Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
July 2026
Informanté
Deputy Minister Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyelesaidfuture resource allocations would be linked to performance
Source
“The deputy minister said the ministry would introduce measures to address persistent underperformance and low project execution rates, adding that future resource allocations would increasingly be linked to performance.”
Deputy Minister Evelyn !Nawases-TaeyeleannouncedN$10 million allocation to Food/Cash for Work Programme
Source
“The deputy minister announced that the ministry has, for the first time, allocated N$10 million during the current financial year to the Food/Cash for Work Programme.”
Deputy minister Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyeleannouncedthe allocation during the opening of the three-day annual Rural Development Review and Planning
Source
“Deputy minister of urban and rural development Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyele made the announcement of the allocation during the opening of the three-day annual Rural Development Review and Planning in Swakopmund yesterday.”
Deputy minister Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyeledelivered the message on behalf ofJames Sankwasa during the opening of the 2026 Annual Rural Development Progress Review and Planning Workshop
Source
“The message was delivered on his behalf by deputy minister of urban and rural development Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyele during the opening of the 2026 Annual Rural Development Progress Review and Planning Workshop at Swakopmund yesterday.”
Deputy minister Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyelesayslocal authorities must hire trained firefighters for efficient emergency response
Source
“The deputy minister of urban and rural development, Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyele says it's imperative that local authorities hire trained firefighters who can respond to emergency situations efficiently.”
Deputy minister of urban and rural development Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyelesaidthe decision is prudent and not unprecedented
Source
“Deputy minister of urban and rural development Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyele, in her contribution, said the decision is not only prudent but also not unprecedented, as it is common practice for states to place nationally significant resources under their direct supervision”
Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyelesaidthe Baseline Report is a critical, evidence-based instrument to guide national policy direction
Source
“Also speaking at the opening, the deputy minister of urban and rural development Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyele said the Baseline Report is a critical, evidence-based instrument that will guide national policy direction, strategic planning and coordinated interventions aimed at addressing informal settlements across the country.”
Deputy Minister Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyeleadmittedthat Rents Ordinance (No. 13 of 1977) is completely outdated and non-functional since Independence
Source
“Responding to questions from the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) in Parliament last week, Deputy Minister of Urban and Rural Development Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyele admitted that the country's main rental law, the Rents Ordinance (No. 13 of 1977), is "completely outdated" and has effectively been non-functional since Independence.”
Deputy Minister !Nawases-Taeyelesaidsystem seems wrong because existing laws not being implemented effectively or being disobeyed or abused
Source
“"Sometimes the system seems wrong not because there aren't enough laws, but simply because the existing laws are not being implemented effectively or are being disobeyed or abused!" !Nawases-Taeyele said.”
Deputy minister Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyelemade announcementon rent control board revival and new bill drafting
Source
“Deputy minister of urban and rural development Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyele made the announcement on Thursday while responding to Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) parliamentarian Inna Hengari's questions in the National Assembly.”
The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development has warned regional councils to improve project implementation and service delivery while announcing a N$10 million allocation for the Food/Cash for Work Programme to provide temporary income support to vulnerable households and strengthen rural resilience. According to the deputy minister, 50.5% of Namibia's population lives in rural areas, and while some regional councils have made progress, others struggle with poor implementation.
The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development has warned regional councils to improve project implementation and service delivery while announcing a N$10 million allocation for the Food/Cash for Work Programme to provide temporary income support to vulnerable households and strengthen rural resilience. According to the deputy minister, 50.5% of Namibia's population lives in rural areas, and while some regional councils have made progress, others struggle with poor implementation.
The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development has allocated N$10 million towards a Food/Cash-for-Work Programme for the current financial year to provide temporary income support to vulnerable households and create community assets, in response to Namibia's unemployment rate of 36.9% and youth unemployment of 44.1%.
Minister of urban and rural development James Sankwasa has warned that the era of 'business as usual' in rural development is over, cautioning regional councils to improve project implementation and ensure public resources deliver measurable benefits for communities. He expressed concern over incomplete projects, unspent development funds and idle rural development centres, calling for performance-based resource allocation and improved accountability.
The Minister of Urban and Rural Development resolved a salary dispute at the Kunene Regional Council by securing agreement to relieve Chief Regional Officer George Kamseb of his duties and appoint an acting chief regional officer, allowing the ministry to release funds for employees' outstanding June 2026 salaries. Kamseb's case remains before the Supreme Court, and he would be reinstated and receive all due remuneration should the court rule in his favour.
The deputy minister of urban and rural development called for local authorities to employ permanent, trained firefighters, citing concerns that some use untrained personnel to operate emergency vehicles and equipment. The appeal was made during International Firefighters Day commemorations in Katima Mulilo, where firefighters conducted a simulation exercise and wreath-laying ceremony.
The Republican Party has backed a petroleum amendment bill that would transfer oil and gas authority from the minister of industries to the Presidency, citing anti-corruption benefits and transparency. The move has divided opposition parties, with the Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters also supporting it, while other opposition parties argue it increases corruption risk and reduces parliamentary oversight.
A baseline report presented by the Namibia Statistics Agency found that 419 informal settlements across Namibia accommodate more than 200,000 urban residents, with significant service delivery gaps: only 24% have water infrastructure, 10% have sewer services, and 22% have electricity. The government aims to reduce informal settlements by 50% by 2029 and will use the report as a benchmark to measure progress.
Namibia's main rental law, the Rents Ordinance of 1977, has been non-functional since Independence, leaving tenants vulnerable to rising rents and disputed deposits. The government is reviewing the law and appointing consultants to draft new legislation, but has set no timeline, while civil society groups criticize decades of inaction as Namibians suffer from market-driven rent increases.
The African Labour and Human Rights Centre accuses the government of failing to enforce existing rental laws under the Rental Ordinance No 13 of 1977, leaving tenants vulnerable to exploitation. The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development is drafting a new bill and reviving a rent control board, but the Centre's director argues the government should immediately enforce the laws already in place while rental prices surge in urban areas.
Urban and rural development deputy minister Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyele has called for property value-based reforms to address rising property prices, highlighting the establishment of the Namibia Council for the Property Valuers Profession to remove banks' regulatory dominance and stabilize the property market.
Urban and Rural Development Minister James Sankwasa has called on regional and local authority councillors to award tenders to Namibian companies and ensure local participation in development projects. He emphasized that procurement must promote job creation and empower Namibian-registered small and medium enterprises, while cautioning councils to conduct thorough background checks on company ownership and ensure genuine Namibian involvement rather than token partnerships.