… Japanese Embassy and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) on Saturday launched a new Japan-funded project in Otjiwarongo aimed at strengthening drought resilience and food security among vulnerable farming communities in the Erongo, Kunene, Omaheke, Otjozondjupa and Hardap …
… This week, three police officers from the Hardap region were arrested on Sunday after allegedly stealing a sheep carcass and two bags of intestines valued at N$2 000 at Aranos. …
… Earlier this week, national police spokesperson deputy commissioner Kauna Shikwambi confirmed that three police officers from the Hardap region were arrested on Sunday for allegedly stealing a sheep carcass and two bags of intestines valued at N$2 000 at Aranos. …
… Earlier this week, police national spokesperson deputy commissioner Kauna Shikwambi confirmed that three police officers from the Hardap region were arrested on Sunday for allegedly stealing a sheep carcass and two bags of intestines valued at N$2 000 at Aranos. …
… EduVision Online Learning received N$609 744 for SI Oaseb Secondary School at Gibeon and Pioneer Secondary School at Schlip, both in the Hardap region. …
… The engagement was also attended by First Gentleman Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah, deputy education minister Dino Ballotti, Hardap governor Riaan McNab, Rehoboth mayor Jackie Jackson ‡Khariseb, members of the Baster Traditional Authority Kaptein’s Council, educators, learners, church l …
… The Namibia Meteorological Service warned that very hot conditions were expected in the south, with scattered thundershowers likely in Kunene, Khomas, and Hardap regions. …
… She said the incident took place last Wednesday at around 23h00 about 15km outside the town in the Hardap region, when a police vehicle and a bakkie, was involved in an accident after hitting a kudu. …
An opinion piece critiques a Namibian government remembrance programme held in Lüderitz on 27 May 2026, arguing that by framing traditional leaders' and affected communities' concerns as "misinformation," the programme treats legitimate structural and historical critiques as a communication problem rather than engaging with substantive objections to the government's development model.
An opinion piece critiques a Namibian government remembrance programme held in Lüderitz on 27 May 2026, arguing that by framing traditional leaders' and affected communities' concerns as "misinformation," the programme treats legitimate structural and historical critiques as a communication problem rather than engaging with substantive objections to the government's development model.
The National Assembly reconvenes on 2 June 2026 after a month recess during which MPs conducted oversight visits, stakeholder consultations, and regional and international parliamentary engagements. Deputy Speaker Katamelo was appointed chairperson of the Pan-African Parliament Committee on Cooperation, International Relations and Conflict Resolution, while parliamentary committees assessed poverty alleviation and service delivery, including concerns over an incomplete N$41 million Eenhana Town Council building project.
The Nama Traditional Leaders Association cautioned that Namibia's development push risks repeating historical exclusion patterns if affected communities remain sidelined from ownership and decision-making. The association argued that a true renaissance should include restorative justice, equitable ownership, cultural protection and meaningful participation in national wealth creation, rather than corporate social responsibility donations used as substitutes for meaningful redistribution.
Public passenger transport operators have been urged to keep fares within an approved 15% increase that took effect on 18 May, aimed at minimising the impact of rising international oil prices and global geopolitical tensions on commuters. The ministry encourages the public to report operators charging fares above the approved increase.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has confirmed desert locust swarms at Homeb in Walvis Bay Rural and at Daweb in Hardap region, destroying grazing and natural vegetation in affected areas. The locusts are in the flying stage, making control efforts difficult.
The ||Kharas and Hardap regions are holding a two-day programme in Lüderitz led by regional governors, bringing together government, traditional authorities, youth, and development partners to promote unity, remembrance, and development ahead of the annual Genocide Remembrance Day commemoration on 28 May. The programme includes a Heritage Meets Development Stakeholder Conference themed "From Genocide to Renaissance," focusing on youth participation, cultural preservation, sustainable development, and inclusive economic growth.
A desert locust outbreak has been detected in parts of Erongo and Hardap, with swarms destroying grazing and vegetation across at least 15 farms covering 300–400 square kilometres. The Ministry of Agriculture says the locusts are in the flying stage, making control difficult, and has deployed vehicle-mounted sprayers to contain the outbreak.
Lüderitz will host the annual Genocide Remembrance commemoration at Shark Island on 27–28 May 2026, bringing together government leaders, communities and youth to honour victims of the genocide. The event includes a Youth Engagement Session on 27 May aimed at encouraging reflection on history and preserving Namibia's shared heritage.
National Council members raised concerns that deteriorating road infrastructure contributes to vehicle damage, rising transport costs, and road accidents, with specific complaints about poor conditions in Kavango East, Kavango West, and the Maltahöhe-Walvis Bay route. The Ministry of Works and Transport's budget was N$2.74 billion for the current financial year.
Namibia and China are reviewing progress under a joint agricultural cooperation programme at the Tsumis Arid Zone Agricultural Centre in Hardap, which has conducted five training sessions reaching 121 farmers and staff members—exceeding its initial plan of four sessions for about 80 participants. The China-FAO-Namibia South-South Cooperation Project, now in its second phase through the end of this year, covers poultry farming, seed production, plant protection, aquaculture, and soil fertility management.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has described Swapo's late Hardap coordinator Joplin !Gontes as a unifying and compassionate leader who believed in uplifting others and treating people with dignity. Speaking at her funeral service in Windhoek on Saturday, Nandi-Ndaitwah said !Gontes' values of humility, compassion and commitment to serving communities should continue to inspire Namibians.
Namibia's annual inflation rate slowed to 3.1% in April 2026, though transport and fuel costs remain under pressure. Consumers in northern regions (zone 1) paid the highest diesel price at N$24.31 per litre, while Khomas residents (zone 2) paid the lowest at N$24.12.
Agriculture minister Inge Zaamwani says the Hyphen Green Hydrogen Project near Lüderitz could provide desalinated water to support farming in water-stressed Aus and enable a green scheme in the area, while also delivering wider economic benefits and requiring sector-wide adjustments.
Consistent showers are expected across several areas of Namibia during the long weekend, with the southern parts of the country—particularly Hardap and //Kharas regions—most affected and at risk of localised flooding. Areas including Aus (50 mm), Grunau (26–30 mm), and Keetmanshoop (20 mm) have already received substantial rainfall between Wednesday and Thursday morning.
The Namibia Meteorological Services forecasts substantial showers across the country today, with the heaviest thundershowers expected in the Hardap and //Kharas regions, potentially causing flash floods. Several other regions including Kunene, Otjozondjupa, Erongo, Khomas, and Omaheke are also expected to experience rain showers and windy conditions.
Opposition leaders and labour experts have raised concerns about "jobs for comrades"—the practice of hiring based on political party membership and regional affiliation rather than merit. The Popular Democratic Movement secretary general Manuel Ngaringombe says the practice undermines fair employment and compromises nationalism, tracing the issue back to post-independence hiring patterns within state-owned enterprises.
Inspector General Joseph Shikongo said the recent transfer of senior officers, including Commissioner Julia Sakua to Zambezi region and Commissioner Andreas Pingana Shilelo to Oshana, is a planned strategic move to strengthen the force and improve service delivery, not a reaction to isolated incidents.
Germany has funded the "Speak Up" project addressing gender-based violence in Hardap, Erongo and Omusati regions with 84,432.35 euros (N$1.59 million). The project, running from April to December 2026, will use music, dance, play, and intergenerational dialogues to promote positive masculinity and mental health awareness, particularly among young people.
The Landless People's Movement faces growing internal tensions, with former councillor Joseph Isaacks accusing leader Bernadus Swartbooi of running the party dictatorially and the party suspending former mayor McDonald Hanse over alleged involvement in forming a new political party. The LPM's spokesperson denies disunity claims and says the party operates within constitutional rules, while Hanse contests his suspension and disputes the allegations against him.
The Ministry of Environment and Tourism has announced that driving between Sossusvlei's parking areas will be limited to a single operator (About Africa Co) from 1 May, restricting access for independent tour operators and self-drivers. Tour operators and industry figures warn the exclusive concession will harm competition, raise prices, create liability concerns, and damage the tourism sector despite ministry claims it will generate revenue and protect the environment.
The Collective, a new initiative founded by Hanjo de Klerk, aims to unify Namibian athletics by identifying and nurturing young athletes through structured coaching, performance tracking and partnerships with schools and government bodies. The platform targets U/15, U/17 and U/19 athletes across multiple regions and seeks to create a clear development pathway from grassroots to international competition by 2030.
The Collective, a new structured athletics development platform, has been launched in Windhoek to nurture talent and improve performance standards by connecting coaching, performance data, and competitive exposure for Namibian athletes. The platform operates through a three-tier model serving elite athletes and developing competitors across four regions, with support from qualified coaches and a focus on athletes in the under-15, 17 and 19 age categories.
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare has been allocated N$417.2 million for the 2026/2027 financial year to advance gender equity, child protection, and women's economic empowerment across Namibia. In the past year, the ministry supported 347 survivors of gender-based violence and trafficking, accommodated 329 street children in boarding schools, and expanded early childhood development enrolment from 110,726 to 126,213 across the country.
The Khomas region registered 3.2% annual inflation for March, above the national rate of 2.1%, with housing and utilities driving inflation most significantly. Food prices fell sharply compared to the prior year, while transport costs declined, according to data from the Namibia Statistics Agency.
Annual inflation in Namibia slowed to 2.1% in March 2026, down from 4.2% a year earlier, driven largely by lower transport costs, though housing and food remain significant cost pressures. Inflation varies by region, with Khomas recording the highest rate at 3.2% while northern zones recorded 1.0%.
The Republican Party's leader Henk Mudge has called for citizens to reject uranium mining in the Stampriet artesian basin, warning that in situ leaching operations could permanently contaminate one of southern Africa's most important underground water sources and pose risks to agriculture across Namibia, Botswana and South Africa.
In Gibeon, a remote village 100km south of Mariental, elderly residents like Welhimina Boois depend entirely on the government old-age pension grant (currently N$1 700 per month) to survive, often supporting extended family members as well. Over 250 000 elderly Namibians rely on this social grant as their primary income source, though many face severe hardship including food insecurity and inadequate housing.
Priscila Tjiroze, a veteran educator in //Kharas region with over 30 years' experience, reflects on her career spanning from classroom teaching to her current role overseeing adult literacy and arts and culture programmes. She emphasises that teaching is a vocation requiring passion, patience, and commitment, while noting challenges such as declining respect for teachers and students losing connection to cultural heritage.
Tilapia fingerling production at Namibia's Hardap Inland Aquaculture Centre has reached about 80% of its annual target despite operational constraints including incomplete infrastructure and limited holding space. The Ministry of Agriculture says it is committed to rehabilitating infrastructure and improving production levels by December this year.