Namibia Minute.
24 April 2026
A daily Namibian brief · Est. 2026
Windhoek—:—London—:—New York—:—Beijing—:—
Person

Emma Theofelus

Also known as: minister of information and communication technology · Theofelus · 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 · the Minister of Information and Communication Technology · Minister Emma Theofelus · Information and Communication Technology Minister Emma Theofelus · information minister · MICT minister · Information and Communication Technology Minister

Minister criticised for stating pensioners bear responsibility for protecting themselves against online scams; halted information commissioner recruitment citing insufficient stakeholder consultation.

Politics

Pohamba urges ruling party to consider opposition input fairly

The News

Former president Hifikepunye Pohamba called on ruling party lawmakers not to discard input merely because it comes from opposition members, advising that lawmakers should verify claims and acknowledge when opposition points are correct. He also urged Namibians to safeguard national peace and unity, warning against tribalism and calling for collective support of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah's leadership.

17 March 2026 · New Era →

Tuesday 17 March

  1. Pohamba urges ruling party to consider opposition input fairly

    Former president Hifikepunye Pohamba called on ruling party lawmakers not to discard input merely because it comes from opposition members, advising that lawmakers should verify claims and acknowledge when opposition points are correct. He also urged Namibians to safeguard national peace and unity, warning against tribalism and calling for collective support of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah's leadership.

    17 March 2026 · New Era →

Monday 16 March

  1. Minister criticized for blaming pensioners targeted by online scams

    Minister Emma Theofelus drew criticism from consumer activists after stating that pensioners falling victim to online scams bear responsibility for protecting themselves, while activists argue the government should run awareness campaigns and opponents point to legislative gaps in data protection and cybercrime laws.

    16 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Saturday 14 March

  1. Government backs Namibian film industry with increased funding

    The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology reaffirmed government support for Namibia's creative sector at Film Week 2026, highlighting film as a driver of economic growth and cultural expression. The Namibia Film Commission's budget has increased from N$2 million to N$8 million annually, with plans to establish a N$50 million Creative Fund.

    14 March 2026 · Informanté →

  2. Minister must explain halt to information commissioner recruitment

    The Namibian editorializes that Information Minister Emma Theofelus should publicly explain her decision to halt recruitment of an information commissioner required under the 2022 Access to Information Act. The editorial argues the office is essential to ensure all Namibians can access government information and hold institutions accountable.

    14 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 10 March

  1. Minister halts information commissioner recruitment for stakeholder consultation

    Minister Emma Theofelus has halted the recruitment of an information commissioner, citing insufficient stakeholder consultations on the operationalisation of the Access to Information Act. Critics including the IPC and policy experts express concern that the delay is hindering implementation of the transparency law, though budget allocation for 2026/2027 suggests the pause may be temporary.

    10 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 8 March

  1. Namibia debates social media ban for children under 15

    Namibian lawmakers and child welfare experts are divided over whether to ban social media for children under 15, with supporters citing mental health and cyberbullying concerns while critics argue for evidence-based regulation rather than an outright ban. Experts also note that enforcement would be technically challenging given the ease of age verification manipulation.

    8 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 5 March

  1. Namibia approves education and research MoUs with three European nations

    Cabinet has approved three Memoranda of Understanding with Spain, Malta, and Hungary to strengthen cooperation in education, research, sport, and scholarships. The agreements include sports and physical education cooperation with Spain, a research and innovation framework with Malta, and Hungarian scholarships for Namibian citizens.

    5 March 2026 · Informanté →

Wednesday 4 March

  1. Namibia's 36th Independence Day celebrations planned across all regions

    Namibia will mark its 36th Independence Day with official celebrations across all 14 regions on 21 March 2026, under the theme "Beyond 35 for a Prosperous Future". Information Minister Emma Theofelus announced that regional governors will communicate specific event details and logistics, with the President invited to attend regional celebrations nationwide.

    4 March 2026 · Informanté →

Tuesday 3 March

  1. Namibia to hold Independence Day celebrations across all regions

    Namibia will mark its 36th Independence Day on 21 March 2026 by holding simultaneous celebrations across all 14 regions, a shift from previous years when events were hosted in a single location. The celebrations will be coordinated nationwide under the theme "Beyond 35 for a Prosperous Future" to promote unity and inclusivity.

    3 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 27 February

  1. Government tables N$105 billion budget prioritising education and health

    Finance Minister Ericah Shafudah tabled Namibia's 2026/27 national budget with total expenditure of N$105 billion, allocating N$28 billion for education and N$13.1 billion for health and social services. The social sector receives N$54.3 billion (61.7% of the budget excluding interest), reflecting government commitment to macroeconomic stability and inclusive growth.

    27 February 2026 · New Era →

Namibia Minute