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Thursday, 22 October 2026
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Thursday, 22 October 2026
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Namibian press · Organization

Namibian Competition Commission

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.

2024-05-142026-10-22

News reports

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What’s been said

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  1. May 2026
  2. The Namibian

    Namibian Competition Commission faces criticism over its investigation into conservancy tourism partnerships

    Source

    “The Namibian Competition Commission (NaCC) faces criticism over its investigation into conservancy tourism partnerships, amid calls to probe alleged anti-competitive conduct by Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR).”

    Competition commission faces heat in tourism probe
  3. April 2026
  4. The Namibian

    Namibian Competition Commission has launched investigation against Ultimate Safaris and three conservancies for anti-competition activities

    Source

    “THE Namibian Competition Commission (NaCC) board has launched an investigation against tourism company Ultimate Safaris (Pvt) Ltd and three conservancies in the Khorixas area of the Kunene region for anti-competition activities.”

    Competition commission to investigate Ultimate Safaris
  5. The Namibian

    Namibian Competition Commission must not be found wanting in its threat to investigate fuel retailer chicanery

    Source

    “The relevant authority, the Namibian Competition Commission, must not be found wanting in its threat to investigate.”

    When Turbulence Tests Our Resolve
  6. The Namibian

    Namibian Competition Commission is considering its next course of action after Supreme Court ruling

    Source

    “The Namibian Competition Commission (NaCC) is considering its next course of action after the Supreme Court ruled that its investigation into alleged price-fixing in the pharmaceutical sector was conducted unlawfully.”

    Competition commission reassesses pharmacies price-fixing after court setback
  7. New Era

    Namibian Competition Commission (NaCC) signed an addendum to their Memorandum of Understanding with Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia on Tuesday

    Source

    “The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) and the Namibian Competition Commission (NaCC) inked a new agreement to improve their collaboration in the country's fast-growing information and communication technology (ICT) sector.”

    CRAN, NaCC reinforce cooperation in ICT sector
  8. The Namibian

    Namibian Competition Commission barred Nasan Energies from sourcing fuel from Vitol for five years

    Source

    “The Namibian Competition Commission has barred Nasan Energies from sourcing fuel from Vitol for five years following its acquisition of 52 retail service stations.”

    Nasan Energies appeals fuel sourcing ban after acquiring 52 service stations
  9. March 2026
  10. Informanté

    Namibian Competition Commission cleared Nasan Energies to acquire 52 fuel service stations from Vivo Energy Namibia

    Source

    “NASAN Energies (Pty) Ltd, one of Namibia's first privately owned local oil marketing companies, has received approval from the Namibia Competition Commission (NaCC) to acquire 52 Engen and Shell-branded fuel service stations nationwide from Vivo Energy Namibia, a move that will make it the country's third-largest fuel retailer.”

    NASAN Energies cleared to acquire Vivo Energy fuel stations in landmark deal
  11. New Era

    Namibian Competition Commission organised a public meeting to review the deal between Nasan Energies and Vivo Energy Namibia

    Source

    “The approval follows a public meeting organised by the Namibia Competition Commission, where more than 100 people attended to give their views on the deal.”

    Nasan Energies gets approval to buy 52 fuel stations
  12. The Namibian

    Namibian Competition Commission blocked Whale Rock's intended acquisition of Schwenk Namibia

    Source

    “However, on 17 July 2025, the NaCC refused the intended acquisition/merger, adding that it initially intended to conduct its operations on both the Whale Rock and Ohorongo sites.”

    Cheetah Cement faces closure and 87 retrenchments after NaCC blocks Ohorongo merger attempt
  13. The Namibian

    Namibian Competition Commission approved Nasan's acquisition of 52 service stations from Vivo Energy

    Source

    “Nasan Energies is set to become the third-largest fuel retailer in Namibia after the competition commission approved the acquisition of 52 service stations from Vivo Energy.”

    Nasan Energies to become Namibia’s third-largest fuel retailer after Vivo Energy service station acquisition
Mining & Energy

Namibia approves African Critical Elements lithium project purchase

The News

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 →

Tuesday 20 October

  1. Namibia approves African Critical Elements lithium project purchase

    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 →

Sunday 11 October

  1. Namibia's competition watchdog independence threatened by minister override powers

    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 →

Thursday 8 October

  1. High Court reverses cement merger decision; CIF backs ruling

    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 →

  2. IPC demands accountability for unlawful cement merger decision

    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 →

Tuesday 6 October

  1. High Court blocks cement merger after minister missed objections

    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 →

  2. High Court overturns minister's approval of cement merger

    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 →

Saturday 3 October

  1. High Court freezes 200 million Trustco shares in Riskowitz dispute

    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 →

Friday 2 October

  1. High Court attaches Riskowitz-held Trustco shares pending November hearing

    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 →

Thursday 1 October

  1. Trustco obtains court order blocking Riskowitz share transfers

    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 →

Tuesday 29 September

  1. NSX market value rises N$99bn in August on mining gains

    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 →

Thursday 24 September

  1. Minister defends cement merger approval amid High Court lawsuit

    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 →

Wednesday 23 September

  1. TotalEnergies selected as sole bulk fuel supplier for Q4 2026

    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 →

Monday 21 September

  1. South African firm sues Amutse over Ohorongo Cement merger approval

    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 →

  2. NaCC approves 19 mergers, conditions on five

    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 →

Sunday 20 September

  1. Lithium buyer is only one percent Namibian-owned

    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 →

Wednesday 16 September

  1. Namibian competition watchdog and procurement board join forces

    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 →

Tuesday 15 September

  1. Karibib lithium project sold to UK-based African Critical Elements

    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 →

  2. CPBN and Competition Commission sign memorandum to combat procurement collusion

    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 →

Thursday 10 September

  1. Conservation must not veto Namibia's economic development

    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 →

  2. Conservation and development can coexist, says Mbuende

    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 →

Sunday 6 September

  1. NaCC clarifies tourism investigation won't disrupt sector

    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 →

Wednesday 19 August

  1. NaCC investigates Rani Group and suppliers for alleged anti-competitive conduct

    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 →

Tuesday 18 August

  1. NaCC investigates Rani Group and six companies for anti-competitive behaviour

    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 →

Monday 17 August

  1. Namibian Competition Commission raises merger notification thresholds

    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 →

  2. NaCC approves Oryx Properties' N$251.2m warehouse acquisition

    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 →

  3. NaCC launches investigation into tourism concessions and joint ventures

    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 →

Saturday 15 August

  1. Namibia Competition Commission proposes doubling merger notification threshold

    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 →

Friday 14 August

  1. Pepkor ordered to spend N$40 million on Namibian suppliers

    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 →

Tuesday 11 August

  1. Competition Commission clears horse mackerel operators of price-fixing

    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 →

  2. Competition Commission investigates unfair pricing in fishing sector

    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 →

Namibian Competition Commission — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute