Think tank that publishes research and advocacy on Namibian governance, transparency, and policy issues including parliamentary efficiency, media sustainability, and natural resource management.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
August 2026
The Namibian
Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR)criticisedthe Government Employment Redress Programme for failing to deliver meaningful employment
Source
“This admission comes after the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) criticised the programme, saying the initiative has failed to deliver meaningful employment for fisheries workers affected by job losses linked to the Fishrot corruption scandal.”
Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR)advocates thatparliament adopt creative legislative process approaches including extended working hours
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“We agree with the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) that parliament needs to come up with creative and more effective approaches to legislative processes such as extending the working hours and days to tackle the backlog of bills”
Institute for Public Policy Researchdocumented in 2024experiences of former fisheries workers struggling financially
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“In 2024, an Institute for Public Policy Research study documented the experiences of former fisheries workers who said they continued to struggle financially after losing their jobs.”
Institute for Public Policy Researchcommissionedreport on LGBTQI+ rights in Namibia
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“Commissioned by the Institute for Public Policy Research and written by independent human rights practitioner Abigail Solomons, 'Not Yet Uhuru – Gender and LGBT Rights in Namibia: Opportunities, Gaps and Challenges' was launched last month.”
Institute for Public Policy Researchmadea submission to the ministry on the bill's shortcomings
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“For more information about the bill's shortcomings, see the submission made to the ministry by the Institute for Public Policy Research at ippr.org.na.”
Institute for Public Policy Researchemploysexecutive director Graham Hopwood
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“Another political commentator, Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) executive director Graham Hoopwood, noted that Swapo remains the strongest party by some distance and that it is the only political party that appears to have functioning structures at regional and constituency levels across the country.”
Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR)has describedgovernment's decision to bypass CPBN as recipe for corruption
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“The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has described the government's decision to bypass the Central Procurement Board of Namibia (CPBN) on its latest N$350-million projects as a recipe for corruption.”
Institute for Public Policy Research executive director Graham Hopwoodsays reducing ministries was well-intentioned but may havebackfired
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“Institute for Public Policy Research executive director Graham Hopwood says reducing the number of ministries was well intentioned, but may have backfired.”
IPPRsaysseveral governance issues need addressing for Namibia to capitalise on oil economy
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“The Institute for Public Policy Research says several governance issues need to be addressed to put Namibia in a good position to capitalise on an oil economy.”
The Presidency has designated the Upstream Petroleum Unit as the regulator of upstream petroleum local content, following Cabinet approval of a new local content policy on 4 August. This represents a shift from an earlier version that gave regulatory powers to the Ministry of Industrialisation, Mines and Energy, a change that has drawn parliamentary concerns about reduced oversight of the natural resource sector.
The Presidency has designated the Upstream Petroleum Unit as the regulator of upstream petroleum local content, following Cabinet approval of a new local content policy on 4 August. This represents a shift from an earlier version that gave regulatory powers to the Ministry of Industrialisation, Mines and Energy, a change that has drawn parliamentary concerns about reduced oversight of the natural resource sector.
National Assembly Speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila attributes parliament's delays in passing laws to parliamentary rules set by the assembly itself, not to her office. She said the rules prescribe the order and procedures for considering matters, including daily notices, questions, and reports that are placed before the legislative agenda.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has admitted that 912 beneficiaries under the Government Employment Redress Programme are not actively employed, out of 2,255 total beneficiaries, following criticism from the Institute for Public Policy Research that the programme has failed to deliver meaningful employment for fisheries workers affected by the Fishrot corruption scandal.
An analysis argues that parliament's ability to process legislation is a key indicator of constitutional health and institutional capacity, with the eighth parliament facing pressure to enact reforms on economic growth, public administration, and service delivery.
Civil society and MPs have called for the National Assembly to extend its sitting hours from 14h30 to 17h45 to properly debate and pass laws. Institute for Public Policy Research director Graham Hopwood said parliament currently works about 90 days a year and warned that deadlocks in passing laws will be an early warning sign for Namibia's political future.
More than 1,000 former Namibian fisheries workers have asked Icelandic prosecutors to recognise them as victims in criminal proceedings linked to the Fishrot corruption scandal involving Icelandic fishing company Samherji. The workers argue they suffered direct harm from alleged corrupt conduct between 2012 and 2019, including job losses, food and housing insecurity, school fee difficulties, debt accumulation, and psychological stress.
A report commissioned by the Institute for Public Policy Research and titled 'Not Yet Uhuru – Gender and LGBT Rights in Namibia: Opportunities, Gaps and Challenges' examines the ongoing struggle to recognise the constitutional and human rights of Namibia's LGBTQI+ community following recent landmark court cases.
The government is considering spending up to N$3 billion to buy a stake in De Beers, reportedly partnering with Angola and Botswana, which already hold 15% of the diamond company. The deal follows Anglo American's decision to exit De Beers and sell its 85% stake, with De Beers' valuation dropping significantly from N$65.7 billion to N$6.9 billion.
Mathews Hamutenya has denied having political connections to State House or involvement in the government's decision to appoint Vitol as Namibia's sole fuel supplier, though his son recently bought 52 service stations and Hamutenya is a partner in a storage facility with Vitol. The Independent Patriots for Change have linked Hamutenya to what they describe as a "conglomerate at the centre of Namibia's petroleum oil takeover."
The Institute for Public Policy Research has warned that financial pressure and digital disruption are weakening Namibia's media sector, calling for funding models such as grants, public interest funds, and tax incentives to sustain quality reporting, as well as transparent advertising policies from government and state-owned enterprises.
Six years after the Fishrot scandal, Namibia's fisheries sector remains governed by excessive secrecy with no publicly accessible register of fishing rights holders, quota allocations, or beneficial owners. The same structural weaknesses that enabled the fraud—concentrated discretionary powers, opaque allocation processes, and 'paper quota holders' profiting without investment—remain largely intact, requiring political will to implement transparency reforms.
The final draft of Namibia's cybercrime bill contains multiple shortcomings including undefined terms around computer viruses, cyberbullying, and obscene images that could lead to unconstitutional restrictions on free speech and inadequate victim protection. The author argues the bill should be improved before parliamentary submission, citing concerns that key provisions lack clarity, may inhibit online speech, and could create practical enforcement problems.
On Swapo's 66th anniversary, party leader Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah stated that while the party's liberation struggle history is important, it alone cannot carry the party forward as people now expect tangible improvements in jobs, housing, healthcare, and education. Political analysts noted Swapo's waning electoral support over recent elections due to corruption and declining leadership quality, though the party remains the country's strongest with functional regional structures.
The Institute for Public Policy Research has criticized the government's decision to bypass the Central Procurement Board on N$350 million in projects, arguing it creates risks of corruption and waste. The government has directly awarded contracts including a N$140-million sports stadium project to the Roads Contractor Company and other projects to August 26 without public tendering, a practice that lacks transparency and limits competition for local businesses.
Civil society organisations have accused the government of lack of transparency on oil and gas information access, with various agencies declining to provide petroleum licence details and citing organisational restructuring. Multiple officials and institutions have refused to respond to inquiries, prompting warnings that withholding critical sector information undermines public trust and the right to know.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is expected to announce eight new deputy ministers and appoint deputy defence minister Charles Mubita as minister in the Presidency. The move comes despite her earlier decision to cut ministries and reduce Cabinet size, with critics and analysts warning that some merged ministries may now be too large to function effectively.
Namibia's 2026/27 budget reflects finance minister Ericah Shafudah's fiscal caution as the country awaits a final investment decision on TotalEnergies' Venus oil project, expected mid-2026. Economist Robin Sherbourne described the budget as a "holding operation" in a constrained economic outlook, though he warned that reduced development spending may limit growth despite the budget's focus on "People, Productivity and Prudence."
A proposed hydrogen production facility in Namibia's Tsau ||Khaeb National Park promises jobs and clean energy exports, but conservationists warn it risks harming endangered wildlife like African penguins and unique desert plants, while local activists raise concerns about community engagement and respect for sites of colonial genocide.
The Institute for Public Policy Research warns that Namibia faces governance risks as it prepares for oil production, citing lack of transparency in petroleum licensing, insufficient beneficial ownership disclosure, and weak local content oversight as key areas needing reform before the expected investment decisions from TotalEnergies and Mopane projects. Addressing these challenges through the Access to Information Act and digital transparency could help Namibia avoid the "resource curse" while ensuring oil revenues benefit communities rather than political elites.
A major hydrogen production facility planned for Tsau ǁKhaeb National Park promises jobs and economic growth but risks damaging endangered wildlife like African penguins and unique desert plants, prompting conservationists to warn of impacts on biodiversity despite Hyphen's commitments to minimise disturbance.
The Institute for Public Policy Research warns that Namibia's preferential procurement policy risks abuse without greater transparency and accountability measures. The IPPR calls for data collection on preference-based contracts and stricter compliance, citing poor submission rates of procurement plans by public entities.
Minister Emma Theofelus has halted the recruitment of an information commissioner, citing insufficient stakeholder consultations on the operationalisation of the Access to Information Act. Critics including the IPC and policy experts express concern that the delay is hindering implementation of the transparency law, though budget allocation for 2026/2027 suggests the pause may be temporary.
Economist Robin Sherbourne cautions that anticipated oil revenues from TotalEnergies' Venus project could enable Namibia to borrow heavily against future earnings, risking unsustainable public spending rather than supporting long-term growth. He urges the finance minister to maintain fiscal restraint as the country awaits a final investment decision on the project.
According to IPPR research, Namibian political parties are projected to receive N$1.6 billion in state funding between 2020 and 2030, an amount the institute describes as disproportionate given the country's unemployment and poverty. The IPPR's report on political finance transparency calls for greater disclosure requirements and stronger regulations to prevent external interference in elections before the next polls.
The Institute for Public Policy Research has submitted concerns to the government that the proposed cybercrime bill, currently undergoing stakeholder consultation, contains provisions that could infringe on privacy, freedom of expression, and expand surveillance beyond constitutional limits. The IPPR warns that the bill's language on digital surveillance, investigator access to electronic data, and the vague concept of "public interest" could negatively affect journalists, IT professionals, researchers, and civil society.
Namibia's incoming information commissioner will earn N$120,000 monthly plus extensive benefits, exceeding the prime minister's estimated salary. The role, created to implement the Access to Information Act and strengthen public procurement transparency, will be filled through a formal recruitment process advertised by parliament.
The Institute for Public Policy Research is advocating for Namibia to join the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), citing the need for greater transparency and accountability in oil, gas, and mineral resource extraction. Namibia has failed to meet EITI standards, which include contract transparency and beneficial ownership disclosure, gaps that hinder public tracking of extraction ventures and create room for corruption concerns.
Opposition leader Imms Nashinge has called on the government to pass legislation regulating Namibia's sovereign wealth fund, which has been operating for three years without a dedicated legal framework. He asked the Prime Minister for clarity on existing laws governing the fund and pressed for robust provisions ensuring public transparency and parliamentary oversight before the bill's passage.
Namibia's amended Environmental Management Act will extend legal protections to ecosystems like natural springs and habitats previously unprotected, and set standards for noise, smell, water and air quality. The ministry is consulting on proposed sand and gravel mining regulations and has flagged unprecedented illegal sand mining as a major environmental concern, attributing it to weak management, corruption, and insufficient enforcement.