The Hambukushu Traditional Authority has rejected Minister James Sankwasa's claim that it refused to participate in Government consultation on traditional and customary matters.
17 August 2026 · Namibian Sun →
The Hambukushu Traditional Authority has rejected Minister James Sankwasa's claim that it refused to participate in Government consultation on traditional and customary matters.
17 August 2026 · Namibian Sun →
Namibia's Chief Justice has convened stakeholders to consider security assessment findings covering more than 400 judicial officers and prosecutors, with the assessment to be submitted to Cabinet and the Office of the Prime Minister. The move addresses risks of intimidation and violence faced by those administering and prosecuting the law, prompted partly by the death of regional control prosecutor Justine Shiweda in October 2025.
17 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Urban and Rural Development Minister James Sankwasa has rejected allegations that he received preferential treatment in purchasing four business plots in Bukalo Extension 2 for N$45,000 combined. Former Bukalo Village Council CEO Martin Limbo questioned whether the transaction complied with legal requirements and whether the price represented a discount, claiming the properties were individually valued at approximately N$23,500 each.
17 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Namibia's Cabinet has approved the establishment of the Public Assets Management Agency of Namibia (PAMA), a state-owned company intended to strengthen transparent and efficient management of the country's commercial public assets. The government's immovable assets are valued at about N$47.4 billion, comprising approximately 9,640 properties including land, housing, clinics, prisons, hospitals, and schools.
17 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
National Assembly Speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila warned that African countries' signing and ratifying continental agreements will mean little without concrete action to implement them, and that the African Continental Free Trade Area should not be viewed as a solution in itself but as an instrument whose success depends on member states' willingness to honour their obligations.
17 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Chief Justice Peter Shivute convened a meeting to review a security assessment for over 400 prosecutors and judicial officers, following concerns heightened by the death of regional prosecutor Justine Shiweda. The report is expected to be submitted to Cabinet and the Office of the Prime Minister in the coming weeks for consideration and possible implementation.
17 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Swapo Party Youth League wants the Cabinet to oversee environmental clearance decisions, arguing that ministers must supervise decisions within their ministries. Critics including former Cabinet minister Helmut Angula warn that Cabinet involvement could politicise the process and that administrators should remain responsible for ECC applications.
17 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Parliamentarian Vetaruhe Kandorozu argues that Namibia's N$700,000 contribution to Cuba is inadequate given Cuba's role in the country's liberation struggle and current economic difficulties. He proposes the government consider donating an annual fishing quota as a once-off contribution and calls on businesses in fishing, mining, construction and pharmaceutical sectors to increase support.
17 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare visited Namibian students in Havana and heard complaints about electricity shortages and poor hostel food disrupting their studies. He pledged that the government would not abandon them, praising their resilience despite the difficult conditions.
17 August 2026 · New Era →
The National Democratic Party has renewed calls for clarity on the outcome of the 2024 Delimitation Commission, saying Namibians who participated in consultations deserve to know what became of their recommendations. NDP leader Martin Lukato said the party received a response from the Presidency following a petition submitted to President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.
17 August 2026 · New Era →
Lüderitz residents are calling for permanent appointments to vacant executive positions at the town council and improved financial reporting after years of acting appointments and delayed audits. The CEO, strategic executive for finance, and strategic executive for engineering posts have been filled in an acting capacity for almost four years, and the council's financial statements have not been submitted to the auditor general.
17 August 2026 · The Namibian →
At the African Feminism Forum in Windhoek, speakers including former first lady Monica Geingos called for better financing, leadership, and social protection to advance women's rights, with focus on care work, debt, taxation, and financial inclusion. The discussion also addressed women's political leadership, economic structures, and the Maputo Protocol as a framework for African women to claim their rights.
17 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The National Assembly's public accounts committee has called on Eenhana Town Council to account for and repay millions in interest wrongly charged to residents. Auditor general findings showed the council recorded more than N$3.32 million in interest against an expected N$493 995, a difference of about N$2.8 million, which the council says it will credit to affected residents' accounts.
17 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Rundu residents and leaders have opposed a proposed N$100 300 trip for mayor Andreas Jikerwa to attend the 15th Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona from 3 to 5 November, arguing the funds should address the town's challenges instead. The Rundu chief executive said the submission remains under consideration by the management committee and full council before final approval is sought from the line minister.
17 August 2026 · The Namibian →
A Windhoek resident facing multiple rape charges sued Namibian Sun for N$300,000 over a March 2024 article about his alleged sexual abuse of 15 teenage boys, but the High Court ruled the article was not defamatory and contained material that was true or substantially true and in the public interest.
17 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibia Industrial Development Agency has earmarked 56 properties valued at more than N$277 million for transfer to the newly established Public Assets Management Agency.
17 August 2026 · Namibian Sun →
The Welwitschia Fund, established in 2022 to convert Namibia's resource wealth into longer-term financial wealth, has recorded a market value of US$30.85 million (N$508.47 million) as of 31 July, with an annualised return of 15.5% since inception. The fund is designed to strengthen Namibia's resilience to economic shocks and promote intergenerational equity, with a companion Sovereign Wealth Fund of Namibia Bill expected to be tabled in Parliament in 2026.
17 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Oryx Properties Limited has received approval from the Namibian Competition Commission for its proposed acquisition of a large industrial warehouse for N$251.2 million, excluding transaction costs. The company announced that NaCC approved the proposed merger without conditions, though implementation remains subject to fulfilment of remaining conditions precedent.
17 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Standard Bank Namibia has made Dynamic Currency Conversion available across its ATM network, allowing international cardholders to view and complete cash withdrawals in their home currency. The service provides clarity on exchange rates and supports informed decision-making by visitors.
17 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Namibia Security Exchange's Overall Index fell 1.53% over the week ended 14 August to 2,403.27 points, driven by losses in the financial sector (down 2.10%) and basic materials (down 2.05%), though consumer staples rose 7.40% and the Local Index gained 0.13%.
17 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Standard Bank Namibia benefits from higher interest rates and strong deposit growth (31% to N$39 billion in H1 2026), but faces pressure on asset quality as the bank deploys surplus funds into loans to other banks and short-term investments rather than customer lending.
17 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Urban workers routinely send money to families in rural villages for food, school fees, medical expenses, and housing, forming a significant but underexamined economic system that challenges assumptions about urbanisation and development in Namibia.
17 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Standard Bank Namibia has appointed Jerome Namaseb as executive officer for personal and private banking, effective 3 August. Namaseb previously served as chief executive of the Daures Green Hydrogen Village and held senior positions in the financial services sector.
17 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibian Competition Commission has raised merger notification thresholds, increasing the combined assets or turnover threshold from N$30 million to N$60 million and the target company threshold from N$15 million to N$30 million, citing economic growth since 2017 and the need to focus on transactions likely to affect competition and public interest.
17 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Businesses and workers face potential financial pressure over compulsory contributions under a planned national pension fund. Employers warn that the contributions could squeeze struggling small businesses and reduce take-home pay for low-income employees, with concerns that adding another statutory obligation could discourage hiring.
17 August 2026 · The Namibian →
RMB Namibia has appointed Tim von Hase to head its trade and treasury solutions team, where he will manage services for corporate clients' cash flow, payments, and international trade. Von Hase joins from FNB Namibia, where he was retail credit head, bringing over 10 years of banking, consulting, and industry experience.
17 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Joel Angula, a former protection officer at Namib Desert Diamonds, will hear the fate of his High Court bail appeal on 18 September. Angula was arrested in connection with a January 2025 robbery in which 512 parcels of unpolished diamonds valued at N$335 650 038.05 were stolen from Namdia; rough diamonds valued at N$4 783 476.15 were found at his residence.
17 August 2026 · Informanté →
The proposed development of TotalEnergies' Venus oil discovery could require about US$17 billion (N$274 billion) in investment, an amount larger than Namibia's entire annual GDP, according to Uanguta.
17 August 2026 · Namibian Sun →
The Bank of Namibia and UNAM convened a public lecture featuring the governors of Namibia and Botswana to discuss translating natural resource endowments into sustainable prosperity through economic diversification, sovereign wealth management, and local value addition in sectors including oil, gas, and green hydrogen.
17 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
SADC secretary Elias Magosi has called on the region to stop exporting raw minerals and instead focus on beneficiation, value addition, manufacturing and industrialisation to create jobs and wealth, noting that SADC is rich in critical minerals including lithium, cobalt, graphite, manganese, copper, rare earth elements and platinum group metals.
17 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia and Botswana have discussed how natural resource wealth can be transformed into sustainable and inclusive prosperity, with both countries stressing the importance of economic diversification, strong institutions, and saving for future generations. Bank of Namibia governor Ebson Uanguta highlighted that resource wealth alone cannot guarantee broad-based prosperity, and called for greater local value addition, technology transfer, and stronger domestic supply chains as the country explores opportunities in oil and gas, renewable energy, and green hydrogen.
17 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Luxembourg-based Koryx Copper has completed infill drilling at the Haib copper project in southern Namibia, with assay results from 17 drill holes showing positive trends and reinforcing confidence in the deposit as it advances toward a pre-feasibility study expected at the end of 2026.
17 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Bank Windhoek and the Development Bank of Namibia will provide N$98 million to fund Andrada Mining's ore-sorting project at its Uis mine, with each bank lending N$49 million over 10 years. The expansion aims to increase tin concentrate output and unlock the mine's operational and cash-generating potential.
17 August 2026 · The Namibian →
South Africa is stepping up efforts to combat foot-and-mouth disease through increased vaccination, improved regulations, and cooperation between government and farmers, though over 1,800 of 2,764 reported outbreaks across five open FMD events remain active.
17 August 2026 · Informanté →
Namibia's ministry of agriculture is spending about N$8 million to service and repair 508 tractors ahead of the 2026/2027 rain-fed cropping season, which runs from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027. The work covers 385 tractors requiring minor servicing and 112 requiring major repairs, with services to be conducted at agricultural development centres and technology centres across the country.
17 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Livestock farmers in the Zambezi region staged a demonstration calling for government intervention after Meatco handed over management of the Katima Mulilo abattoir to Zambezi Meat Cooperation in June; the abattoir has remained closed pending regulatory and operational requirements, leaving farmers without a formal market.
17 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia is short of at least 49 social workers at constituency level, with the Ministry of Gender, Equality and Social Welfare reporting significant staffing disparities across the country.
17 August 2026 · Namibian Sun →
A man wanted in connection with the murder of 16-year-old Myne Hoases near Otavi allegedly shot himself after opening fire on police officers during a confrontation.
17 August 2026 · Namibian Sun →
Police are investigating several housebreaking and theft cases across Namibia, including an incident in Windhoek where suspects allegedly tied up a woman and used her phone to access her banking application, stealing items worth more than N$51,000. Four men were arrested in Okahandja after police found housebreaking implements in their vehicle, while other incidents were reported in Ondangwa and Otjomuise.
17 August 2026 · Informanté →
Omukwaniilwa Fillemon Shuumbwa Nangolo has launched an outreach programme to visit all 11 districts of Ondonga, beginning 18 July and concluding with a community gathering on 28 November.
17 August 2026 · Informanté →
Onandjaba police are investigating an alleged rape of an 11-year-old girl by her uncle in Ohendjeno village on 6 August. The known suspect remains at large and his whereabouts are unknown.
17 August 2026 · Informanté →
The Namibian Police are investigating two separate cases of malicious damage: a fire truck was damaged by stones thrown by a group in Rehoboth's Block E on Saturday, and a 40-year-old man was arrested in Endola's Onepandaulo village for allegedly vandalising an MTC tower and cutting three electrical cables valued at N$30,000.
17 August 2026 · Informanté →
The Namibian investigated why Angolan children repeatedly return to Windhoek to beg and sell wooden spoons at street intersections. They have been escaping extreme poverty in Angola in this way since 2023, traveling by truck, bus, and foot, with some sleeping in the open in Katutura.
17 August 2026 · The Namibian →
A 78-year-old man in Rehoboth lost N$39,080 after a suspect impersonated a Bank Windhoek representative and obtained his banking details. In a separate incident, a 26-year-old man in Katutura was robbed of cash and three cellphones valued at N$28,300 by suspects armed with pangas.
17 August 2026 · Informanté →
Police are investigating three apparent suicides by hanging reported on Friday in Eenhana, Rehoboth, and Okahandja, with no foul play suspected. The victims included a 54-year-old woman in Eenhana, a 32-year-old man in Rehoboth, and a 48-year-old man in Okahandja; two suicide notes were recovered.
17 August 2026 · Informanté →
The City of Windhoek has relocated 309 households from Moses //Garoëb constituency to Havana Extensions 8 and 11 to improve road access for emergency vehicles and strengthen emergency response. The move is part of a wider programme to upgrade informal settlements through formal township planning and infrastructure development.
17 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
NamWater will shut the Ogongo-Oshakati water pipeline for 11 hours on Wednesday to connect a new pipeline at Oshikuku and Oshuungu, affecting residents, schools and businesses in the area. The work is expected to take 18 hours, and some areas may receive water later than others once supply resumes depending on their distance from the main supply line.
17 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia recorded 1,747 road traffic crashes and 279 fatalities between January 1 and August 9 this year. The Namibian Police Force has launched an Integrated Road Safety Operation running until September 10, targeting national road corridors and high-risk areas during the school holiday and Heroes' Day period, focusing on speeding, drunk driving, and reckless driving.
17 August 2026 · New Era →
Namibia's new Mental Health Bill, applauded in June, confronts operational challenges: the system is severely stretched with too few psychiatrists, inadequate resources, limited community services, and heavy reliance on a single Windhoek facility. In the 2023–2024 fiscal year, over 91,500 outpatient consultations, 11,400 inpatient admissions, and 542 deaths were reported.
17 August 2026 · New Era →
The One Economy Foundation is organizing a Game Changers event on 22 August at Windhoek's Independence Stadium, combining a 5km and 10km fun run with family activities and conversations to raise awareness about mental health, sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence, and femicide. The event includes Power Barbershop Talks focused on men discussing mental health and their role in preventing GBV and femicide.
17 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ovaherero Traditional Authority has rejected calls to abolish the paramount chieftaincy amid an ongoing leadership dispute between rival factions over succession following the 2021 death of paramount chief Vekuii Rukoro. The matter is currently in the High Court, with competing factions supporting different candidates and legal costs reaching an estimated N$10 million.
17 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Education minister Sanet Steenkamp has called for a realignment of Hardap region's education strategy, emphasising foundational learning in earlier stages, teacher accountability, and infrastructure maintenance, arguing that the education system has traditionally focused too heavily on senior secondary grades.
17 August 2026 · The Namibian →
At least 30 brand new HP laptops were stolen from the Roads Authority head office last month from the ICT department. The theft follows another burglary in April in which eight laptops were stolen, and allegations that surveillance cameras were tampered with; the matter is under investigation by Namibian Police.
17 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Residents of Maporeza informal location in Nkurenkuru, Kavango West, have petitioned the councillor for more boreholes to serve their growing population of about 3,000. A water pump station with three tanks has recently been installed, but residents say additional boreholes are still needed, and the area also requires electricity installation promised by September.
17 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The South African crime drama 'Umthetho' follows characters forced to navigate family, loyalty, and difficult moral decisions. Lead actor Nqobile Khumalo portrays Mbali, whose brother's return draws her into a dangerous world where she must choose between protecting her family members.
17 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The Goethe-Institut Namibia's new premises in Windhoek, still under completion, will serve as a hub for cultural exchange, education and creative work, hosting German language examinations, literary events, theatre, music, film and book projects. The institute's upcoming programme includes literary events, performances, a Silent Book Club, a Language Café, BookSprint Namibia, musical performances, the DOEK! Literary Festival and European cinema screenings.
17 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibian rhythmic gymnast Emilia Ekandjo competed at the 42nd Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Frankfurt, Germany from 12 to 16 August, finishing 91st overall in individual qualifications with an all-around score of 49.900 points. She did not advance to any apparatus finals or the all-around final but showed improvement in her routines compared with the previous year's World Championships.
17 August 2026 · Informanté →
FNB Wanderers defeated FNB Western Suburbs 104–28 to open a nine-point lead at the top of the Namibian Rugby Premier League, with Montego United moving into second place. Wanderers scored 16 tries in the match, with flanker Jorick Muir scoring three and winger Nandivatu Karuuombe also scoring three.
17 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's senior men's tennis team qualified for the Davis Cup World Group II after finishing third at the Africa Group III tournament in Burundi, with a record of four wins and one defeat. The qualification marks Namibia's third consecutive year in the World Group II.
17 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Alex Miller of King Price Racing and Kelsey Jade van Schoor of Team Pirtek Hollard won the elite men's and women's titles respectively at the four-day Pupkewitz Megabuild Tour de Windhoek. Miller, returning to the race after finishing fourth four years ago, dominated from the opening individual time trial and won the overall title in a time of 8:08:16, with Theuns van der Westhuizen of Hollard Elite finishing second more than three minutes behind.
17 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's Alex Miller and South Africa's Lize-Ann Louw won the men's and women's individual time trial stages respectively on the opening day of the five-stage 2026 Pupkewitz Megabuild Tour de Windhoek, which runs through August 16 around Windhoek.
17 August 2026 · New Era →
Alina Armas won the elite women's 42.2-kilometre race in 2:42:12 for her fourth Husab Marathon victory, while Matias Simon won the men's elite marathon in 2:18:34.
17 August 2026 · New Era →
South Africa captain Siya Kolisi and prop Ox Nche are doubtful for the first Test against New Zealand on Saturday in Johannesburg, head coach Rassie Erasmus said Monday. Kolisi suffered a hamstring injury in Argentina this month, while Nche has not played since a knee injury in July.
17 August 2026 · The Namibian →
New Zealand head coach Dave Rennie said playing a four-Test series against South Africa "will be a lot tougher than a Rugby World Cup", with the Springboks offering greater strength of opposition than World Cup finalists face. Both teams will be about a year away from the 2027 World Cup when the series ends.
17 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibia Competition Commission has formally initiated an investigation into alleged anti-competitive practices involving tourism concessions and joint ventures, following a complaint lodged in September 2024 about restrictive agreements between conservancies and private operators. The investigation examines concerns including restrictive concession arrangements, unclear geographical boundaries, and joint-venture arrangements that may restrict competition.
17 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
New population estimates for Namibia's large carnivores, presented at a national Multi-Stakeholder Working Meeting, have raised concern over declining wildlife numbers and growing human-wildlife conflict. The data shows that of Namibia's 34 terrestrial carnivore species, 11 are considered threatened or near threatened, with species like cheetahs (estimated at about 1,200 individuals) and African wild dogs (estimated at 130–350 animals across 35 packs) among those affected.
17 August 2026 · Informanté →
A pregnant rhino was shot and killed at a farm in Kunene Region, and her calf was significantly injured in a poaching attack. The farm owner, Harvey Boulter, said the rhino had been on his farm for 14 years and would have given birth to her sixth calf; no suspects have been arrested.
17 August 2026 · Informanté →
Thailand faces a gun violence crisis: within days, a 14-year-old killed eight people at his school before shooting himself, and a 71-year-old former politician shot an administration chief and his driver over a financial dispute. The incidents highlight Thailand's troubled relationship with firearms, which number around 10 million in civilian hands.
17 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Declassified minutes from FW de Klerk's final Cabinet meeting on 25 April 1994, held 48 hours before South Africa's first democratic election, show that the ANC leadership under Nelson Mandela were supportive of granting indemnity from prosecution for politically motivated apartheid-era crimes as part of national reconciliation.
17 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Ghana has tabled a UN resolution recognising transatlantic slavery as "the greatest crime against humanity" and hosted a reparations summit in Accra in June with delegates from around 80 countries, asserting that compensation from nations and institutions that benefited from slavery is overdue. The UK and US have resisted the reparations demands, though Ghana has been designated by the African Union as "champion for reparatory justice."
17 August 2026 · The Namibian →
President Trump announced the US will "substantially reduce" joint military exercises with South Korea, citing his relationship with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un and noting South Korea declined to join the US in the "denuclearisation" of Iran. Trump said the drills are costly and send an inappropriate signal, though Seoul said the scheduled exercises would proceed as planned.
17 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The European Union Election Observation Mission said Zambia's general elections were largely well organised and transparent, but identified delays in opening polling stations, overcrowding at some stations, and continued barriers to participation for women and persons with disabilities.
17 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Southern African Development Community leaders gathered for their 46th Ordinary Summit in eThekwini have prioritised migration management, peace, security, job creation, industrialisation and deeper economic integration. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who assumed the SADC chairship, called for faster implementation of regional development plans, noting that intra-SADC trade accounts for only about one-fifth of the region's total trade and that SADC must process and beneficiate more of its own raw materials rather than exporting them.
17 August 2026 · Informanté →
An opinion piece argues that Namibia's education curriculum, last substantially reformed in the 2000s, is outdated and no longer reflects the country's evolving economy, technology, and societal changes since independence. The author contends that education must evolve with society to prepare children for a world shaped by digitalisation, artificial intelligence, and global competition.
17 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
An opinion piece argues that Namibia should prioritize equity ownership in its oil discoveries—particularly Venus, Graff, and Mopane in the Orange Basin—rather than limiting itself to local-content arrangements that only provide wages and services, contrasting this approach with Norway's wealth-building model.
17 August 2026 · The Namibian →