Also known as: Iikokola village headman · I-Ben Natangwe Nashandi
Executive Director of the National Planning Commission; injured in a January 2026 shooting during a land dispute meeting in Oshikoto.
News reports
Order a long-term news report on I-Ben Nashandi
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Windhoek Observer
I-Ben Nashandi reaffirmed government commitment under Vision 2030 and NDP6
“Executive director of the National Planning Commission, I-Ben Nashandi reaffirmed government commitment under Vision 2030 and NDP6, framing the IMD Report as an urgent catalyst.”
NIPDB, FirstRand Namibia host CEOs’ roundtable to address competitivenessThe Namibian
I-Ben Nashandi said Japan's contribution amounts to over N$80 billion across different sectors
“Japan's contribution to different sectors to date amounts to over N$80 billion.”
Japan pumps N$80bn into Namibia in 20 yearsInformanté
Village headman I-Ben Nashandi was seriously wounded in illegal fence dispute
“The issue of illegal fences has led to disputes among farmers and between farmers and traditional authorities in all four Northern regions—Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, and Ohangwena—as was the case recently in Oshikoto, where village headman Sam Nepando was shot and killed, and village headman I-Ben Nashandi was seriously wounded.”
The dismantling of illegal fences commences in OhangwenaInformanté
Iikokola village headman and Executive Director of the National Planning Commission I-Ben Nashandi was seriously injured while attempting to address a land dispute last month
“Onelago village headman Sam Nepando was shot and killed, while Iikokola village headman and the Executive Director of the National Planning Commission, I-Ben Nashandi, was seriously injured while they were attempting to address a dispute over a piece of land last month.”
Attempts to coerce judicial officers started with the firebombing of magistrate’s house in 2007Informanté
I-Ben Nashandi survived with bullet wounds
“The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform issued a statement in which it urged strict adherence to communal land laws and condemned the recent violent incident in the Oshikoto Region in which village headman Sam Nepando was shot and killed, while his counterpart, I-Ben Nashandi, survived with bullet wounds.”
Land Reform Ministry condemns illegal fencing and land-related violenceThe Namibian
I-Ben Nashandi is headman of Iikokola village under Ondonga Traditional Authority based in Windhoek with full-time job as executive director of National Planning Commission
“Nashandi is based in Windhoek, where he has a full time job as executive director of the National Planning Commission.”
Namibia’s traditional leaders serve villages from Windhoek despite legal residency requirementsNew Era
I-Ben Nashandi was discharged from hospital and is recovering at home
“The executive director of the National Planning Commission I-Ben Nashandi has been discharged from hospital and is currently recovering at his home.”
Nashandi discharged from hospitalNew Era
I-Ben Nashandi sustained injuries from gunshots
“He had been admitted to Ongwediva Medi Park after he sustained injuries from gunshots.”
Nashandi discharged from hospitalNew Era
I-Ben Nashandi accused of falsely claiming he died
“Nashandi expressed disappointment with an online media outlet, Kalahari, for allegedly disseminating false information on its Facebook page claiming that he had died.”
Nashandi discharged from hospitalNew Era
I-Ben Nashandi was injured after being shot by the same accused
“The headman of Iikokola village, I-Ben Nashandi, who was also part of the meeting, was injured after being shot by the same accused.”
Slain Nepando laid to restThe Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board and FirstRand Namibia held a CEOs' Roundtable with close to 40 executive business leaders to address Namibia's competitiveness decline, following the country's drop in the 2026 IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook to 69th out of 70 economies.
21 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board and FirstRand Namibia held a CEOs' Roundtable with close to 40 executive business leaders to address Namibia's competitiveness decline, following the country's drop in the 2026 IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook to 69th out of 70 economies.
21 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Dr Sanet Steenkamp, Minister of Education, inaugurated the University of Namibia's new Council, tasked with providing strategic direction, ensuring good governance and overseeing the institution's affairs. Steenkamp emphasized the Council's role in providing leadership and oversight while respecting the distinction between governance and management, and urged members to engage in robust debate while keeping the institution's interests above individual concerns.
11 September 2026 · Informanté →
Minister of Education Dr Sanet Steenkamp inaugurated the University of Namibia's Council, which will provide strategic direction, ensure good governance and oversee the institution's affairs. Steenkamp emphasised the Council's role in providing leadership, safeguarding institutional integrity and holding management accountable, while respecting the distinction between governance and management.
9 September 2026 · Informanté →
Japan has contributed N$80 billion in development assistance to Namibia over the past two decades, including technical assistance, grants and scholarships, with close to half—N$47 billion—provided as grants and development assistance, according to the National Planning Commission executive director.
22 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Hyphen Hydrogen Energy, partnering with Enertrag and GIZ, will sign a cooperation agreement under the International Hydrogen Ramp-up Programme to strengthen Namibian supplier capacity in the green hydrogen sector. The initiative, funded by EUR 300,000 from H2UPPP and EUR 300,000 from Hyphen, will implement an Enterprise and Supplier Development Programme to build capability and competitiveness of Namibian enterprises.
20 April 2026 · Informanté →
The Ohangwena Communal Land Board has begun dismantling illegally erected fences in the region, deploying 40 National Youth Service trainees to remove approximately 20 illegal fences identified in Okongo Constituency. The operation, which started on 17 February and is expected to last until Sunday, aims to restore communal grazing land and is part of a broader government effort to address a persistent problem across Namibia's Northern regions.
19 February 2026 · Informanté →
A 2007 petrol-bombing of a magistrate's house in Oshakati was the first in a pattern of intimidation and violence against judicial officers in Namibia. Recent incidents include the death of state prosecutor Justine Shiweda following an October attack, shootings of village headmen over land disputes, and threats against a Grootfontein prosecutor.
11 February 2026 · Informanté →
Namibia's Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has condemned rising cases of land grabbing, illegal fencing, and uncoordinated land allocation in communal areas, including a January 2 shooting in Oshikoto Region that killed a village headman. The ministry urged adherence to communal land laws and said it is introducing punitive measures in a Land Bill before Parliament to address these violations.
21 January 2026 · Informanté →
Several Namibian traditional leaders, including chiefs and headmen, are governing their rural communities while residing in Windhoek, contrary to the Traditional Authorities Act No. 25 of 2000, which requires them to live within their communal areas. They justify this practice by citing the effectiveness of deputies and local committees, though legal scholars note such violations may warrant removal from office.
21 January 2026 · The Namibian →
I-Ben Nashandi, executive director of the National Planning Commission, has been discharged from hospital and is recovering at home after being shot on 2 January during a land dispute meeting in Oshikoto. His assistant, Sam Pendapala Nepando, was killed in the same incident; the accused remains in custody pending trial on 18 June.
20 January 2026 · New Era →
Sem Pendapala Nepando, assistant headman of Iikokola village in Oshikoto region, was shot and killed on 2 January 2026 during a community meeting over a land dispute. Thousands of mourners attended his funeral at Onamutene cemetery on Saturday, with local leaders praising his commitment to peace and service; the accused remains in custody pending trial.
12 January 2026 · New Era →
Sam Pendapala Nepando, headman of Onelago village, was shot and killed on 2 January while attempting to resolve a land dispute with another village headman. He was laid to rest on Saturday, survived by his wife and five children, while the other headman remains hospitalized in stable condition.
11 January 2026 · Informanté →
An opinion piece argues that the shooting deaths and injuries of two village headmen over a land fencing dispute in Oshikoto reflect broader problems with communal land management under tribal authorities, where elites and the wealthy illegally appropriate land while the poor are excluded, and calls for a unified national land management system to replace the current fragmented approach.
11 January 2026 · The Namibian →
Following a fatal land dispute in Oshikoto where a headman was killed and another wounded, Namibian Police have urged traditional leaders to involve law enforcement in community dispute-resolution processes and public gatherings. Police say their mandate includes protecting lives and property, and community engagement is essential for maintaining peace and safety.
7 January 2026 · New Era →
The government is addressing the issue of illegal fences in the Northern Communal Areas, with 22 fences already identified in Ohangwena Region for removal. Farmers who fenced off communal land without approval from the Communal Land Board will be notified to remove the fences themselves, and if they fail to comply, the board will remove them and recover costs while pursuing criminal charges.
7 January 2026 · Informanté →
A 59-year-old man has been remanded in custody after allegedly shooting and killing Onelago village headman Sem Nepando and critically wounding Iikokola headman I-Ben Nashandi in a shooting at Iikokola village on Friday; the accused faces charges including murder, attempted murder, and discharging a firearm in a public place, with the case postponed to June 18, 2026 for further investigation.
6 January 2026 · New Era →
Sinskus Johannes, accused of fatally shooting headman Sam Nepando and injuring headman I-Ben Nashandi in Oshikoto Region's Iikokola village on Friday, was remanded in custody with his case postponed to 18 June to allow him to apply for legal aid. The accused and victims were childhood family friends with close social ties.
6 January 2026 · Informanté →
A male suspect has been arrested for allegedly shooting and killing village headman Sam Nepando and injuring National Planning Commission Executive Director I-Ben Nashandi during a Community Court session in Ondangwa dealing with a land dispute. The suspect fled the scene after the incident but was later apprehended by police and is expected to appear in court on Monday.
3 January 2026 · Informanté →
The Ondonga Traditional Authority condemned a violent shooting in Oshikoto Region during a community court dispute resolution session in which village headman Sam Nepando was fatally wounded and headman I-Ben Nashandi (also Executive Director of the National Planning Commission) was seriously injured. The OTA pledged to work with government and law enforcement to ensure justice and protect community court leaders.
3 January 2026 · Informanté →
I-Ben Nashandi, Executive Director of the National Planning Commission, was shot and seriously wounded while presiding over a land dispute case in the Onayena area of Oshikoto Region; another person was killed in the incident. The Ondonga Traditional Authority confirmed the shooting and said an emergency meeting would be held to discuss the matter.
3 January 2026 · Informanté →