Central body overseeing public procurement in Namibia, recently strengthened qualification procedures for bid evaluation committee members to promote integrity and transparency.
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February 2026
New Era
Central Procurement Board of Namibiaconducteda due diligence exercise that uncovered the matter
Source
“The matter was uncovered after a due diligence exercise conducted by the Central Procurement Board of Namibia prior to the award of a contract to the company.”
Central Procurement Board of Namibia (CPBN)had its direct procurement of23 Wabtec/General Electric locomotives cancelled
Source
“The board, in consultation with the ministry, has cancelled the direct procurement by the Central Procurement Board of Namibia (CPBN) of 23 new Wabtec/General Electric locomotives.”
Central Procurement Board of Namibiahas distanced itself fromthe controversial ballot paper printing tender
Source
“The Central Procurement Board of Namibia (CPBN) has distanced itself from the controversial ballot paper printing tender the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has awarded a South African company.”
Central Procurement Board of Namibiadisqualified from the bidding processthe bid of Adaptive Building Land Construction CC and China State Construction Engineering Corporation
Source
“Central Procurement Board of Namibia (CPBN) spokesperson Johanna Kambala said in a statement yesterday that the bid of Adaptive Building Land Construction CC and China State Construction Engineering Corporation was disqualified from the bidding process for several reasons.”
Central Procurement Board of NamibiaawardedN$237-million tender to China State Construction Engineering Corporation
Source
“On Wednesday, the High Court dismissed a case by China's Zhong Mei Engineering Group challenging the Central Procurement Board of Namibia's decision to award a N$237-million tender to China State Construction Engineering Corporation for the offices of the Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority (Namfisa).”
Central Procurement Board of NamibiagaveN$1.3 billion medicine business to Cospharm Investments
Source
“Apparently, decision-makers at the Central Procurement Board of Namibia (CPBN) see nothing wrong with entrusting buying of medicine to Cospharm Investments – a company 51% owned by a five-year-old and 49% by the father.”
Central Procurement Board of Namibiaawardedhealth tenders worth N$2.8 billion
Source
“The close corporation Taliindje Investment CC of Helena Figura, who is Katiti's daughter, is the second biggest beneficiary from the controversial medical tenders worth N$2,8 billion awarded by the Central Procurement Board of Namibia (CPBN) last month.”
Central Procurement Board of Namibiaattempted to awardtwo-year N$458 million medical tender to Fabupharm
Source
“THE Central Procurement Board of Namibia (CPBN) has come under scrutiny for its attempt to award a two-year N$458 million medical tender to Fabupharm, a company linked to Bank of Namibia (BoN) governor Johannes !Gawaxab.”
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.
Why it matters
TransNamib's relaunched N$1.7 billion locomotive tender represents a significant infrastructure procurement reset after earlier cancellation concerns.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.