Also known as: the Ministry of Works and Transport
Government ministry overseeing roads, transport infrastructure, and public transport regulation in Namibia, currently expanding EV charging networks and dual carriageways while managing road safety.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
April 2026
New Era
Ministry of Works and Transportwill deployfloating bridges guided by regional needs assessments.
Source
“Meanwhile, Sikume said the deployment of floating bridges by the Ministry of Works and Transport will be guided by regional needs assessments, with priority given to areas hardest hit by flooding and where access to schools, clinics and other critical services has been cut off.”
Ministry of Works and Transportcompleted designs forthe first 28 community sports facility sites
Source
“Designs for the first 28 sites have already been completed by the Ministry of Works and Transport, alongside the preparation of the terms of reference.”
Ministry of Works and Transporthas bought24,640 plastic 'double cubes' for N$24 million to mitigate flood impacts
Source
“The Ministry of Works and Transport has bought 24 640 plastic 'double cubes', that can be converted into floating bridges, at a cost of N$24 million to mitigate the impact of floods in some of the country's regions.”
Ministry of Works and Transporthas initiated the rollout offloating bridges in flood-prone areas
Source
“At the national level, the Ministry of Works and Transport has initiated the rollout of floating bridges in flood-prone areas across the three regions.”
Ministry of Works and Transporthas launcheda procurement initiative to expand manufacturing capacity by prioritising local goods
Source
“The Ministry of Works and Transport has launched a procurement initiative aimed at expanding Namibia's manufacturing capacity by prioritising locally produced goods through government stores.”
Ministry of Works and TransportgaveYango, InDrive, and Lefa operators a 30 September deadline for compliance
Source
“The Ministry of Works and Transport gave Yango, InDrive, and Lefa operators among others a deadline of 30 September in July last year to ensure they comply with regulations, but reportedly few took this to heart.”
Ministry of Works and Transportshowthat the national road network has grown from about 41 800km at independence to nearly 49 000km today.
Source
“Data from the Roads Authority and the Ministry of Works and Transport show that the national road network has grown from about 41 800km at independence to nearly 49 000km today.”
Ministry of Works and Transportrequirespublic passenger permit and vehicle tests for public passenger transport
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“In public passenger transport, the law requires that a person must have certain documents issued by the Ministry of Works and Transport, including a public passenger permit, and that the vehicle meets specific tests and fees.”
Ministry of Works and Transporttrained through TIIP94 candidates in transport infrastructure improvement
Source
“Namibia has trained young professionals, including 94 candidates through the TransportInfrastructure Improvement Project (TIIP) under the Ministry of Works and Transport, yet many remain underutilised.”
The Ministry of Works and Transport has launched a computerised learner licence testing system and online booking platform at the Okahandja Natis centre. The system will be rolled out gradually across the country, with all Natis centres expected to operate it by March 2027.
Why it matters
Computerised learner licence testing system launched in Okahandja improves transport administration efficiency with national rollout planned by March 2027.
The Ministry of Works and Transport has launched a computerised learner licence testing system and online booking platform at the Okahandja Natis centre. The system will be rolled out gradually across the country, with all Natis centres expected to operate it by March 2027.
A vehicle collision was reported on newly installed speed humps along the B1 Western Bypass in Windhoek on Sunday evening, shortly after the traffic-calming measures became operational. The incident has fueled ongoing debate over the effectiveness and safety of the speed humps, which authorities say are necessary to curb speeding and address pedestrian-related crashes.
The Ministry of Works and Transport launched a pilot electric vehicle charging station at its headquarters in Windhoek, with Works and Transport Minister Veikko Nekundi describing it as a strategic pilot project intended to inform the expansion of an EV charging network across the country. The ministry, which manages government-owned infrastructure, plans to eventually serve both government fleet vehicles and the public.
The Ministry of Works and Transport has installed an electric vehicle charging station at its Windhoek headquarters as a pilot project to assess the feasibility of a nationwide charging network. The facility, designed by ministry engineers, will serve as a case study to guide future EV charging infrastructure deployment across the country, initially targeting government-owned vehicles and government employees before expanding to the public.
The Ministry of Works and Transport plans to construct dual-carriageway freeways across Namibia to reduce road accidents and improve transport efficiency. The government will start construction of the Usakos-Arandis dual-carriageway this year, prioritising key roads with heavy traffic volumes and accident records including Windhoek-Okahandja, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay.
An Otavi Constituency councillor has tabled a motion in the National Council urging the government to declare road crash fatalities a national emergency. Between January and April 2026, the MVA Fund recorded 921 crashes, 1,467 injuries and 143 deaths, with recent fatal collisions killing eight and ten people respectively.
Taxi drivers in smaller towns like Katima Mulilo say the new N$15 nationwide fare increase, which took effect yesterday, offers little benefit to them as commuters refuse to pay full fares and negotiate lower prices. Drivers in smaller towns report being forced to accept below-approved payments to avoid conflict with passengers.
The Ministry of Works and Transport plans to cancel a lease agreement with businessman Erastus Shapumba for a building the government rents for N$1.1 million per month but does not occupy. Shapumba says he did not draft the lease agreement, which was signed in December 2023 for a three-year term, and argues his rental rate of N$99 per square metre is cheaper than other private buildings.
National Council members raised concerns that deteriorating road infrastructure contributes to vehicle damage, rising transport costs, and road accidents, with specific complaints about poor conditions in Kavango East, Kavango West, and the Maltahöhe-Walvis Bay route. The Ministry of Works and Transport's budget was N$2.74 billion for the current financial year.
Ride-hailing company Yango Namibia has submitted about 1,500 permit applications and spent N$1.3 million on temporary operating permit fees while navigating administrative delays. The Ministry of Works and Transport has threatened action if Yango and its drivers do not comply with regulations.
The Ministry of Education has sought legal advice to cancel a lease agreement for an unoccupied Independence Avenue building that has cost the state N$1.1 million monthly since 2024. The building, leased from northern businessman Erastus 'Chicco' Shapumba since December 2023, was found unsuitable for office use and remains empty.
The Ministry of Works and Transport has approved a 15% increase in taxi and bus fares, raising taxi fares from N$13.00 to N$15.00 effective 18 May 2026, in response to rising fuel prices and operational costs cited by transport operators.
Public transport fares will increase by 15% nationwide from 18 May 2026, raising the minimum taxi fare from N$13 to N$15, following approval by the Ministry of Works and Transport. The increase cites rising fuel prices and geopolitical tensions, and comes after the Namibia Public Passenger Transport Association requested a 30% increase.
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.
Ohangwena region aims to install desalination plants at least 10 boreholes to treat saline water that has made many government-drilled boreholes unusable. Governor Kadiva Hamutumwa said a contractor was appointed in April by NamPower, with implementation expected within four months, as part of broader interventions to improve water security across the region.
The Minister of Works and Transport and Ohangwena Region Governor officially opened the 23 km district road D4119 from Omulonu to Oshuuli on 24 April 2026, funded through Namibian-German Development Cooperation at a contract value of N$53 million. The all-year-round road connects two schools, a heritage centre, and more than 2,000 people in a previously sandy-track area.
The Roads Authority has expressed concern over a surge in fatal road accidents during the long weekend that includes Workers' Day and Cassinga Day, extending condolences to families of victims and urging motorists to exercise caution and adhere to traffic regulations.
The Roads Authority says multiple fatalities and injuries were recorded during the long weekend covering Workers' Day and Cassinga Day, and has urged motorists to drive responsibly, obey traffic rules, avoid speeding and drunk driving.
Namibia, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo have jointly launched a user-pays principle levy of 90 cents per tonne on all cross-border cargo along the Walvis Bay-Ndola-Lubumbashi corridor, effective 1 April. The levy is intended to address infrastructure gaps, border inefficiencies and procedural bottlenecks while funding sustainable maintenance and operations.
The Namibia Industrial Development Agency is fighting a government directive to transfer 154 properties worth about N$3 billion to a new Public Asset Management Agency, warning that the assets are central to its funding and operations. The transfer, allegedly mandated by Cabinet as part of state asset restructuring, has raised fears about job losses and the agency's existence.
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.
Minister of Works and Transport Veikko Nekundi says the government lacks funds to build permanent bridges in flood-prone regions including Zambezi, Oshana, Oshikoto, Ohangwena and Omusati, and is instead deploying floating bridges as a temporary solution. The ministry has purchased 24,640 double floating cubes totalling N$24 million, with bridges already installed or under construction at Kalimbeza and Masikili villages to restore access to schools and essential services during seasonal flooding.
Yango says drivers face income loss due to prolonged permit approval delays from the Roads Authority, with some waiting up to 12 months despite submitting required documentation and fees. The company calls on the Ministry of Works and Transport to streamline the process and allow compliant drivers to work while applications are processed.
The government has installed floating bridges in Kalimbeza and Masikili in Zambezi region to help flood-affected communities safely access schools and clinics. The Ministry of Works and Transport procured 24,640 double floating cubes at a cost of N$24 million to provide rapid access to areas that become isolated during seasonal flooding, with more installations planned for other affected areas.
Main contractor Otesa Civil Engineering denies accusations from 15 SME subcontractors that they were excluded from the Opuwo-Otjivize road upgrade project; Otesa and the Roads Authority confirm SMEs were invited to a briefing and groundbreaking ceremony in November 2025 and maintain that their partnership is contractually secured, though actual construction has not begun pending budget resolution.
The Zambezi region experienced an unusually calm Easter weekend with few serious incidents reported, according to Commissioner Andreas Shilelo. Although flooding continues in parts of the region with displaced learners still being accommodated at temporary compounds, police have not recorded any deaths or major flood-related incidents, though the commissioner flagged deteriorating road conditions around Kongola as a safety concern.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah announced that the feasibility study for upgrading Windhoek's Independence Stadium has been approved following consultations with the Confederation of African Football, with Namibia now awaiting a detailed report outlining the next steps to bring it to international standards. The government has also identified 121 community sports facility sites nationwide and decentralised construction responsibility to regional governors.
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.
Three flood-affected schools in Kabbe North and Kabbe South have relocated approximately 528 learners to higher ground in Luhonono and Lusese, with classes resuming on Tuesday. The Ministry of Works and Transport assisted with the relocation using larger and smaller boats, and learners will be accommodated in hostels, community facilities, and temporary classroom tents while the region deploys floating bridges to restore access to isolated communities.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah announced that the feasibility study for upgrading Windhoek's Independence Stadium has been approved following consultations with Confederation of African Football inspectors, with Namibia awaiting a detailed CAF report on next steps to meet international standards. The government has also identified 121 community sports facility sites nationwide, with designs completed for 28 sites and construction already underway in several regions.