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Friday, 23 October 2026
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Friday, 23 October 2026
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Namibian press · Person

Lucia Iipumbu

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

Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security overseeing digital identity systems, gender-based violence initiatives, and immigration repatriation efforts.

2022-03-192026-10-23
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News reports

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What’s been said

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  1. October 2026

  2. The Namibian

    Home affairs minister Lucia Iipumbu urged married couples to ensure they are registered

    Source

    “Home affairs minister Lucia Iipumbu on Thursday responded to questions from the leader of the official opposition, Imms Nashinge, explaining that the problem emerged during the digitalisation of records, launched in 2021.”

    Home affairs minister Iipumbu urges married couples to ensure they are registered

  3. The Namibian

    Iipumbu said some historical records were still held in South Africa

    Source

    “She said some historical records were still held in South Africa, with efforts underway to retrieve and update them.”

    Home affairs minister Iipumbu urges married couples to ensure they are registered

  4. Namibian Sun

    Minister Lucia Iipumbu has pledged to support the development of the Oshikuku Trade Fair Centre

    Source

    “Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security and Patron of the Oshikuku Annual Trade Fair, Lucia Iipumbu, has pledged to support the development of the Oshikuku Trade Fair Centre.”

    BREAKING: Iipumbu pledges support for Oshikuku Trade Fair Centre

  5. Namibian Sun

    She called on local businesses and stakeholders to join with Oshikuku Town Council to develop the centre

    Source

    “She called on local businesses and stakeholders to join hands with the Oshikuku Town Council to develop the centre into a stronger and more sustainable facility.”

    BREAKING: Iipumbu pledges support for Oshikuku Trade Fair Centre

  6. The Namibian

    Home affairs minister Lucia Iipumbu says cases prompted home affairs to urge married couples to verify their marriage records

    Source

    “Home affairs minister Lucia Iipumbu says the cases prompted home affairs to urge married couples to verify their marriage records after concluding the ceremony.”

    Married but single
  7. September 2026

  8. Informanté

    Lucia Iipumbu attended the Windhoek ceremony

    Source

    “The Windhoek ceremony was attended by the Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, Lucia Iipumbu, together with Commissioner-General Raphael T Hamunyela, who personally conferred medals on the 300 eligible officers serving at National Headquarters, the Central and Southern Regional Office, the Windhoek Correctional Facility and the Windhoek Female Correctional Facility.”

    989 correctional officers awarded long service medals

  9. The Namibian

    Minister Lucia Iipumbu said the operation must focus on preventing crime, protecting lives and property, and strengthening public confidence

    Source

    “Speaking at the launch in Windhoek, minister Lucia Iipumbu said the operation must not only focus on arrests and fines, but also on preventing crime, protecting lives and property, and strengthening public confidence in law-enforcement agencies.”

    Safety, security ministry launches crime-fighting Operation Basadi

  10. The Namibian

    Iipumbu warned misconduct and abuse of authority could undermine trust between communities and law enforcement

    Source

    “Iipumbu warned that misconduct, the abuse of authority and disrespectful treatment of the public could undermine efforts to build trust between communities and law enforcement.”

    Safety, security ministry launches crime-fighting Operation Basadi

  11. The Namibian

    Minister Lucia Iipumbu warned in a public scam alert that her mobile phone or contact information may have been compromised

    Source

    “In a public scam alert issued on Friday, Iipumbu says her mobile phone or contact information may have been compromised, with fraudulent messages being sent to individuals whose contact details are saved on her phone.”

    Fraudsters impersonate home affairs minister to scam public

  12. The Namibian

    Iipumbu stated she does not have a South African mobile number

    Source

    “"I do not have a South African mobile number and I urge the public to treat any communication from the number claiming to be from me as fraudulent and disregard it," she says.”

    Fraudsters impersonate home affairs minister to scam public
Society

Minister urges married couples to verify registration records

The News

Home Affairs Minister Lucia Iipumbu has urged couples to visit the nearest Ministry of Home Affairs office to verify their marriage records, after the ministry revealed that some Namibian marriages remain unregistered. The problem emerged during the digitalisation of records launched in 2021, with some historical records still held in South Africa and others arriving late or never reaching the ministry.

10 October 2026 · The Namibian →

Saturday 10 October

  1. Minister urges married couples to verify registration records

    Home Affairs Minister Lucia Iipumbu has urged couples to visit the nearest Ministry of Home Affairs office to verify their marriage records, after the ministry revealed that some Namibian marriages remain unregistered. The problem emerged during the digitalisation of records launched in 2021, with some historical records still held in South Africa and others arriving late or never reaching the ministry.

    10 October 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 8 October

  1. Minister pledges support for Oshikuku Trade Fair Centre

    Minister of Home Affairs Lucia Iipumbu committed to supporting the development of the Oshikuku Trade Fair Centre during the 2 October Exhibitors' Awards Ceremony, calling on local businesses and stakeholders to collaborate with the town council to strengthen the facility.

    8 October 2026 · Namibian Sun →

Sunday 4 October

  1. Marriage officers delay records, leaving spouses listed as single

    More than 40 married people discovered in the last three months that their home affairs records still listed them as single after their spouses' deaths. Home affairs minister Lucia Iipumbu attributed the problem to marriage officers failing to submit marriage registers to home affairs promptly—sometimes taking years—and urged married couples to verify their records after ceremonies.

    4 October 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 30 September

  1. NCS awards 989 long service medals to correctional officers

    The Namibian Correctional Service recognised 989 correctional officers for long and dedicated service at a Long Service Medal Parade held at the Windhoek Correctional Facility. The medals comprise 58 Gold (30+ years service), 295 Silver (20+ years), and 636 Bronze (10+ years), with 300 conferred at Thursday's ceremony and the remainder to be presented at various institutions.

    30 September 2026 · Informanté →

Saturday 19 September

  1. Safety ministry launches Operation Basadi crime-fighting initiative

    The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security officially launched Operation Basadi on Friday, with minister Lucia Iipumbu calling for a proactive, intelligence-driven approach to crime that emphasizes prevention, community cooperation, and adherence to constitutional and human-rights standards rather than reactive policing focused solely on arrests and fines.

    19 September 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. Home Affairs Minister warns of identity impersonation scam

    Fraudsters are using the identity of home affairs minister Lucia Iipumbu to send scam messages from a South African number. Iipumbu has warned the public not to respond to or act on suspicious messages claiming to be from her, and to verify communications through official channels.

    19 September 2026 · The Namibian →

  3. Minister launches Operation Basadi, women-led gender violence initiative

    Home Affairs Minister Lucia Iipumbu has launched Operation Basadi, a bi-annual women-led law enforcement initiative by NamPol and security cluster members to combat gender-based violence and related crimes. She called for proactive, visible, intelligence-driven policing and emphasised that success should be measured by lives protected and communities made safer, not just arrests and fines.

    19 September 2026 · Informanté →

Tuesday 8 September

  1. Ohangwena records highest gender-based violence cases nationally

    Namibia recorded 6,304 gender-based violence cases during the 2025/26 financial year, with Ohangwena accounting for 654 cases—the highest of any region—according to statistics released by Acting Namibia Police Inspector General Major General Anne-Marie Nainda. The country has recorded over 6,000 GBV cases annually for the past three financial years.

    8 September 2026 · New Era →

Saturday 5 September

  1. New five-year employment permit launched for business investors

    The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security has launched a new employment permit valid for up to five years, effective immediately, to make Namibia more attractive to investors and improve the investment climate by reducing administrative barriers.

    5 September 2026 · Informanté →

Friday 4 September

  1. Minister launches DigiNam public key infrastructure system

    Home Affairs Minister Lucia Iipumbu unveiled Namibia's Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), called DigiNam, designed to enable secure digital identification, authentication and transactions for citizens, businesses and government. The system uses digital certificates and cryptographic keys to verify signatories and document integrity, with the Communications Regulatory Authority serving as the Root Certification Authority.

    4 September 2026 · Informanté →

Tuesday 1 September

  1. Namibia launches digital trust system for online document signing

    The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran) has launched DigiNam, a digital trust system enabling Namibians to use verified digital identities and electronic signatures to sign documents and access services online. The system, backed by the Electronic Transactions Act of 2019, supports government services, contract signing, banking, business registration, customer verification, and health or education records management.

    1 September 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. Home affairs minister calls for unified digital identity system

    Home Affairs Minister Lucia Iipumbu has called on government to stop requiring citizens to repeatedly prove their identity and carry certified documents between offices, saying digital transformation should eliminate unnecessary queues and duplication through a trusted digital identity system and secure information-sharing between government institutions.

    1 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Thursday 20 August

  1. Namibia extends amnesty for illegal gun surrender until September 30

    Namibia's safety and security minister Lucia Iipumbu launched a 2026 September Amnesty Month on Wednesday, giving illegal firearm owners until 30 September to surrender their weapons without arrest or prosecution. After the amnesty period ends, offenders will be prosecuted according to national laws.

    20 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

  2. New business permit streamlines investor approval in Namibia

    Namibia's home affairs ministry has introduced the Employment Permit to Conduct Business, effective 1 September 2026, to simplify investor approval and reduce administrative barriers. The new permit, valid for up to five years compared to the standard two-year permit, is intended for qualifying investors whose status has been confirmed by the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board.

    20 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Monday 17 August

  1. Security plan for 400 magistrates and prosecutors reaches Cabinet

    Chief Justice Peter Shivute convened a meeting to review a security assessment for over 400 prosecutors and judicial officers, following concerns heightened by the death of regional prosecutor Justine Shiweda. The report is expected to be submitted to Cabinet and the Office of the Prime Minister in the coming weeks for consideration and possible implementation.

    17 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Friday 7 August

  1. Namibia, Serbia sign policing cooperation agreement

    Namibia and Serbia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance law enforcement cooperation in combating transnational crime including terrorism, drug trafficking, cybercrime, organised crime, human trafficking, and money laundering. The agreement was signed by Namibia's Minister of Home Affairs Lucia Iipumbu and Serbia's Deputy Prime Minister Ivica Dačić in Belgrade.

    7 August 2026 · Informanté →

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 21 July

  1. Namibia, South Africa sign prisoner transfer agreement, await legislation

    Namibia and South Africa have signed an agreement to allow mutual transfer of sentenced prisoners between the countries, but transfers cannot occur until South Africa passes enabling legislation expected by mid-2027. Namibia has already finalised its side of the arrangement.

    21 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 16 July

  1. Namibians repatriated from South Africa eye return

    Seventy-two Namibians repatriated from South Africa following xenophobic attacks say they hope to return once anti-immigrant violence subsides, as the government indicated it will assess future assistance requests on a case-by-case basis and that repatriated citizens remain free to decide where they live and work.

    16 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 13 July

  1. Next batch of repatriated Namibians expected Friday from South Africa

    The next group of Namibians to be repatriated from South Africa are expected to arrive on Friday, 17 July, following the arrival of 71 repatriated citizens on Sunday. Immigration minister Lucia Iipumbu said many returnees faced economic hardship and vulnerabilities in South Africa, and urged Namibians abroad to comply with immigration laws and remain in contact with diplomatic missions.

    13 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 10 July

  1. Government to upgrade biometric system for conduct certificates

    Home affairs minister Lucia Iipumbu announced that the government will upgrade the Automatic Biometric Information System (ABIS) following technical failures since 2025 that disrupted the processing of certificates of conduct required for employment. The ministry has entered an agreement with a supplier for a software upgrade aimed at improving stability, modernising the platform and reducing delays.

    10 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Friday 3 July

  1. Government dispatches teams as xenophobic attacks threaten Namibians in SA

    Namibia's Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security Lucia Iipumbu said the government has dispatched two teams to South Africa and identified safety shelters as xenophobic violence rises and about 100 Namibians seek repatriation from the Namibian High Commission in Pretoria.

    3 July 2026 · Informanté →

Monday 29 June

  1. Service delivery critical to development and public trust, minister says

    Home Affairs Minister Lucia Iipumbu told the inaugural Namibia Customer Care and Effective Service Delivery Conference that service delivery is central to institutional credibility and national development. A Citizen Satisfaction Survey recorded 54% overall public satisfaction with government service delivery; the Ministry of Home Affairs recorded about 50%.

    29 June 2026 · Informanté →

Saturday 20 June

  1. Minister Iipumbu dismisses e-ID microchip tracking allegations

    Home affairs minister Lucia Iipumbu has dismissed public concerns that Namibia's planned electronic identity documents will be used to microchip and track citizens, stating the e-ID is a secure smart card that stores biometric and demographic information to strengthen security and improve service delivery in line with international standards.

    20 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 18 June

  1. Minister denies microchip implants in electronic IDs

    Home Affairs Minister Lucia Iipumbu clarified in Parliament that Namibia's electronic identification documents, to roll out from September 2026, do not involve microchip implantation into citizens' bodies. The secure digital ID card will store biometric and demographic information including fingerprints and photographs to enable identity verification in physical and digital environments.

    18 June 2026 · Informanté →

Monday 15 June

  1. Minister announces digital-first border control system in Migration Bill

    Home Affairs Minister Lucia Iipumbu said Namibia cannot rely on outdated and manual migration systems, and the proposed Migration Bill aims to create a digital-first, efficient, and secure system. The bill's design was informed by countrywide consultations across all regions, with input from border communities, traditional authorities, civil society, and business.

    15 June 2026 · Informanté →

  2. Namibia proposes digital-first overhaul of immigration system

    The Ministry of Home Affairs plans to replace Namibia's outdated migration systems with a digital-first framework featuring online visa and permit applications, electronic payments, real-time tracking, and secure digital documents. The minister said the reforms aim to improve border management, national security, service delivery and facilitate investment.

    15 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Friday 12 June

  1. SADC prisoner transfer protocol updated for Namibian inmates

    Namibia has amended its ratification of the SADC Protocol on Inter-State Transfer of Sentenced Offenders, allowing convicted Namibians serving prison sentences in other Southern African countries to be transferred home to complete their jail terms. The protocol, adopted by SADC leaders in 2019 and now gazetted by the home affairs minister, aims to support the social reintegration of offenders by allowing them to serve sentences in their home countries, though transfers require meeting specified conditions.

    12 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Thursday 4 June

  1. PDM MP raises questions on police vehicle and fleet shortages

    A PDM member of parliament has tabled questions to the home affairs minister about persistent administrative and operational deficiencies in police stations, including inadequate fleet management, delayed vehicle maintenance, and uneven resource distribution between regions. She is seeking details on how many police stations lack adequate vehicles, measures to address maintenance delays, and the impact of suspended border patrol activities on border security.

    4 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Monday 1 June

  1. Iipumbu calls for vigilance against cross-border crime in Zambezi

    Minister of Home Affairs Lucia Iipumbu addressed regional staff in Katima Mulilo, calling for vigilance against illicit cross-border crimes while urging professionalism in facilitating lawful movement, legitimate trade, and tourism. Iipumbu is conducting a two-day working visit to the region to inspect ministerial projects and conduct border visits.

    1 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Lucia Iipumbu — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute