Namibia Minute.
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 Finance

Government entity that oversees pensions, healthcare tariffs, procurement policy, and public infrastructure financing in Namibia.

2019-09-252026-06-08

What’s been said

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

  1. June 2026
  2. Informanté

    Ministry of Finance explained that beneficiaries will need to provide documentation including national identity card or birth certificate

    Source

    The ministry explained that beneficiaries will need to provide the necessary documentation at the ministry, including a national identity card or birth certificate, to complete the verification process.

    More than 15,000 old-age grants suspended over identity verification discrepancies
  3. Informanté

    Ministry of Finance confirmed that reinstated beneficiaries will be entitled to back payments covering the period of suspension

    Source

    The ministry confirmed that reinstated beneficiaries will be entitled to back payments covering the period of suspension.

    More than 15,000 old-age grants suspended over identity verification discrepancies
  4. The Namibian

    Ministry of Finance announced suspension of 15,825 old-age pension beneficiaries in joint statement

    Source

    The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare and the Ministry of Finance announced this in a joint statement issued on Wednesday.

    Govt suspends 15 000 unverified pensions
  5. May 2026
  6. The Namibian

    Ministry of Finance had received numerous unsolicited funding proposals from private entities and investors

    Source

    Capelao said the Ministry of Finance had received numerous unsolicited funding proposals from private entities and agents acting on behalf of investors with funds looking for investment in Namibia.

    Investors advised to participate in treasury bill auctions to fund govt projects
  7. Windhoek Observer

    Ministry of Finance received several funding proposals from private entities and agents

    Source

    Ministry of Finance executive director Oscar Capelão said the ministry has recently received several funding proposals from private entities and agents representing investors interested in financing projects in Namibia.

    Govt rejects private unsolicited borrowing proposals
  8. The Namibian

    Ministry of Finance rejected Social Security Commission's request for procurement exemption

    Source

    The Ministry of Finance has rejected the Social Security Commission's (SSC) request for a procurement exemption to fast-track a N$43.8-million fund management system project.

    SSC’s N$43.8m tender exemption hits a wall
  9. Windhoek Observer

    Ministry of Finance was commended for working together on the agreement the debt swap agreement

    Source

    Nujoma commended the Ministry of Finance and the City of Windhoek for working together on the agreement.

    Debt swap opens land for 6 000 houses
  10. April 2026
  11. Informanté

    Ministry of Finance implemented changes through payroll administration via Integrated Financial Management System

    Source

    The Office stressed that the changes were automatically implemented through the Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) by the Ministry of Finance's payroll administration, as well as other systems supporting the scheme.

    Government dismisses PSEMAS reapplication claims as false
  12. The Namibian

    Ministry of Finance took over NamPost

    Source

    The clerks are part of the social grant payment programme now administered by NamPost following its takeover by the Ministry of Finance.

    Disgruntled NamPost clerks claim inconsistent pay and unfair labour practices over social grant payments
  13. The Namibian

    Ministry of Finance redesigned and reintroduced the SMEs loan scheme on 6 February 2023

    Source

    The central bank and the Ministry of Finance redesigned and reintroduced the scheme on 6 February 2023, with relaxed criteria to improve accessibility for struggling businesses.

    Bank of Namibia loans N$500 million to SMEs
Society

Over 15,000 pensioners lose grants after missing verification

The News

Over 15,000 Namibian pensioners have had their old-age grants suspended after missing a mandatory government verification process in October. Many pensioners say they were not adequately informed of the callout and are now struggling to meet basic needs.

Why it matters

Over 15,000 pensioners losing grants due to missed verification deadlines represents a major failure in government communications and public service delivery affecting vulnerable citizens.

7 June 2026 · The Namibian

Yesterday

  1. Over 15,000 pensioners lose grants after missing verification

    Over 15,000 Namibian pensioners have had their old-age grants suspended after missing a mandatory government verification process in October. Many pensioners say they were not adequately informed of the callout and are now struggling to meet basic needs.

    7 June 2026 · The Namibian

Saturday 6 June

  1. Speaker urges media to portray women leaders more fairly

    Speaker of the National Assembly Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila called on media institutions to improve coverage of women in leadership positions, saying disproportionate focus on controversy and personal conduct over professional achievements erodes public confidence in women leaders and discourages their participation in public life.

    6 June 2026 · The Namibian

Friday 5 June

  1. Health ministry denies aligning public tariffs with private healthcare rates

    The Ministry of Health and Social Services has denied claims that it increased public healthcare tariffs to match those of the Namibia Association of Medical Aid Funds, clarifying that the Ministry of Finance—not the health ministry—has authority over Public Service Employees Medical Aid Scheme tariff changes. The ministry noted that tariff structures have not been comprehensively reviewed in 11 years despite significant changes in healthcare costs.

    5 June 2026 · Informanté

Thursday 4 June

  1. 15,825 old-age grant recipients suspended over verification gaps

    The Ministry of Finance suspended 15,825 of 209,226 old-age grant recipients whose names could not be found in the National Population Registry System. Beneficiaries can restore payments by providing identity documentation at the nearest Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare office, and once verified will receive back payments covering the suspension period.

    4 June 2026 · Informanté

Wednesday 3 June

  1. Government suspends 15,825 unverified old-age pension grants

    The government has temporarily suspended the grants of 15,825 old-age pension beneficiaries whose names could not be verified on the National Population Registry System. Affected beneficiaries must visit regional gender ministry or constituency offices with their national identification document and birth certificate to have their grants reinstated, and will receive back payment for the suspension period.

    3 June 2026 · The Namibian

Wednesday 20 May

  1. Government directs investors to treasury bill auctions, not direct proposals

    The finance ministry's executive director clarified that the government does not accept unsolicited funding bids from private entities or agents for infrastructure projects. Instead, all government funding and development projects must follow established procedures under the National Planning Commission Act and State Finance Act.

    20 May 2026 · The Namibian

  2. Government rejects unsolicited private borrowing and financing proposals

    The Ministry of Finance says infrastructure funding must comply with existing procurement and borrowing laws and cannot be sourced through unsolicited proposals from private entities or their agents, despite acknowledging that such proposals could support national infrastructure development.

    20 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer

  3. Health professional proposes unified health framework for Namibia

    Namibia's health system is fragmented with high administrative costs and limited fiscal pooling. A health professional has proposed a Shared Prosperity Health Covenant framework to transform the system into a unified, equitable, and digitally enabled ecosystem that addresses disparities and promotes universal health coverage.

    20 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Wednesday 13 May

  1. Customs and excise offices relocate to Southern Industrial

    Namibia Revenue Agency (Namra) has begun moving customs and excise offices to a newly established One-Stop centre on Reger Street in the Southern Industrial area. Currently, only limited services including motor vehicle clearance certificates and booking of physical inspections are available, while payments and other services remain at the Eros Airport office during the transition.

    13 May 2026 · The Namibian

Monday 11 May

  1. 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.

    11 May 2026 · The Namibian

Thursday 7 May

  1. Government drives regional sports facilities development across Namibia

    The Namibia Planning Commission is coordinating with the Ministries of Finance and Education to develop and upgrade sport facilities across all regions, with a goal of ensuring every Namibian has access to quality sporting infrastructure by 2030. The initiative aims to professionalise sport and create employment and development opportunities for youth.

    7 May 2026 · The Namibian

Wednesday 6 May

  1. Finance ministry rejects SSC procurement exemption request

    The Ministry of Finance has rejected the Social Security Commission's request for a procurement exemption to fast-track a N$43.8-million fund management system project. Finance minister Ericah Shafudah said the SSC did not sufficiently justify why the entire Public Procurement Act should be set aside, and noted that the law already provides procurement options such as restricted bidding for specialized services.

    6 May 2026 · The Namibian

  2. Debt swap converts N$357.8m into 6000 residential plots

    The City of Windhoek and government approved a debt swap converting N$357.8 million of the city's historical debt into 423 hectares of land, unlocking more than 6000 residential erven in the Khomas region. Phase one will release about 4856 housing erven in Havana and Groot Aub, alongside land for national projects including offices for the Namibia Revenue Agency and a high-performance sports centre.

    6 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Tuesday 21 April

  1. PM clarifies PSEMAS amendments don't require member reapplication

    The Office of the Prime Minister has dismissed claims that recent amendments to the Public Service Employees Medical Aid Scheme require members to reapply, stating the changes—including increased contribution rates, removal of the 5% co-payment, and benefit structure review—do not affect current membership status and were automatically implemented through payroll systems.

    21 April 2026 · Informanté

Monday 20 April

  1. NamPost clerks allege inconsistent pay, unfair labour practices

    NamPost clerks handling social grant disbursements claim inconsistent remuneration ranging from N$4,000 to N$7,000 monthly, unclear employment terms, long hours including weekends, and high-risk conditions with little oversight. NamPost's acting CEO says employees were engaged on 4 February and disputes disclosure of confidential employment matters, but affirms commitment to good labour relations.

    20 April 2026 · The Namibian

  2. MPs question N$600k mines board sitting allowance labelled 'liquor'

    Parliamentarians criticised a N$600 000 budgetary allocation for board sitting allowances within the mines ministry, which became contentious during budget debates due to its label as 'liquor'. The ministry clarified the funds are not for beverages but for allowances tied to liquor licensing work and board operations across regions, with potential increases to N$2 million over two years.

    20 April 2026 · The Namibian

Tuesday 14 April

  1. Judge reduces charges against accused in finance ministry theft trial

    A Windhoek High Court judge has dismissed multiple charges against businessman Antoine Mbok and co-accused Daniel Nghiwilepo in a trial over stolen cheques worth N$3.9 million from the Ministry of Finance. Mbok now faces four charges, his company M Finance faces five charges, and Nghiwilepo faces two charges after the judge found the state's key witness—a former finance ministry clerk—unreliable on most of the allegations.

    14 April 2026 · The Namibian

Sunday 12 April

  1. IPPR warns direct government tenders bypass accountability

    The Institute for Public Policy Research has criticized the government's decision to bypass the Central Procurement Board on N$350 million in projects, arguing it creates risks of corruption and waste. The government has directly awarded contracts including a N$140-million sports stadium project to the Roads Contractor Company and other projects to August 26 without public tendering, a practice that lacks transparency and limits competition for local businesses.

    12 April 2026 · The Namibian

Thursday 9 April

  1. Bank of Namibia completes N$500m SME recovery loan disbursement

    The Bank of Namibia has completed disbursement of N$500 million in loans to 433 small and medium enterprises across construction, real estate and business services. The scheme, reintroduced in February 2023 with relaxed eligibility criteria, now transitions to a monitoring phase after distributing loans ranging from N$50,000 to N$10 million with favourable terms including a six-month repayment holiday.

    9 April 2026 · The Namibian

Tuesday 7 April

  1. DBN funds N$1bn health infrastructure programme nationwide

    The Development Bank of Namibia has disbursed N$1 billion towards a national health infrastructure programme, part of the government's "Roadmap" initiative. The funding will support construction of a 500-bed Windhoek District Hospital and district hospitals in Nkurenkuru, Otjiwarongo, and Ondangwa to address bed shortages and improve healthcare access.

    7 April 2026 · New Era

Sunday 5 April

  1. DBN funds N$1 billion Windhoek District Hospital construction

    The Development Bank of Namibia has allocated N$1 billion for construction of a 500-bed Windhoek District Hospital in Havana to address bed shortages and ease pressure on existing facilities in the Khomas region. The project is part of the government's healthcare infrastructure development plan and is expected to stimulate economic activity through construction and job creation, though land clearing remains pending before work commences.

    5 April 2026 · The Namibian

  2. 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

Saturday 4 April

  1. Bank of Namibia reports record N$892 million loss in 2025

    The Bank of Namibia declared a record annual loss of N$892 million for 2025, primarily due to unrealised foreign exchange losses from Eurobond redemption and currency fluctuations, though operating profit of N$569 million allowed a N$200 million dividend to government.

    4 April 2026 · The Namibian

Wednesday 1 April

  1. Environmental levies raise N$236 million for conservation

    The Environmental Investment Fund collected N$236 million in environmental levies over three years (2021/22–2023/24), now its main funding source after government budget allocations stopped. The levies on lubricating oils, batteries, tyres, vehicles and plastic bags finance waste management, renewable energy, biodiversity conservation and climate resilience projects across Namibia.

    1 April 2026 · New Era

  2. 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

  3. Government pursuing 10% stake in Rössing Uranium

    The government is in discussions to acquire a 10% stake in Rössing Uranium currently held by South Africa's Industrial Development Corporation as part of its exit from the company. Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare told Parliament that the government, which already holds 4%, is working through multiple ministries to pursue the shareholding to ensure Namibians benefit from the country's resources.

    1 April 2026 · The Namibian

Tuesday 31 March

  1. Microlenders lose N$200m as finance ministry ends payroll system

    The Namibian Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority reports that Namibian microlenders lost about N$200 million in three months after the Ministry of Finance discontinued the Payroll Deduction Management System, reducing total consumer debt to N$7.5 billion. Term-loan disbursements fell 73.5%, though the number of borrowers increased 16.3% and payday lending rose 11%.

    31 March 2026 · The Namibian

  2. Namibia deploys high-tech CT scanners across public hospitals

    The state has acquired advanced diagnostic equipment including Philips 16-slice CT scanners worth millions of dollars to strengthen public healthcare facilities. The Health Ministry plans to roll out similar machines across all 14 regions by June as part of efforts to boost confidence in public hospitals ahead of a directive requiring government officials to use public healthcare.

    31 March 2026 · New Era

Saturday 28 March

  1. IMF: Namibia's economy stable, but growth remains weak

    The International Monetary Fund told Namibia's Ministry of Finance that the country is not in financial crisis, despite weak diamond sector sales affecting economic growth. Real GDP growth slowed to 1.7% in 2025 and is expected to remain subdued, the IMF delegation leader said, urging reforms to support diversification and job creation.

    28 March 2026 · The Namibian

Thursday 26 March

  1. DBN launches new financing product for women entrepreneurs

    The Development Bank of Namibia has launched "DBN for Her," a financing initiative designed to increase access to credit for women-owned businesses. The product offers loans at prime interest rate with a 12-month grace period and credit guarantee scheme to address the documented funding gap, with women having received only about 14% of DBN's total funding to date.

    26 March 2026 · New Era

Ministry of Finance — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute