Namibia Minute.
Monday, 8 June 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Monday, 8 June 2026
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Namibian press · Organization

Namibian Correctional Service

Namibian Correctional Service — government agency managing prisons, operating farms for inmate rehabilitation, and operating at about 30% of required staffing capacity.

2024-08-052026-06-08
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What’s been said

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

  1. April 2026

  2. New Era

    Namibian Correctional Service emerged as key player in national food security strategy with agricultural and livestock products valued at N$22.6 million

    Source

    “The Namibian Correctional Service (NCS) emerged as a key player in the national food security strategy with its diverse range of agricultural and livestock products, which include maize, wheat, lucerne, vegetables, fruits, pork, beef, mutton, goat meat, chicken and eggs valued at N$22.6 million.”

    Green schemes generate N$67.4m … 56% of vegetables locally produced
  3. March 2026

  4. Informanté

    Namibian Correctional Service co-hosted Prison Infrastructure Workshop with International Committee of the Red Cross in June 2025

    Source

    “He said that in June 2025, the NCS co-hosted a Prison Infrastructure Workshop with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and also participated in the International Corrections and Prisons Association (ICPA) Annual Conference.”

    Correctional Service deepens international cooperation

  5. Informanté

    Namibian Correctional Service achieved 82% implementation rate of Annual Plan in 2025/2026 financial year

    Source

    “On operational performance, Hamunyela reported that the NCS recorded an overall Annual Plan implementation rate of 82% in the third quarter of the 2025/2026 financial year, reflecting steady progress in achieving its strategic objectives.”

    Correctional Service deepens international cooperation

  6. Informanté

    Namibian Correctional Service operates farms to drive inmate rehabilitation, impart skills, and reduce operational costs

    Source

    “The NCS operates farms to drive inmate rehabilitation, impart skills, and reduce the operational costs of feeding inmates by boosting food self-sufficiency.”

    Hamunyela inspects NCS maize plantation in Divundu

  7. The Namibian

    Namibian Correctional Service recruited about 400 personnel

    Source

    “the Namibian Defence Force recruited 1 500, and the Namibian Correctional Service recruited about 400.”

    LPM slams Govt for prioritising security jobs

  8. New Era

    Namibian Correctional Service acquired idle 1,000-hectare Katima-Liselo farm in Zambezi region

    Source

    “The NCS has acquired the idle 1 000-hectare Katima-Liselo farm in the Zambezi region to develop a major food-producing facility.”

    NCS Katima goes for food security jugular

  9. The Namibian

    Namibian Correctional Service allocated N$108 million

    Source

    “Other allocations include N$78 million for judges and magistrates, N$259 million for the recruitment of health professionals, N$108 million for the Namibian Correctional Service, and N$58 million to improve remuneration and benefits for public office bearers.”

    What you need to know about Shafudah’s budget

  10. The Namibian

    Namibian Correctional Service is seeking to move the Fishrot accused to communal cells at Windhoek Correctional Facility despite a recent High Court ruling

    Source

    “The Namibian Correctional Service (NCS) is again seeking to move the Fishrot accused to communal cells at the Windhoek Correctional Facility despite a recent High Court ruling.”

    Fishrot accused face move to communal cells

  11. Informanté

    Namibian Correctional Service implemented Offender Risk Management Correctional Strategy in 2008

    Source

    “He said the implementation in 2008 of the Offender Risk Management Correctional Strategy (ORMCS) is a good and successful story at the heart of the Service's transformation.”

    NCS's work is not only about enforcing punitive measures — Hamunyela
  12. February 2026

  13. The Namibian

    Namibian Correctional Service failed to give accused a chance to be heard before relocation decision

    Source

    “Sibeya found that the prison authorities failed to give Fishrot accused James Hatuikulipi, Mike Nghipunya, Otneel Shuudifonya and Pius Mwatelulo a chance to be heard before the decision to move them from the prison's C section to its Echo Unit was made, and also failed to provide them with reasons for the decision.”

    Judge affirms rights of detained Fishrot accused
Society

Prison reform must address reintegration after release

The News

Namibian prisons are crowded and debate focuses on alternative sentencing and keeping petty offenders out, but almost no one addresses reintegration after release. People leaving correctional facilities with severed family, employment, and community ties often return to prison because it is the only institution still willing to accept them.

Why it matters

Prison reform analysis exposing lack of reintegration support reveals systemic failure driving recidivism and undermining public safety outcomes.

7 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Yesterday

  1. Prison reform must address reintegration after release

    Namibian prisons are crowded and debate focuses on alternative sentencing and keeping petty offenders out, but almost no one addresses reintegration after release. People leaving correctional facilities with severed family, employment, and community ties often return to prison because it is the only institution still willing to accept them.

    7 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 1 June

  1. Iipumbu warns border security failures eroding public trust

    Home affairs minister Lucia Iipumbu has warned that inconsistent decision-making, weak discipline and communication failures within the security cluster are eroding public trust in Namibia's frontline services. She made the remarks during a regional ministerial staff meeting in Katima Mulilo, bringing together officials from Immigration, the Namibian Police Force and the Namibian Correctional Service to inspect border posts and ministry projects in the Zambezi region.

    1 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Friday 22 May

  1. MTC Volleyball National League heads to Katima Mulilo for Round 3

    The MTC Volleyball National League moves to Katima Mulilo this weekend for Round 3 matches in both men's and women's divisions. Teams including Blaze Aces, defending champions Revivals, and unbeaten Unam Queens will compete at the Unam Katima Mulilo Campus.

    22 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 20 May

  1. Namibian prison chess team qualifies for intercontinental championship

    The Namibian Correctional Service chess team qualified for the Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners after placing fifth at the Second Continental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners – Africa on 12 May, with eight inmates selected to represent Namibia.

    20 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Sunday 10 May

  1. Windhoek High Court overturns prison study restrictions

    Eighteen sentenced prisoners at Windhoek Correctional Facility won a court order setting aside restrictions on their study activities. Acting judge David Mangota reversed decisions by senior correctional officers to reduce study time from six to two hours daily and to prohibit mixing between prisoners of different security classifications for educational purposes.

    10 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 6 May

  1. Opposition groups criticise political dominance at national commemoration events

    Opposition leaders say Cassinga Day and Workers' Day have become political mobilisation events for Swapo rather than state occasions reflecting national unity, citing concerns about the presence of the Ndilimani Cultural Troupe and the absence of national institutions at these public holidays.

    6 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Tuesday 5 May

  1. Iipumbu warns new officers against inmate abuse amid staff shortage

    Home affairs minister Lucia Iipumbu urged newly graduated correctional officers to treat inmates with dignity and warned against abuse of power at the 32nd Basic Training Graduation Ceremony, where 399 recruits graduated. The Namibian Correctional Service operates at about 30% of its required staff and faces pressure from shortages, ageing facilities, and lack of specialists.

    5 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

  2. 399 graduate from Correctional Service training course

    The 32nd Basic Training Course Graduation Ceremony for Correctional Officers, Intake 1/2025, was held in Omaruru with 399 trainees graduating. Minister of Home Affairs Lucia Iipumbu emphasised the Correctional Service's mandate to provide safe custody, maintain order and security, rehabilitate offenders, and prepare them for reintegration into society while maintaining professional control without cruelty or abuse.

    5 May 2026 · Informanté →

Tuesday 28 April

  1. NCS confident ahead of 2026 MTC netball season

    Defending champions Namibian Correctional Service say preparations for the 2026 MTC Netball Namibia Premier League season are progressing well. The season begins 2–4 May at Khomasdal Stadium in Windhoek, where the country's top 12 clubs will compete.

    28 April 2026 · New Era →

Monday 27 April

  1. Volleyball Round 2 brings intensity and drama to Ondangwa courts

    Round 2 of the MTC Volleyball National League saw Blaze Access edge NDF Phoenix 3–2 in a five-set women's match, while defending champions Revivals bounced back with a 3–1 victory. Unam Queens and NamPol Volleyball Club also secured straight-sets wins, with intensity and team spirit defining the action at Ondangwa Tennis Courts.

    27 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 14 April

  1. Green schemes and local production boost Namibia's food self-sufficiency

    Namibia is making progress toward its 2030 food self-sufficiency target through green schemes and increased local crop production. The country now produces 56% of its vegetables locally worth N$323 million, while agricultural exports reached N$2 billion in 2025/26, with green schemes generating N$67.4 million from maize and wheat harvests.

    14 April 2026 · New Era →

Wednesday 1 April

  1. Curators struggle to recover overseas assets in Fishrot scandal

    Government-appointed curators tasked with seizing assets linked to the Fishrot corruption scandal face legal hurdles and institutional delays in accessing foreign properties owned by suspects, with a February 2025 court order needed to extend seizure powers abroad. The curators report ongoing obstacles including uncooperative banks, missed meetings with defendants, and slow responses from financial institutions, hampering their efforts to catalogue and recover assets valued at over N$317 million.

    1 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 27 March

  1. Correctional Service strengthens global cooperation, reports 82% plan progress

    The Namibian Correctional Service has deepened its international engagement through partnerships with organisations including the International Committee of the Red Cross and the International Corrections and Prisons Association, and achieved an 82% implementation rate of its Annual Plan in the 2025/2026 financial year, according to Commissioner-General Raphael Tuhafeni Hamunyela.

    27 March 2026 · Informanté →

Thursday 26 March

  1. NCS Commissioner inspects Divundu maize farm operations

    The Namibian Correctional Service Commissioner-General has inspected the maize plantation at Divundu Correctional Facility in Kavango East, which cultivates 120.7 hectares. The NCS operates farms to rehabilitate inmates, provide skills training, and reduce feeding costs through food self-sufficiency.

    26 March 2026 · Informanté →

Tuesday 17 March

  1. Accused in Shiweda murder case denied phone access in prison

    Lawyers have raised concerns that the fair trial rights of suspects in the murder case of late Control Prosecutor Justine Shiweda may be prejudiced, as the accused are barred from having access to telephones while incarcerated, hampering their ability to contact legal representatives. The matter was remanded to 8 April 2026 to address the issue of telephonic access and to fix a bail application date.

    17 March 2026 · Informanté →

  2. LPM leader criticises budget's security focus over development

    Landless People's Movement leader Bernadus Swartbooi has criticised the 2026/27 national budget for prioritising security sector recruitment over infrastructure development and agricultural investment, saying the government is hiring for security jobs to meet political demands because there is insufficient money for real job creation. He argued that increasing operational budgets while declining development budgets keeps the country in a cycle of poverty and unemployment, and that rural development through agriculture should be non-negotiable.

    17 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 15 March

  1. Prison service chief inspects irrigation system at Katima Mulilo facility

    The Commissioner-General of the Namibian Correctional Service visited Katima Mulilo Correctional Facility to assess progress on seven centre-pivot irrigation systems being installed on farmland in the Zambezi Region, with completion targeted for end of March or early April. He urged staff at the facility to prioritize teamwork and collaboration for organizational success.

    15 March 2026 · Informanté →

Friday 6 March

  1. Government donates farm equipment and mango trees to correctional service

    The Namibian government has donated agricultural machinery and 200 mango trees to the Namibian Correctional Service in Katima Mulilo to develop a 1,000-hectare farm. The project aims to enhance food security, rehabilitate offenders through agricultural training, and mitigate climate change while reducing dependency on rainwater through irrigation.

    6 March 2026 · New Era →

Thursday 5 March

  1. Finance minister announces N$81.3 billion operational budget for 2026/27

    Finance minister Ericah Shafudah unveiled an operational budget of N$81.3 billion for the 2026/27 financial year, with 61.7% of spending directed to the social sector including education, health, and civil service salary increases. The government projects revenue of N$89.8 billion and targets a budget deficit of 5.5% of GDP, down from current levels as part of its fiscal consolidation strategy.

    5 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 1 March

  1. Prison seeks to move Fishrot accused to communal cells again

    The Namibian Correctional Service is attempting to relocate the four Fishrot-accused inmates from single cells to communal cells at Windhoek Correctional Facility, citing security and operational concerns. The move comes after a High Court judge recently ruled that a similar relocation was unlawful because the accused were not given a fair hearing, and the accused have warned they will return to court if the new notice proceeds.

    1 March 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. NCS focuses on rehabilitation alongside punitive measures

    The Commissioner-General of the Namibian Correctional Service said the Service's work encompasses transformation and rehabilitation, not just punishment. He highlighted the 2008 implementation of the Offender Risk Management Correctional Strategy as evidence-based and central to the NCS's mission.

    1 March 2026 · Informanté →

Wednesday 25 February

  1. Inspector General leads security patrol in Katima Mulilo

    The Inspector General of the Namibian Police led an evening patrol in Katima Mulilo as part of a coordinated security operation aimed at strengthening safety and immigration control in the Zambezi Region. The operation, involving multiple agencies, targeted crime hotspots including licensed bars and focused on compliance with licensing regulations and public order.

    25 February 2026 · Informanté →

Wednesday 18 February

  1. Police reject condoms in cells amid rising rape cases

    Police regional commanders have rejected calls from HIV-AIDS activists to distribute condoms in police holding cells and prisons, where 24 cases of sodomy or rape involving inmates have been recorded since 2023/24, saying such provision would only encourage further offences. Health advocates and civil society organisations counter that condom access is a harm reduction and public health measure, noting that sexual violence occurs in detention facilities and that denying preventive tools does not stop such activity but only increases disease transmission.

    18 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 17 February

  1. High Court sets aside prison relocation of Fishrot accused

    A Windhoek High Court judge has overturned a decision to move four Fishrot defendants from their designated section of Windhoek Correctional Facility, ruling that prison authorities failed to give them a hearing or explain the reasons for the move. The judge affirmed that the accused, who are presumed innocent, have the right to be heard before adverse decisions affecting them are made.

    17 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 13 February

  1. Immigration ministry denies foreign control of visa portal system

    Namibia's immigration ministry dismissed claims that the visa-on-arrival portal is privately operated by an Indian national, stating the system is government property controlled by an in-house team. The ministry confirmed the portal generated over N$413 million in revenue from visas issued between March 2025 and January 2026.

    13 February 2026 · New Era →

Tuesday 3 February

  1. Correctional Service reviews structure to improve efficiency

    The Namibian Correctional Service held a four-day workshop to review its organisational structure, which has been in place since April 2020. The review aims to clarify roles, reduce duplication and bureaucracy, and improve coordination between key functions including security, rehabilitation, and human resources.

    3 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 30 January

  1. Moffat Hapulile becomes first correctional officer with dwarfism

    Moffat Hapulile, 30, has successfully completed three months of training and become one of the first two people with dwarfism accepted into the Namibian Correctional Service as a correctional officer. Despite facing mockery and bullying, Hapulile says he remained focused on his goals and was treated equally throughout the training programme at Omaruru, which he describes as one of his greatest achievements.

    30 January 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 29 January

  1. SDA Church strengthens partnership with Namibian Correctional Service

    The Seventh-day Adventist Church has deepened its partnership with the Namibian Correctional Service to rehabilitate inmates through spiritual guidance, counselling, and religious instruction, with the NCS commissioner noting that faith-based engagement has helped create calmer correctional environments and improved inmate behaviour. The partnership also includes training correctional officers in counselling, behaviour control, and leadership, while emphasising the importance of community support for former offenders to prevent reoffending.

    29 January 2026 · New Era →

Wednesday 28 January

  1. Namibia lacks clear policy for LGBTQ+ individuals in custody

    Namibia's correctional service and police rely on sex-based housing classifications for detainees, with no specific law or publicly available policy addressing how transgender individuals should be accommodated. Human rights activists warn that LGBTQ+ detainees face discrimination and heightened risks of abuse, and call for comprehensive intake assessments, gender-affirming care, staff training, and confidentiality protections.

    28 January 2026 · New Era →

Friday 2 January

  1. Minister opens clinic at Kaoko-Otavi correctional facility

    Home Affairs Minister Lucia Iipumbu inaugurated a clinic at the Kaoko-Otavi Correctional Facility in Kunene Region, which aligns with international standards requiring prisoners to access free healthcare at community standards. The clinic, built at a cost of N$1.78 million and staffed by three nurses, will also serve the surrounding community and help prevent disease outbreaks and security risks related to untreated illness.

    2 January 2026 · Informanté →

Namibian Correctional Service — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute