Namibia Minute.
Thursday, 23 July 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Thursday, 23 July 2026
Windhoek—:—London—:—New York—:—Beijing—:—
Namibian press · Organization

Central Procurement Board of Namibia

Also known as: CPBN

Central Procurement Board of Namibia — government procurement body managing public contracts and tender processes, recently strengthened bid evaluation procedures.

2023-01-282026-07-23

What’s been said

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

  1. July 2026
  2. The Namibian

    Central Procurement Board of Namibia issued a bid for erection of two veterinary cordon fences

    Source

    The ministry then issued a bid via the Central Procurement Board of Namibia for the erection of two veterinary cordon fences, one stretching 155km along the Orange River, and the second covering a 30km stretch between the Klein Manasse and Mata-Mata border posts.

    Ministry fences off FMD threat at border
  3. Informanté

    Central Procurement Board of Namibia has invited interested contractors to submit bids for the project by Tuesday, 14 July 2026

    Source

    To this end, the Central Procurement Board of Namibia (CPBN) has invited interested contractors to submit bids for the project by Tuesday, 14 July 2026.

    Agriculture Ministry plans to construct Namibia–South Africa veterinary fence amid FMD threat, contractors invited to bid
  4. Windhoek Observer

    Central Procurement Board of Namibia (CPBN) awarded a N$64.2 million construction contract to Octagon Construction on 3 April 2019

    Source

    The legal battle stems from a contract awarded by the CPBN, on behalf of the NTA, to Octagon Construction on 3 April 2019 following a competitive bidding process.

    N$64m Okakarara VTC dispute heads to mediation
  5. Windhoek Observer

    Central Procurement Board of Namibia (CPBN) alleges Octagon Construction committed repeated and material breaches during project implementation

    Source

    However, CPBN alleges that the contractor committed repeated and material breaches during the implementation of the project.

    N$64m Okakarara VTC dispute heads to mediation
  6. Windhoek Observer

    Central Procurement Board of Namibia cancelled the tender on 5 December 2023

    Source

    Pamo Trading had approached the High Court seeking to overturn the Central Procurement Board of Namibia's decision of 5 December 2023, which formally cancelled the tender.

    Bid to revive cancelled school feeding tender shut down
  7. The Namibian

    Central Procurement Board of Namibia is investigating alleged corruption involving school food tender, pharmaceutical and railway deals

    Source

    The Namibian understands Shiponeni's suspension is linked to an alleged corruption scheme involving a school food tender, and pharmaceutical and railway deals.

    Shiponeni suspension extended again amid corruption probe
  8. June 2026
  9. The Namibian

    Central Procurement Board of Namibia was ordered to receive the procurement process

    Source

    Instead, it orders that the process be handed over to the Central Procurement Board of Namibia (CPBN).

    Urgent N$1b health tender blocked
  10. The Namibian

    Central Procurement Board of Namibia partnered with First National Bank (FNB) Namibia to improve efficiency, transparency and accountability in public procurement

    Source

    First National Bank (FNB) Namibia and the Central Procurement Board of Namibia (CPBN) have partnered up to improve efficiency, transparency and accountability in the country's public procurement system.

    FNB, CPBN partner to streamline public procurement
  11. May 2026
  12. Windhoek Observer

    Central Procurement Board of Namibia will conduct procurement and remanufacturing of locomotives per Public Procurement Act

    Source

    She said the procurement and remanufacturing of locomotives will be conducted through the Central Procurement Board of Namibia (CPBN) in line with the Public Procurement Act.

    TransNamib set to relaunch N$1.7bn tender
  13. Windhoek Observer

    Central Procurement Board of Namibia (CPBN) oversaw the procurement process for the N$40 million security tender

    Source

    The tender, valued at N$40 million, was awarded in October 2025 following a procurement process overseen by the Central Procurement Board of Namibia (CPBN).

    Nust’s N$40 million security tender heads to court
Agriculture & Land

Namibia invests N$1.5 billion in FMD border fence strategy

The News

The government is rolling out a N$1.5-billion fencing project in the ||Kharas region to protect Namibia's foot-and-mouth disease-free status as outbreaks spread in South Africa and Botswana. The veterinary fencing aims to strengthen FMD defences, create buffer zones, and protect beef exports to markets like the European Union and China.

12 July 2026 · The Namibian

Sunday 12 July

  1. Namibia invests N$1.5 billion in FMD border fence strategy

    The government is rolling out a N$1.5-billion fencing project in the ||Kharas region to protect Namibia's foot-and-mouth disease-free status as outbreaks spread in South Africa and Botswana. The veterinary fencing aims to strengthen FMD defences, create buffer zones, and protect beef exports to markets like the European Union and China.

    12 July 2026 · The Namibian

Friday 10 July

  1. Ministry invites bids for Namibia–South Africa veterinary fence amid FMD threat

    The Ministry of Agriculture is preparing to construct a veterinary cordon fence along the Namibia–South Africa border to safeguard the livestock sector and prevent the spread of Foot-and-Mouth Disease, with contractors invited to bid by 14 July 2026. The fence is intended to control livestock movement across the border and reduce the risk of transboundary animal diseases that could have serious economic implications for Namibia's livestock industry.

    10 July 2026 · Informanté

Wednesday 8 July

  1. N$64 million Okakarara VTC dispute referred to mediation

    A High Court dispute over a N$64.2 million construction contract for upgrading the Okakarara Vocational Training Centre, involving the Central Procurement Board of Namibia, Octagon Construction, and the Namibia Training Authority, has been referred to court-connected mediation as the parties seek alternative dispute resolution before trial.

    8 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Friday 3 July

  1. High Court blocks bid to revive cancelled school feeding tender

    The High Court has rejected an application by Pamo Trading Enterprises to revive a government school feeding tender that was cancelled by the Central Procurement Board of Namibia. Deputy Judge President Theo Prinsloo ruled that the procurement process had legally collapsed once the bid validity period expired and could not be resurrected through court intervention.

    3 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Thursday 2 July

  1. CPBN executive's suspension extended to July amid corruption allegations

    Elizabeth Shiponeni, acting executive for governance at the Central Procurement Board of Namibia, has been suspended for a third time—now until 31 July—over alleged corruption involving school food, pharmaceutical, and railway deals. Her suspension began in October 2025 and has been repeatedly extended; sources claim she was found not guilty during disciplinary proceedings but the suspension continued.

    2 July 2026 · The Namibian

Sunday 28 June

  1. Health ministry procurement committee blocks N$1b emergency tender

    The Ministry of Health and Social Services' procurement committee has blocked senior officials' proposal to bypass public tender procedures for a N$1-billion medicine purchase, citing concerns that emergency procurement could be abused. The tender was meant to address medicine shortages at public hospitals and clinics.

    28 June 2026 · The Namibian

Wednesday 17 June

  1. FNB and CPBN partner to improve public procurement

    First National Bank Namibia and the Central Procurement Board of Namibia have partnered to improve efficiency, transparency and accountability in public procurement. The institutions discussed performance guarantees and explored ways to reduce delays in project implementation.

    17 June 2026 · The Namibian

Tuesday 26 May

  1. TransNamib to relaunch N$1.7 billion locomotive procurement tender

    A year after cancellation over single-sourcing concerns, TransNamib will restart the process to buy 23 new locomotives for N$1.7 billion following an independent technical evaluation of manufacturers. The procurement will proceed through the Central Procurement Board of Namibia using secured development finance.

    26 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Thursday 21 May

  1. Medicine shortages in public hospitals pressing presidential concern

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said medicine shortages in public hospitals are a major burden on her administration, after the Ministry of Health and Social Services revealed national pharmaceutical stock levels are at 60%, below the government's 80% minimum target.

    21 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Wednesday 20 May

  1. Nust security tender challenged over false employee claims

    PIS Security Services has filed a review application at the High Court challenging a N$40 million three-year security contract awarded to Novo Security Services CC in October 2025, alleging that eight active Namibian police officers were falsely presented as employees and managers of Novo in its bid.

    20 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Tuesday 19 May

  1. Former PDM MP Hamata denies plans to join Swapo

    Hidipo Hamata, who recently quit the Popular Democratic Movement, has clarified he is not joining the ruling Swapo party and may take time to reflect and pursue other work instead.

    19 May 2026 · New Era

Sunday 17 May

  1. Afripharm seeks to halt N$1.3 billion state medicine tender

    Sara Katiti's Afripharm Investments is seeking to stop government contract negotiations on a N$1.3 billion tender for mental health, cancer, and chronic-disease medicines to state hospitals, arguing the tender expired in March 2025. The procurement has been mired in court disputes since April 2023, including a challenge over a N$1.3 billion award to a company owned by a five-year-old child.

    17 May 2026 · The Namibian

Wednesday 6 May

  1. Finance ministry rejects SSC procurement exemption request

    The Ministry of Finance has rejected the Social Security Commission's request for a procurement exemption to fast-track a N$43.8-million fund management system project. Finance minister Ericah Shafudah said the SSC did not sufficiently justify why the entire Public Procurement Act should be set aside, and noted that the law already provides procurement options such as restricted bidding for specialized services.

    6 May 2026 · The Namibian

Thursday 23 April

  1. CPBN strengthens appointment procedures for bid evaluation committee members

    The Central Procurement Board of Namibia has introduced strengthened procedures for appointing Bid Evaluation Committee members, requiring applicants to possess accredited qualifications, valid certificates of conduct, compulsory training, and competency assessment. The enhanced process aims to promote integrity, transparency, and efficiency in public procurement.

    23 April 2026 · Informanté

Wednesday 22 April

  1. Health ministry cancels N$194m medical stores construction tender

    The Ministry of Health and Social Services has requested cancellation of a N$194-million tender to build new central medical stores in Windhoek, citing that the expected outcome did not justify costs. The cancellation follows allegations of political interference and concerns raised by the Global Fund over the redirection of its N$194-million donation originally earmarked for the project.

    22 April 2026 · The Namibian

Tuesday 21 April

  1. Government extends costly emergency school food contracts six months

    The government has cancelled a restricted bidding process for school hostel food procurement and extended costly interim emergency contracts for six months to avoid disruptions while a new tender is finalised. The extension follows legal procedures linked to the procurement process, though stakeholders raise concerns about transparency and the impact on vulnerable hostel pupils.

    21 April 2026 · The Namibian

Friday 17 April

  1. CPBN introduces stricter requirements for bid evaluators

    The Central Procurement Board of Namibia has introduced new measures for appointing Bid Evaluation Committee members, including requirements for accredited qualifications, police clearance certificates, and mandatory training and competency assessments. The reforms aim to address longstanding concerns about transparency, capacity gaps, and delays in public procurement evaluations.

    17 April 2026 · New Era

Wednesday 15 April

  1. Namibia tightens qualification rules for procurement bid evaluators

    The Central Procurement Board of Namibia has introduced stricter procedures for appointing bid evaluation committee members, requiring accredited qualifications, police certificates of conduct, compulsory training, and competency assessments to ensure integrity and transparency in public procurement.

    15 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

Friday 13 March

  1. Government halts medical store construction, leans toward renting Ramatex facility

    Namibia's Ministry of Health and Social Services has abruptly suspended a tender process for building a N$194 million central medical store and is instead planning to lease and renovate part of the Ramatex Rhino Garments building at N$100,000 monthly, a pivot that the Global Fund (which approved the original construction plan) is reportedly discussing with the government.

    13 March 2026 · The Namibian

Friday 27 February

  1. N$2.9bn Windhoek district hospital construction delayed two years

    Construction of a planned 500-bed state hospital in Windhoek's Havana settlement has not yet commenced, two years after a 2024 groundbreaking ceremony, despite being scheduled for 2027 completion. Residents and opposition parties question the project's progress, while the health ministry reports that preliminary infrastructure work including road and utility connections is underway.

    27 February 2026 · The Namibian

Tuesday 24 February

  1. Windhoek tax officer arrested for irregular certificate issuance

    The Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested a tax officer at the Namibia Revenue Agency over alleged irregular issuance of a Tax Good Standing Certificate to a company that had outstanding tax obligations. The officer was granted bail and the case has been postponed to April 2026, with another suspect still to be apprehended.

    24 February 2026 · Informanté

  2. ACC arrests Namra officer over irregular tax certificate issuance

    The Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested Namra tax officer Richard Oaseb for allegedly issuing a tax good standing certificate to Zong Mei Engineering without proper authority, enabling the company to bid on a N$237 million Namfisa head office tender despite outstanding tax returns and debt. The certificate was subsequently revoked and led to the company's disqualification from the procurement process.

    24 February 2026 · The Namibian

Monday 23 February

  1. Namra tax officer arrested for fraudulent certificate issuance

    A Tax Officer at Namibia's revenue agency, Namra, has been arrested by the Anti-Corruption Commission for allegedly approving a Tax Good Standing Certificate to a Chinese company that owed outstanding taxes. The fraud was uncovered during a due diligence exercise by the Central Procurement Board ahead of a contract award to the company.

    23 February 2026 · New Era

Central Procurement Board of Namibia — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute