Namibia Minute.
Thursday, 23 July 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Thursday, 23 July 2026
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Namibian press · Person

Lucia Witbooi

Also known as: vice president Lucia Witbooi · H E LUCIA WITBOOI · Vice president Witbooi · Her Excellency Lucia Witbooi · Vice President · H.E Lucia Witbooi · vice-president Lucia Witbooi · Vice President of Namibia Witbooi · Your Excellency Lucia Witbooi · Madam Vice President · //Kharas Regional Council chairperson · Vice President Her Excellency Lucia Witbooi · the Vice President

Vice President of Namibia; has addressed national priorities including misinformation, youth development, sports, and economic integration as of July 2026.

2025-11-132026-07-23

What’s been said

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

  1. May 2026
  2. Informanté

    Witbooi said the day serves as a solemn reminder of the 1904–1908 genocide committed against the Ovaherero and Nama people during German colonial rule

    Source

    Witbooi said the day serves as a solemn reminder of the 1904–1908 genocide committed against the Ovaherero and Nama people during German colonial rule, while also honouring those who resisted oppression and laid the foundation for Namibia's independence.

    VP urges Namibians to preserve genocide history
  3. Windhoek Observer

    Vice president Lucia Witbooi said government alone cannot solve the country's growing social problems

    Source

    Witbooi said the government alone cannot solve the country's growing social problems and called for stronger cooperation between churches, traditional leaders, communities and civil society.

    Govt, church leaders sound alarm on youth crisis
  4. Windhoek Observer

    Vice President Lucia Witbooi called for stronger support for vocational education

    Source

    Vice president Lucia Witbooi has called for stronger support for vocational education.

    VP champions vocational skills as path to jobs
  5. Windhoek Observer

    Witbooi said skills training remains one of Namibia's most important tools in fighting unemployment and creating opportunities for young people with disabilities

    Source

    She said skills training remains one of Namibia's most important tools in fighting unemployment and creating opportunities for young people with disabilities.

    VP champions vocational skills as path to jobs
  6. Informanté

    Vice President Lucia Witbooi praised Namibia's inclusive education efforts

    Source

    VICE President Lucia Witbooi has praised Namibia's inclusive education efforts and urged graduates with special educational needs and disabilities to create opportunities for themselves as 696 learners graduated with Certificates in Basic Pre-Vocational Skills in Windhoek.

    Vice President Witbooi commends Namibia’s inclusive education success
  7. Informanté

    Vice President Lucia Witbooi described the graduation ceremony as a historic milestone for the country's education system

    Source

    Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Witbooi described the event as a historic milestone for both the country's education system and the graduates, noting that it was the second graduation ceremony under the programme since its introduction in 2019.

    Vice President Witbooi commends Namibia’s inclusive education success
  8. Informanté

    Vice President Lucia Witbooi set to deliver keynote address at graduation ceremony

    Source

    The graduation ceremony is expected to be attended by parents, educators, ministry officials and stakeholders, with Vice President Lucia Witbooi set to deliver the keynote address.

    CBPVS graduation highlights shift toward inclusive vocational training
  9. The Namibian

    Vice president Lucia Witbooi will be the keynote speaker of the event and will officiate the expo

    Source

    Vice president Lucia Witbooi will be the keynote speaker of the event and will officiate the expo.

    Oshakati Totem Expo to pull crowds
  10. Informanté

    Lucia Witbooi encouraged Namibians to use cultural gatherings to strengthen national unity and patriotism

    Source

    Vice President Lucia Witbooi, who attended last year's festival, encouraged Namibians to use cultural gatherings as opportunities to strengthen national unity and patriotism.

    Nama Cultural Festival returns to Keetmanshoop for heritage celebration
  11. Windhoek Observer

    Vice president Lucia Witbooi attended burial service of late Joplin Pagley !Gontes

    Source

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and vice president Lucia Witbooi are attending the burial service of late Swapo Hardap regional coordinator Joplin Pagley !Gontes on Saturday.

    President, VP pay final respect to !Gontes

Saturday 18 July

  1. VP Witbooi calls for ethical communication to combat misinformation

    Vice President Lucia Witbooi addressed the 2026 Effective Communicators Conference in Swakopmund, urging communicators across Africa to strengthen public trust by promoting accurate information, combating misinformation, and embracing ethical communication as essential for good governance and national development.

    18 July 2026 · Informanté

Friday 17 July

  1. Namibia, Botswana reaffirm regional trade ties via Walvis Bay

    Vice President Lucia Witbooi hosted Botswana Vice President Ndaba Nkosinathi Gaolathe at the Port of Walvis Bay to reaffirm commitment to strengthening regional trade and economic integration through the Botswana Dry Port and Trans-Kalahari Corridor.

    17 July 2026 · Informanté

  2. VP urges communicators to combat misinformation, support development plan

    Vice President Lucia Witbooi addressed the 2026 Effective Communicators Conference in Swakopmund, calling on government and private sector communicators to champion truth and support the implementation of the Sixth National Development Plan. She emphasized that communication is central to democratic governance and social cohesion, and that communicators must counter misinformation and disinformation in an age of artificial intelligence and digital platforms.

    17 July 2026 · The Namibian

  3. VP urges communicators to champion truth, combat misinformation

    Vice President Lucia Witbooi addressed the 2026 Effective Communicators Conference in Swakopmund, calling on government and private sector communicators to lead the fight against misinformation and disinformation, particularly as artificial intelligence and digital platforms expand. She framed strategic communication as central to democratic governance, social cohesion, and implementation of Namibia's Sixth National Development Plan.

    17 July 2026 · The Namibian

  4. Vice President warns misinformation could undermine NDP6 delivery

    Vice President Lucia Witbooi cautioned that misinformation and weak public communication risk undermining implementation of Namibia's Sixth National Development Plan, and said government communicators must ensure accurate information reaches the public to build trust and deliver on national priorities.

    17 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer

  5. VP warns misinformation could undermine NDP6 delivery

    Vice President Lucia Witbooi cautioned that misinformation and weak public communication could undermine implementation of Namibia's Sixth National Development Plan, stating that government communicators must ensure accurate information reaches the public and serve as champions of truth against disinformation.

    17 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Thursday 16 July

  1. Namibia's Gladiators win historic gold at Special Olympics

    Vice president Lucia Witbooi has praised Namibia's Special Olympics Unified Gladiators for winning gold at the 2026 Special Olympics Unified Soccer World Cup in Paris, France, becoming the first Namibian team to win gold at the tournament. Witbooi celebrated the team's courage, determination, and triumph during a welcoming ceremony at Old State House.

    16 July 2026 · The Namibian

Tuesday 14 July

  1. Vice President welcomes Special Olympics Unified Gladiators gold medallists

    Vice President Lucia Witbooi welcomed Namibia's Special Olympics Unified Gladiators home after winning gold at the 2026 Special Olympics Unified Soccer World Cup in Paris, France — the first Namibian side to win gold at the tournament. Witbooi praised the team's courage, determination and resilience, describing the achievement as a moment of national pride that demonstrates Namibia's talent and commitment to sporting excellence.

    14 July 2026 · Informanté

Thursday 9 July

  1. NDF donation of wheelchair enables Omaheke girl's school access

    An eight-year-old girl with mobility disabilities at a Children's Sanctuary in Drimiopsis received a wheelchair from members of the Namibian Defence Force's 126 Motorised Infantry Battalion following an appeal made during Vice President Lucia Witbooi's January visit to the Kalahari Constituency.

    9 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Sunday 28 June

  1. Namibia launches school sports development programme for youth

    Namibia has launched the School Sports for Development (SS4D) Programme, implemented by the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture in collaboration with UNICEF Namibia, to use sport as a tool for promoting education, social inclusion and life skills development among learners. Vice President Lucia Witbooi said the initiative represents a national commitment to developing young Namibians with the skills, values and resilience needed to contribute to the country's future.

    28 June 2026 · Informanté

Monday 22 June

  1. Vice President Witbooi opens National Youth Council assembly

    Vice President Lucia Witbooi delivered the keynote address at the official opening of the 3rd General Assembly of the National Youth Council of Namibia in Swakopmund on 19 June 2026.

    22 June 2026 · The Namibian

Sunday 21 June

  1. Minister suspends NYC leadership elections amid delegate tensions

    Minister Sanet Steenkamp halted proceedings at the National Youth Council General Assembly in Swakopmund on Saturday night after tensions over delegate accreditation and election timing escalated into disorder, forcing postponement of the leadership vote scheduled to elect a new executive chairperson and board for four years.

    21 June 2026 · Informanté

  2. Vice President urges churches to partner on social challenges

    Vice President Lucia Witbooi called on churches to strengthen partnership with government in addressing social challenges including moral decline, corruption, substance abuse and gender-based violence, saying such efforts require collective action from government, the private sector, civil society and faith-based organisations.

    21 June 2026 · Informanté

Saturday 20 June

  1. Witbooi urges youth to seize skills and job creation opportunities

    Vice President Lucia Witbooi addressed the National Youth Council General Assembly in Swakopmund, urging Namibian youth to take advantage of government programmes for skills development, entrepreneurship and job creation, and calling on delegates to uphold unity and democracy during leadership elections.

    20 June 2026 · Informanté

Friday 19 June

  1. VP urges NYCN delegates to respect election outcome

    Vice President Lucia Witbooi has urged delegates at the National Youth Council of Namibia's general assembly to accept the outcome of elections that will determine the organisation's leadership for the next four years and to support those elected once results are announced.

    19 June 2026 · The Namibian

Wednesday 17 June

  1. Vice President calls churches to fight moral decay, social ills

    Vice President Lucia Witbooi has urged churches and religious institutions to strengthen partnerships with government in addressing corruption, substance abuse, gender-based violence, and moral decay. She said faith-based organisations have a critical role in restoring hope and promoting values, and that addressing Namibia's challenges of unemployment, poverty, and inequality requires a collective response.

    17 June 2026 · The Namibian

Monday 15 June

  1. Vice President opens grid connections and street lighting in Gibeon

    Vice President Lucia Witbooi presided over the official handover of household grid connections, Aerial Bundled Conductor networks, and public street lighting for Sunrise Informal Settlement in Gibeon, Hardap Region.

    15 June 2026 · The Namibian

Friday 12 June

  1. VP Witbooi backs support for young entrepreneurs with disabilities

    Vice President Lucia Witbooi called for greater support for young entrepreneurs living with disabilities at the closing of National Disability Week in Lüderitz, noting that young people with disabilities are making meaningful economic contributions through business ownership despite facing barriers to funding, training, and opportunities. Witbooi directed the Division of Disability Affairs to revive and operationalise income-generating projects for persons with disabilities through capacity building and additional resources.

    12 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer

  2. Vice President commends Old Mutual's new wellness centre

    Vice President Lucia Witbooi visited Old Mutual Namibia's newly established Wellness Centre in Windhoek and commended the company for investing in preventative healthcare and employee wellbeing. Old Mutual CEO Tassius Chigariro said the centre was established to support employee wellbeing and create a healthy working environment.

    12 June 2026 · Informanté

Wednesday 10 June

  1. 670 police cadets graduate with female majority for first time

    Vice President Lucia Witbooi urged newly graduated cadet constables from the Namibian Police Force to uphold integrity, professionalism and respect for human rights. The cohort of 670 comprised 382 women and 288 men, marking the first time female graduates outnumbered male counterparts in the training programme's history.

    10 June 2026 · Informanté

Monday 1 June

  1. Vice President urges support for Project Never Walk Alone

    Vice President Lucia Witbooi has called for increased corporate, institutional and individual support for Project Never Walk Alone, which distributes quality footwear to vulnerable children nationwide. The project has delivered more than 12,800 pairs of shoes across nine regions and aims to assist more than 31,500 barefoot children over three years at an estimated cost of N$12.9 million.

    1 June 2026 · Informanté

Sunday 31 May

  1. President absent from Genocide Remembrance Day events

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah did not attend Genocide Remembrance Day events held at Shark Island and in six regions, drawing criticism from political and community leaders, though the vice president attended events in Ohangwena. The president's absence came despite an active public schedule that included attending agricultural and cultural festivals and other state events.

    31 May 2026 · The Namibian

Saturday 30 May

  1. Vice President calls for local trade expos across Namibia

    Vice President Lucia Witbooi praised the 12th Oshakati Totem Expo as a driver of economic growth and called on local authorities to introduce similar trade fairs and expos. She said government recognizes expos and trade fairs as vital catalysts for economic growth and grassroots development, and emphasized that culture can serve as an economic resource through cultural tourism, heritage infrastructure, and creative industries.

    30 May 2026 · Informanté

  2. National Assembly speaker emphasises deeper Namibia-China cooperation

    National Assembly speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila on Wednesday emphasised the need to deepen Namibia-China cooperation during a visit by a Chinese parliamentary delegation headed by Zhu Yongxin, vice chairperson of China's national committee of the People's Political Consultative Conference. Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said Namibia seeks to build on its longstanding relationship with China to advance mutual development, economic growth and prosperity for both nations.

    30 May 2026 · The Namibian

Friday 29 May

  1. Youth urged to learn, protect Namibia's colonial genocide history

    Vice President Lucia Witbooi called on young Namibians to learn, protect and retell the country's history during Namibia's second Genocide Remembrance Day in Eenhana, emphasizing that the 1904–1908 genocide against the Ovaherero and Nama people should serve as an educational platform. Witbooi urged continued academic research and documentation of the genocide through books, archives, museums and scholarly work, warning that history risks being forgotten without proper preservation.

    29 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer

  2. President absent from official Genocide Remembrance Day event

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah did not attend the official Genocide Remembrance Day commemoration held in Eenhana on Thursday, despite having been in the region the previous day for an agricultural festival. She released a statement reaffirming the government's commitment to continuing engagement with Germany on genocide, apology and reparations.

    29 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer

  3. Vice President visits centre, pledges support for disabled persons

    Vice President Lucia Witbooi visited the Nakayale Rehabilitation Centre to assess the Omusati 1995 Project and identified challenges including shortage of production infrastructure, ageing equipment, and utility costs. She reaffirmed government commitment to improving the living standards of persons living with disabilities.

    29 May 2026 · Informanté

  4. Vice-President urges unity and rejection of tribalism

    Vice-President Lucia Witbooi called on Namibians to reject tribalism and remain united as the country commemorated Genocide Remembrance Day in Eenhana.

    29 May 2026 · Namibian Sun

Thursday 28 May

  1. VP calls on Namibians to preserve genocide history and unity

    Vice President Lucia Witbooi urged Namibians to remain united in preserving the country's history, promoting justice and reconciliation during Genocide Remembrance Day commemoration in Eenhana. She described the 1904–1908 genocide against the Ovaherero and Nama people as defining moments that exposed colonial brutality while highlighting the courage and resistance that laid the foundation for Namibia's independence.

    28 May 2026 · Informanté

Wednesday 27 May

  1. Govt and church leaders warn of rising youth hopelessness crisis

    Government and church leaders have warned that growing hopelessness, mental health pressures, substance abuse and unemployment are placing many young Namibians at risk. Vice President Lucia Witbooi called for stronger cooperation between churches, traditional leaders, communities and civil society to address these social challenges.

    27 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Lucia Witbooi — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute