Also known as: NaCC · Namibia Competition Commission · the Competition Commission
Namibian Competition Commission — regulatory body that reviews and approves mergers and acquisitions, recently approving the Karibib lithium project sale while its independence has faced ministerial override challenges.
News reports
Order a long-term news report on Namibian Competition Commission
Every mention in the Namibian press over the period you choose, compiled as a PDF or Word document.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
The Namibian
Namibian Competition Commission (NaCC) blocked Whale Rock from buying Ohorongo
“Last year, the Namibian Competition Commission (NaCC) blocked Whale Rock from buying Ohorongo for the same reasons.”
Amutse sued over cement mergerWindhoek Observer
Namibian Competition Commission approved 19 merger transactions, five with conditional approval
“The Namibian Competition Commission (NaCC) has approved 19 merger transactions, with five receiving conditional approval to address competition and public interest concerns.”
NaCC approves 19 mergers, imposes conditions on fiveThe Namibian
Namibian Competition Commission investigator Leena Shikongo preliminarily intends to approve the sale
“NaCC investigator Leena Shikongo said last Thursday that the competition watchdog preliminarily intends to approve the sale.”
Lithium buyer is only one percent NamibianThe Namibian
Namibian Competition Commission signed an agreement with Central Procurement Board of Namibia to increase competition in public tenders
“The Namibian Competition Commission (NACC) and the Central Procurement Board of Namibia (CPBN) have signed an agreement to increase competition in public tenders and bidding processes.”
Watchdog, procurement board sign anti-collusion pactThe Namibian
Namibian Competition Commission received application from ACE and intends to approve purchase of Karibib lithium project in April 2025
“The Namibian Competition Commission (NaCC) said on Thursday that it had received the application from ACE to purchase the project in April this year and intends to approve the purchase.”
Karibib lithium project sold to British companyThe Namibian
Namibian Competition Commission signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Central Procurement Board of Namibia to fight collusion in public procurement
“As the Board and the Commission sign this MoU, we do so with equal respect for each other's independence, our own statutory limits, and the rule of law that underpins everything we do.”
CPBN CEO Highlights Joint Fight Against Collusion in Public ProcurementWindhoek Observer
Namibian Competition Commission is investigating alleged exclusive arrangements between conservancies and private tourism operators
“The investigation by the Namibian Competition Commission into alleged exclusive arrangements between conservancies and private tourism operators raises precisely this concern.”
Conservation cannot become Namibia’s development vetoWindhoek Observer
Namibian Competition Commission is investigating allegations concerning 50 exclusive-dealing arrangements between conservancies and private tourism operators
“The commission recently confirmed that it is investigating allegations concerning 50 exclusive-dealing arrangements between conservancies and private tourism operators.”
‘Conservation must not stifle development’ – MbuendeInformanté
Namibian Competition Commission (NaCC) is conducting an ongoing investigation into exclusive arrangements between conservancies and private tourism operators
“The Namibian Competition Commission (NaCC) has reassured tourism-sector stakeholders and the public that its ongoing investigation into certain exclusive arrangements between conservancies and private tourism operators is not intended to hamper, disrupt or undermine the operations of the tourism sector.”
Competition Commission sheds clarity on tourism sector investigationsInformanté
Namibian Competition Commission is engaged in constructive discussions with the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism to identify amicable response to investigation concerns
“She added that the Commission is engaged in constructive discussions with the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) to identify an amicable and practical response to concerns arising from the investigation.”
Competition Commission sheds clarity on tourism sector investigationsThe Namibian Competition Commission approved the sale of the Karibib lithium project to London-listed African Critical Elements on 6 October. The commission found the transaction unlikely to reduce competition and imposed conditions aimed at workforce localisation, skills development, and increased local participation in the project's value chain.
20 October 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibian Competition Commission approved the sale of the Karibib lithium project to London-listed African Critical Elements on 6 October. The commission found the transaction unlikely to reduce competition and imposed conditions aimed at workforce localisation, skills development, and increased local participation in the project's value chain.
20 October 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibian Competition Commission's independence is undermined by a legal framework that allows the industries minister to override its decisions, as exemplified by the minister's approval of a cement merger that the commission disapproved and the High Court later rejected.
11 October 2026 · The Namibian →
The Construction Industries Federation supports a High Court decision that reversed industries minister Modestus Amutse's approval of a merger between Namibia's two cement companies, arguing that cement is too important to the construction and infrastructure sectors to be treated as a purely commercial transaction. The court found that Amutse had not considered objections against the proposed acquisition of Ohorongo Cement by Whale Rock Cement.
8 October 2026 · The Namibian →
Independent Patriots for Change parliamentarian Ferdinand Hengombe is demanding to know whether industries, mines and energy minister Modestus Amutse will be held liable for costs arising from his decision to overturn the Namibian Competition Commission's rejection of the proposed Cheetah Cement and Ohorongo Cement merger, following a High Court judgment that found Amutse's decision unlawful and invalid.
8 October 2026 · The Namibian →
The High Court overturned the industries minister's approval of a merger between Whale Rock Cement and Ohorongo Cement after the minister admitted an administrative error meant objections from interested parties never reached him. The Namibian Competition Commission had previously prohibited the merger due to concerns about job losses and a monopoly in the cement market.
6 October 2026 · The Namibian →
Justice James Robertson Devittie overturned the minister of industries, mines and energy's June 2026 decision to approve a proposed cement merger, restoring the Namibian Competition Commission's original prohibition of the transaction. The court declared the minister's determination unlawful and invalid following an urgent review application by ITE Products, Pharaoh Cement, and the Construction Industries Federation of Namibia.
6 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The High Court has ordered the attachment of 200 million Trustco Group Holdings shares and 1,135 unlisted Legal Shield Holdings shares linked to US-based Riskowitz Value Fund LP, temporarily preventing the investor from selling or transferring the shares. The interim order was granted on 25 September as the two parties dispute control of the Namibian investment group, with the dispute linked to a N$468 million transaction and RVF's attempts to influence Trustco's board.
3 October 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's High Court granted an interim order on 25 September attaching 200 million Trustco Group Holdings shares held by Riskowitz Value Fund LP, pending a court hearing on 6 November 2026. The order also covers 1,135 unlisted shares in Legal Shield Holdings Limited and directs the Deputy Sheriff to effect the attachment and notify relevant share registers.
2 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Trustco Group Holdings has secured an interim High Court order authorizing the attachment of 200 million Trustco shares and 1,135 Legal Shield Holdings shares held by US-based Riskowitz Value Fund LP, placing them under court control and preventing their sale or transfer. The move follows Riskowitz's earlier unsuccessful attempts to change Trustco's board in February and August 2026.
1 October 2026 · Informanté →
The Namibian Securities Exchange's total market value increased by N$99 billion in August, rising 3.24% to N$3.15 trillion, driven mainly by strong gains in mining and bank shares including Anglo American, B2Gold, and Paladin Energy.
29 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Industries minister Modestus Amutse has defended his June 2026 decision to allow Whale Rock Cement to acquire Schwenk Namibia—which owns the majority of Ohorongo Cement—saying he weighed employment protection against the disadvantages of business closure. A South African customer, iTE Products, has sued him in the High Court, claiming to have submitted objections that the minister said he did not receive, with the case scheduled for 1 October.
24 September 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy announced that TotalEnergies has been selected as the sole supplier of Namibia's bulk petrol and diesel for November 2026 to January 2027. New oil player Nasan Energies, founded in late 2024 and majority-owned by Millennium Group chief executive Miguel Hamutenya, participated in the bidding round, while state-owned Namcor did not.
23 September 2026 · The Namibian →
A South African company, iTe Products, is challenging Minister Amutse's October 1 approval of a merger between Whale Rock Cement and Schwenk Namibia (which owns Ohorongo Cement), arguing that the minister's claim of receiving no objections was false. iTe opposes the deal because it would combine Namibia's two cement companies into a monopoly, a concern the Competition Commission had previously upheld in blocking the merger last July.
21 September 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibian Competition Commission approved 19 merger transactions at a July 28 board meeting, with fourteen receiving unconditional approval and five receiving conditional approval to address competition and public interest concerns in pharmaceutical wholesale, marble and granite, agricultural land, pork production, and investment holding sectors.
21 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Britain-based African Critical Elements (ACE), which applied to buy shares in the Karibib lithium project, is 1% Namibian-owned, though the project itself maintains 20% local ownership through Namibian company Huni Urib.
20 September 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibian Competition Commission and Central Procurement Board have signed an agreement to prevent collusion and ensure competitive public bidding processes. The two institutions will establish a joint working committee and share information on competition violations and procurement complaints.
16 September 2026 · The Namibian →
The Karibib lithium project, which has been dormant since 2022, has been sold by Lepidico Canada to UK-based African Critical Elements Ltd (ACE). The Namibian Competition Commission intends to approve the purchase, with ACE stating plans to finance drilling resumption and exploration activities at the Rubikon and Helikon mines.
15 September 2026 · The Namibian →
The Central Procurement Board of Namibia and the Namibian Competition Commission have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly address collusion, price-fixing, and anti-competitive conduct in public procurement. CPBN CEO Idi Itope said the partnership recognises that procurement integrity requires cooperation beyond procurement law alone.
15 September 2026 · The Namibian →
An opinion piece argues that while conservation is essential, Namibia cannot use environmental protection as a blanket veto against economic development. The debate is not whether to develop, but how, where, and at what cost, particularly as Namibia pursues investments in mining, green hydrogen, renewable energy, and tourism.
10 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
National Planning Commission Director-General Dr Kaire Mbuende has called for a balance between environmental conservation and industrial development, arguing that conservation concerns should not become an absolute barrier to economic activity. Speaking at the African Green Industries Summit in Swakopmund, Mbuende said environmental impact must be seriously assessed but that Namibia should not be forced to choose between development and conservation.
10 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Namibian Competition Commission has reassured tourism stakeholders that its investigation into exclusive arrangements between conservancies and private tourism operators is part of its statutory mandate to enforce competition laws and promote fair market participation, and is committed to supporting the sector's stability and growth. The Commission is in constructive discussions with the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism to identify practical responses to concerns arising from the investigation.
6 September 2026 · Informanté →
The Namibian Competition Commission is investigating alleged anti-competitive practices involving Rani Group and six major FMCG suppliers following complaints from small retailers, who claim they face reserved stock for Rani Group, higher prices, upfront payment requirements, and exclusion from discounts. Small retailers also allege that Rani Group's retail expansion into their areas has forced some businesses to close or be sold.
19 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Namibian Competition Commission has launched an investigation into Rani Group and six major consumer goods companies (Namib Mills, Bokomo Namibia, Coca-Cola Namibia Bottling Company, Distell Namibia, Namibia Breweries and Anheuser-Busch InBev Namibia) after small retailers alleged that suppliers reserve stock for Rani Group, charge them higher prices, demand upfront payments, exclude them from discounts, and that Rani Group opened retail outlets near their shops forcing closures. The companies have 30 days to respond.
18 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibian Competition Commission has raised merger notification thresholds, increasing the combined assets or turnover threshold from N$30 million to N$60 million and the target company threshold from N$15 million to N$30 million, citing economic growth since 2017 and the need to focus on transactions likely to affect competition and public interest.
17 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Oryx Properties Limited has received approval from the Namibian Competition Commission for its proposed acquisition of a large industrial warehouse for N$251.2 million, excluding transaction costs. The company announced that NaCC approved the proposed merger without conditions, though implementation remains subject to fulfilment of remaining conditions precedent.
17 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Namibia Competition Commission has formally initiated an investigation into alleged anti-competitive practices involving tourism concessions and joint ventures, following a complaint lodged in September 2024 about restrictive agreements between conservancies and private operators. The investigation examines concerns including restrictive concession arrangements, unclear geographical boundaries, and joint-venture arrangements that may restrict competition.
17 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Namibia Competition Commission announced plans to raise the mandatory merger notification threshold from N$30 million to N$60 million, citing the need to balance oversight of competition-affecting transactions with administrative burden, and noting that current thresholds have not been revised since 2017.
15 August 2026 · Informanté →
The Namibian Competition Commission conditionally approved Pepkor's acquisition of several Retailability Namibia businesses on condition that the merged entity commit to N$40 million in local procurement from Namibian manufacturers in clothing, footwear and homeware sectors over three years, and establish a Local Supplier and SME Development Programme valued at N$4.2 million over the same period.
14 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Namibian Competition Commission found no evidence of anti-competitive behaviour or collusion among fishing companies in the horse mackerel sector following two separate investigations in 2023 and 2024. Evidence showed that rights holders negotiate varied terms with operating companies, including profit-sharing and fees above government reserve prices.
11 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibian Competition Commission has initiated a formal investigation into fishing vessel owners and operators for allegedly imposing unfair purchase prices when negotiating quota usage fees with fishing rights holders without vessels in the Horse Mackerel sub-sector. The investigation concerns practices around the Governmental Objective Fish Quota Auction introduced by Government in 2020.
11 August 2026 · Informanté →