Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
January 2026
New Era
Namibian Policerecordedat least seven suicide-related deaths between 31 December 2025 and 4 January 2026
Source
“According to the Namibian Police's weekend crime and incident report, the deaths were reported in regions including Oshikoto, Khomas and Erongo, involving men and women aged between 25 and 60.”
Namibian Policehave reiterated their call fortraditional leaders and community members to inform and involve law enforcement in community courts and disputes
Source
“Meanwhile, the Namibian Police have reiterated their call for traditional leaders and community members to inform and involve law enforcement when dealing with community courts, disputes, or any public gathering.”
Namibian Policeare on the hunt fora suspect who allegedly murdered a woman with an axe
Source
“THE Namibian Police are on the hunt for a known suspect who allegedly murdered a 42-year-old woman by hacking her with an axe to death and subsequently leaving the murder weapon lodged in the victim's head.”
The Namibian Policeissued persistent warnings againstreckless use of aerial fireworks and unauthorised discharge of firearms during celebrations
Source
“THE Namibian Police's persistent warnings against the reckless use of aerial fireworks and the unauthorised discharge of firearms during celebrations have clearly fallen on deaf ears.”
Namibian Police in the Khomas Regionappealed to the publicfor assistance in locating a 33-year-old woman wanted in connection with a theft-from-employer case
Source
“THE Namibian Police in the Khomas Region have appealed to the public for assistance in locating a 33-year-old woman wanted in connection with a theft-from-employer case after efforts to trace her have so far been unsuccessful.”
Namibian Police are appealing for help finding Leonard Itete Keib, 43, who went missing from Mondesa on Saturday 19 July. He was last seen at Swakopmund State Hospital at around 18h00 wearing a black jacket with red stripes and black track pants with white stripes.
Namibian Police are appealing for help finding Leonard Itete Keib, 43, who went missing from Mondesa on Saturday 19 July. He was last seen at Swakopmund State Hospital at around 18h00 wearing a black jacket with red stripes and black track pants with white stripes.
Namibian traders and visitors at the Angola-Namibia border are organizing a peaceful demonstration to lodge complaints of alleged mistreatment by Angolan police officers, particularly at Santa Clara opposite Oshikango. Residents report confiscation of goods, unauthorized fines without receipts, and vehicle impounding despite following border-crossing rules.
The City of Windhoek has acknowledged that dedicated municipal security services have not yet been deployed at Groot Aub Cemetery following the vandalism of Joseph Willem Modise's grave. The cemetery remains in a transitional phase after its incorporation into the City and has not yet been fully integrated into formal cemetery operations.
The Namibian Police in the Hardap Region destroyed drugs worth N$462,510 confiscated from various parts of the region in cases finalised between January and December 2025. The contraband included 600 Mandrax tablets, 2.670 kg of cannabis skunk, 11.971 kg of pure cannabis, and 400 units of crack cocaine, mostly originating from Rehoboth, Mariental and Kalkrand.
Acting prosecutor general Martha Imalwa has obtained a Prevention of Organised Crime Act property restraint order in respect of fugitive lawyer Marén de Klerk's assets valued at up to N$75.3 million, as well as assets valued at up to N$2.3 million in respect of the close corporation Moyo Estates. De Klerk, who left Namibia in January 2020 and is believed to be living in South Africa, is wanted in connection with the Fishrot fraud case involving alleged illegal allocation of Namibian fishing quotas.
A 22-year-old man died from multiple stab wounds after being attacked with an okapi knife at Desi village in Tondoro Constituency, Kavango West Region, early Friday. A 21-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incident; the motive is unknown.
An 18-month-old toddler was run over by a reversing vehicle at Onamukulo village on Saturday, while a 37-year-old man died in a head-on collision between Tsumeb and Otavi on Friday, and two others died in a separate head-on crash on the Otavi-Otjiwarongo road. The incidents occurred across the Oshikoto and Otjozondjupa regions.
Namibian Police reported five robbery cases between 17 and 19 July, including a gunpoint robbery at Mountain Peak Lodge near Outjo where a couple was tied up, robberies of pedestrians in Ondangwa and Oshakati, and other incidents targeting residents, businesses and tourists. No arrests or recoveries have been made and investigations are continuing.
With youth unemployment around 38%, criminal syndicates are exploiting young people's desperation by offering quick cash through illegal activities like cellphone theft and drug dealing. The article argues that social media celebration of criminal acts, absent male role models, and erosion of Namibia's social fabric are worsening the trend of youth turning to crime.
Four witnesses have filed statements in the High Court contradicting the Namibian Police's version of events surrounding the arrest of former Spitzkoppe tour guide Melvin //Areseb, who is suing the police and three officers for N$2.8 million over an alleged assault while in custody. Police officers deny assaulting //Areseb or witnessing any assault, claiming only reasonable force was used after he became aggressive following questioning about a reported domestic violence incident.
Four witnesses have filed statements in the High Court contradicting the Namibian Police's version of events in a N$2.8 million assault lawsuit filed by former Spitzkoppe tour guide Melvin //Areseb against the police and three officers over an alleged assault during his arrest on 22 August 2025. Police officers deny assaulting //Areseb or witnessing assault by colleagues, while the officers claim only reasonable force was used after the plaintiff became aggressive during questioning about a domestic violence incident.
Namibian Marshall Rangers Emergency Rescue Services have appealed to President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to intervene in concluding a search and recovery operation for a 15-year-old boy, Erwin Bezuidenhoudt, who drowned in the Atlantic Ocean in Swakopmund on July 2, 2026. The recovery effort has been hampered by legal and technical obstacles involving private entities, despite multi-agency collaboration including the Police, Navy, and Municipality.
The Namibian Police discovered human remains at a riverbank about 200 metres east of the Matshitshi gravel road in Otjomuise, Windhoek, this weekend, along with a black Johnson T-shirt, yellow tracksuit trousers, and Havaianas sandals. Police are asking the public to help identify the items or provide information by contacting the Forensic Science Institute.
The Namibian Police are appealing for public assistance in identifying human remains discovered in bushes near Matshitshi Road in Otjomuise on Saturday 11 July, found alongside a black Johnson T-shirt, yellow tracksuit trousers and Havaianas sandals.
A 57-year-old Swakopmund resident lost more than N$523,000 after an unidentified caller posing as a bank official instructed him to open his mobile banking application, during which funds were transferred without his consent. Police investigations into the alleged fraud and money laundering case are ongoing, with no arrests made and no stolen funds recovered.
Omuthiya constituency regional councillor Erastus Nekomba has warned against the neglect and exploitation of elderly people after household visits uncovered pensioners living in dire conditions, including an 80-year-old woman whose family members are alleged to be misusing her pension grant.
The Namibian Police dismissed allegations that a fuel shortage disrupted operations in Khomas, saying only Wanaheda and Windhoek police stations ran out of petrol while diesel remained available and both stations have now been refuelled. Regional commander Johanna Ngondo said each station has an allocated fuel quota and that pending requests to headquarters should not be used as an excuse to avoid attending to cases.
Road fatalities in Namibia declined about 3% between 2020 and 2024, partly due to intensified alcohol and drug screening programmes, but road crashes and injuries increased by 11% and 7% respectively over the same period. The Road Fund Administration reports a N$2.3 billion funding gap for road maintenance, with deteriorating infrastructure and growing traffic volumes threatening to undermine road safety gains.
The Namibian police recorded the seizure of more than 279kg of illicit drugs and arrested 165 suspects during anti-drug operations across the country in June, including 162 Namibian nationals, one Chinese national and two Congolese nationals.
The Zambezi region faces severe police shortage with 712 officers serving about 142,000 residents, giving a ratio of one officer per 201 residents against an ideal ratio of one per 50, according to governor Dorothy Kabula-Simushi. Despite the shortfall, reported crime cases decreased from 4,095 in 2024 to 3,526 in 2025.
The State has applied for parts of the terrorism trial of Jona Hangula to be heard behind closed doors, citing security concerns. The prosecution is seeking to allow an FBI special agent to testify under an alias, in disguise, and with limited courtroom access.
An 86-year-old woman was sexually assaulted in her home in Popa Village, Mukwe Constituency, on 3 July. The alleged suspect, known to the victim, fled the scene after being discovered by the victim's granddaughter; police investigations are ongoing.
Over four years to 2026, Namibians have robbed the government of nearly N$1 billion through fraudulent income tax and VAT refund claims, with 316 cases registered and 41 handed to police; Namra recovered more than N$144 million during the same period.
Paulus Noa, who established Namibia's Anti-Corruption Commission from scratch in 2006 and served as its director general for 20 years, is stepping down with Bryan Eiseb nominated as his successor. During his tenure, the ACC processed over 7,500 corruption complaints and expanded to include forensic, intelligence, and anti-money laundering divisions.
Namibia's Financial Intelligence Centre recorded a surplus of N$26.2 million for the financial year ended 31 March 2026, up from N$19.1 million the previous year, with total assets increasing to N$87.4 million. Operating expenses climbed to N$84.6 million, primarily due to higher staff numbers, while the FIC imposed N$19.9 million in financial penalties through 342 administrative sanctions.
A Rehoboth resident lost N$15,490 after an unknown caller claimed she had won a lottery and instructed her to dial codes on her phone; the money was withdrawn from her account and has not been recovered. The Namibian Police are investigating and have renewed warnings against sharing bank details with unknown callers.
Health and Social Services Minister Esperance Luvindao rejected claims that ambulance shortages caused deaths in an August 2025 Mariental road crash, saying reports of unavailable emergency vehicles are inaccurate. An Independent Patriots for Change MP had raised concerns about ambulance availability, staffing, and the operational status of the oxygen plant at Mariental State Hospital, alleging transport challenges contributed to the deaths of a pregnant woman and her sister.
Namibia's national rowing team has departed for South Africa to compete in the Coastal Rowing Sprints Championship for the first time, with a six-member squad competing in single, double and mixed events in Cape Town from 27 to 28 June 2026. The competition marks a historic milestone for the sport in the country and opens a pathway towards future Olympic qualification.
The Namibian Police Force has confirmed that a vacancy advertisement circulating online for 1,750 police officers is fake. The official recruitment process closed on 13 May 2026, and the force is currently verifying applications and shortlisting for the next intake of 2,000 recruits, whose training is expected to begin in October 2026.