The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Friday announced the arrests of three officials from the directorate of rural water supply within the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform in the Omaheke region. …
ACC arrests three officials over water tanksNamibia Minute.
Tuesday, 12 May 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Tuesday, 12 May 2026
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Namibian press · Organization
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform
Also known as: MAFWLR · The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform
Namibian government ministry managing agriculture, fisheries, water, and land reform policy, currently addressing bycatch overage, farming modernisation, and livestock export certification.
In coverage
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
- March 2026
… Speaking during the handover this week, Roderick Maswabi, chief agriculture scientific officer in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, said the donation goes beyond tools and equipment. …
NCS Katima goes for food security jugular… The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform covers feed, electricity and other inputs, with two labour-level staff at the site and supervision from Rundu. …
Mpungu fish farm’s struggles… Efforts to obtain comment from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform were also unsuccessful.
252 Fishrot fishermen want payouts 7 years after losing jobs… Auctioneer George Haufiku, a Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform official, says last month’s auction attracted few buyers, with most being from the Oshana, Ohangwena, and Omusati regions. …
Mpasinkuru auction’s local buyers dry up… The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has launched an FMD task force and increased biosecurity protocols at borders. …
FMD threat could cost Namibia N$2.5b in exports… The fund was officially launched at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform’s head office in Windhoek on Thursday, with N$11 million raised at the event. …
FMD support fund reaches N$13 million- February 2026
… Additionally, Meatco board chairperson Stephanie de Klerk yesterday confirmed the authenticity of a report addressed to the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform indicating some cash reconciliations of N$2.5 million could not be acc …
Meatco confirms 900 cattle missing as N$2.5 million remains unaccounted for in leaked report… Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform spokesperson Simon Nghipandulwa says the ministry is currently connecting the milking parlour to the national power grind and water supply as part of this process. …
New life for Uvhungu-Vhungu green scheme… Concerns that recent outbreaks of the disease in South Africa and Botswana could spread to Namibia have led the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform to increase surveillance and awareness of FMD in border regions. …
FMD: Illegally vaccinated cattle to be killed
Mining & Energy
Illegal pilchard bycatch surges despite fishing moratorium
The News
Pilchard bycatch has risen sharply from 608 tonnes in 2020 to more than 11,000 tonnes in both 2024 and 2025, with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform warning that increasing bycatch could threaten marine biodiversity and fish stocks if not properly managed.
Why it matters
Illegal pilchard bycatch surges to 11,000 tonnes despite moratorium, threatening marine biodiversity and fisheries sustainability.
14 hours ago · The Namibian →
Yesterday
Illegal pilchard bycatch surges despite fishing moratorium
Pilchard bycatch has risen sharply from 608 tonnes in 2020 to more than 11,000 tonnes in both 2024 and 2025, with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform warning that increasing bycatch could threaten marine biodiversity and fish stocks if not properly managed.
14 hours ago · The Namibian →
Cabinet establishes Green Industries Council to replace hydrogen-focused body
The Cabinet has approved a new Green Industries Council, replacing the Green Hydrogen Council after it ended in February 2025. The council will oversee Namibia's broader green industrialisation agenda, focusing on policy coordination, institutional alignment and investment priorities to accelerate industrialisation, economic diversification and job creation.
15 hours ago · The Namibian →
Rundu Technology Centre to reopen within three months
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform is reviving the N$36 million Rundu Technology Centre, which has underperformed since its 2015 establishment. The facility, created to support agricultural mechanisation for green scheme projects and subsistence farmers, will reopen after the ministry reassesses its strategy and plans to expand services to private farmers to improve financial sustainability.
11 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Sunday 10 May
Government loses N$157.5m to illegal hake bycatch in 2025
The government may have lost N$157.5 million from 17,500 tonnes of hake caught as bycatch by 15 horse mackerel freezer trawlers in 2025. The Ministry of Agriculture has admitted that current penalties may not be stopping repeat offenders, with hake bycatch in the horse mackerel fishery increasing sharply from 3,203 tonnes in 2020 to 17,500 tonnes in 2025.
10 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Wednesday 6 May
Agriculture minister questions N$179m border fence quotation
Agriculture minister Inge Zaamwani has questioned a N$179 million quotation from August 26 Construction for a 400-kilometre border fence project along the Namibia-South Africa border aimed at containing foot-and-mouth disease, citing cost concerns and procurement issues.
6 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Ministry clarifies trawling restrictions for horse mackerel sector
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has clarified that a temporary relaxation of trawling restrictions for wet-landed horse mackerel applies only between latitudes 22° South and 24° South, allowing trawling in waters shallower than 200 meters down to 150 meters from May 1, 2026 to April 30, 2027. The ministry said exclusive offshore areas for the subsector south of latitude 22° South have not yet been finalised and will be identified after consultations with the fishing industry.
6 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Oshana governor urges youth to lead region's agricultural production
Oshana governor Hofni Iipinge has called on young people in the region to take the lead in agriculture and reduce dependence on food imports, citing rising food prices and unemployment. Deputy minister of agriculture Ruthy Masake urged youth to move beyond subsistence farming, adopt modern methods, and explore opportunities in fish farming and improved mahangu and legume production.
6 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Tuesday 5 May
Cabinet clarifies recent decision on fishing regulations
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has issued a clarification following confusion over a recent Cabinet decision on fishing regulations.
5 May 2026 · Namibian Sun →
Sunday 3 May
Government limits trawling relaxation to narrow geographic zone
The Ministry of Fisheries has restricted a temporary relaxation of trawling in waters shallower than the 200-metre isobath to a defined zone between latitudes 22°S and 24°S, applying only to the wet-landed horse mackerel subsector. The clarification was issued to address confusion about how Cabinet's decision would be applied, with further zone specifications and consultations to follow.
3 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Wednesday 29 April
Lüderitz hosts 19th annual Crayfish Festival
The 19th annual Lüderitz Crayfish Festival runs from 28 April to 3 May 2026, featuring a business forum, music performances by local and regional artists including Gazza, King Biko, and Sam Deep, and motorsport activities, with government participation.
29 April 2026 · Informanté →
Agriculture ministry clarifies no livestock foot-and-mouth disease outbreak
The agriculture ministry clarified that confusion over hand, foot and mouth disease reported at Windhoek Gymnasium does not indicate a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in livestock. The ministry explained the two diseases are distinct: hand, foot and mouth disease is a viral illness affecting humans, while foot-and-mouth disease affects cloven-hoofed animals.
29 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Friday 24 April
Cabinet relaxes 200m fishing depth rule for horse mackerel
The Cabinet has approved a temporary 12-month relaxation allowing wet-landed horse mackerel vessels to trawl within 150m depth in the 200m isobath zone, a conservation area typically protected to preserve juvenile fish and marine ecosystems. The decision comes as the sector faces reduced quotas, with the 2026 total allowable catch set at 197,000 tonnes, down from 208,000 tonnes in 2025.
24 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia launches national food safety coordination committee
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has officially inaugurated the National Sanitary and Phytosanitary Committee to regulate Namibia's food safety, animal and plant health measures and ensure compliance with international standards. The three-year committee will coordinate science-based measures, facilitate safe trade in agricultural and food products, and strengthen Namibia's participation in regional and multilateral trade systems.
24 April 2026 · Informanté →
Thursday 23 April
Northern communal livestock auctions hampered by poor animal condition
Livestock auctions in northern communal areas generate income for farmers but poor animal condition and limited market knowledge reduce earnings, according to agriculture officials. A recent auction in Oshikoto region sold 133 of 139 cattle and 42 goats for N$1.3 million, with officials calling for training on the relationship between livestock quality and prices.
23 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Friday 17 April
Northern cattle price fund approved but not yet implemented
The agriculture ministry created a price equalisation fund approved by Cabinet in 2024 to help livestock producers north of the veterinary cordon fence, but the Namibia National Farmers Union says implementation has stalled. A ministry spokesperson confirmed a misunderstanding between finance and agriculture ministries diverted initial funding, though N$50 million has been allocated in the 2026/27 budget.
17 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Tuesday 14 April
MPs warn persistent agriculture ministry underfunding threatens food security
Members of parliament have expressed concern over the continued underfunding of the agriculture ministry, with lawmakers warning that declining allocations for land distribution, drought support, and veterinary services risk compromising national food security and employment. The ministry received N$1.8 billion for the current financial year, with over N$1.4 billion allocated to operations and over N$300 million to development.
14 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Savanna Beef receives export abattoir certificate, begins full-scale slaughter
Savanna Beef has received an export abattoir certificate from the Ministry of Agriculture, enabling it to export deboned chilled and frozen beef cuts to the UK, EU, and EFTA countries. The company aims to slaughter 50,000 cattle locally each year that would otherwise be exported as weaners to South African feedlots, aligning with Namibia's "Growth at Home" vision and creating around 240 jobs when at full operation.
14 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Monday 13 April
Ministry relocates 57.5 tonnes of flood-damaged crops in Zambezi
The Ministry of Agriculture has begun moving salvageable crops from flood-affected farmers in Zambezi region to higher ground, having already helped 14 farmers relocate their harvests across multiple areas and deployed 10 tractors. The ministry, which is also providing water tanks and sanitation facilities to relocation centres, plans to continue the operation until 17 April and will then review next steps.
13 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Sunday 12 April
Ministry denies plan to import South African bees
The agriculture ministry has denied allegations of importing bees from South Africa to boost blueberry harvests, stating that the last application was rejected in 2024 due to South Africa's inability to provide health assurances. The rejection comes amid concerns from local beekeepers and the Namibian Beekeeping Association about threats to native bees and the lack of adequate quarantine systems.
12 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Friday 10 April
Savanna Beef wins export approval to UK, EU, EFTA markets
The Ministry of Agriculture has approved Savanna Beef Processors to export beef to the United Kingdom, European Union and EFTA countries, with the company planning to slaughter about 50,000 head of cattle per year. The export certificate, valid until April 2027, marks a major milestone after three years of effort.
10 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Kavango East celebrates forests' role in livelihoods and economies
Communities, government leaders and development partners gathered in Kavango East on 23 March to commemorate International Day of Forests, emphasizing sustainable forest management and highlighting how forest resources support livelihoods through activities like woodcraft production. The event, hosted under the Dryland Sustainable Landscapes Impact Programme, featured a tree-planting ceremony, an indigenous walk to observe tree species, and an information-sharing session on the ecological, cultural and economic importance of indigenous trees.
10 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Thursday 9 April
Namibia urged to finalize ocean policies before 2026 conference
Marine expert Rod Braby has urged Namibia to finalize its Blue Economy Policy, complete marine spatial planning, and accede to the High Seas Treaty ahead of the 2026 Our Ocean Conference in Kenya. Braby noted that Namibia currently has only 1.6% of its exclusive economic zone under marine protected area management, though the government has committed to increasing this to 11% within two years.
9 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Lake Liambezi farmers harvest crops before advancing floodwaters
Farmers around Lake Liambezi are rushing to harvest maize, sorghum and other crops weeks early as floodwaters advance from Angola through the Zambezi Region. The premature harvesting follows earlier locust damage, and officials warn more severe flooding is expected in coming weeks, with water levels potentially rising above seven metres and affecting multiple constituencies including Kabbe South, Sibbinda and Katima Rural.
9 April 2026 · New Era →
Flooding halts locust spray campaign in Zambezi region
Seasonal flooding has disrupted the Ministry of Agriculture's spraying campaign against a locust outbreak in the Zambezi region that has threatened crop fields and livelihoods since January. By early March, the ministry had sprayed 7,124 hectares of an identified 32,896 hectares using ground teams and drones before floods brought operations to a halt.
9 April 2026 · New Era →
Wednesday 8 April
Marine Advisory Council tasked with sustainable fisheries management
Namibia's Ministry of Agriculture has inaugurated a Marine Advisory Council chaired by executive director Teofilus Nghitila to advise on sustainable management of marine resources. Agriculture Minister Inge Zaamwani highlighted the council's role during a critical period for the fishing sector, which faces declining catches due to overfishing, natural conditions, and population pressures.
8 April 2026 · New Era →
Floods delay locust spraying in Namibia's Zambezi region
The Ministry of Agriculture says seasonal floods in the Zambezi region have halted spraying efforts against locusts that have infested hundreds of crop fields and grazing areas since January. So far, 7,124 of 32,896 hectares of infested areas have been sprayed, and spraying is expected to resume once floodwater subsides.
8 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Tuesday 7 April
Hardap aquaculture centre reaches 80% of annual fingerling target
Tilapia fingerling production at Namibia's Hardap Inland Aquaculture Centre has reached about 80% of its annual target despite operational constraints including incomplete infrastructure and limited holding space. The Ministry of Agriculture says it is committed to rehabilitating infrastructure and improving production levels by December this year.
7 April 2026 · New Era →
Sunday 5 April
Ministry appoints 12-member Marine Resources Advisory Council
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has appointed a new 12-member Marine Resources Advisory Council to advise the minister on total allowable catch and marine-related matters. The council will help the ministry sustainably manage marine resources and enhance the fishing industry's contribution to economic development.
5 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Wednesday 1 April
Fishing workers protest government hake quota auction plan
Employees in Namibia's fishing industry protested the government's planned auction of 6 232 metric tonnes of hake quota, saying the system worsens working conditions and job insecurity. Workers called for quotas to be allocated directly to companies needing production support rather than sold to the highest bidder.
1 April 2026 · New Era →
Mpungu Fish Farm to receive N$2m for infrastructure repairs
The Mpungu Fish Farm in Kavango West is set to receive N$2 million in the 2026/27 financial year for pond rehabilitation, lining, and water supply improvements to boost production. The facility currently operates at below its design capacity of 20 tonnes per year due to infrastructure constraints.
1 April 2026 · New Era →