Namibia Minute.
Friday, 24 April 2026
A daily Namibian brief · Est. 2026
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Person

Fillemon Wise Immanuel

Also known as: Minister Fillemon Wise Immanuel · Minister of Justice · justice minister Fillemon Wise Immanuel · labour minister Fillemon Wise Immanuel

Labour and Justice Minister directing compliance with minimum wage laws and mediating wage disputes in Namibia's manufacturing and fishing sectors.

Politics

Government allocates N$512 million to judiciary for 2026/2027

The News

The government has allocated N$512 million to the Office of the Judiciary for the 2026/2027 financial year, with N$497 million for operations and N$15 million for development projects including construction of magistrates' courts in Nkurenkuru and Katima Mulilo. The allocation reflects the government's commitment to strengthening the justice system and expanding court capacity in underserved areas.

8 April 2026 · New Era →

Wednesday 8 April

  1. Government allocates N$512 million to judiciary for 2026/2027

    The government has allocated N$512 million to the Office of the Judiciary for the 2026/2027 financial year, with N$497 million for operations and N$15 million for development projects including construction of magistrates' courts in Nkurenkuru and Katima Mulilo. The allocation reflects the government's commitment to strengthening the justice system and expanding court capacity in underserved areas.

    8 April 2026 · New Era →

Tuesday 7 April

  1. Legal aid income threshold too low for middle-income earners

    Swapo parliamentarian Hilma Iita has tabled a motion proposing 75% partial legal aid for middle-income earners, arguing the current N$7,000 monthly income threshold leaves workers unable to afford private lawyers while earning too much to qualify for free aid. Justice minister Yvonne Dausab had previously indicated plans to raise the threshold to N$10,000 and consider case complexity, but Iita stressed the law remains unchanged and is outdated given current living costs.

    7 April 2026 · New Era →

Monday 16 March

  1. Government plans reintegration of 222 Walu Fishing workers

    The Namibian government is working to reintegrate 222 workers recently terminated from Walu Fishing through the Government Employment Redress Programme, placing them with four fishing companies under new employment agreements aligned with revised fishing quota allocations.

    16 March 2026 · New Era →

Friday 13 March

  1. Namib Mills workers end 59-day strike with union wage agreement

    The Namibian Revolutionary Transport and Manufacturing Union (Naretu) and Namib Mills have concluded a wage deal ending a strike involving close to 1,000 workers. Under the agreement, workers will receive back pay and bonuses this week, with improved benefits automatically implemented from 1 July 2026 without further negotiation.

    13 March 2026 · New Era →

Wednesday 11 March

  1. Government seeks to reintegrate 222 fishing workers

    The ministers of agriculture and labour met with four fishing companies to discuss reintegrating 222 workers who lost jobs at Walu Fishing through the Government Employment Redress Programme. Each participating company will receive an employment quota aligned with their workforce size, and the government emphasized its commitment to fair labour practices and zero tolerance for exploitation.

    11 March 2026 · Informanté →

Tuesday 10 March

  1. Namib Mills ready to conclude wage agreement with workers

    Namib Mills and the Namibia Revolutionary Transport and Manufacturing Union have made meaningful progress in wage negotiations and reached broad agreement on substantive wage issues, but talks have stalled after the union introduced items outside the scope of the dispute. The industrial action, which began in January 2026 after months of failed negotiations, involved nearly 700 workers across multiple depots demanding higher wages, housing and transport allowances, and full December bonuses.

    10 March 2026 · New Era →

Monday 9 March

  1. Security guards claim underpayment despite minimum wage rules

    A security guard working for Amsteel Security Services says he and colleagues earn N$2,000 per month for 12-hour shifts without overtime pay, public holiday pay, or risk allowance, despite a government minimum wage of N$18 per hour effective January 2025. Labour Minister Fillemon Wise Immanuel has directed all government ministries to verify that state-contracted service providers comply with minimum wage laws.

    9 March 2026 · New Era →

Friday 20 February

  1. Judiciary budgets depleted; legal aid travel suspended

    Memos from the Office of the Judiciary and Ministry of Justice confirm severe budget shortages: the legal aid travel budget is depleted and legal aid counsel must seek to postpone out-of-station hearings; magistrates are barred from travelling outside duty stations for cases between 15 March and 15 April. Chief Justice Peter Shivute warned that underfunding and staff shortages threaten judicial capacity, with civil judges' workload rising 60% despite fewer cases being filed.

    20 February 2026 · New Era →

Tuesday 17 February

  1. Justice minister spends N$22,000 on staff kapana lunch

    Justice and Labour Minister Fillemon Wise Immanuel spent over N$22,000 from his own pocket to treat more than 100 ministry staff members to a kapana lunch in Katutura, describing it as an act of servant leadership and support for informal traders and the local economy. Vendors at Single Quarters reported significant sales boosts and expressed gratitude for the unusual visit by senior government officials.

    17 February 2026 · New Era →

Thursday 5 February

  1. New divorce law prioritizes child welfare and fairness

    Namibia's new Dissolution of Marriages Act, assented in October 2024, simplifies divorce procedures by replacing fault-based grounds with a single irretrievable-breakdown standard, while placing strong emphasis on children's rights and fair property division. The law requires courts to ensure proper custody, guardianship, and maintenance arrangements for children before granting divorce, and removes outdated mechanisms like restitution of conjugal rights.

    5 February 2026 · New Era →

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