Also known as: Minister of information and communication technology Emma Theofelus · information minister Emma Theofelus · minister of information and communication technology (ICT) Emma Theofelus · Minister Theofelus · ICT minister Emma Theofelus · Minister Emma Theofelus · Information and Communication Technology Minister Emma Theofelus · Information and Communication Technology Minister Hon. Emma Theofelus · Hon. Emma Theofelus · honourable Theofelus
Information and Communication Technology minister calling for accountability in parliament and supporting digital identity and creative industry initiatives.
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New Era
Information minister Emma Theofelus lashed out at staff members who constantly attend workshops and do not show visible improvement
“Information minister Emma Theofelus has lashed out at her staff members who constantly attend workshops and do not show visible improvement or change, saying such funds could be used for infrastructural development.”
Theofelus threatens to end ‘useless’ workshopsNew Era
Theofelus threatened to end workshops if staff do not show visible improvement or gain new skills
“She added that continued workshops would be unnecessary in the absence of visible improvement or change, noting that workshops and training programmes would be reviewed if staff returned without gaining new skills or knowledge.”
Theofelus threatens to end ‘useless’ workshopsNew Era
Emma Theofelus says efforts to enact Cyber Crime and Data Protection Bills as matters of urgency are still underway
“Information and Communication Technology Minister Emma Theofelus says efforts to enact the Cyber Crime and Data Protection Bills as matters of urgency are still underway.”
Data legislations under final polishingNew Era
Theofelus noted stakeholder consultations on draft Cybercrime Bill will commence 2 February 2026
“Speaking at the year-opening staff engagement yesterday, Theofelus noted that stakeholder consultations on the draft Cybercrime Bill will commence on 2 February 2026 and that the Bill will address the surging technology-facilitated crimes, including gender-based violence.”
Data legislations under final polishingInformanté
Minister Emma Theofelus revealed stakeholder consultations on draft Cybercrime Bill commence 2 February 2026
“This was revealed by the Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Emma Theofelus, during the Ministry's opening staff engagement.”
Consultations on Cybercrime Bill to Begin in February 2026Informanté
Emma Theofelus revealed Data Protection Bill is ready for resubmission to Cabinet Committee on Legislation
“She also revealed that the Data Protection Bill has undergone various stages of consultation and drafting, with all input received incorporated, and that the Bill is ready for resubmission to the Cabinet Committee on Legislation for validation and further processing by Parliament.”
Consultations on Cybercrime Bill to Begin in February 2026The Namibian
Information and communication technology minister Emma Theofelus said the process is being conducted by the NBC board and is still ongoing
“Speaking to The Namibian last week, information and communication technology minister Emma Theofelus said the process is still ongoing.”
NBC denies plans to re-interview director general candidatesInformanté
Minister Emma Theofelus has praised the Etunda Irrigation Scheme for its contribution to local food production, job creation and agricultural import reduction
“INFORMATION and Communication Technology Minister Emma Theofelus has praised the Etunda Irrigation Scheme in the Omusati Region for its contribution to local food production, job creation and the reduction of agricultural imports.”
Theofelus tours Etunda Irrigation SchemeInformanté
Theofelus visited the Etunda Irrigation Scheme in the Ruacana Constituency
“Theofelus visited the scheme in the Ruacana Constituency, where she toured grape vineyards, asparagus fields, maize plantations, mango orchards and banana trial plots.”
Theofelus tours Etunda Irrigation SchemeNew Era
Emma Theofelus announced Namibia's first Nuclear Industry Strategy at a media briefing
“Cabinet last year approved the country's first Nuclear Industry Strategy, which was at time announced at media briefing by the Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Emma Theofelus.”
Nam, India nuclear ties boosted … door opens for supply alliance, technology, value additionPresident Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah opened the Creative Sport Tourism Expo at Hage Geingob Stadium, calling for sport, tourism and creative industries to be connected and leveraged to drive economic growth in Namibia.
3 September 2026 · The Namibian →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah opened the Creative Sport Tourism Expo at Hage Geingob Stadium, calling for sport, tourism and creative industries to be connected and leveraged to drive economic growth in Namibia.
3 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Information and communication technology minister Emma Theofelus called for MPs who walked out of the National Assembly on Tuesday to be held accountable, saying such conduct undermines parliament's work and wastes the assembly's time. Opposition MPs walked out during voting on the Electoral Commission of Namibia chairperson nomination, stalling the vote due to lack of quorum.
2 September 2026 · The Namibian →
The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran) has launched DigiNam, a digital trust system enabling Namibians to use verified digital identities and electronic signatures to sign documents and access services online. The system, backed by the Electronic Transactions Act of 2019, supports government services, contract signing, banking, business registration, customer verification, and health or education records management.
1 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Home Affairs Minister Lucia Iipumbu has called on government to stop requiring citizens to repeatedly prove their identity and carry certified documents between offices, saying digital transformation should eliminate unnecessary queues and duplication through a trusted digital identity system and secure information-sharing between government institutions.
1 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Namibia has secured a place as a founding member of the AI for Good Global Commission, launched in July by the International Telecommunication Union and chaired by Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff. ICT minister Emma Theofelus said the membership gives Namibia a seat at the global table where AI governance norms and standards are being shaped.
31 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
NamPost officially opened its Nkurenkuru Post Office in Kavango West, one of 12 additional service points that brings the institution's total service points nationwide to 148. The postal operator also donated computers, printers and mobile internet subscriptions valued at N$250,000 to community learning centres and libraries in the region.
25 August 2026 · New Era →
NamPost opened a post office in Nkurenkuru and donated Information and Communication Technology equipment to two community centres in Kavango West to expand access to financial and digital services for rural residents. Minister Emma Theofelus said the move aligns with government's commitment to financial inclusion and the goal of leaving no one behind, noting that financial inclusion rose from 78% in 2017 to 86% in 2025, though rural areas lag at 79.3% compared to 91.7% in urban areas.
24 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Chula Chula FC were crowned champions of the First Gentleman Lieutenant General (Rtd) Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah Annual Sports Tournament after defeating DT Meds on penalties in the football final in Okongo. The three-day tournament from 20 to 23 August brought together about 23 teams competing in youth and legends football, netball and volleyball, with Namibia Correctional Services winning both netball and volleyball titles.
24 August 2026 · Informanté →
The Ministry of Education and Ministry of Information and Communication Technology signed an MoU to develop Namibia's film and creative sector through the Namibia Content Creation Plan, which includes funding for a National Soap Opera, a television series, and regional short films, with N$17.5 million allocated for these productions and an estimated 470 direct employment opportunities.
21 August 2026 · Informanté →
The government plans to create more than 470 direct employment opportunities in the creative industry through a Local Content Plan rolled out by the Namibia Film Commission, funded by N$17.5 million as part of a broader N$50 million allocation to creative industries programmes.
19 August 2026 · New Era →
Namibia's government has formalised a N$17.5 million Local Content Plan expected to create approximately 470 direct jobs and support film production across all 14 regions through a memorandum of understanding between the ministries of education, innovation, youth, sports, arts and culture and information and communication technology. The funding will finance a national soap opera, two limited television series, 14 regional short films, and a film production equipment access programme, as part of a broader N$50 million government allocation to creative industries programmes.
18 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Namibia's Cabinet has approved the establishment of the Public Assets Management Agency of Namibia (PAMA), a state-owned company intended to strengthen transparent and efficient management of the country's commercial public assets. The government's immovable assets are valued at about N$47.4 billion, comprising approximately 9,640 properties including land, housing, clinics, prisons, hospitals, and schools.
17 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Creative Industry Institute Africa, a Namibian non-profit established to map and develop the creative sector, wants Namibia's creative industries treated as a source of businesses, jobs, intellectual property and trade rather than merely as culture. The institute works to connect fragmented parts of the creative economy and strengthen the case for investment and development.
14 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's Cabinet has approved the National Upstream Petroleum Local Content Policy to promote local participation and development in the upstream petroleum sector, focusing on employment creation, local procurement, enterprise development, technology and skills transfer, and increased Namibian ownership and participation.
14 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The New Era Publication Corporation has reported a profit of N$103 million in its previous financial year, representing a turnaround from prior cash-flow challenges. The board chairperson attributed the improvement to the commitment of the board, management, and staff, as well as government assistance including a waiver from the Namibia Revenue Agency.
12 August 2026 · New Era →
Namibia and Botswana have identified 13 additional telecommunications sites needed to close connectivity gaps along the Trans-Kalahari Corridor, with the infrastructure upgrade estimated to cost about N$52 million. The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on ICT cooperation aimed at strengthening digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, and digital skills.
10 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Namibia and Botswana have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen digital partnership, focusing on digital transformation, cybersecurity, connectivity, and emerging technologies. The agreement, signed by the countries' respective ICT ministers, establishes a framework for collaboration in ICT infrastructure, innovation, digital skills development, and cybersecurity.
10 August 2026 · Informanté →
Kornelius Shimwafeni, 16, rescued infant twins from drowning in a pond in the Omusati region in May and will be conferred national hero status by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah on Heroes Day on 26 August. Shimwafeni, who cannot swim, dived in to save the babies after allegedly seeing their mother throw them into the water.
8 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah became the fifth president and first woman to hold the office on 21 March 2025, alongside the country's first woman vice president Lucia Witbooi and first woman speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, making Namibia the first country with women in all three top leadership positions. The article discusses Linda Robinson's book 'Women in Power: Fighting for Democracy in an Age of Authoritarianism', which explores how misogynistic authoritarianism, digital disinformation and sexualised attacks are used to push women out of power.
4 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Six liberation heroes' remains will be exhumed and reburied at the Heroes' Acre on 24 August, officially opening Namibia's 2026 Heroes' Day commemorations under the theme "Built on Bravery, Bound for a Prosperous Future." Two other liberation icons will receive symbolic memorials during the ceremony.
4 August 2026 · New Era →
The Cabinet has approved a new national policy to regulate prospecting and mining in protected areas and other environmentally sensitive zones, balancing mineral development with environmental conservation. Namibia has also been authorised to sign the statute of the African Mineral Development Centre, enabling participation in the African Union agency dedicated to sustainable mineral development.
31 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Plan's first commander Tobias Hainyeko and former Swapo vice president Brendan Simbwaye will receive ceremonial burials, while three former political prisoners will be reburied at Heroes' Acre during Heroes' Day commemorations on 24 August 2026.
30 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia recorded 513,921 cybersecurity vulnerabilities from April to June 2026, a 39.8% increase year-on-year, with cyber events rising 56.7%. NAM-CSIRT attributed the rise to remote management exposure, legacy network services, and emerging threats including BAVACAI ransomware and Black X extortion group activity.
24 July 2026 · Informanté →
Namibia's Ministry of Information and Communication Technology and Swakop Uranium have agreed to explore partnerships to advance digital development, focusing on expanding connectivity, improving infrastructure, and promoting digital inclusion. The discussions highlight the government's challenges in deploying telecommunications infrastructure in areas without reliable electricity supply.
22 July 2026 · Informanté →
Gobabis is conducting a mass clean-up campaign to remove litter from townships ahead of the Miss Namibia pageant on 1 August. The town's leadership attributes the widespread littering problem to resident behaviour and plans to enforce fines against those found dumping rubbish.
21 July 2026 · The Namibian →
The African Development Bank announced N$5.6 billion in funding for Namibia's technical and vocational education and training system and artificial intelligence, with plans to modernise vocational institutions, establish a National Artificial Intelligence Institute, and create 15 000 workplace opportunities by 2030. The Namibian editorial warns that vocational graduates will not be absorbed into the market without fair state tender allocation and faster AI regulation.
19 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Vice President Lucia Witbooi addressed the 2026 Effective Communicators Conference in Swakopmund, urging communicators across Africa to strengthen public trust by promoting accurate information, combating misinformation, and embracing ethical communication as essential for good governance and national development.
18 July 2026 · Informanté →
Vice President Lucia Witbooi hosted Botswana Vice President Ndaba Nkosinathi Gaolathe at the Port of Walvis Bay to reaffirm commitment to strengthening regional trade and economic integration through the Botswana Dry Port and Trans-Kalahari Corridor.
17 July 2026 · Informanté →
Minister Emma Theofelus told the UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance in Geneva that Namibia wants AI to be a tool for shared prosperity rather than accessible only to the wealthy, emphasising the need for inclusive digital infrastructure, skills development, and responsible AI governance aligned with Namibia's Digital Transformation Agenda.
12 July 2026 · Informanté →
Minister of Information and Communication Technology Emma Theofelus called for increased investment in digital infrastructure, skills development, and equitable AI access at a Geneva meeting, emphasizing that developing countries must not be left behind as the world shapes AI governance. Namibia is preparing its national AI governance framework anchored on human-centred governance, public sector innovation, and equitable infrastructure.
8 July 2026 · New Era →