Also known as: the Constitution · Article 18 of the Namibian Constitution
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
The Namibian
The Namibian Constitution states that equality is good
The Namibian
Namibian Constitution prohibits torture or cruel, degrading treatment of pupils and teachers
“Article 8 of the Namibian Constitution is clear: No pupil or teacher may be subjected to torture or cruel, degrading treatment.”
Discipline in Schools: What Really Works?The Namibian
Namibian Constitution clearly states that the state must promote welfare of the people by ensuring consistent supply of safe drinking water
“The Namibian Constitution clearly states that the state must promote the welfare of the people by ensuring a "consistent supply of safe drinking water".”
Water Scarcity in Omusati, a Crisis That Cannot Be IgnoredThe Namibian
the Namibian Constitution is the supreme law members take an oath to uphold
“All the elected members who meet the requirements take an oath to uphold and defend as the supreme law the Namibian Constitution.”
Amupanda Breathes Fire into ParliamentThe Namibian
Namibian Constitution does not explicitly state that non-voting members of parliament must be Namibian citizens
“Apparently, because the Namibian Constitution doesn't explicitly say that non-voting members of parliament must be Namibian citizens, we should all assume it's perfectly fine for foreigners to be appointed.”
Goats, Loophole Lawyers and Legal Gymnastics: Namibia’s Latest DebateThe Namibian
Namibian Constitution is the supreme and paramount law of the land
“The Namibian Constitution is the supreme and paramount law of the land.”
The Constitution Trumps Swapo’s Marriage Policy!President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has commissioned Christine //Hoëbes as Namibia's new High Commissioner to Malaysia. The appointment directs //Hoëbes to strengthen economic ties, promote trade, and advance Namibia's development agenda, particularly in renewable energy, oil and gas services, and digital transformation.
14 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has commissioned Christine //Hoëbes as Namibia's new High Commissioner to Malaysia. The appointment directs //Hoëbes to strengthen economic ties, promote trade, and advance Namibia's development agenda, particularly in renewable energy, oil and gas services, and digital transformation.
14 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The High Court overturned the Keetmanshoop Municipal Council's removal of two LPM management committee members through no-confidence votes, ruling that council meetings convened on 7 May and 4 June breached the Local Authorities Act, standing rules, and the Constitution. The court reinstated Easter Isaack and Annelize Knaus and declared all resolutions from those meetings null and void.
8 July 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Education has urged Namibians to avoid enrolling in unregistered or unaccredited higher education institutions, warning that their qualifications are not recognised for employment or further studies. The ministry stressed that all institutions must be registered with the National Council for Higher Education or the Namibia Training Authority, and all programmes must be accredited by the Namibia Qualifications Authority.
2 July 2026 · New Era →
The International Labour Organization adopted a landmark Convention on Decent Work in the Platform Economy at its 114th conference in Geneva, establishing the first binding international treaty to protect digital platform workers with fair wages and social protection. Namibia coordinated the unified African position on behalf of half of Africa's nations and signed a Host Country Agreement to host the 15th African Regional Meeting of the ILO in Windhoek in December 2026.
16 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The recent Conference of the Left in South Africa represents a symptom of a deeper structural transition across Southern Africa, where the historical legitimacy of liberation movements is weakening while no new political paradigm has emerged with sufficient credibility to replace it, leaving a vacuum of authority that breeds chaos, inequality, and extreme political shifts.
10 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Legal practitioner Sisa Namandje contends that 37 years after independence, black Namibians remain unable to pursue the happiness promised in the Constitution's preamble, accusing both legislature and executive of insufficient action on racial economic imbalances and policies favouring those disadvantaged under apartheid.
5 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has appointed Shali Shindume as her Economic Advisor, effective 1 June 2026, under the Special Advisors and Regional Governors Appointment Act.
1 June 2026 · Informanté →
The Electoral Commission of Namibia has begun a nationwide stakeholder consultation process to review the Electoral Act ahead of the 2029 and 2030 elections, incorporating lessons from the 2024 and 2025 electoral cycles. The ECN is reviving an Electoral Amendment Bill drafted after previous stakeholder engagements to undertake legislative reforms outlined in the Electoral Act of 2014.
15 May 2026 · Informanté →
The Presidency has acknowledged growing concern over sensitive presidential decisions and internal discussions appearing online ahead of formal announcements, with Presidential spokesperson Jonas Mbambo attributing the trend to challenges of managing information in a fast-moving democratic society and saying the Presidency remains committed to using proper, authorised channels.
7 May 2026 · New Era →
Lawyer Florian Beukes argued in High Court that his client Bernard Esau, 69, has experienced oppressive pre-trial incarceration after seven years in custody since his arrest in November 2019, citing exhausted defence funds and violation of constitutional rights to a speedy trial. Esau and nine co-accused, including former Justice Minister Sacky Shanghala, face 42 counts including corruption and racketeering over allegedly receiving N$300 million in payments to favour the Icelandic fishing company Samherji.
24 April 2026 · Informanté →
An opinion by Tuhafeni Hailonga argues that voluntary DNA testing of newborns should be available to establish legal parentage and protect children's right to identity, countering privacy concerns by emphasizing the asymmetry between maternity and paternity certainty and the constitutional balance needed between parents' and children's rights.
17 April 2026 · The Namibian →
An analysis of lifestyle audits—investigative tools that compare public officials' known income with observable wealth to detect illicit enrichment—argues they can deter corruption but risk infringing on privacy rights and reversing the burden of proof under the Namibian Constitution. The authors contend that for lifestyle audits to be constitutionally compliant, they require clear legal frameworks with defined triggers, judicial oversight, procedural safeguards, and confidentiality protections.
17 April 2026 · New Era →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah announced the appointment of Charles Mubita as minister in the presidency, eight deputy ministers across various portfolios, and an adviser to the minister of defence and veterans affairs, with the aim of strengthening governance and coordination.
7 April 2026 · The Namibian →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has appointed Charles Mubita as Minister in the Presidency and Moses //Khumub as Deputy Minister in the Office of the Vice President, along with seven deputy ministers and an advisor to the Defence and Veterans Affairs Minister. The President said the appointments are intended to strengthen the Executive arm and improve institutional coordination and service delivery.
3 April 2026 · Informanté →
The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development launched its 2025–2030 strategic plan, anchored on sustainable human settlement, effective governance, and regional development. Minister James Sankwasa urged officials to adopt long-term thinking to support Namibia's industrialisation and align with Vision 2030, warning against short-sighted approaches.
26 March 2026 · New Era →
Ex-agriculture minister Mac-Albert Hengari has formally demanded N$10 million in damages from government, claiming his April 2025 arrest was unlawful, carried out without a warrant, and in violation of constitutional rights. His lawyers allege he was detained for over three months without proper grounds and later prosecuted without sufficient legal basis, causing reputational and financial harm; authorities have 30 days to settle before legal proceedings commence.
24 March 2026 · New Era →
Vice President Lucia Witbooi delivered a tribute at the graveside of Reverend Willem Konjore in ǂGabes on the eve of Namibia's 36th independence anniversary, highlighting his role as a founding father, liberation struggle participant, and senior government minister who died in June 2021.
24 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Since independence in 1990, Namibia's Parliament has evolved into a democratically elected body and now has its first female speaker, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, elected in March 2025. However, political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah notes that despite its progressive constitutional framework, Parliament has struggled with weak oversight of the executive due to single-party dominance and the executive being drawn directly from Parliament, resulting in limited depth in legislative debate.
20 March 2026 · New Era →
National Council chairperson Lukas Sinimbo Muha addressed members of the 7th National Council at an induction seminar in Swakopmund, urging them to strengthen their role in promoting inclusive development and participatory democracy as a constitutional imperative. He stressed that parliament must listen to citizens' voices and hold the executive accountable, while the NC serves as a bridge between regional and central government interests.
18 March 2026 · New Era →
The Namibian Defence Force says its proposal to reclassify the FYM 401 airspace in Erongo as restricted follows international aviation standards and is under review by the National Airspace Committee. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association has objected, warning the change could disrupt flight routes and harm sectors including tourism, mining, and rural services that depend on aviation.
12 March 2026 · New Era →
Andrea Ferris appeared in Windhoek Magistrate's Court on Tuesday charged with the murder of Abre Maasdorp and attempted murder of her ex-husband Granville Maasdorp following a domestic altercation at Elisenheim. The court remanded her in custody and postponed the matter to 4 June while she applies for legal aid.
11 March 2026 · The Namibian →
An opinion piece argues that the proposed Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Amendment Bill, which would move upstream oil governance from the Ministry of Mines and Energy to the Office of the President, poses constitutional and accountability risks by concentrating discretion outside parliamentary scrutiny and historical safeguards. The author proposes instead creating an independent, specialised upstream regulator outside the Presidency, strengthening conflict-of-interest rules, operationalising dormant accountability laws, and equipping Parliament with resources to oversee the sector.
27 February 2026 · New Era →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is proposing to shift upstream oil licensing powers from the minister to the presidency, a move she argues is justified given her removal of a minister over corruption. However, according to an opinion piece by professor Roman Grynberg, the proposed legislation lacks transparency provisions and parliamentary oversight, and extends civil immunity to presidential appointees in ways that could facilitate future corruption similar to the Fishrot scandal.
22 February 2026 · The Namibian →
PDM parliamentarian Inna Hengari has questioned the disbursement of N$1.26 million in legal fees related to suspended Katima Mulilo Town Council chief executive Raphael Liswaniso, arguing that such costly legal entanglements deplete public resources and delay essential development.
19 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Industries Minister Modestus Amutse denied allegations that petroleum licence decisions are made from the Office of the President, stating that all such decisions are the responsibility of the Mines Minister and processed through the Ministry's Upstream Unit and Commissioner of Petroleum. The new Petroleum Bill 2025 will transfer this authority to a new Upstream Petroleum Unit Regulatory Authority within the Office of the President.
18 February 2026 · Informanté →
The Ombudsman has released a damning report concluding that the Namibia Revenue Agency's recruitment process violated the Constitution through maladministration, lack of transparency, and apparent discrimination based on race and ethnicity, including the use of "tribal groupings" in shortlisting candidates. The report calls for urgent reforms including stricter adherence to merit-based criteria, independent oversight, and regular audits of hiring practices.
13 February 2026 · New Era →
As Namibia marked Constitution Day on 9 February, leaders praised the Constitution as a progressive democratic foundation, but legal scholar Shepherd Nyambe warned that rising violence, poverty and inequality threaten its ideals and called for moral renewal alongside economic justice and constitutional education.
11 February 2026 · New Era →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah addressed the Supreme Court on the opening of the 2026 legal year, emphasising the constitutional independence of the judiciary, its role in democratic governance, and the need to address challenges including case backlogs, judicial security concerns, and rising crime affecting the tourism sector.
11 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's Constitution, enacted in 1990 and globally recognized as one of the best, is celebrated annually on 9 February. Legal professionals interviewed by New Era praised its role in protecting democratic rights and the rule of law, but also highlighted significant challenges: weak operation of lower courts, inadequate security for prosecutors and judicial staff, and a failure to address poverty and inequality affecting much of the population.
10 February 2026 · New Era →
Namibia's Ministry of Environment and Tourism faces a N$165 million funding gap that threatens conservation efforts across 21 protected areas, with immediate shortfalls of N$45 million for anti-poaching equipment and N$120 million for park infrastructure upgrades. A parliamentary committee has recommended increased tourism concession fees, biodiversity offset mechanisms, and private sector partnerships to close the gap.
7 February 2026 · The Namibian →