Namibia Minute.
Friday, 24 April 2026
A daily Namibian brief · Est. 2026
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Organization

National Council

Also known as: Secretary to the National Council · NC · Rudolf Gaiseb National Council

Upper house of parliament in Namibia; addresses government appointments and provides strategic governance oversight.

Politics

Kunene Regional Council funds frozen, staff unpaid March and April

The News

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.

Why it matters

Kunene Regional Council staff unpaid for two months due to ministerial fund freeze—urgent public sector governance and employee welfare crisis.

20 hours ago · The Namibian →

Yesterday

  1. Kunene Regional Council funds frozen, staff unpaid March and April

    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.

    20 hours ago · The Namibian →

Monday 20 April

  1. Former ambassador Emvula chairs Namibia's peer review council

    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 →

  2. Minister blocks funds to Kunene Regional Council over chief officer dispute

    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 →

Sunday 19 April

  1. LPM internal divisions deepen amid leadership and suspension disputes

    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 →

Saturday 18 April

  1. Muteka calls for long-term refugee empowerment over temporary aid

    National Council deputy chairperson Emma Muteka has called for a shift in refugee support from temporary relief toward long-term pathways for education, skills development, and economic participation. Speaking during a health committee visit to a refugee camp in Istanbul, she emphasized measuring success by transformation rather than survival and called for stronger collaboration between governments and international partners to unlock refugee potential.

    18 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 15 April

  1. National Council convenes to address deputy minister appointments

    The National Council held a special sitting to address seven new deputy ministerial appointments made by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, requiring the reconstitution of standing committees and the reallocation of committee leadership roles under the council's standing rules.

    15 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 7 April

  1. President appoints new ministerial and deputy ministerial officials

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has appointed several new officials to ministerial and deputy ministerial positions, including Charles Mubita as minister in the Presidency, Hambeleleni Ndjaleka as deputy minister of health and social services, and others to various portfolio positions across government departments.

    7 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 5 April

  1. President to appoint eight deputy ministers and new minister

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is expected to announce eight new deputy ministers and appoint deputy defence minister Charles Mubita as minister in the Presidency. The move comes despite her earlier decision to cut ministries and reduce Cabinet size, with critics and analysts warning that some merged ministries may now be too large to function effectively.

    5 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 3 April

  1. President appoints minister and deputy ministers to strengthen government

    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 →

Thursday 2 April

  1. Otjombinde councillor appointed deputy ICT minister

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has appointed Wenzel Kavaka, an Otjombinde constituency councillor in Omaheke region, as deputy minister of information and communication technology, effective Wednesday. The appointment is intended to strengthen executive leadership and improve service delivery across public institutions.

    2 April 2026 · The Namibian →

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