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

Lucia Iipumbu

Also known as: Iipumbu · Kalimbo Iipumbu · minister of home affairs, immigration, safety and security · Minister of home affairs, immigration, safety and security Lucia Iipumbu · minister Lucia Iipumbu · Herman Iipumbu · Home affairs, immigration, safety and security minister Lucia Iipumbu · Minister Iipumbu · Titus Iipumbu · Ipumbu · Titus Ipumbu · Home Affairs Minister Lucia Iipumbu · Lucia Iipumba · home affairs minister · Lucia Lipumbu · safety and security minister Lucia Iipumbu · Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety & Security Lucia Iipumbu

Home Affairs Minister overseeing police operations, drug arrests, human trafficking, and timber trafficking investigations; has disclosed sexual assault cases in detention facilities.

Politics

NEFF demands suspension of officials in pharmaceutical theft probe

The News

The Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters has challenged the health ministry's decision to transfer rather than suspend officials allegedly involved in pharmaceutical theft and stock record manipulation. Health minister Esperance Luvindao said due process and Public Service Commission regulations must be followed before suspensions can occur.

Why it matters

Medicine shortages continue to affect healthcare facilities across Namibia, and alleged theft and stock manipulation within the pharmaceutical supply chain raise serious questions about accountability and whether patients are getting the drugs they need.

21 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 21 April

  1. NEFF demands suspension of officials in pharmaceutical theft probe

    The Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters has challenged the health ministry's decision to transfer rather than suspend officials allegedly involved in pharmaceutical theft and stock record manipulation. Health minister Esperance Luvindao said due process and Public Service Commission regulations must be followed before suspensions can occur.

    21 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 17 April

  1. NEFF deputy disputes Julius Malema's South Africa sentencing

    Namibian Economic Freedom Fighters deputy president Kalimbo Iipumbu has described the sentencing of EFF leader Julius Malema in South Africa as politically driven and designed to intimidate. Malema was sentenced to five years imprisonment for unlawful firearm possession in connection with a 2018 incident, though he has been granted leave to appeal the sentence.

    17 April 2026 · New Era →

Tuesday 14 April

  1. Safety minister welcomes new deputy, urges staff unity

    Safety and Immigration Minister Lucia Iipumbu welcomed newly-appointed Deputy Minister Edward Wambo and called for staff unity as the ministry tackles cross-border crime, migration pressures, and digital transformation. Wambo pledged to serve with integrity and prioritise improved security, migration support, and people-centred services.

    14 April 2026 · New Era →

  2. Deputy minister pledges people-centred home affairs service

    Newly appointed deputy minister Edward Wambo has pledged to deliver efficient, accessible, and people-centred services aligned with Vision 2030, emphasizing teamwork and continuous improvement. Minister Lucia Iipumbu expressed confidence in their working relationship, saying Wambo's track record and grassroots connection will enhance the ministry's service delivery.

    14 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 12 April

  1. President addresses parliament on oil, land, wealth fund

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah answered questions from opposition MPs on the Welwitschia Sovereign Wealth Fund, land delivery, Germany's genocide reparations deal, the veterinary cordon fence, and various economic and governance matters during parliament on Wednesday.

    12 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 10 April

  1. Over 2,000 arrested for drug offences in 2025/26

    The Ministry of Home Affairs arrested 2,259 suspects for drug-related offences during the 2025/26 financial year, according to minister Lucia Iipumbu's budget motivation speech, which also detailed operations against trafficking, illegal immigration, and anti-poaching efforts across the country.

    10 April 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. President clarifies 500,000 jobs will come from private sector growth

    President Nandi-Ndaitwah clarified that the government's promise to create 500,000 jobs by 2030 will be achieved through economic growth and private sector expansion rather than direct government hiring, but opposition leaders and labour experts criticized the pace of progress, with expert Herbert Jauch noting that only around 5,000 jobs have been created and that 100,000 jobs annually are needed to meet the target.

    10 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 8 April

  1. Easter sports tournament boosts Ruacana's local economy

    The 15th Ruacana annual Easter tournament attracted thousands of visitors and 99 teams over the weekend, drawing crowds and vendors to the small border town. Home Affairs Minister Lucia Iipumbu said the event demonstrates how sport can unite communities and stimulate local economic growth through spending on accommodation, transport, and services, though some vendors reported police breathalyser operations near the venue discouraged customers.

    8 April 2026 · New Era →

Sunday 5 April

  1. President to appoint eight deputy ministers and new minister

    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.

    5 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 26 March

  1. Namibia showcases civil registration progress to African peers

    Minister of Home Affairs Lucia Iipumbu said Namibia has made significant progress in implementing its integrated, digital civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) system, including e-Birth and e-Death notification systems since 2017–2018 that connect 153 facilities. The minister welcomed delegates from the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention for a learning visit aimed at strengthening CRVS systems across African nations to support legal identity achievement by 2030.

    26 March 2026 · Informanté →

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