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Wednesday, 9 September 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Wednesday, 9 September 2026
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Namibian press · Person

Joseph Shikongo

Also known as: Namibian Police inspector general Joseph Shikongo · Police inspector general Joseph Shikongo · Inspector general Joseph Shikongo · Police chief Joseph Shikongo · Police chief inspector general Joseph Shikongo · Lt Gen Joseph Shikongo · Inspector General Lt Gen Joseph Shikongo · Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo · Inspector General Shikongo · Inspector General of the Namibian police · NamPol Inspector General Shikongo · Major General Joseph Shikongo · Inspector General of Police Joseph Shikongo · Police Inspector General Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo · Lt Gen. Joseph Shimweelao Shikongo · Lt Gen. Joseph Shikongo · suspended Namibian police inspector general · Inspector-General of the Namibian Police Joseph Shikongo

Suspended police inspector general involved in 2023 unemployment protest denial and State House security breach in May 2026.

2022-10-072026-09-09

What’s been said

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

  1. January 2026
  2. The Namibian

    Shikongo says the unauthorised use of the logo is a criminal offence under the Police Act

    Source

    Shikongo says the unauthorised use of the logo is a criminal offence under the Police Act.

    Police chief Shikongo condemns AI-generated music video with ‘tribalist' lyrics
  3. The Namibian

    Police chief inspector general Joseph Shikongo said the accused is being investigated for illegal gambling

    Source

    "The accused is also being investigated for illegal gambling," police chief inspector general Joseph Shikongo said on Friday.

    Officer investigated for aiming gun at civilian during game of dice
  4. New Era

    Inspector General Joseph Shikongo will make the final decision regarding Namhila's future in the force

    Source

    She added that after investigations are completed, Inspector General Joseph Shikongo will make the final decision regarding Namhila's future in the force.

    Truck driver ‘killer’ out on bail …returns to work
  5. New Era

    Police chief Joseph Shikongo reiterated that there is no law prohibiting Angolan nationals from trading in Namibia, including fuel trading

    Source

    Despite the ongoing complaints, Namibian Police chief Joseph Shikongo has reiterated that there is no law prohibiting Angolan nationals from trading in Namibia, including fuel trading, provided they comply with national regulations.

    Angolan fuel traders decry police seizures at Oshikango
  6. New Era

    Shikongo explained that traders must first declare goods to Namibia Revenue Agency before trading

    Source

    He explained that traders entering Namibia with fuel (Ngungula), Cuca beer or any other goods from Angola must first declare them to the Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA).

    Angolan fuel traders decry police seizures at Oshikango
  7. New Era

    Inspector General Joseph Shikongo said Namibia recorded fewer road accidents and reduced crime during 2025/26 festive season

    Source

    This was said by police supremo, Inspector General Joseph Shikongo, as he provided an overview of their festive season operations.

    Police nip festive crime in the bud …but laments murders
  8. New Era

    Shikongo confirmed police registered 11 murder cases between November and 9 January

    Source

    However, Shikongo confirmed that police registered 11 murder cases between November and 9 January.

    Police nip festive crime in the bud …but laments murders
  9. December 2025
  10. The Namibian

    police inspector general Joseph Shikongo reportedly described the rape case against agriculture minister as "too big to ignore"

    Source

    Hengari's dismissal came a few days after the president was briefed by police inspector general Joseph Shikongo, who reportedly described the matter as "too big to ignore" during a visit to State House.

    Inside Nandi-Ndaitwah’s presidency: Prayers, sacking ministers and the rise of a small power circle
  11. November 2025
  12. The Namibian

    Namibian Police inspector general Joseph Shikongo has drawn attention to the country's rising number of child sexual abuse cases

    Source

    Namibian Police inspector general Joseph Shikongo has also drawn attention to the country's rising number of child sexual abuse cases.

    Standstill Against GBV
  13. February 2025
  14. The Namibian

    Police inspector general Joseph Shikongo is urging motorists and pedestrians to be mindful of motorcades during funeral proceedings

    Source

    Police inspector general Joseph Shikongo is urging motorists and pedestrians to be mindful of motorcades during the funeral proceedings of founding president Sam Nujoma.

    Shikongo calls on road users to be cautious during Nujoma’s funeral procession
Politics

Judge rejects free speech defence in contempt case

The News

High Court judge Nate Ndauendapo found social activist Michael Amushelelo in contempt of court for Facebook remarks about suspended police inspector general Joseph Shikongo, rejecting Amushelelo's free speech defence. Amushelelo was sentenced to one month imprisonment, suspended for one year, conditional on refraining from further disparaging statements and issuing a written apology to Shikongo within seven days.

31 August 2026 · The Namibian

Monday 31 August

  1. Judge rejects free speech defence in contempt case

    High Court judge Nate Ndauendapo found social activist Michael Amushelelo in contempt of court for Facebook remarks about suspended police inspector general Joseph Shikongo, rejecting Amushelelo's free speech defence. Amushelelo was sentenced to one month imprisonment, suspended for one year, conditional on refraining from further disparaging statements and issuing a written apology to Shikongo within seven days.

    31 August 2026 · The Namibian

Friday 28 August

  1. High Court finds Amushelelo in contempt of court for breaching order

    The Windhoek High Court has found social activist Michael Amushelelo in contempt of court after he was sued by former Namibian Police Inspector General Joseph Shikongo for violating a court order prohibiting defamatory remarks about Shikongo on social media. Amushelelo faces a one-month suspended imprisonment sentence.

    28 August 2026 · Informanté

  2. Judge rules Amushelelo in contempt of court over social media

    Social activist Michael Amushelelo has been found in contempt of court and sentenced to a suspended one-month prison term for breaching a settlement agreement with suspended police inspector general Joseph Shikongo by making remarks about him on social media. The sentence is suspended for one year on condition that Amushelelo refrains from publishing defamatory material about Shikongo and issues a formal written apology within seven days.

    28 August 2026 · The Namibian

Sunday 23 August

  1. Security Commission recommends on suspended police chief Shikongo

    The Security Commission has made a recommendation to President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah on the future of former inspector general Joseph Shikongo, who was suspended in May following a security breach at State House. The details of the recommendation remain unclear, with the commission declining to comment pending the president's decision.

    23 August 2026 · The Namibian

Wednesday 29 July

  1. Windhoek lawyer faces charges after death threat to officer

    Joshua Kaumbi, a Windhoek-based lawyer and politician, faces three criminal charges—assault by threat, common assault, and assault with intent to do bodily harm—after allegedly assaulting and threatening to kill a child maintenance officer handling his case in July. He has not been arrested pending evidential documents from the doctor, and has denied the allegations while opening a counter-case.

    29 July 2026 · The Namibian

Tuesday 28 July

  1. China launches zero-tariff scheme for 53 African countries including Namibia

    Effective 1 May 2026, China eliminated customs duties on African exports for 53 countries with diplomatic relations with China. For non-least developed states including Namibia, the zero-tariff benefits apply for two years (May 2026 to April 2028) as a trial window for negotiating long-term trade partnerships.

    28 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Monday 29 June

  1. Minister denies ambulance shortage caused Mariental deaths

    Health and Social Services Minister Esperance Luvindao rejected claims that ambulance shortages caused deaths in an August 2025 Mariental road crash, saying reports of unavailable emergency vehicles are inaccurate. An Independent Patriots for Change MP had raised concerns about ambulance availability, staffing, and the operational status of the oxygen plant at Mariental State Hospital, alleging transport challenges contributed to the deaths of a pregnant woman and her sister.

    29 June 2026 · Namibian Sun

Sunday 14 June

  1. Judge awards damages to activists denied right to demonstrate

    Acting High Court judge Natasha Bassingthwaighte found that suspended police inspector general Joseph Shikongo unlawfully eroded the right to demonstrate by ordering that an unemployment protest could not take place on Independence Day 2023, awarding N$300,000 to activist Michael Amushelelo and N$80,000 to activist Dimbulukeni Nauyoma. The judge ruled that the Public Gatherings Proclamation of 1989 requires only notice, not permission, and the inspector general cannot use it to refuse or prevent public gatherings.

    14 June 2026 · The Namibian

Thursday 11 June

  1. High Court awards damages to activists arrested during 2023 protest

    The High Court ordered suspended Inspector-General Joseph Shikongo and the ministry of home affairs to compensate activists Michael Amushelelo and Dimbulukeni Nauyoma for arrests and detention following an anti-unemployment protest in March 2023, awarding Amushelelo N$300,000 and Nauyoma N$80,000, plus legal costs.

    11 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Wednesday 20 May

  1. PM Ngurare defends President Nandi-Ndaitwah's right to full two terms

    Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare said President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah should be allowed to serve her full two constitutional terms without distraction from succession debates, which he called premature and deliberately designed to undermine the administration.

    20 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer

  2. Nust security tender challenged over false employee claims

    PIS Security Services has filed a review application at the High Court challenging a N$40 million three-year security contract awarded to Novo Security Services CC in October 2025, alleging that eight active Namibian police officers were falsely presented as employees and managers of Novo in its bid.

    20 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Monday 18 May

  1. President avoids State House after break-in incident

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has not slept in her private residential wing at State House since a naked mental health patient broke into the premises nearly three weeks ago; she is staying at her private home in Hochland Park. The incident led to the suspension of police inspector general Joseph Shikongo and raised questions about security, as CCTV cameras were allegedly switched off at the time.

    18 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Saturday 9 May

  1. Mampara of the Week: VIP Protection Unit lapses

    A satirical opinion column criticizes Namibia's VIP protection officers for alleged failures in security at State House, including an incident on 21 April where a mentally ill man allegedly bypassed checkpoints and entered the presidential compound unclothed.

    9 May 2026 · Namibian Sun

Friday 8 May

  1. IPC demands transparency on Shikongo suspension procedures

    The Independent Patriots for Change says it will not take a position on whether inspector general of Police Joseph Shikongo should remain in office, but insists that due process must be followed and calls on the Executive to release all documents demonstrating compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements for suspension.

    8 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer

  2. 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

  3. Suspension of police inspector general leaves public confused

    The 12-month suspension of Namibia's inspector general of police, lieutenant general Joseph Shikongo, has created a vacuum of official information, allowing rumors to proliferate about alleged breaches at State House and other unverified claims. The Windhoek Observer editorial argues that the lack of clear, timely communication from top officials has bred public confusion and mistrust.

    8 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Thursday 7 May

  1. President removes police inspector general citing State House breach

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah removed Police Inspector General Joseph Shikongo and replaced him with Major General Anne-Marie Nainda, citing a security incident in which a naked man was found inside the presidential residence as the reason for the removal.

    7 May 2026 · The Namibian

  2. State House intruder's family seeks CCTV footage and answers

    The family of Giano Seibeb, accused of trespassing at State House in Windhoek, is demanding to see closed-circuit television footage of the incident and wants answers on how he escaped Windhoek Central Hospital's mental health centre where he had been admitted. The incident led President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to suspend police inspector general Joseph Shikongo.

    7 May 2026 · The Namibian

  3. Venaani defends President's constitutional authority to hire and fire

    PDM leader McHenry Venaani said President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has the constitutional authority to dismiss senior officials without necessarily giving public explanations, in response to the suspension of police inspector general Joseph Shikongo. Venaani argued that leaders make key decisions based on sensitive information unavailable to the public.

    7 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer

  4. Nampol silent on Shikongo suspension benefit details

    The Namibian Police is not disclosing whether suspended inspector general Joseph Shikongo retains his salary and benefits during suspension; Nampol referred media inquiries to the Presidency's statement, which does not address the conditions of Shikongo's suspension.

    7 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Wednesday 6 May

  1. Major General Anne-Marie Nainda appointed acting police inspector general

    Major General Anne-Marie Nainda has been appointed Acting Inspector General of the Namibian Police Force for one year, effective immediately, replacing Joseph Shikongo. She brings decades of experience in national and international policing, including roles as Deputy Inspector-General, INTERPOL Executive Committee member representing Africa, and previous assignments in regional command and INTERPOL specialized positions.

    6 May 2026 · Informanté

Tuesday 5 May

  1. President removes police inspector general Shikongo

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has removed Namibian Police inspector general Joseph Shikongo from his post, with major general Anne-Marie Nainda appointed as acting inspector general for one year. No grounds for the removal were given, though it came four days after a security breach at State House where an intruder reached the president's private floor.

    5 May 2026 · The Namibian

  2. President appoints Major General Nainda as Acting Inspector General

    President Dr Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has appointed Major General Anne-Marie Nainda as Acting Inspector General of the Namibian Police Force, effective immediately, for a one-year term. She replaces Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo and is described as a seasoned law enforcement professional with extensive experience in senior command roles.

    5 May 2026 · Informanté

  3. Former police chief slams security breach at State House

    Former inspector general Sebastian Ndeitunga says the failure to detect a man who entered the presidential residence last week exposed weaknesses across the police chain of command. The breach has fuelled speculation about the status of police inspector general Joseph Shikongo and raised questions about the VIP Protection Unit's head Michael Abraham.

    5 May 2026 · The Namibian

  4. Defence minister denies military takeover of presidential security

    Defence Minister Frans Kapofi denied reports that the Namibian Defence Force has assumed responsibility for protecting President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, saying the military could step in only if required. The denial comes after an alleged security breach at State House on Thursday, when an unidentified man allegedly entered the presidential residence and reached the private living area before being apprehended, though details of how he gained access and whether he was arrested remain unclear.

    5 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Sunday 3 May

  1. Naked intruder breaches State House, threatens Shikongo's position

    A naked man allegedly breached State House security and reached the president's private floor on Thursday afternoon, with sources blaming police and presidential security for the failure. The incident has raised questions about police inspector general Joseph Shikongo's job security, though the Presidency denied dismissing him on Saturday.

    3 May 2026 · The Namibian

Wednesday 29 April

  1. Police Inspector General defends senior officer reshuffle

    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.

    29 April 2026 · New Era

  2. Police inspector general reshuffles regional commanders

    Police Inspector General Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo has reshuffled regional commanders with effect from next month.

    29 April 2026 · Namibian Sun

Tuesday 28 April

  1. De Klerk contests allegations that fugitive status bars court access

    Maren de Klerk, a lawyer implicated in the "Fishrot" corruption scandal, disputes Police Inspector General Joseph Shikongo's claim that he cannot seek redress from the courts on seized assets while alleged to be a fugitive. De Klerk argues the Constitution guarantees every person the right to approach courts, and asserts his pension benefits of about N$1.3 million were accrued from legitimate legal work.

    28 April 2026 · Informanté

  2. Naftal Sakaria appointed to lead presidential security detail

    Oshana regional police commander Naftal Sakaria is set to lead the unit protecting President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, replacing commissioner Andreas Nelumbu. The appointment follows a police reshuffle conducted by inspector general Joseph Shikongo.

    28 April 2026 · The Namibian

Joseph Shikongo — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute