Namibia Minute.
Monday, 7 September 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Monday, 7 September 2026
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Namibian press · Organization

National Planning Commission

National Planning Commission — Government agency that manages fiscal planning, development funding distribution, and participates in democratic governance programs.

2023-04-242026-09-07

What’s been said

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

  1. June 2026
  2. The Namibian

    National Planning Commission (NPC) says Namibia has benefited from support in infrastructure planning, agricultural productivity and community empowerment

    Source

    National Planning Commission (NPC) executive director I-Ben Nashandi says Namibia has benefited from support in infrastructure planning, agricultural productivity and community empowerment.

    Japan pumps N$80bn into Namibia in 20 years
  3. Windhoek Observer

    National Planning Commission collaborated in developing UNCTAD Rapid Assessment on Namibia's manufacturing opportunities

    Source

    The analysis draws on a UNCTAD Rapid Assessment published in February 2026 and developed in collaboration with the National Planning Commission.

    Namibia has N$14.5 billion value addition opportunity
  4. Informanté

    National Planning Commission will receive initial outcome-based budget reports from participating OMAs by second quarter of 2026

    Source

    By the second quarter of 2026, he anticipates that the participating OMAs, as previously mentioned, will submit their initial outcome-based budget reports to the Ministry of Finance and the National Planning Commission.

    Finance ministry hosts outcome-based budget workshop amidst money constraints
  5. May 2026
  6. Windhoek Observer

    National Planning Commission was appointed by government to coordinate development of local ownership policies across sectors

    Source

    The government also appointed the National Planning Commission to coordinate the development of local ownership policies across sectors.

    Mining Chamber, Govt clashed over mining ownership policy
  7. The Namibian

    National Planning Commission is tasked to appraise, monitor and evaluate capital and development projects

    Source

    Capelao said under the National Planning Commission Act, the secretariat is tasked to appraise, monitor and evaluate capital and development projects and programmes submitted by offices, ministries and agencies and make recommendations for possible funding to the Ministry of Finance.

    Investors advised to participate in treasury bill auctions to fund govt projects
  8. Windhoek Observer

    National Planning Commission must assess, monitor and evaluate development projects before recommending them for funding

    Source

    Capelão explained that infrastructure projects fall under the National Planning Commission (NPC), which operates under the National Planning Commission Act of 2013. The law requires the commission to assess, monitor and evaluate development projects submitted by government offices, ministries and agencies before recommending them for funding.

    Govt rejects private unsolicited borrowing proposals
  9. Informanté

    Director-General of the National Planning Commission will chair the Green Industries Council

    Source

    She announced that the Council will be chaired by the Director-General of the National Planning Commission.

    Cabinet approves Green Industries Council
  10. April 2026
  11. Windhoek Observer

    National Planning Commission has failed to anticipate graduate absorption as an urgent economic and social risk

    Source

    A responsive planning institution should have long ago flagged graduate absorption as an urgent economic and social risk requiring coordinated intervention.

    The National Planning Commission’s blind spot
  12. New Era

    National Planning Commission stated via executive director that green hydrogen is central to economic change

    Source

    National Planning Commission's executive director I-Ben Natangwe said, from a national planning perspective, green hydrogen is seen as central to economic change.

    Namibia eyes industrial shift in green hydrogen drive
  13. New Era

    National Planning Commission is partnering with the Ministry of Finance to coordinate the Sixth National Development Plan

    Source

    The programme forms a cornerstone of broader State efforts to upgrade healthcare delivery under the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6), coordinated by the Ministry of Finance in partnership with the National Planning Commission.

    DBN injects N$1bn into Nam health infrastructure

Today

  1. New five-year employment permit launched for investors

    The Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board has launched a new five-year employment permit for investors that functions as work authorisation, replacing the standard two-year permit and offering greater certainty for long-term business planning in Namibia.

    4 hours ago · The Namibian

Saturday 5 September

  1. President urges Namibian businesses beyond symbolic corporate donations

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has called on Namibian companies to move beyond symbolic corporate social investment donations and instead create lasting socio-economic benefits for communities, measuring impact through outcomes like improved education, healthcare, and youth empowerment rather than announcement visibility.

    5 September 2026 · The Namibian

Tuesday 1 September

  1. National Council Chairperson opens fourth Junior National Council session

    National Council Chairperson Lukas Muha opened the 1st Session of the 4th Junior National Council (JNC) on 31 August, which runs until 04 September 2026. The JNC, formalised in 2013 and inaugurated in 2017, serves as a platform for school-going youth to express views and debate issues of community, regional, national and international importance, while nurturing leadership qualities and promoting civic engagement.

    1 September 2026 · The Namibian

Friday 21 August

  1. Health minister calls healthcare an investment, revenue-generating industry

    Health and Social Services Minister Esperance Luvindao says Namibia should treat healthcare as a multi-billion-dollar industry to generate revenue for the public system and improve care quality. She suggested senior government officials using public health facilities could help redirect resources to strengthen state healthcare.

    21 August 2026 · The Namibian

Wednesday 19 August

  1. Government establishes committee on informal economy institutionalisation

    The government has established a National Technical Committee on Institutionalisation of the Informal Economy to design inclusive legal frameworks and budget for social protection and financial inclusion for the informal sector, which accounts for about 57% of Namibian employment according to informal economy advocates.

    19 August 2026 · The Namibian

  2. Namibia's consul denies million-dollar Dangote facilitation fee

    Namibia's Honorary Consul in Nigeria, Justin Chuma Anosike, has denied allegations that he charged Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote US$1 million for arranging a meeting with President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. The denial comes amid separate allegations that confidential Cabinet minutes and strategic documents were leaked to Anosike and passed to a Dangote Group executive, which NPC director-general Kaire Mbuende also rejects.

    19 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Wednesday 5 August

  1. NPC clarifies oil revenue projections not yet in fiscal planning

    The National Planning Commission said government will only factor oil income into fiscal planning once oil and gas projects reach a final investment decision, and that borrowing decisions are based on broader economic projections rather than a single sector. The clarification followed criticism from the Independent Patriots for Change, which had accused the NPC director general of proposing that Namibia borrow against future oil revenues despite sector uncertainty.

    5 August 2026 · The Namibian

Wednesday 29 July

  1. Namibia marks World Population Day with youth investment call

    Namibia commemorated World Population Day 2026 with focus on youth health, opportunities, and teenage pregnancy prevention, launching a UNFPA report that surveyed over 108,000 young adults aged 18 to 39 across 73 countries. The report found that while many young people aspire to marriage and children, financial insecurity, rising living costs, and housing challenges are preventing them from achieving their desired futures.

    29 July 2026 · Informanté

Monday 27 July

  1. Teenage pregnancy threatens Namibia's youth dividend, experts warn

    The United Nations Population Fund reports that 19% of women aged 15–19 in Namibia have begun childbearing, with teenage pregnancy responsible for 12% of female school dropouts. Stakeholders warn that addressing the issue requires coordinated action from government, families, schools, communities and development partners to prevent Namibia from losing its youth dividend.

    27 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Saturday 25 July

  1. Namibia shifts water strategy to desalination and renewable energy

    Facing drought and climate uncertainty, Namibia is moving away from traditional surface water sources toward desalination, water reclamation, groundwater management, and renewable energy-powered systems. The country's Cabinet Committee on Water Supply Security, established in 2016, has expanded its mandate from securing Windhoek's supply to addressing water challenges across coastal regions and the broader country.

    25 July 2026 · Informanté

Wednesday 22 July

  1. Slower growth and lower revenue restrict development funding

    National Planning Commission director general Kaire Mbuende says slower-than-expected economic growth and lower government revenue have reduced funding available for development projects across Namibia. He told local authority heads at an Oshakati engagement that revenue fell short due to weaker economic performance and delayed oil and gas projects, and that ministries—not the NPC—decide how to distribute allocated funds to regions and towns.

    22 July 2026 · The Namibian

Tuesday 21 July

  1. President visits China, signs nine cooperation agreements

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah completed a seven-day state visit to China aimed at persuading the country to help Namibia build manufacturing and processing industries rather than exporting raw minerals. The visit culminated in nine cooperation instruments and elevation of bilateral ties to a Namibia-China Community with a shared future, focusing on long-term development and strategic cooperation.

    21 July 2026 · New Era

Monday 20 July

  1. Namibia lags on sanitation target within Sustainable Development Goals

    Namibia is falling behind on the sixth Sustainable Development Goal, which aims to ensure access to safe water and sanitation for all by 2030. According to the 2023 Population and Housing Census, about 40% of households lack adequate sanitation, with the situation worse in marginalised communities where nearly seven out of every ten households do not have a toilet.

    20 July 2026 · The Namibian

Sunday 19 July

  1. Namibia joins regional cost-benefit analysis initiative

    Namibia has joined an initiative with seven other southern African countries to use cost-benefit analysis to help governments achieve better outcomes with limited budgets. The tool translates economic, social, and environmental costs and benefits into present-day dollars, allowing policymakers to compare policy alternatives and prioritise spending.

    19 July 2026 · The Namibian

Thursday 16 July

  1. Brazil pledges N$1.9 million to expand food security programme

    Brazil's ambassador announced a N$1.9 million contribution to the World Food Programme and plans to expand a programme from supporting 300 families to 3 000 families, emphasizing building stronger food systems and helping communities become self-reliant instead of dependent on food aid.

    16 July 2026 · The Namibian

Sunday 12 July

  1. EU invests N$127 million in Namibia's parliamentary democracy programme

    The parliament, the National Planning Commission and the European Union have concluded a six-year Enhancing Participatory Democracy in Namibia programme, which invested €6 million (about N$127 million) in strengthening democratic governance, parliamentary oversight and citizen participation since August 2020.

    12 July 2026 · The Namibian

Thursday 2 July

  1. Stadium consultant fee far exceeds government budget

    A consultant hired to advise on renovating Windhoek's Independence Stadium is set to earn about N$337 million – more than three times the government's budgeted amount – through a 17.5% fee on the estimated N$2 billion project cost, which industry experts say is unusually high.

    2 July 2026 · The Namibian

Wednesday 1 July

  1. N$18 million grant fund supports youth and women-led businesses

    An N$18 million grant fund from the Pro-SME Project, a joint Namibian-German initiative, is available to young entrepreneurs and small businesses to help them formalise, expand and create jobs, with the first application round closing on 24 July.

    1 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Monday 29 June

  1. Omuthiya Business Expo receives N$626,026 in pledged funds

    The third edition of the Omuthiya Business Expo received pledges totalling N$626,026 at a gala dinner on Saturday. The funds will support the expo scheduled for October, themed "Local by Design; Crafting Competitive SMEs for Tomorrow," aimed at strengthening local economic development and supporting small and medium enterprises.

    29 June 2026 · The Namibian

Saturday 27 June

  1. Namibia, China sign N$486 million grant for development

    Namibia and China have signed a grant agreement worth RMB 200 million (approximately N$486 million) to support key national development priorities including school infrastructure, healthcare services, and water supply, aligned with Namibia's Sixth National Development Plan.

    27 June 2026 · Informanté

Tuesday 23 June

  1. Namibia pursues US$250 million climate fund for industrial decarbonisation

    The government launched a multilateral development bank mission to finalise a Sectoral Transformation Investment Plan to access up to US$250 million in concessional climate financing under the Climate Investment Funds' Industry Decarbonisation Programme, aiming to support the transition of high-emitting sectors and scale up green industries.

    23 June 2026 · The Namibian

Monday 22 June

  1. Japan has provided N$80 billion development aid to Namibia

    Japan has contributed N$80 billion in development assistance to Namibia over the past two decades, including technical assistance, grants and scholarships, with close to half—N$47 billion—provided as grants and development assistance, according to the National Planning Commission executive director.

    22 June 2026 · The Namibian

Thursday 11 June

  1. Namibia identified with N$14.5 billion manufacturing opportunity

    Simonis Storm analysis shows Namibia could unlock approximately N$14.5 billion in new manufacturing and value-addition activities, citing a trade deficit of N$4.4 billion and identifying 353 products across 23 sectors that the country could potentially manufacture using existing capabilities.

    11 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Tuesday 9 June

  1. Finance ministry launches outcome-based budget reform workshop

    Namibia's Ministry of Finance officially launched a budget reform rollout workshop as the government seeks to create outcome-based budget programmes amid growing public debt and narrowing fiscal space. Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare stated that the 2026/27 National Budget of N$87.9 billion was tabled against recovering global conditions, but the global environment has since changed due to the ongoing Middle East war; he added that public debt stands at N$174.6 billion (65.2% of GDP) and the government has committed to reducing the fiscal deficit from 5.5% of GDP in 2026/27 to 3.3% by 2028/29.

    9 June 2026 · Informanté

Wednesday 3 June

  1. Namibia pursues green hydrogen projects despite legal framework gaps

    The National Planning Commission director general said Namibia is ready to move from planning to implementation of green hydrogen projects, despite the absence of dedicated legislation. The government aims to create 30,000 green jobs by 2030 and position Namibia as a low-carbon industry platform for southern Africa.

    3 June 2026 · The Namibian

Wednesday 27 May

  1. Chamber of Mines clashes with government over ownership policy

    The Chamber of Mines of Namibia says its relationship with government came under pressure in 2025 over disagreements on proposed local ownership requirements for mining, with engagement with the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy becoming difficult.

    27 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Wednesday 20 May

  1. Government directs investors to treasury bill auctions, not direct proposals

    The finance ministry's executive director clarified that the government does not accept unsolicited funding bids from private entities or agents for infrastructure projects. Instead, all government funding and development projects must follow established procedures under the National Planning Commission Act and State Finance Act.

    20 May 2026 · The Namibian

  2. Government rejects unsolicited private borrowing and financing proposals

    The Ministry of Finance says infrastructure funding must comply with existing procurement and borrowing laws and cannot be sourced through unsolicited proposals from private entities or their agents, despite acknowledging that such proposals could support national infrastructure development.

    20 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Sunday 17 May

  1. Cabinet approves Green Industries Council for sector development

    Cabinet has officially approved the establishment of the Green Industries Council to guide development of the green industries sector, with a focus on industrialisation, economic diversification and job creation. The Council will be chaired by the Director-General of the National Planning Commission and include ministers from finance, industries, agriculture, environment, trade, urban development, the Attorney-General, and the Bank of Namibia Governor.

    17 May 2026 · Informanté

Monday 11 May

  1. Cabinet establishes Green Industries Council to replace hydrogen-focused body

    The Cabinet has approved a new Green Industries Council, replacing the Green Hydrogen Council after it ended in February 2025. The council will oversee Namibia's broader green industrialisation agenda, focusing on policy coordination, institutional alignment and investment priorities to accelerate industrialisation, economic diversification and job creation.

    11 May 2026 · The Namibian

National Planning Commission — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute