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.

Society

Booys denied bail sixth time; five years in custody

The News

Former Okahandja Constituency Councillor and National Council member Steve Biko Booys has been denied bail for the sixth time and remains in custody for five years since his arrest in February 2021 on charges of raping a 20-year-old woman on two occasions. Magistrate Atutala Shikalepo rejected his new bail application, finding that his claims of prolonged detention, his brother's death, and alleged weakening of the state's case did not constitute sufficient new grounds for release, noting that the serious nature of the charges would likely result in substantial imprisonment if convicted.

2 April 2026 · Informanté →

Thursday 2 April

  1. Booys denied bail sixth time; five years in custody

    Former Okahandja Constituency Councillor and National Council member Steve Biko Booys has been denied bail for the sixth time and remains in custody for five years since his arrest in February 2021 on charges of raping a 20-year-old woman on two occasions. Magistrate Atutala Shikalepo rejected his new bail application, finding that his claims of prolonged detention, his brother's death, and alleged weakening of the state's case did not constitute sufficient new grounds for release, noting that the serious nature of the charges would likely result in substantial imprisonment if convicted.

    2 April 2026 · Informanté →

Thursday 26 March

  1. Khorixas councillor plans water infrastructure upgrade, economic revival

    Eddie Nanub, regional councillor for Khorixas, has outlined plans to address water scarcity through infrastructure upgrades and budget advocacy, while also prioritizing job creation, improved road connectivity, and youth skills training to revitalize the local economy and service delivery in the Kunene region.

    26 March 2026 · New Era →

Wednesday 25 March

  1. Ex-MP Booys' sixth bail application rejected by court

    Former member of parliament Steve Biko Booys has had his sixth bail request dismissed in the Windhoek Regional Court while facing rape charges. The magistrate ruled that the new facts presented were either not genuinely new or did not overcome previous grounds for detention, noting that Booys' trial delays stemmed partly from his own actions including changing defence lawyers and requesting the magistrate's recusal.

    25 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 23 March

  1. Young leaders mobilize to address Kavango East development gaps

    Young politicians in Kavango East say they are leveraging Namibia's 36th independence anniversary to translate freedom into tangible development, addressing persistent challenges including limited infrastructure, youth unemployment, and inadequate access to water, sanitation, electricity and connectivity in rural areas.

    23 March 2026 · New Era →

Friday 20 March

  1. Namibia's Parliament maturing but facing oversight challenges

    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 →

Wednesday 18 March

  1. Erongo governor pushes mining law reforms to benefit locals

    Erongo governor Natalia /Goagoses has called for urgent review of Namibia's mining laws to address illegal mining and ensure residents benefit from the region's mineral resources. She highlighted that small-scale miners in the Daures constituency, many of whom have operated since the 1960s–70s, are now classified as illegal despite their long history, while poor enforcement has allowed this to continue for decades.

    18 March 2026 · New Era →

  2. NC chair urges inclusive development, participatory democracy

    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 →

  3. Former councillor Booys makes sixth bail attempt in rape trial

    Steve Biko Booys, a former National Council member, has filed a sixth bail application in connection with rape charges stemming from an alleged incident at his Okahandja home in January 2021. He has been in custody for five years; the prosecution argues there are no new facts in the application and cites DNA evidence and text message records as incriminating evidence, while the defence contends the state's case is weak.

    18 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 16 March

  1. Oshikoto Independence Day speakers defended as national, not partisan

    Nahas Angula and regional officials have defended the selection of 11 Swapo members as speakers for Oshikoto's 36th Independence Day event, saying the invitations were issued by the regional council and constituency leadership based on availability and status as leaders, not political affiliation. They acknowledge that Independence Day is a national event open to all Namibians and claim non-Swapo members were also invited, though specifics were not provided.

    16 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 10 March

  1. Opinion: Tribalism and racism destroy Namibian democracy

    An opinion piece argues that tribalism and racism in the National Assembly, including a recent incident involving NUDO legislator Vetaruhe Kandorozu, undermine democracy and national unity. The author calls for Namibians to reject tribal and racial divisions and pursue a national dialogue based on equality and reconciliation.

    10 March 2026 · Informanté →

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