Also known as: former finance minister Calle Schlettwein · Former MP Calle Schlettwein · minister Schlettwein · Minister of agriculture, water and land reform Calle Schlettwein
Former agriculture and finance minister who comments on charcoal production, oil governance, Sossusvlei access, uranium mining, and mineral rights.
News reports
Order a long-term news report on Calle Schlettwein
Every mention in the Namibian press over the period you choose, compiled as a PDF or Word document.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
The Namibian
Agriculture minister Calle Schlettwein refused to grant the company a water permit
“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’The Namibian
Schlettwein said the ministry had sought advice from Unesco and the International Atomic Energy Agency
“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’The Namibian
Agriculture minister Calle Schlettwein was the only MP reported to have opposed the proposed hateful laws
“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 HandsThe Namibian
Calle Schlettwein said drilling permits were withdrawn due to company's non-compliance with conditions
“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said the drilling permits that were issued contain conditions ensuring the safety of the groundwater resource, but were withdrawn due to the company's non-compliance with some of these conditions.”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’The Namibian
Calle Schlettwein said planned expansion will complement existing plant; Oshakati plant can no longer satisfy demand
“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 tenderThe government plans to build 50 ventilated improved pit (VIP) toilets in five constituencies in Otjozondjupa, adding to more than 125 already constructed in the region. The facilities are intended to improve sanitation access, particularly for elderly residents and pensioners who currently lack nearby toilet facilities.
18 October 2026 · The Namibian →
The government plans to build 50 ventilated improved pit (VIP) toilets in five constituencies in Otjozondjupa, adding to more than 125 already constructed in the region. The facilities are intended to improve sanitation access, particularly for elderly residents and pensioners who currently lack nearby toilet facilities.
18 October 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia produces no sugar domestically and imports it entirely, despite marketing a local Marathon Sugar brand. The country's arid climate, water scarcity, poor soils, and expensive infrastructure requirements make large-scale sugarcane cultivation economically unfeasible.
27 September 2026 · The Namibian →
A presidential directive requiring senior public servants to use state health facilities instead of private ones took effect 1 April, but several parliamentarians have opposed it, citing shortages of equipment, medicines, and staff in public hospitals. The president has not visited a hospital under the directive, saying she remains in good health.
15 September 2026 · The Namibian →
The Central Procurement Board of Namibia cancelled a N$127 million tender for veterinary cordon fences along the South Africa border and awarded the contract via emergency procurement to a company that had failed in the competitive bidding process, raising concerns about transparency and procurement integrity.
9 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Namibia's charcoal industry is growing as an important part of rural economy, creating employment and export income, but raises questions about how to develop the industry without harming the natural environment. Properly managed bush harvesting can address bush encroachment while creating economic value, but requires government, producers, farmers and environmental organisations to manage potential negative consequences of uncontrolled production.
18 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has rejected former agriculture minister Calle Schlettwein's claims that large-scale charcoal production threatens biodiversity, arguing instead that sustainable bush control can restore degraded rangelands and improve wildlife habitats. Schlettwein warned that removal of woody vegetation for charcoal could result in loss of tree and shrub-associated species, though the ministry countered that bush encroachment itself poses significant consequences for biodiversity and agricultural productivity.
18 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare announced an 11-member task force to review governance and remuneration in Namibia's state-owned enterprises, mandated to report to Cabinet within three months with recommendations on consistency, accountability and efficiency across the sector.
31 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →