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

High Court of Namibia

Also known as: The High Court of Namibia

Namibian court handling civil and criminal cases, recently recruiting foreign judges and appointing new justices to address case backlogs.

Opinion

Legal expert explains differing bail outcomes in Namcor, Fishrot cases

The News

According to legal researcher Brian Ngutjinazo, the contrasting bail decisions in the Namcor and Fishrot corruption cases reflect consistent application of Namibia's Criminal Procedure Act rather than inconsistency. In Namcor, courts found insufficient grounds for detention, while in Fishrot, evidence of alleged witness interference and the scale of organized corruption justified continued detention under the law's test of whether the interests of justice permit release.

17 April 2026 · New Era

Friday 17 April

  1. Legal expert explains differing bail outcomes in Namcor, Fishrot cases

    According to legal researcher Brian Ngutjinazo, the contrasting bail decisions in the Namcor and Fishrot corruption cases reflect consistent application of Namibia's Criminal Procedure Act rather than inconsistency. In Namcor, courts found insufficient grounds for detention, while in Fishrot, evidence of alleged witness interference and the scale of organized corruption justified continued detention under the law's test of whether the interests of justice permit release.

    17 April 2026 · New Era

Wednesday 8 April

  1. Supreme Court upholds freeze on Fishrot corruption saga assets

    Namibia's Supreme Court has upheld a High Court order preventing those accused in the Fishrot corruption case from accessing forfeited assets, rejecting an appeal by former justice minister Sacky Shanghala, James Hatuikulipi and Pius Mwatelulo. The court found that the Anti-Corruption Commission had proper authority to conduct the investigation and that the restraint order remains valid pending the outcome of the criminal trial, which is scheduled to recommence in March 2026.

    8 April 2026 · New Era

Thursday 2 April

  1. Ndateelela Shilongo-Alexander appointed government attorney

    The Office of the Attorney General has appointed Ndateelela Shilongo-Alexander as substantive government attorney, effective immediately. Shilongo-Alexander, a former director at law firm Sisa Namandje & Co., is an admitted High Court practitioner with over a decade of experience in civil litigation, labour law, administrative law and commercial law.

    2 April 2026 · The Namibian

Wednesday 18 March

  1. Gladice Pickering appointed acting High Court Judge

    Gladice Pickering was sworn in as an Acting Judge of the High Court on Monday, serving from 16 March to 30 June 2026. Her appointment requires temporary replacement in her role as executive director at the Office of the Prime Minister, with Shivute Indongo taking over the position.

    18 March 2026 · New Era

Friday 13 March

  1. GIPF seeks to recover N$18.6 million from former employee theft

    The Government Institutions Pension Fund is pursuing High Court action to freeze the pension funds of two former employees, Matin Eugen Smith and Vabiola Aoses, accused of embezzling N$18.6 million by altering banking details of inactive beneficiaries and channeling funds into over 50 accounts. GIPF estimates it may recover about N$8 million combined with a forfeiture order already obtained and an interdict to seize the employees' pension benefits totaling N$1.4 million.

    13 March 2026 · Informanté

Tuesday 10 March

  1. High Court recruiting foreign judges to ease civil case backlogs

    The Judicial Service Commission has decided to hire a limited number of foreign judges on fixed-term contracts to serve in the High Court's civil stream to reduce case backlogs. The Commission said the move became necessary because domestic candidates, particularly magistrates, lack the specialised expertise in civil law required for complex civil cases, and senior legal practitioners have been reluctant to accept permanent judicial positions.

    10 March 2026 · Informanté

  2. Five new judges appointed to Namibia's High Court

    The Office of the Judiciary has appointed five judges to the High Court, including three from other southern African countries on temporary contracts to address capacity constraints in the civil stream. The appointments are part of a temporary measure while longer-term domestic solutions are pursued.

    10 March 2026 · Informanté

Tuesday 3 March

  1. First woman permanently appointed to Namibia Supreme Court

    Justice Esi Malaika Schimming-Chase has become the first woman to be permanently appointed as a judge to Namibia's Supreme Court, taking her oath of office at a ceremony administered by Chief Justice Peter Shivute. She assumes duties effective 1 March 2026, following a distinguished legal career spanning more than two decades.

    3 March 2026 · New Era

Saturday 14 February

  1. Valentine's Day: celebration, disappointment, and self-care

    A column on Valentine's Day navigates the emotions of the weekend celebration—from anticipation to potential letdown—and urges readers to practice self-love regardless of romantic outcomes, noting that one day doesn't define one's worth or future relationships.

    14 February 2026 · The Namibian

Tuesday 6 January

  1. CRAN renews CEO Emilia Nghikembua's contract through 2030

    The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia has renewed the contract of CEO Emilia Nghikembua for a second term running from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2030, citing her exemplary leadership and outstanding performance during her first term. The CRAN board credits her with spearheading transformative reforms in Namibia's telecommunications and broadcasting sectors.

    6 January 2026 · New Era

Namibia Minute