Also known as: Secretary to the National Council · Rudolf Gaiseb National Council · sixth National Council · 17th session of the sixth National Council · National Council standing committee on transport, infrastructure and housing
Namibian legislative body tasked with parliamentary oversight, stakeholder engagement, and investigating national issues including road safety and youth substance abuse.
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Windhoek Observer
The National Council is right to investigate the impact of Hubbly Bubbly on Namibian youth
“The National Council is therefore right to investigate the impact of Hubbly Bubbly on Namibian youth.”
Namibia must stop smoking away its future…Namibia is sleepwalking into a public-health crisis.Windhoek Observer
The National Council heard reports of learners using Hubbly Bubbly and vapes because of peer pressure and permissive attitudes at home
“During previous oversight visits, the National Council heard reports of learners using Hubbly Bubbly and vapes because of peer pressure and permissive attitudes at home.”
Namibia must stop smoking away its future…Namibia is sleepwalking into a public-health crisis.The Namibian
National Council standing committee on transport, infrastructure and housing held public hearings on road accidents in Windhoek on Monday
“Traffic law-enforcement directorate head commissioner Petrus Swartz announced this during the National Council standing committee on transport, infrastructure and housing's public hearings on the motion on road accidents in Windhoek on Monday.”
Police call for reduced traffic fines to help the poorThe Namibian
National Council standing committee on transport, infrastructure and housing held public hearings on road accidents in Windhoek on Tuesday
“Nabta secretary general Pendapala Nakathingo made the proposals during the National Council standing committee on transport, infrastructure and housing's public hearings on road accidents in Windhoek on Tuesday.”
Taxi association proposes fire safety overhaulThe Namibian
The National Council's standing committee has started a stakeholder engagement programme
“The National Council's standing committee on education, science, information and communication technology (ICT) and youth development has started a stakeholder engagement programme.”
Education committee tackles national sector challengesThe Namibian
National Council recognises responsibility to ensure national policies effectively respond to road safety challenge
“The National Council, through its oversight and legislative mandate, recognises that Parliament has an important responsibility to ensure that national policies, legislation, institutional arrangements and public investments effectively respond to this growing challenge.”
!Garab calls for united action to tackle Namibia’s road safety crisisThe Namibian
National Council standing committee on transport, infrastructure and housing recommended introducing toll gates on major roads after benchmarking visit to Zambia and Botswana
“In November 2024, the National Council standing committee on transport, infrastructure and housing recommended introducing toll gates on major roads after a benchmarking visit to Zambia and Botswana, where members studied road financing models.”
RFA backs toll gates for road fundingThe Namibian
The bill has been referred to the National Council for consideration
“The bill has since been referred to the National Council for consideration.”
MP Amutenya pushes for mental health coursesThe Namibian
National Council will consider the mental health amendment bill
“The National Assembly has finalised and adopted the mental health amendment bill of 2025 following extensive debate, paving the way for its consideration by the National Council.”
National Assembly approves new mental health lawInformanté
National Council is meeting in Otjiwarongo for planning and budgeting session
“MEMBERS of the National Council are meeting in Otjiwarongo this week for a planning and budgeting session aimed at strengthening parliamentary oversight, improving accountability and enhancing public participation in governance.”
National Council focuses on strengthening oversight during planning sessionMatheus Hangula, a Tsumeb regional councillor and National Council member, has denied reports that he was arrested after N$2 million was allegedly discovered in his bank account. The Windhoek Observer confirmed he was in the Zambezi region fulfilling duties on a parliamentary committee investigating road accidents.
21 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Matheus Hangula, a Tsumeb regional councillor and National Council member, has denied reports that he was arrested after N$2 million was allegedly discovered in his bank account. The Windhoek Observer confirmed he was in the Zambezi region fulfilling duties on a parliamentary committee investigating road accidents.
21 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The National Council Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Housing chairperson George !Garab has called for a coordinated national response to Namibia's growing road accident crisis, framing road safety as a public health, economic and national development concern. He urged collective action from government, law enforcement, transport sector and communities, with focus on safer roads, vehicle inspections, enforcement, emergency response and vulnerable road user protection.
15 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Windhoek Observer warns that children across Namibia, some as young as 10, are smoking Hubbly Bubbly, vaping, and mixing these substances with alcohol and cannabis, skipping school and financing habits through distribution; the National Council is investigating the issue, but the outlet urges that consultations must lead to meaningful action rather than reports without follow-through.
15 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
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.
9 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The police traffic law-enforcement directorate head has called for lower traffic fines, arguing that current penalties create unfair hardship for low-income motorists and contribute to growing unpaid warrants and administrative backlog. He cited cases where motorists cannot afford vehicle repairs or fines, leading to arrest warrants and court instalments rather than improved road safety.
8 July 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibia Bus and Taxi Association has proposed mandatory automatic fire suppression systems and passenger registers for all public transport vehicles to improve safety and reduce fatalities in incidents involving fire and collisions.
8 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Seven regional councillors have been appointed to deputy ministerial positions by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. While some constituents praise their councillors, others express concern about whether local leaders can balance their ministerial roles with regional council responsibilities, with critics citing limited community engagement.
7 July 2026 · The Namibian →
The National Council's standing committee on education, science, ICT and youth development has begun a stakeholder engagement programme to better understand the challenges and priorities of institutions under its oversight. Committee chairperson Bethuel Tjaveondja said the sessions would help the committee assess whether institutions are fulfilling their roles in education, research, innovation and skills development.
6 July 2026 · The Namibian →
George !Garab welcomed stakeholders to a National Council Standing Committee engagement on a motion concerning critical measures to combat the rising road accidents crisis in Namibia, emphasizing a shared commitment to protecting the nation's people.
6 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Bethuel Tjaveondja, addressing the Standing Committee on Education, Science, ICT and Youth Development, called for stronger parliamentary oversight through direct engagement with institutions under the committee's portfolio, arguing that effective oversight requires more than examining reports and policy documents.
6 July 2026 · The Namibian →
The Road Fund Administration's chief executive says toll gates could still help fund road infrastructure, despite the works and transport minister's statement that the government rejected the proposal. The RFA proposed installing between 21 and 23 toll gates that could generate between N$500 million and N$750 million annually, according to a feasibility study.
5 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Member of parliament Willem Amutenya has called on health training institutions to expand mental health training to support the new Mental Health Act, saying most institutions made little or no mention of mental health programmes during a parliamentary consultation. He noted that Namibia has too few psychiatrists and community health workers to meet the country's growing mental health needs, and urged especially private institutions to introduce programmes to prepare professionals for the law's implementation.
3 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Swapo has endorsed Gerson Sindano, an ECN commissioner since August 2022, as its preferred candidate for chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Namibia, to replace Elsie Nghikembua whose term ends this year. Sindano is a senior lecturer in language development at the University of Namibia with a doctorate in English studies.
15 June 2026 · The Namibian →
The National Assembly has finalised and adopted the mental health amendment bill of 2025, introducing a modern, rights-based framework to strengthen mental healthcare services and protect patients. The legislation repeals the 1973 Mental Health Act and includes measures to criminalise abuse of mental health patients, expand community-based care, tighten regulations on restraint and seclusion, and emphasise suicide prevention.
9 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Members of the National Council are meeting in Otjiwarongo for a week-long planning and budgeting session focused on strengthening parliamentary oversight, improving accountability and enhancing public participation in governance for the 2026/2027 financial year.
9 June 2026 · Informanté →
Four candidates for Electoral Commission of Namibia commissioner positions have called for sweeping legislative reforms and logistical improvements to boost public trust, including extended voting hours, more polling stations, and amendments to the Electoral Act.
3 June 2026 · The Namibian →
The National Assembly has resumed with focus on several key legislative items, including the long-awaited land bill, the petroleum bill, the public enterprises governance amendment bill, and the mental health bill. A political analyst says the land bill should receive highest priority due to its implications for livelihoods, investment, housing, agriculture and social equity.
2 June 2026 · The Namibian →
The 2026/27 national budget has been signed into law by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and gazetted, allowing government ministries and agencies to access approved funding. The N$104 billion budget provides N$81.3 billion for operational expenditure, N$6.5 billion for development projects and N$16.2 billion for interest payments, with a projected N$15 billion financing gap to be covered through borrowing.
1 June 2026 · The Namibian →
National Assembly speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila on Wednesday emphasised the need to deepen Namibia-China cooperation during a visit by a Chinese parliamentary delegation headed by Zhu Yongxin, vice chairperson of China's national committee of the People's Political Consultative Conference. Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said Namibia seeks to build on its longstanding relationship with China to advance mutual development, economic growth and prosperity for both nations.
30 May 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Works and Transport plans to construct dual-carriageway freeways across Namibia to reduce road accidents and improve transport efficiency. The government will start construction of the Usakos-Arandis dual-carriageway this year, prioritising key roads with heavy traffic volumes and accident records including Windhoek-Okahandja, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay.
25 May 2026 · The Namibian →
An Otavi Constituency councillor has tabled a motion in the National Council urging the government to declare road crash fatalities a national emergency. Between January and April 2026, the MVA Fund recorded 921 crashes, 1,467 injuries and 143 deaths, with recent fatal collisions killing eight and ten people respectively.
20 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
National Council members raised concerns that deteriorating road infrastructure contributes to vehicle damage, rising transport costs, and road accidents, with specific complaints about poor conditions in Kavango East, Kavango West, and the Maltahöhe-Walvis Bay route. The Ministry of Works and Transport's budget was N$2.74 billion for the current financial year.
18 May 2026 · The Namibian →
National Council members have urged the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy to ensure mining companies contribute directly to Namibia's development, warning that the country loses out while foreign-owned firms benefit from its natural resources. Lawmakers also called for stricter inspection of mining sites to combat illegal mining, affordable electricity access for rural communities, and preservation of mineral resources for future generations.
15 May 2026 · The Namibian →
National Council members have criticised the government's N$1.27-billion water and marine resources budget, saying many rural communities continue to face severe shortages despite repeated promises. Parliamentarians called for urgent implementation of stalled projects and warned that bureaucracy continues to delay access to clean water across the country.
14 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Steve Biko Booys, a former Okahandja Constituency Councillor and National Council member facing rape charges, has appealed his bail denial in the High Court, arguing that the State's DNA and cell phone evidence has weakened due to chain-of-custody defects, unverified procedures, missing exhibits, and issues with personnel qualifications.
8 May 2026 · Informanté →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah honoured founding National Assembly Speaker Mose Tjitendero at his 20th death commemoration at Heroes Acre, calling on Namibians to defend and strengthen democracy by following Tjitendero's legacy of transparency, inclusivity, accountability and the rule of law in building Parliament after independence.
28 April 2026 · New Era →
Kunene Regional Council employees face a financial crisis after minister James Sankwasa blocked funds allocated to the council following a dispute over the appointment of acting chief regional officer George Kamseb in 2021. Staff have not received salaries for March and April, and the council has taken the matter to the High Court while seeking alternative payment methods.
23 April 2026 · The Namibian →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah appointed former ambassador Wilfried Emvula as chairperson of the National Governing Council of the African Peer Review Mechanism in Namibia, with ten members inaugurated for a term to January 2030. The council, established under the APRM Statute, will provide strategic oversight and ensure transparency in governance reforms aligned with Namibia's development plan and Africa's Agenda 2063.
20 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa has halted government funds to the Kunene Regional Council, demanding removal of acting chief regional officer George Kamseb, whose appointment is being challenged in court. The council's chairperson Western Muharukua describes the fund freeze as unlawful pressure and says it threatens to disrupt salaries, services, and capital projects; the council plans to seek judicial review.
20 April 2026 · New Era →
The Landless People's Movement faces growing internal tensions, with former councillor Joseph Isaacks accusing leader Bernadus Swartbooi of running the party dictatorially and the party suspending former mayor McDonald Hanse over alleged involvement in forming a new political party. The LPM's spokesperson denies disunity claims and says the party operates within constitutional rules, while Hanse contests his suspension and disputes the allegations against him.
19 April 2026 · The Namibian →