Namibia Minute.
24 April 2026
A daily Namibian brief · Est. 2026
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Event

Child Care and Protection Act

Politics

Cybercrime bill has serious flaws, experts say

The News

The final draft of Namibia's cybercrime bill contains multiple shortcomings including undefined terms around computer viruses, cyberbullying, and obscene images that could lead to unconstitutional restrictions on free speech and inadequate victim protection. The author argues the bill should be improved before parliamentary submission, citing concerns that key provisions lack clarity, may inhibit online speech, and could create practical enforcement problems.

Why it matters

Namibia's draft cybercrime bill contains vague and overly broad definitions that could infringe on constitutional rights to free speech while failing to adequately protect vulnerable groups like children from online harm. If passed in its current form, the law risks constitutional challenges and may do more harm than good without significant revision.

21 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 21 April

  1. Cybercrime bill has serious flaws, experts say

    The final draft of Namibia's cybercrime bill contains multiple shortcomings including undefined terms around computer viruses, cyberbullying, and obscene images that could lead to unconstitutional restrictions on free speech and inadequate victim protection. The author argues the bill should be improved before parliamentary submission, citing concerns that key provisions lack clarity, may inhibit online speech, and could create practical enforcement problems.

    21 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 15 April

  1. Ministry shelters 347 GBV and trafficking survivors in past year

    The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare sheltered 347 survivors of gender-based violence, child abuse and trafficking in the past year through counselling and designated safe places. The ministry, allocated N$417 million for 2026/27, also accommodated 520 children in homes and shelters, provided psychosocial support to over 5,000 children, and recruited 21 additional social workers to strengthen response services.

    15 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 31 March

  1. Namibia's legal gaps leave surrogacy arrangements vulnerable to exploitation

    Medical experts and legal analysts warn that Namibia lacks laws regulating surrogacy, creating risks of exploitation and trafficking, following a fraudulent advertisement offering N$800,000 to surrogates. While South Africa and Botswana have experience with regulated or unregulated surrogacy arrangements, Namibia's legal framework remains silent on the matter, leaving parties with no legal protection and prompting calls for amendments to the Child Care and Protection Act.

    31 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 25 March

  1. Swakopmund foundation rescues 49 babies, calls for national awareness

    Ruach Elohim Foundation in Swakopmund has safely received 49 babies through its baby saver box since 2020, but its founder says there is a lack of visible national awareness and support following the decriminalisation of baby abandonment in 2019, with no consistent campaigns or signage to guide vulnerable mothers to safe alternatives.

    25 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 24 March

  1. Arrest of mother who left newborn at church sparks safe-haven law debate

    A 36-year-old woman was arrested after leaving her newborn at a church in Ohangwena, raising questions about what locations legally qualify as "safe places" under Namibia's 2019 safe-haven policy. While some argue the mother's circumstances warrant consideration and the law permits leaving unharmed infants at churches, police and government officials contend the specific location—an empty church with the baby placed unattended on the floor—did not meet statutory requirements for a designated safe place.

    24 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 17 March

  1. Angolan teenager escapes unpaid domestic labour in Oshikoto

    A 16-year-old Angolan girl has been rescued from unpaid domestic work in Namibia's Oshikoto region after being beaten and starved by her 62-year-old employer, who promised her N$500 monthly wages she never received. The suspect has been arrested and faces charges including contraventions of the Child Care and Protection Act, assault, and human trafficking.

    17 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 11 March

  1. Windhoek Grade 1 pupil hospitalised after alleged assault by classmate's father

    A 7-year-old boy was hospitalised at Windhoek Central Hospital after allegedly being assaulted by the father of a classmate who discovered his son crying after an incident at school. The Namibian government says it is investigating the matter, with the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare condemning the incident and emphasising that no circumstance justifies violence against children.

    11 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 18 February

  1. Legal expert argues against mandatory DNA testing of newborns

    A legal consultant outlines constitutional, privacy, safety, and practical objections to a proposed mandatory paternity DNA testing scheme for all Namibian newborns, arguing that existing case-by-case legal mechanisms are more appropriate and less costly than blanket testing.

    18 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 4 January

  1. Child Care Act allows minors aged 14+ medical treatment rights

    Namibia's Child Care and Protection Act empowers children aged 14 and older to consent to medical treatment if they understand the risks and benefits, even when parents refuse consent on cultural or religious grounds. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare released an awareness video illustrating how the law protects children's health decisions and allows them to access confidential medical counselling without parental permission in certain circumstances.

    4 January 2026 · Informanté →

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