Namibia Minute.
Friday, 24 April 2026
A daily Namibian brief · Est. 2026
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Organization

Business and Intellectual Property Authority

Also known as: Bipa · Business and Intellectual Property (Bipa) One Stop Centre

Business and Intellectual Property Authority — government agency that manages business registration and intellectual property services, recently instructed to accelerate investor responses.

Politics

Minister Kantema presents N$417.2m gender equality and child welfare budget

The News

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare has been allocated N$417.2 million for the 2026/2027 financial year to advance gender equity, child protection, and women's economic empowerment across Namibia. In the past year, the ministry supported 347 survivors of gender-based violence and trafficking, accommodated 329 street children in boarding schools, and expanded early childhood development enrolment from 110,726 to 126,213 across the country.

Why it matters

The ministry's budget reflects Namibia's commitment to protecting vulnerable populations—from street children to gender-based violence survivors—and signals how government resources will be deployed to strengthen child welfare and gender equality in the coming year.

15 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 15 April

  1. Minister Kantema presents N$417.2m gender equality and child welfare budget

    The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare has been allocated N$417.2 million for the 2026/2027 financial year to advance gender equity, child protection, and women's economic empowerment across Namibia. In the past year, the ministry supported 347 survivors of gender-based violence and trafficking, accommodated 329 street children in boarding schools, and expanded early childhood development enrolment from 110,726 to 126,213 across the country.

    15 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 2 April

  1. Accounting intern builds career foundation at NEAB

    Tracey Goagoses, recently appointed as an accounting assistant intern at the Namibian Estate Agent Board, is gaining experience in finance and bookkeeping while pursuing her goal of becoming a chartered accountant.

    2 April 2026 · Namibian Sun →

Thursday 26 March

  1. Slow regulatory systems hinder Namibia's entrepreneurship and job creation

    Namibia has strong policies and youth development programmes, but slow implementation and bureaucratic delays undermine entrepreneurship and economic growth. The author argues for digitisation, clearer timelines, and faster regulatory processes—not deregulation—to match the pace of modern business and unlock economic opportunity.

    26 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 23 March

  1. Musicians demand fairness, support in revived NAMAs

    Namibian artists have called for fair prize structures, better professional support, and financial literacy training as the government consults on reviving the Namibia Annual Music Awards, which were discontinued in 2020. The Arts Directorate is also advancing an updated copyright law to protect musicians and other creatives in the digital age.

    23 March 2026 · New Era →

Monday 16 March

  1. Namibia must strengthen governance before oil revenue flows

    The Institute for Public Policy Research warns that Namibia faces governance risks as it prepares for oil production, citing lack of transparency in petroleum licensing, insufficient beneficial ownership disclosure, and weak local content oversight as key areas needing reform before the expected investment decisions from TotalEnergies and Mopane projects. Addressing these challenges through the Access to Information Act and digital transparency could help Namibia avoid the "resource curse" while ensuring oil revenues benefit communities rather than political elites.

    16 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 8 March

  1. Copyright and trademark enforcement weak, Namibian law insufficient

    Copyright infringement and trademark abuse are widespread in Namibia despite legal protections, with artists replicating songs without permission and businesses using deceptive marks to mislead consumers. The author argues that existing laws are inadequately enforced and that victims lack affordable remedies, leaving them to bear costly legal action.

    8 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 2 March

  1. Nascam defends royalty payout model amid musician concerns

    The Namibian Society of Composers and Authors of Music has defended its royalty distribution system after a parliament member questioned reports of local musicians earning as little as N$2 per broadcast play. Nascam says the figure is not a fixed rate but is calculated based on total royalties collected from music users and distributed through an automated system, though it acknowledges a need to amend legislation to better address digital platforms and online usage.

    2 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 26 February

  1. MP Shitana criticizes minimal music royalties and missing ISRC system

    Namibian musicians earn as little as N$2 per broadcast play, a rate unchanged since independence, according to MP Frederick Shitana. He called for a national International Standard Recording Code (ISRC) system to help local artists earn from digital platforms and said Namibia's reliance on South Africa for ISRC registration disadvantages creators.

    26 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 24 February

  1. Gender ministry trains 1,485 women entrepreneurs through UN programme

    The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare has empowered 1,485 women with entrepreneurial skills through the EntreprenHER programme, funded by UN Women, which provides digital and financial literacy training to support women micro-entrepreneurs. The programme, now in its third phase across Namibia, South Africa and Botswana, has supported over 2,400 women-owned micro-enterprises, with the ministry now exploring partnerships to advance to phase four.

    24 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 20 February

  1. Gender ministry trains 1,485 women entrepreneurs through EntreprenHER

    The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare has empowered 1,485 women in entrepreneurial skills via the EntreprenHER programme, which provides digital and financial literacy training and market access support. The UN-funded initiative, now in phase 3, has supported over 2,400 micro-enterprises across Namibia, South Africa, and Botswana, with the ministry exploring partnerships for further expansion.

    20 February 2026 · The Namibian →

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