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Monday, 8 June 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Monday, 8 June 2026
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Namibian press · Organization

Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs

Namibian government ministry responsible for defence operations, military recruitment, veterans welfare, and defence policy implementation.

2023-08-272026-06-08
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What’s been said

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

  1. January 2026

  2. Informanté

    Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs reported that the course brings together student officers from five different countries

    Source

    “According to the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs, the course brings together student officers from five different countries — Namibia, Botswana, Kenya, Zambia and Tanzania — thereby underscoring strong regional cooperation in defence and security.”

    The 6th Senior Command and Staff Course kicks off at Okahandja
  3. March 2025

  4. The Namibian

    Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs paid Enercon N$60 million in 2025

    Source

    “The Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs paid fuel supplier Enercon N$60 million in 2025 – just months after terminating its contract with the company for failing to deliver fuel to military bases for six months.”

    N$60-million payout to Enercon despite fuel delivery failure sparks controversy
  5. March 2024

  6. The Namibian

    Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs would have public believe that Pandeni's family is underprivileged

    Source

    “Pandeni's family could by no stretch of the imagination be classified as underprivileged as the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs would have the public believe.”

    A Looting Continua!
Politics

IPC calls for stronger mental health support for soldiers

The News

Following the deaths of two Namibian Defence Force members at military bases in Otjiwarongo and Otavi, the Independent Patriots for Change have urged the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs to strengthen mental health support, housing and welfare programmes for soldiers, citing emotional and psychological challenges soldiers face due to separation from families and financial pressures.

2 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Tuesday 2 June

  1. IPC calls for stronger mental health support for soldiers

    Following the deaths of two Namibian Defence Force members at military bases in Otjiwarongo and Otavi, the Independent Patriots for Change have urged the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs to strengthen mental health support, housing and welfare programmes for soldiers, citing emotional and psychological challenges soldiers face due to separation from families and financial pressures.

    2 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Saturday 30 May

  1. NDF confirms deaths of two soldiers in separate incidents

    The Namibian Defence Force confirmed the deaths of two soldiers, Jonas Kambonde (27) and Patrick Kooper (30), in suspected suicides at Otjiwarongo and Otavi military bases on Thursday and Friday. Ministry spokesperson Petrus Shilumbu called for members to use available support services when facing personal challenges.

    30 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 22 May

  1. NDF modernising training to include drone warfare systems

    The Ministry of Defence says the Namibian Defence Force is modernising operations to include drone warfare and technology-driven military systems, as militaries worldwide increasingly rely on drones and cyber-based operations. Defence Minister Frans Kapofi said Namibia needs technologically skilled recruits adaptable to intelligence-based warfare, following the graduation of 1,703 recruits at Osona Military Base.

    22 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Thursday 21 May

  1. Experts call for stronger illegal fishing penalties in SADC region

    Stakeholders warn that existing penalties are failing to deter illegal fishing in Namibian waters, following the interception of a vessel with 22 crew members and amid concerns over losses from bycatch, which increased sharply since 2020 despite monitoring systems in place.

    21 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 19 May

  1. Parliamentary committee visits Command and Staff College

    Namibia's Parliamentary Standing Committee on International Relations, Defence and Security conducted an oversight visit to the Namibia Command and Staff College to assess operational, academic and infrastructural developments. The committee toured facilities, received briefings on the college's mandate and programmes, and commended its efforts in professional military education.

    19 May 2026 · Informanté →

Monday 4 May

  1. Namibian Air Force reinforces civil-military aviation cooperation

    The Namibian Air Force reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening civil-military cooperation in Africa's aviation sector at the Aviation Week Africa Summit held in Windhoek from 22 to 24 April 2026, emphasizing innovation, training, technological modernisation, and regional partnerships to enhance air connectivity and security across the continent.

    4 May 2026 · Informanté →

Tuesday 28 April

  1. Zimbabwean ambassador outlines SADC security framework at college

    The Zimbabwean Ambassador to Namibia outlined SADC's regional security architecture at the Namibia Command and Staff College, covering the Protocol on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, the Mutual Defence Pact, and the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation. The lecture addressed conflict prevention, collective defence, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding, as well as integrating human security with traditional state security approaches.

    28 April 2026 · Informanté →

Sunday 26 April

  1. Minister orders inquiry into tribal bias at Roads Authority

    Transport Minister Veikko Nekundi ordered an investigation into alleged tribal bias in recruitment at the Roads Authority, finding it employs about 74 people from the Zambezi region compared to more than 300 from northern Namibia. The probe has revived broader allegations of tribalism in hiring practices across Namibian state-owned enterprises and government offices.

    26 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 22 April

  1. US nuclear aircraft carrier transits Namibia's exclusive economic zone

    The Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs confirmed that the USS George HW Bush, a US nuclear-powered super aircraft carrier, is transiting in Namibia's exclusive economic zone under international maritime law without entering territorial waters. The vessel is sailing under provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which guarantees freedom of navigation, and is en route around the African continent to avoid heightened activity in the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz.

    22 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 9 April

  1. 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 →

Tuesday 7 April

  1. Ministry of Defence allocates N$1.5 billion for veterans welfare

    The Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs spent N$2.5 million on funeral assistance for 363 veterans in 2025/2026, with minister Frans Kapofi reporting that 94% of the department's N$1.5 billion allocation went toward veterans' welfare and preserving liberation struggle history. For 2026/2027, the ministry is requesting a similar N$1.5 billion budget, primarily for monthly grants benefiting nearly 24,000 veterans.

    7 April 2026 · New Era →

  2. President appoints new ministerial and deputy ministerial officials

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has appointed several new officials to ministerial and deputy ministerial positions, including Charles Mubita as minister in the Presidency, Hambeleleni Ndjaleka as deputy minister of health and social services, and others to various portfolio positions across government departments.

    7 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 2 April

  1. Swapo MP proposes sovereign fund to support veterans sustainably

    Swapo parliamentarian Tobie Aupindi has proposed establishing a sovereign fund for veterans to reduce dependence on annual treasury allocations. He argues that investing part of the roughly N$1 billion annual veterans allocation could generate self-sustaining income over time rather than relying solely on government budgets.

    2 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 31 March

  1. Defence ministry tables N$1.52 billion veterans welfare budget

    The Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs has proposed a N$1.52 billion budget for 2026/2027 to improve welfare for liberation struggle veterans, including monthly grants, medical support, and heritage preservation. Deputy Minister Charles Mubita said the allocation will support about 23,694 veterans receiving monthly grants and address socio-economic challenges through medical care, psychosocial support, and settlement of outstanding Individual Veterans Projects.

    31 March 2026 · Informanté →

Friday 27 March

  1. Minister orders old TB hospital tenants to vacate by April 1

    Minister of Works and Transport Veikko Nekundi has ordered all occupants of the old tuberculosis hospital building in Windhoek to leave by 1 April, citing the building's unsuitability for occupation and illegal tenancy. The 25-room building houses both government and non-government employees, with tenants complaining that non-government occupants have damaged property, stolen materials, and sold illegal substances.

    27 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 6 March

  1. Lt Gen Ndaitwah addresses military on strategic leadership

    Namibia's First Gentleman Lt Gen (rtd) Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah delivered a presentation to senior military officers at the Namibia Command and Staff College on strategic leadership, management, and elements of national power, emphasizing the importance of effective leadership, sound policy formulation, and implementation to achieve national objectives.

    6 March 2026 · Informanté →

Monday 16 February

  1. Foreign military attachés reaffirm defence cooperation with Namibia

    Military attachés accredited to Namibia from nine countries paid a New Year courtesy call on the Chief of the Namibian Defence Force to reaffirm their commitment to strengthening defence cooperation, promoting diplomacy and advancing peace and security in the region.

    16 February 2026 · Informanté →

Wednesday 11 February

  1. Army opens leadership courses at Nehale Lyampingana Battle School

    Deputy Army Commander Brigadier General Andreas Diyeve Diyeve has officially opened the 15th Company Group Commanders Course and 18th Platoon Commanders Course at the Nehale Lyampingana Army Battle School, emphasising the importance of acquiring new military skills and cautioning officers against using social media to air grievances.

    11 February 2026 · Informanté →

Friday 6 February

  1. NDF conducts nationwide fitness tests for officer and recruit candidates

    The Namibian Defence Force is conducting pre-entry physical fitness and aptitude assessments across all 14 regions for applicants seeking to join as Officer Cadets and Recruits. Successful candidates will progress to fingerprinting and medical examinations in their respective regions.

    6 February 2026 · Informanté →

Saturday 24 January

  1. Namibia failing to honour war veterans, says opinion writer

    An opinion piece argues that Namibia's government is disrespecting war veterans through inadequate burial rites, citing the case of Swapo founding member Kanana Hishoono who is being buried at Eenhana shrine rather than Heroes Acre, and raising questions about who decides burial status for liberation struggle fighters.

    24 January 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. Defence Ministry releases shortlisted candidates for recruitment testing

    The Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs has announced shortlisted candidates for Officer Cadets, Recruits, and National Youth Service positions, who must report to regional centres on Tuesday, 3 February 2026, for Pre-Entry and Physical Fitness Tests. Only successful candidates will proceed to the next phase, with the entire process expected to be finalised by 3 March 2026.

    24 January 2026 · Informanté →

Thursday 15 January

  1. 36 military officers begin senior command training at Okahandja

    The Namibia Command and Staff College has commenced its 6th Senior Command and Staff Course with 36 student military officers from Namibia, Botswana, Kenya, Zambia and Tanzania, reflecting regional defence cooperation. The year-long course emphasises leadership, professionalism and analytical skills in the evolving security environment.

    15 January 2026 · Informanté →

Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute