Namibia Minute.
Monday, 8 June 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Monday, 8 June 2026
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Namibian press · Person

Fillemon Wise Immanuel

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

Labour Minister directing minimum wage compliance verification and mediating fishing industry worker disputes.

2026-01-212026-06-08
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What’s been said

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

  1. February 2026

  2. New Era

    Justice and labour minister Fillemon Wise Immanuel spent more than N$22 000 from his pocket to treat ministry staff to kapana lunch

    Source

    “Justice and labour minister Fillemon Wise Immanuel yesterday spent more than N$22 000 from his pocket to treat more than 100 ministry members to a kapana lunch in Katutura, following their opening annual engagement.”

    Minister treats staff to N$22 000 kapana

  3. New Era

    Fillemon Wise Immanuel said the law would streamline divorce process, protect children, and provide clear property division rules

    Source

    “Motivating the law late last year, Immanuel said it would streamline the divorce process, protect children, and provide clear rules for the division of property and maintenance.”

    Divorce law places children at centre

  4. New Era

    Immanuel told Parliament that many people found the previous divorce system challenging to navigate

    Source

    “"Many people found it challenging to navigate the system, especially when faced with emotional and financial hardships," Immanuel told the Parliament.”

    Divorce law places children at centre
Politics

Namibia's no-fault divorce law replaces adultery-based system

The News

Namibia's Dissolution of Marriages Act 2024 took effect on 3 June 2026, replacing fault-based divorce grounds (adultery, cruelty, desertion) with a single ground of "irretrievable breakdown of the marriage." The reform also empowers Magistrate Courts to grant divorces for the first time, and seeks to reduce hostility and simplify procedures.

Why it matters

No-fault divorce law took effect today, modernising Namibian family law and expanding magistrate court jurisdiction.

3 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Wednesday 3 June

  1. Namibia's no-fault divorce law replaces adultery-based system

    Namibia's Dissolution of Marriages Act 2024 took effect on 3 June 2026, replacing fault-based divorce grounds (adultery, cruelty, desertion) with a single ground of "irretrievable breakdown of the marriage." The reform also empowers Magistrate Courts to grant divorces for the first time, and seeks to reduce hostility and simplify procedures.

    3 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Friday 8 May

  1. 161-page dossier alleges fraud, corruption by police chief Shikongo

    A Windhoek resident submitted a 161-page dossier to the Security Commission in April 2025 requesting President Nandi-Ndaitwah remove inspector general Joseph Shikongo from office, alleging corruption, criminal interference, intimidation and abuse of state institutions. Nandi-Ndaitwah appointed major general Anne-Marie Nainda as acting inspector general, though the president did not publicly state reasons for the suspension.

    8 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Tuesday 5 May

  1. President urges workers to develop skills through online training

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has urged Namibian workers to take initiative in improving their skills through available learning opportunities, including online courses, and stressed that capacity building has no age limit. She said the 2026 International Workers' Day theme on continuous in-service training highlights the need for a skill-driven workforce to ensure productivity and economic growth, and called for cooperation between workers and employers.

    5 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Sunday 3 May

  1. Namibia launches Sustainable Wildlife Management Legal Hub

    The Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has launched the Namibia Sustainable Wildlife Management Programme Legal Hub, a website providing public access to statutory and legal instruments relating to natural resource management. The hub was funded by the French Government through the French Development Agency, with co-funding from the German Government through GIZ.

    3 May 2026 · Informanté →

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 →

Monday 2 February

  1. Namib Mills and union reach partial wage agreement

    Namib Mills and the Namibian Revolutionary Transport and Manufacturing Union reached a partial agreement on wages after a three-week strike involving over 95% of workers, with the minister's mediation securing agreement on yearly salary boosts, salary adjustments, and allowances; three issues remain unresolved.

    2 February 2026 · New Era →

Monday 26 January

  1. Labour Advisory Council investigates fishing industry worker exploitation

    A consultative meeting between fishing industry employers and workers in Walvis Bay grew tense when unrecognized unions complained their grievances were not heard. The Labour Advisory Council, tasked by the labour minister to probe alleged exploitation, heard complaints of wage discrepancies, excessive working hours without overtime, unauthorized salary deductions, and unequal pay—though employers disputed several allegations, citing contracts and the seasonal nature of the sector.

    26 January 2026 · New Era →

Wednesday 21 January

  1. Ngurare meets Iranian, Egyptian and Indonesian diplomats

    Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare held meetings with delegations from Iran, Egypt and Indonesia, focusing on trade and bilateral cooperation. Areas of discussion included youth empowerment and skills development with Iran; green hydrogen, renewable energy, and agriculture with Egypt; and agriculture, commerce, education and fisheries with Indonesia.

    21 January 2026 · New Era →

Fillemon Wise Immanuel — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute