd.
16 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Bangladesh defeated Australia by nine wickets inside four days in Darwin, marking their first Test victory on Australian soil and only second against Australia. Former captain Akram Khan called it the biggest achievement in Bangladesh cricket's Test history.
16 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibian u15 international footballer Tiago Schmidt has signed for Joburg City in South Africa, where he will play in the Gauteng Development League. DS Football Academy says the move represents its philosophy of developing and exposing young Namibian players for opportunities beyond the country's borders.
16 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Anti-poaching rangers exchanged gunfire with two suspected poachers at a farm in the Outjo district on Saturday morning, injuring a 30-year-old suspect; a 45-year-old allegedly fled, and a 35-year-old getaway driver was arrested. The suspects face allegations of conspiring to hunt specially protected game and trespassing.
16 August 2026 · The Namibian →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has departed for Durban to attend the 46th Ordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government on 17 August, hosted by South African president Cyril Ramaphosa. The summit will bring together regional leaders to deliberate on regional priorities and strengthen collective efforts towards sustainable and inclusive development.
16 August 2026 · The Namibian →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has departed for Durban, South Africa, to attend the 46th Ordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government, where regional leaders will deliberate on priorities for sustainable and inclusive development under the theme of resilient industrialisation through infrastructure, agriculture and critical minerals transformation.
16 August 2026 · Informanté →
Namibia was added to the U.S. Visa Bond Programme in January 2026, requiring some Namibian citizens applying for business and tourist visas to post refundable bonds of up to US$20,000. Additionally, as of August 2026, routine visa services are no longer available in Windhoek; Namibian applicants must now travel to Cape Town or Johannesburg for visa interviews.
16 August 2026 · Informanté →
The Namibian editorial commends President Nandi-Ndaitwah for opposing seabed phosphate mining but criticizes the lack of clear policy, after environmental commissioner Timoteus Mufeti granted Namibian Marine Phosphate an environmental clearance certificate despite more than a decade of unresolved controversy.
16 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibian argues that government simultaneously practices state capitalism (awarding contracts to state-owned enterprises without competitive bidding) and 1980s-style market fundamentalism, exemplified by the Public Assets Management Agency's plan to commercialise public housing and issue 30-day eviction notices to retired civil servants.
16 August 2026 · The Namibian →
A Namibian reflects on how traffic and urban growth have made the traditional one-hour lunch break insufficient for working parents balancing school runs and other commitments, and suggests Namibia could consider more flexible working arrangements with longer lunch breaks as cities become more demanding.
16 August 2026 · The Namibian →
An opinion piece criticizes a Gobabis restaurant for naming burgers after apartheid-era terms—Groot Baas, Ou Nooi, Klein Baas, Klein Nooi—that reinforced racial hierarchies and white authority, arguing these are not innocent farm expressions but vocabulary integral to colonial and apartheid systems of domination.
16 August 2026 · The Namibian →
An opinion piece argues that Namibia waits until notable figures die before recognizing their contributions, and warns the country may do this to Paavo Hasheela, whose decades of work in Oshikwanyama language teaching and preservation have been widely used in schools but not formally honored with an honorary doctorate.
16 August 2026 · The Namibian →