Namibia Minute.
Monday, 7 September 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Monday, 7 September 2026
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Namibian press · Organization

European Union

Also known as: Europian Union · the EU · EUBAM

European Union — international organization funding Namibian student scholarships, livestock export certifications, and lithium extraction projects.

2018-04-132026-09-07

What’s been said

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

  1. September 2026
  2. Namibian Sun

    European Union fully funded studies abroad for 38 Namibian students under Erasmus+ programme

    Source

    Thirty-eight Namibian students have left Namibia for universities across Europe under the EU's Erasmus+ programme, with the European Union fully funding their studies abroad.

    38 students off to Europe on EU-funded study programme
  3. August 2026
  4. Windhoek Observer

    The European Union provides through its Common Agricultural Policy direct income support to farmers, market measures and rural-development assistance

    Source

    Through its Common Agricultural Policy, the EU provides direct income support to farmers, market measures and rural-development assistance.

    The farmers who feed us deserve a fighting chance
  5. Windhoek Observer

    European Union requires annual inspections by state veterinarians for livestock farm certification

    Source

    EU-approved livestock farms are required to undergo annual inspections by state veterinarians to retain their certification and continue accessing export markets.

    EU livestock inspections resume under temporary funding arrangement
  6. Informanté

    European Union requires annual inspections for EU-approved livestock farms to retain certification

    Source

    EU-approved livestock farms are required to undergo annual inspections by state veterinarians to retain their certification and continue accessing important export markets.

    EU farm inspections put Namibia’s livestock exports under pressure
  7. The Namibian

    The European Union (EU) announced a partnership with Andrada involving funding a N$74-million project at Andrada's Uis mine, called ProLith

    Source

    The union in May announced a partnership with Andrada, the London-listed mining company operating a tin mine in the Erongo region, involving that it will fund a N$74-million project at Andrada's Uis mine, called ProLith.

    Namibia testing ground for EU’s mineral dreams
  8. The Namibian

    The European Union was Namibia's most important export partner by value of exports

    Source

    The European Union (EU) used to be Namibia's most important export partner by value of exports.

    Erongo drives Namibia’s exports
  9. July 2026
  10. Windhoek Observer

    European Union has launched connectivity initiatives linking Europe with Africa and Asia

    Source

    The European Union has launched connectivity initiatives linking Europe with Africa and Asia.

    The port that reveals why Africa has yet to fully understand the true nature of power
  11. Windhoek Observer

    European Union granted export accreditation to Savanna Beef Operations on 7 April 2026

    Source

    Following the reporting period, Savanna Beef Operations received European Union (EU) export accreditation on 7 April 2026 and Southern African Development Community (SADC) export accreditation on 11 June 2026.

    Savanna Beef records N$25.9m loss, abattoir ramps up operations
  12. The Namibian

    European Union is a market for Namibia's beef exports

    Source

    Namibia remains FMD-free without vaccination, retaining its highly coveted international export status to markets like the European Union and China.

    Ministry fences off FMD threat at border
  13. The Namibian

    European Union invested €6 million (about N$127 million) in strengthening democratic governance

    Source

    The parliament, the National Planning Commission and the European Union have concluded the six-year Enhancing Participatory Democracy in Namibia programme, which has invested €6 million (about N$127 million) in strengthening democratic governance, parliamentary oversight and citizen participation.

    EU pumps N$127 million into Namibia’s democracy drive
World & Region

Zimbabwe ranks second market for South Africa agricultural exports

The News

South Africa exported agricultural products worth US$1.2 billion to Zimbabwe in 2025, representing about 8% of South Africa's agricultural exports and making Zimbabwe the country's second-largest agricultural export market after the Netherlands, according to World Bank data and discussions at the South Africa–Zimbabwe Bi-National Commission Business Forum.

8 hours ago · Windhoek Observer

Today

  1. Zimbabwe ranks second market for South Africa agricultural exports

    South Africa exported agricultural products worth US$1.2 billion to Zimbabwe in 2025, representing about 8% of South Africa's agricultural exports and making Zimbabwe the country's second-largest agricultural export market after the Netherlands, according to World Bank data and discussions at the South Africa–Zimbabwe Bi-National Commission Business Forum.

    8 hours ago · Windhoek Observer

Friday 4 September

  1. 38 Namibian students depart for EU-funded study abroad

    Thirty-eight Namibian students have left for universities across Europe under the EU's Erasmus+ programme, with the European Union fully funding their studies.

    4 September 2026 · Namibian Sun

Wednesday 2 September

  1. ECB launches platform for embedded generation applications

    The Electricity Control Board, with EU support, has launched the Embedded Generation Application Platform to streamline applications for embedded generation systems below 500 kilovolt-amperes. The ECB CEO described the platform as part of Namibia's fundamental electricity sector transformation, reflecting growing confidence in the country's energy future and supporting national goals for energy security and diversification.

    2 September 2026 · Informanté

Monday 31 August

  1. Iceland votes against restarting EU membership talks

    Iceland has voted against resuming talks on joining the European Union, 13 years after they were halted. According to public broadcaster RUV, 52.8% of 225,031 voters rejected the move.

    31 August 2026 · Namibian Sun

Friday 28 August

  1. Namibia must increase and restructure agricultural subsidies

    A Windhoek Observer opinion piece argues that Namibian farmers face inherent disadvantages—vast distances, limited arable land, variable rainfall, and high input costs—that make them uncompetitive against subsidised regional and international producers, and calls for a deliberate national subsidy strategy rather than fragmented support.

    28 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Thursday 20 August

  1. EU livestock inspections resume with temporary producer funding

    Namibian livestock producers supplying EU markets faced inspection suspensions when the Directorate of Veterinary Services' operational budget was exhausted. A temporary arrangement now allows producers to cover travel and related costs of state veterinarians conducting required EU certification inspections, channelled through the Livestock and Livestock Products Board of Namibia.

    20 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Wednesday 19 August

  1. Botswana steps up FMD controls amid outbreak threat to region

    Botswana is intensifying efforts to contain foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) following outbreaks that raise concerns for cross-border animal health and livestock trade in the region, including Namibia. Botswana's agriculture minister said the disease has placed pressure on rural livelihoods, the livestock industry and the economy, while noting Botswana has historically managed to control FMD and maintain World Organisation for Animal Health recognition for zones free from the disease without vaccination.

    19 August 2026 · Informanté

Saturday 15 August

  1. EU livestock farm inspections suspended, temporary fix arranged

    Namibia's livestock export industry faced pressure when the Directorate of Veterinary Services suspended annual EU certification inspections due to budget exhaustion, risking producers' access to export markets; a temporary arrangement was reached with producers covering state veterinarian travel costs during the interim period.

    15 August 2026 · Informanté

Tuesday 11 August

  1. EU funds Namibian lithium pilot project for EV batteries

    The European Union announced in May a partnership with London-listed mining company Andrada to fund a N$74-million lithium extraction pilot project at Andrada's Uis mine in Erongo. The project, called ProLith, aims to test whether petalite—a lithium-containing mineral found at Uis—can be cost-efficiently processed into lithium for electric vehicle batteries using an alkaline leeching process that requires less energy than traditional spodumene processing.

    11 August 2026 · The Namibian

Sunday 9 August

  1. Namibia should demand reciprocal benefits in EU and China partnerships

    An opinion piece argues that Namibia's strategic partnerships with the European Union and China should be built on the plover-and-crocodile principle: mutual honesty about needs and measurable benefits for both parties, with the smaller partner's gains as visible as the larger one's.

    9 August 2026 · The Namibian

Tuesday 4 August

  1. Erongo region drives majority of Namibia's exports

    Namibia's economy is heavily dependent on products from the Erongo region, with 80% of exports by value comprising just four products, two produced there. Economist Robin Sherbourne notes that uranium and gold have become key sectors replacing diamonds, and says the country needs economic diversification, particularly through development of Walvis Bay as an oil and gas hub.

    4 August 2026 · The Namibian

  2. US states challenge Trump tariffs on sixty trading partners

    Twenty-five US states have sued the Trump administration over tariffs of 10% to 12.5% on goods from 60 trading partners, including the UK, China, and the European Union, imposed in July citing forced labour concerns. The coalition of Democratic states argues the tariffs are "arbitrary, capricious, and contrary to law," while the White House defends the duties as lawful action against unreasonable trade practices.

    4 August 2026 · The Namibian

Monday 3 August

  1. Meatco stays profitable despite cattle throughput decline of 53%

    The Agriculture Minister said Meatco remained profitable despite droughts and low cattle availability, with throughput south of the Veterinary Cordon Fence declining by 53% to 35,594 cattle. Revenue fell from N$1.865 billion to N$1.108 billion, but the company strengthened its financial position, increased cash reserves, and reduced accumulated losses.

    3 August 2026 · Informanté

Saturday 1 August

  1. Fifa scraps World Cup private investment plan after global backlash

    Fifa president Gianni Infantino has withdrawn a proposal to allow private investment in the World Cup, which had faced fierce opposition from Uefa, national governments, and continental football bodies. The plan would have sought $4.2 billion from minority investors in Fifa Forward Enterprise while Fifa retained majority control.

    1 August 2026 · The Namibian

Thursday 30 July

  1. Meatco secures additional Norwegian beef export quota

    Meatco has secured an additional 344,766-kilogram beef export quota to Norway through a quota-sharing arrangement with Botswana under the SACU-EFTA framework, after exhausting its initial 2026 allocation by end of June. The additional allocation is projected to generate N$100 million in export earnings, potentially bringing Meatco's total Norwegian exports for 2026 to N$365 million.

    30 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer

  2. Fifa president defends World Cup commercialisation proposal

    Fifa president Gianni Infantino defended a proposal to create a private subsidiary to exploit World Cup commercial benefits, calling it "an opportunity but not an obligation" and saying it would unlock previously uncaptured value to benefit member associations, though the proposal sparked global outrage after being revealed.

    30 July 2026 · The Namibian

Tuesday 28 July

  1. Namibia secures additional Norwegian beef quota

    Namibia has secured an additional Norwegian beef quota of 344,766 kilograms through a government-to-government arrangement with Botswana, expected to generate approximately N$100 million in additional revenue. Combined with the initial 2026 allocation, Meatco's projected Norwegian exports for 2026 are valued at approximately N$365 million.

    28 July 2026 · Informanté

  2. Namibian ambassador appointed OPCW Deputy Director-General

    Ambassador Mekondjo Kaapanda-Girnus has been appointed Deputy Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, effective 25 July 2026, becoming the second most senior official at the international body responsible for implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention across 193 member states.

    28 July 2026 · New Era

Monday 27 July

  1. Namibian former ambassador appointed OPCW deputy director-general

    Mekondjo Kaapanda-Girnus, a former ambassador to Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, has been appointed deputy director-general of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, the second most senior position in the international body.

    27 July 2026 · The Namibian

  2. Namibia appoints ambassador to OPCW deputy director-general role

    Namibia's ministry of international relations and trade has appointed ambassador Mekondjo Kaapanda-Girnus as deputy director-general of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, assuming office on 25 July 2026. Kaapanda-Girnus, who brings more than seventeen years of diplomacy experience and previously served as Namibia's ambassador to Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, becomes the second most senior official of the OPCW.

    27 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Thursday 23 July

  1. Walvis Bay's strategic value extends beyond harbour function

    An opinion piece argues that Walvis Bay's significance lies not in the port itself but in control over maritime trade routes and the geopolitical power that grants—a principle South Africa understood when it retained sovereignty for four years after Namibia's 1990 independence.

    23 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Tuesday 21 July

  1. Savanna Beef reports N$25.9m loss amid facility ramp-up

    Savanna Beef Processors Limited recorded a group loss of N$25.9 million for the financial year ended 28 February 2026 as it commissioned and ramped up its newly completed abattoir and meat processing facility. The operating loss widened to N$30.9 million from N$13.2 million in the previous year, reflecting costs associated with bringing the facility into production.

    21 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer

  2. Savanna Beef reports N$25.9m loss as abattoir commences operations

    Savanna Beef Processors Limited reported a group loss of N$25.9 million for the year ended 28 February 2026, with operating losses widening as the company commissioned its newly completed abattoir and meat processing facility. The subsidiary Savanna Beef Operations received its taking-over certificate from the contractor on 29 October 2025, with the total project value amounting to N$436.5 million.

    21 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer

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

  2. EU invests N$127 million in Namibia's parliamentary democracy programme

    The parliament, the National Planning Commission and the European Union have concluded a six-year Enhancing Participatory Democracy in Namibia programme, which invested €6 million (about N$127 million) in strengthening democratic governance, parliamentary oversight and citizen participation since August 2020.

    12 July 2026 · The Namibian

  3. Lobito Corridor railway project focuses on DRC mineral exports

    The Lobito Corridor railway, linking mineral-rich DRC regions to Angola's port, is a key development focus for Angola, DRC, Zambia and partners including the US, which committed US$200 billion for infrastructure and pledged to mobilise an additional US$600 billion. The DRC's untapped mineral deposits are valued at over US$24 trillion.

    12 July 2026 · The Namibian

Thursday 9 July

  1. EU to remove Namibia from financial crime monitoring list by year-end

    Following Namibia's removal from the Financial Action Task Force grey list in June, the EU has initiated an internal legislative procedure expected to result in Namibia's removal from the EU's anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CTF) list by the end of the year, subject to a European Parliament vote. The EU clarified that its financial crime monitoring jurisdiction list does not constitute sanctions or restrictions on trade, investment, or development cooperation.

    9 July 2026 · Informanté

Wednesday 8 July

  1. EU congratulates Namibia on removal from FATF grey list

    The European Union congratulated Namibia on its removal from the Financial Action Task Force grey list in June 2026, recognising progress in strengthening the country's financial system. The EU supported Namibia's implementation of the FATF Action Plan through capacity building to over 150 officials across law enforcement and justice institutions.

    8 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Monday 6 July

  1. Namibia remains on EU anti-money laundering watchlist

    The European Union has kept Namibia on its list of high-risk jurisdictions with strategic deficiencies in anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing frameworks. The designation requires EU banks and financial institutions to apply enhanced due diligence measures when dealing with individuals, companies and transactions linked to Namibia, and will affect cross-border banking and investment processes.

    6 July 2026 · Informanté

Friday 3 July

  1. Namibia targets N$168 billion exports by 2030, seeks Poland partnerships

    Namibia aims to increase exports from N$102 billion to over N$168 billion by 2030 through value addition, foreign direct investment, and industrialisation, International Relations Minister Selma Ashipala-Musavyi told Polish Deputy Prime Minister Radosław Sikorski during bilateral talks in the capital on Wednesday.

    3 July 2026 · New Era

European Union — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute