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Thursday, 23 July 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Thursday, 23 July 2026
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Namibian press · Person

Calle Schlettwein

Also known as: former finance minister Calle Schlettwein · Former MP Calle Schlettwein · minister Schlettwein · Minister of agriculture, water and land reform Calle Schlettwein

Former finance and agriculture minister who appears in coverage of economic policy, natural resources governance, and structural reform concerns in Namibia.

2023-07-162026-07-23
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What’s been said

Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.

  1. September 2024

  2. The Namibian

    Minister Calle Schlettwein announced plan to move the veterinary cordon fence (red line) further north

    Source

    “The announcement by minister of agriculture, water, and land reform Calle Schlettwein to move the veterinary cordon fence, also known as the red line, further north marks a crucial step in addressing historical injustices in Namibia's agricultural sector.”

    The Red Line Shuffle: Progress or Prolonging the Past?
  3. August 2024

  4. The Namibian

    Calle Schlettwein is empowered by law to grant land tax exemptions

    Source

    “The exemptions are given by the agriculture, water and land reform minister Calle Schlettwein, who is empowered by the law.”

    Politicians, business people exempted from land tax
  5. July 2024

  6. The Namibian

    Agriculture minister Calle Schlettwein refused to grant the company a water permit

    Source

    “The project started in 2012 but was halted in 2021 when agriculture, water and land reform minister Calle Schlettwein refused to grant the company a water permit.”

    ‘We are scared but we want jobs’

  7. The Namibian

    Schlettwein said the ministry had sought advice from Unesco and the International Atomic Energy Agency

    Source

    “Schlettwein said the ministry had sought advice from Unesco and the International Atomic Energy Agency, which recommended further geological studies.”

    ‘We are scared but we want jobs’
  8. May 2024

  9. The Namibian

    Agriculture minister Calle Schlettwein was the only MP reported to have opposed the proposed hateful laws

    Source

    “Agriculture minister Calle Schlettwein was the only MP reported to have opposed the proposed hateful laws, which, thankfully, the late president Hage Geingob seemed, and his successor seems unwilling to sign.”

    MPs Have Blood on Their Hands
  10. April 2024

  11. The Namibian

    Calle Schlettwein said drilling permits were withdrawn due to company's non-compliance with conditions

    Source

    “He said the drilling permits that were issued contain conditions ensuring the safety of the groundwater resource, but were withdrawn due to the company's non-compliance with some of these conditions.”

    ‘Uranium miner ignored Govt’s licence conditions’
  12. February 2024

  13. The Namibian

    Calle Schlettwein said planned expansion will complement existing plant; Oshakati plant can no longer satisfy demand

    Source

    “In 2022, agriculture minister Calle Schlettwein said planned expansion will complement the existing plant, which can treat 40 000 cubic metres of water from the Calueque Dam in southern Angola via the 150-kilometre Calueque-Oshakati canal.”

    Chinese firm wins N$935m NamWater tender
Politics

Task force review of SOE salaries risks failure without implementation

The News

Former finance minister Calle Schlettwein has warned that a new 11-member task force appointed to review state-owned enterprise salaries over three months will fail without strict implementation and broader structural reforms. He cited previous attempts that failed because SOEs regraded themselves to higher categories and a commission recommendation that was approved but never implemented.

1 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 1 July

  1. Task force review of SOE salaries risks failure without implementation

    Former finance minister Calle Schlettwein has warned that a new 11-member task force appointed to review state-owned enterprise salaries over three months will fail without strict implementation and broader structural reforms. He cited previous attempts that failed because SOEs regraded themselves to higher categories and a commission recommendation that was approved but never implemented.

    1 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 5 June

  1. Schlettwein urges transparency, accountability in oil wealth

    Former cabinet minister Calle Schlettwein warns that Namibia's emerging oil and gas wealth must not be concentrated among a select few, calling for stronger accountability and transparency. He notes that the country's exclusive economic zone and continental shelf claim could nearly double its natural resource endowment, though he cautions that sectors like fisheries already face challenges from overfishing and declining stocks.

    5 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 2 June

  1. Businessman denies political role in Namibia fuel supply deal

    Mathews Hamutenya has denied having political connections to State House or involvement in the government's decision to appoint Vitol as Namibia's sole fuel supplier, though his son recently bought 52 service stations and Hamutenya is a partner in a storage facility with Vitol. The Independent Patriots for Change have linked Hamutenya to what they describe as a "conglomerate at the centre of Namibia's petroleum oil takeover."

    2 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 26 May

  1. Namibian delegation visits Russian uranium mine to study extraction methods

    A delegation of Namibian farmers, a journalist, and employees from Headspring Investments visited the Dalur in-situ uranium mine in Russia to learn about its operations and extraction methods. The mine uses in-situ leaching, which dissolves uranium underground and pumps it to the surface, avoiding open-pit mining, tunnelling, and tailings ponds.

    26 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Wednesday 6 May

  1. Agriculture minister questions N$179m border fence quotation

    Agriculture minister Inge Zaamwani has questioned a N$179 million quotation from August 26 Construction for a 400-kilometre border fence project along the Namibia-South Africa border aimed at containing foot-and-mouth disease, citing cost concerns and procurement issues.

    6 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 21 April

  1. Former minister criticizes Sossusvlei shuttle restrictions from May 2026

    Former Cabinet minister Calle Schlettwein has opposed the government's decision to restrict access to Deadvlei in Namib-Naukluft Park, saying the closure of Sossusvlei for self-drive visitors and requirement to use a single concessionaire robs Namibians of their right to free access. The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism announced last week that only two categories of operators—Grow Namibia and registered tour guides employed by lodges—will be authorised to provide shuttle services to Deadvlei effective 1 May 2026, with self-driving beyond the 2×4 parking area no longer permitted for tourists.

    21 April 2026 · New Era →

Friday 17 April

  1. Government shuttle monopoly plan sparks tourism industry outcry

    The Ministry of Environment and Tourism has announced that driving between Sossusvlei's parking areas will be limited to a single operator (About Africa Co) from 1 May, restricting access for independent tour operators and self-drivers. Tour operators and industry figures warn the exclusive concession will harm competition, raise prices, create liability concerns, and damage the tourism sector despite ministry claims it will generate revenue and protect the environment.

    17 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 12 April

  1. IPPR warns direct government tenders bypass accountability

    The Institute for Public Policy Research has criticized the government's decision to bypass the Central Procurement Board on N$350 million in projects, arguing it creates risks of corruption and waste. The government has directly awarded contracts including a N$140-million sports stadium project to the Roads Contractor Company and other projects to August 26 without public tendering, a practice that lacks transparency and limits competition for local businesses.

    12 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 8 April

  1. Former governor James Uerikua dies in road accident

    Former Otjozondjupa governor and Swapo MP James Uerikua died in a road accident on Friday, with his son Venturo also killed in the incident. Former agriculture minister Calle Schlettwein paid tribute to Uerikua as a brilliant mind and kind-hearted person, while Swapo held a candlelit vigil in Windhoek.

    8 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 23 March

  1. Budget balances fiscal discipline with oil investment decision

    Namibia's 2026/27 budget reflects finance minister Ericah Shafudah's fiscal caution as the country awaits a final investment decision on TotalEnergies' Venus oil project, expected mid-2026. Economist Robin Sherbourne described the budget as a "holding operation" in a constrained economic outlook, though he warned that reduced development spending may limit growth despite the budget's focus on "People, Productivity and Prudence."

    23 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 13 March

  1. Namra convenes stakeholder meeting on mineral licence transfers

    The Namibia Revenue Agency has called a meeting at its Windhoek head office to address legal compliance and governance challenges in the transfer of mineral and petroleum licences and company shares, bringing together regulators, policymakers, tax officials, industry representatives and taxpayers. Former Cabinet minister Calle Schlettwein has criticised the regulatory framework, saying mineral rights are not adequately treated as state assets and arguing that many mineral companies employ tax avoidance schemes that result in profits leaving Namibia.

    13 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Saturday 7 March

  1. Parliamentary uranium project recommendation sparks heated controversy

    A parliamentary standing committee recommended allowing Rosatom to proceed with uranium exploration and mining in the Stampriet Artesian Basin, arguing the project could help gather scientific data on natural contamination. The recommendation has drawn criticism from former agriculture minister Calle Schlettwein and farming groups, who warn the project could permanently damage the aquifer—Namibia's key drinking water source for the arid south—and lack scientific grounding, while supporters cite potential economic benefits and Rosatom's expertise.

    7 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 5 March

  1. Parliamentary committee endorses Rosatom uranium project in Leonardville

    Namibia's Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources has backed uranium exploration by Russian state-owned Rosatom in the Omaheke region, citing potential for billions in investment and thousands of jobs, though the project faces resistance from environmentalists and farmers concerned about groundwater contamination.

    5 March 2026 · New Era →

Wednesday 4 March

  1. Itula attacks 2026/27 budget as wasteful, copy-paste spending

    IPC president Panduleni Itula has criticised the national budget for maintaining high operational spending while cutting development allocation, specifically flagging N$244 million spent on 243 workshops and excessive travel allowances, which he says could instead fund promised pensioner allowances and infrastructure. Other political parties and analysts dispute whether all workshop and travel spending is wasteful, noting that some supports essential government functions.

    4 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 1 March

  1. Namibia's N$104 billion budget prioritises operations over development spending

    Finance Minister Ericah Shafudah tabled a N$104 billion budget for 2026/27 with N$81.3 billion allocated to operations and only N$6.5 billion to development, drawing criticism from economists and opposition figures who warn this allocation will constrain economic growth. The government collected N$89.8 billion in revenue and plans to borrow N$15 billion, while interest payments of N$16.2 billion now exceed the development budget.

    1 March 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. MPs criticise directive requiring public servants use state health facilities

    Former and current MPs have condemned President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah's directive requiring public servants to use state healthcare facilities from 1 April, citing constitutional concerns, infringement of personal choice, and doubts about public facility readiness. Minister of Health Esperance Luvindao responded by clarifying that no one will be forced to use public facilities and those who opt out can use N$240 to access private medical care.

    1 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 25 February

  1. Synthetic diamonds threaten Namibia's government revenue, experts warn

    Anglo American's sharp devaluation of De Beers to US$2.3 billion reflects the diamond industry's struggles amid competition from lab-grown diamonds, which threatens Namibia's fiscal health since diamonds fund schools, hospitals and roads. Experts debate whether Namibia should invest in the sector as Anglo American seeks buyers, with some warning the industry faces long-term decline.

    25 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Saturday 21 February

  1. Deputy minister calls for property valuation reforms to address rising prices

    Urban and rural development deputy minister Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyele has called for property value-based reforms to address rising property prices, highlighting the establishment of the Namibia Council for the Property Valuers Profession to remove banks' regulatory dominance and stabilize the property market.

    21 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 15 February

  1. Judicial delays harm economic confidence and investment, says Schlettwein

    Former finance minister Calle Schlettwein and Chief Justice Peter Shivute have warned that delays in Namibia's under-staffed judiciary damage economic confidence and deter investment, with the civil division of the High Court handling an average of 614 cases per judge last year. However, some analysts dispute this, arguing that Namibia's rule of law remains strong and that executive and legislative delays have a larger impact on investment than judicial delays.

    15 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Calle Schlettwein — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute