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Monday, 8 June 2026
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Monday, 8 June 2026
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Namibian press · Organization

Namibia Public Workers Union

Also known as: Napwu

Trade union that negotiates civil service salaries and benefits; signed 5% salary increase agreement with government in 2026.

2024-06-272026-06-08
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What’s been said

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

  1. June 2026

  2. The Namibian

    Namibia Public Workers Union negotiated 5% salary increase with City of Windhoek

    Source

    “The audit report found that employee costs were overstated by N$19.9 million in 2024 because the municipality implemented a 5% salary increase negotiated with the Namibia Public Workers Union, despite ministerial approval being limited to 3%.”

    City ignores Govt salarycap, blows N$20m
  3. March 2026

  4. Informanté

    Namibia Public Workers Union is accused of misrepresenting workers and acting in bad faith during wage negotiations.

    Source

    “Kavihuha also criticised the unions that acted as bargaining agents in the recent wage negotiations, accusing them of misrepresenting workers and acting in bad faith during the process. He said legal action is being considered against the bargaining agents, including the Namibia National Teachers Union (NANTU) and the Namibia Public Workers Union (NAPWU), and that the matter may be referred to the Labour Commissioner in terms of Section 50.”

    Public servants to stage nationwide work pause on 20 March

  5. The Namibian

    Namibia Public Workers Union represented disgruntled employees after internal engagements with management failed

    Source

    “Napwu represented the disgruntled employees after internal engagements with management failed.”

    Otjiwarongo municipality yet to pay N$30 million despite Labour Court order
  6. February 2026

  7. The Namibian

    Namibia Public Workers Union general secretary Petrus Nevonga announced government will pay 100% of medical aid for civil servants effective 1 April

    Source

    “This was announced yesterday by Namibia Public Workers Union general secretary Petrus Nevonga at the signing of the negotiation agreements, alongside Namibia Teachers Union secretary general Loide Shaanika and Cabinet secretary Emilia Mkusa.”

    Govt to cover 100% for medical aid

  8. The Namibian

    Namibia Public Workers Union (Napwu) signed 5% salary adjustment agreement for civil servants 2026/27 and 2027/28

    Source

    “The government, the Namibia Public Workers Union (Napwu), and the Namibia National Teachers' Union (Nantu) have signed a 5% salary adjustment agreement for civil servants over the two financial years 2026/27 and 2027/28.”

    Govt, unions sign civil servants' salary increase

  9. The Namibian

    Namibia Public Workers Union has raised concerns about the impact on staff

    Source

    “The Namibia Public Workers Union has also raised concerns about the impact on staff.”

    Fisheries agency unsupervised for six months
  10. August 2024

  11. The Namibian

    Namibia Public Workers Union requested ACC investigation via general secretary Petrus Nevonga on 28 February

    Source

    “The ACC conducted a probe after a request from Namibia Public Workers Union (Napwu) general secretary Petrus Nevonga on 28 February this year.”

    ACC clears pathology institute executives of criminal intent
Politics

City of Windhoek overspends N$20m on salary increases above approved limits

The News

The City of Windhoek overspent nearly N$20 million on employee salaries in 2024 after implementing a 5% pay increase negotiated with the Namibia Public Workers Union, despite ministerial approval being limited to 3%, the auditor general found. The issue recurred from previous years, with employee costs overstated by N$72.2 million in 2023 and N$24.1 million in 2022.

Why it matters

Windhoek's persistent pattern of overspending N$20m on unapproved salary increases signals recurring governance and budget accountability failures with direct impact on city finances.

4 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 4 June

  1. City of Windhoek overspends N$20m on salary increases above approved limits

    The City of Windhoek overspent nearly N$20 million on employee salaries in 2024 after implementing a 5% pay increase negotiated with the Namibia Public Workers Union, despite ministerial approval being limited to 3%, the auditor general found. The issue recurred from previous years, with employee costs overstated by N$72.2 million in 2023 and N$24.1 million in 2022.

    4 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 4 May

  1. GIPF board members earned N$666,000 in two months in sitting fees

    The Government Institutions Pension Fund paid its board of trustees chairperson Penda Ithindi N$114,000 for attending three meetings in two months, and Napwu general secretary Petrus Nevonga N$92,163 during the same period, according to payroll records reviewed by The Namibian. The payments have revived concerns that clustered board and sub-committee meetings have become a parallel income stream for trustees already drawing civil service or union salaries.

    4 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 15 April

  1. Civil servants face Psemas reforms, reapply by August deadline

    The Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations has ordered civil servants to reapply for Public Service Employees Medical Aid Scheme benefits by end of August following reforms to the scheme's operations. Trade unions have criticized the lack of consultation and warned that reported increases in medical aid contributions could severely impact civil servants' finances.

    15 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 6 April

  1. NBC extends Similo contract three months during Muinjo handover

    The Namibian Broadcasting Corporation's board has appointed veteran journalist Menesia Muinjo as the new director general while extending former director general Stanley Similo's contract for a three-month handover period, though the board clarified that Similo will not be involved in operations. The decision has drawn criticism from the Namibia Public Workers Union, which argues that Muinjo has sufficient institutional knowledge and that paying two directors general simultaneously is unnecessary.

    6 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 12 March

  1. Public servants plan nationwide work pause March 20

    Namibian public servants will stage a nationwide work pause on 20 March to protest a five percent salary increase and a presidential directive requiring them to use public health facilities. Teachers Union of Namibia Secretary General Mahongora Kavihuha said the action aims to highlight economic hardship and deliver petitions to regional governors and State House, while unions involved in wage negotiations face potential legal action.

    12 March 2026 · Informanté →

Tuesday 10 March

  1. Prime Minister inaugurates PSEMAS governance committee for healthcare reform

    Prime Minister Dr Elijah Ngurare has inaugurated a new governance committee for the Public Service Medical Aid Scheme (PSEMAS) to oversee implementation of reforms, including mandatory use of public hospitals by civil servants and alignment with the government's Universal Health Coverage objectives. The committee, drawn from government agencies, trade unions, and regulators, replaces the previous model to improve oversight, accountability, and healthcare sustainability.

    10 March 2026 · Informanté →

Thursday 5 March

  1. Otjiwarongo Municipality defies court order on N$30 million salary debt

    The Otjiwarongo Municipality has failed to implement a 2014 salary directive or comply with a Labour Court order to pay over N$30 million in back pay owed to 20 employees, despite the ruling last year. The dispute arose after management ignored a ministry instruction to adjust C4-band employees' salaries by N$7,475 and instead gave them only N$2,000 in adjustments while promoting D-band staff, prompting workers to take the case to court in 2021.

    5 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 27 February

  1. Government covers full medical aid costs for civil servants

    The government will pay 100% of medical aid for civil servants from 1 April, removing a 5% levy previously charged to service providers, while civil servants and senior officials must use public hospitals. The change follows an agreement between public sector unions and the Cabinet, and includes salary increments of 5% for most grades effective 1 April this year, with a further 5% increase from 2027.

    27 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 26 February

  1. Government, unions agree 5% civil servants salary increase

    The Namibian government, Napwu, and Nantu have signed a salary adjustment agreement granting civil servants a flat N$700 monthly increase for grades 14–15 in 2026/27 and 5% increases for grades 13–1 across both 2026/27 and 2027/28, along with a 7% transport adjustment and removal of the 5% medical aid levy.

    26 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 25 February

  1. Swapo MP Dingara quits Parliament to pursue full-time farming

    Elifas Dingara, a Swapo lawmaker with a 15-year parliamentary career, has announced his resignation from the National Assembly effective end of month to focus on farming in Kavango East. He said his departure aims to allow his successor Christine Haindaka to serve nearly a full term and build institutional knowledge, describing it as deliberate succession planning rather than leaving the next generation to fight for opportunity.

    25 February 2026 · New Era →

  2. City of Windhoek receives disclaimer audit for 2024/2025

    The City of Windhoek has received a disclaimer of opinion from Auditor General Junias Kandjeke due to insufficient audit evidence and inadequate accounting records. The audit identified weaknesses in internal controls, non-compliance with financial regulations including overstated employee costs, and systemic failures in record-keeping and documentation.

    25 February 2026 · New Era →

Wednesday 11 February

  1. Fisheries Observer Agency without board for six months

    The Fisheries Observer Agency has operated without a board since August 2025, limiting management oversight and decision-making authority. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform was notified months in advance but has not appointed a replacement board, hampering the agency's ability to approve budgets, strategic plans, and review landed values.

    11 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Namibia Public Workers Union — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute