Namibia Minute.
Friday, 24 April 2026
A daily Namibian brief · Est. 2026
Windhoek—:—London—:—New York—:—Beijing—:—
Organization

Namibia Correctional Service

Also known as: NCS · Namibian Correctional Service Volleyball Club · National Council of Students · Namibian Correctional Services

Namibia's government correctional service operating prisons and managing offenders, overseen by Commissioner-General Raphael Hamunyela.

Politics

Namibia's N$104 billion budget prioritises operations over development spending

The News

Finance Minister Ericah Shafudah tabled a N$104 billion budget for 2026/27 with N$81.3 billion allocated to operations and only N$6.5 billion to development, drawing criticism from economists and opposition figures who warn this allocation will constrain economic growth. The government collected N$89.8 billion in revenue and plans to borrow N$15 billion, while interest payments of N$16.2 billion now exceed the development budget.

1 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 1 March

  1. Namibia's N$104 billion budget prioritises operations over development spending

    Finance Minister Ericah Shafudah tabled a N$104 billion budget for 2026/27 with N$81.3 billion allocated to operations and only N$6.5 billion to development, drawing criticism from economists and opposition figures who warn this allocation will constrain economic growth. The government collected N$89.8 billion in revenue and plans to borrow N$15 billion, while interest payments of N$16.2 billion now exceed the development budget.

    1 March 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. 2026/27 budget allocations announced across major ministries

    Namibia's government has allocated key budgets for the 2026/27 financial year, with education receiving N$28.7 billion, health N$13.1 billion, and safety and security N$8.1 billion, while smaller allocations include N$181 million for the Electoral Commission and N$109 million for the Anti-Corruption Commission.

    1 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 20 February

  1. Prisons worsening crime through overcrowding and violence

    New Era's editorial argues that overcrowded and understaffed Namibian correctional facilities—where 52 crimes were recently confirmed in police holding cells—are functioning as incubators of criminality rather than rehabilitation institutions. The editorial calls for alternative sentencing for minor offences, behavioural programmes, and coordinated intervention from education, social services, and civil society to break the cycle.

    20 February 2026 · New Era →

Thursday 19 February

  1. Windhoek Correctional Facility struggles with severe overcrowding and staff shortages

    The Windhoek Correctional Facility, designed for 174 inmates, is facing critical staff shortages with 682 vacant positions out of 1,121 approved posts, while holding far more prisoners than capacity across multiple units. Police holding cells nationwide also face significant overcrowding, with some facilities holding detainees at four times their intended capacity.

    19 February 2026 · New Era →

  2. Namibia, Angola hold talks on prisoner transfers to Angola

    Namibia and Angola met to verify and facilitate the transfer of over 100 inmates in Namibian prisons who claim Angolan nationality. Under a 2022 bilateral agreement on prisoner transfers, 107 Angolan nationals have applied to serve the remainder of their sentences in Angola, though only 17 possess the required national identification documents.

    19 February 2026 · Informanté →

Monday 16 February

  1. Khomas Athletics Championships attracts 200 athletes across 14 events

    The Khomas Senior Athletics Championships at Independence Stadium drew more than 200 athletes from eight regions competing in track and field events. Tuuliki Angala of the Namibia Correctional Service delivered a standout performance in the 800m, choosing to compete against men to face faster competition.

    16 February 2026 · New Era →

Friday 6 February

  1. NCS conducts four-day organisational structure review workshop

    The Namibia Correctional Service is reviewing its organisational structure to align with departmental strategy and improve efficiency. NCS Commissioner-General Raphael Hamunyela stated the review aims to reduce bureaucracy, strengthen coordination across functions, ensure appropriate staffing capacity, and improve security and service delivery—framing it as continuous improvement rather than a fault-finding exercise.

    6 February 2026 · Informanté →

Tuesday 3 February

  1. Windhoek correctional officer suspended after misconduct caught on CCTV

    A female officer at Windhoek Correctional Facility has been suspended and is under investigation after being seen on CCTV entering a bathroom with a male inmate in violation of facility rules. The Namibia Correctional Service commissioner said the outcome of the investigation will determine whether the officer is dismissed.

    3 February 2026 · New Era →

Friday 23 January

  1. NYC interim chief's N$100,000 salary draws youth leader criticism

    Acting National Youth Council executive chairperson Patience Masua says she does not set her own salary, responding to backlash over her reported N$100,000 monthly remuneration for three months. Youth leaders, including the National Council of Students president and Popular Democratic Movement Youth League spokesperson, have criticized the amount as disproportionate given the council's limited financial support to affiliate organizations.

    23 January 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 16 January

  1. NCS defends recruitment of police chief's daughter

    The Namibian Correctional Services denies nepotism claims in the hiring of Leefa Shikongo's daughter, stating she met all requirements for a hairdresser position after scoring 84% on written and practical assessments, and holds a Health Caregiver certificate.

    16 January 2026 · Informanté →

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