Namibia Minute.
Thursday, 23 July 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Thursday, 23 July 2026
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Namibian press · Organization

National Planning Commission

National Planning Commission — government agency overseeing Namibia's development planning and green industries strategy, chaired by its director general.

2023-04-242026-07-23

What’s been said

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

  1. February 2026
  2. New Era

    National Planning Commission is partnering with UNCTAD to present findings in Windhoek on Thursday

    Source

    The findings of the UNCTAD report are scheduled to be presented on Thursday in Windhoek during an event organised in partnership with the National Planning Commission.

    UN trade chief to spotlight Namibia’s economic potential …could unlock N$14b, 26 000 jobs through beneficiation
  3. New Era

    National Planning Commission had as head Tom Alweendo

    Source

    He served as Governor of the Bank of Namibia and head of the National Planning Commission (NPC), roles that require deep economic and financial expertise.

    Opinion –  Unqualified leadership undermines development
  4. January 2026
  5. The Namibian

    National Planning Commission will have administration of the Atomic Energy and Radiation Protection Act transferred to it

    Source

    The strategy also provides for the establishment of a Nuclear Institute of Namibia to drive implementation, while administration of the Atomic Energy and Radiation Protection Act will be transferred to the National Planning Commission.

    Namibia looks to global partnerships to advance nuclear power plans
  6. New Era

    The executive director of the National Planning Commission was injured in killing of a headman and assistant headman

    Source

    Another case involved the killing of a headman and an assistant headman and injured the executive director of the National Planning Commission.

    Police nip festive crime in the bud …but laments murders
  7. Informanté

    National Planning Commission employed I-Ben Nashandi as executive director

    Source

    Nashandi, the village headman and National Planning Commission executive director who survived the attack with serious bullet wounds, is still hospitalised, now in a stable condition.

    Headman Nepando laid to rest
  8. New Era

    National Planning Commission will be assigned administration of the Atomic Energy and Radiation Act for cross-sectoral coordination

    Source

    The strategy also provides for the establishment of a Nuclear Institute of Namibia and the reassignment of the Act's administration to the National Planning Commission for cross-sectoral coordination.

    Nam, India nuclear ties boosted … door opens for supply alliance, technology, value addition
  9. Informanté

    National Planning Commission employs as Executive Director I-Ben Nashandi

    Source

    THE Executive Director of the National Planning Commission, I-Ben Nashandi, has survived with serious wounds a shooting incident in which another person was killed this morning.

    I-Ben Nashandi survives attempted murder, his assistant killed
  10. December 2025
  11. The Namibian

    National Planning Commission director general Kaire Mbuende pointed out government struggles to make decisions based on reliable and coordinated data

    Source

    National Planning Commission director general Kaire Mbuende in essence pointed out that the government struggles to make decisions based on reliable and coordinated data.

    Out With the Old for 2026
  12. The Namibian

    National Planning Commission director general Kaire Mbuende said government has no system to accurately track jobs created since new administration took office

    Source

    National Planning Commission director general Kaire Mbuende, speaking during a general meeting with the Namibia Statistics Agency, said the current way of recording employment is fragmented and unreliable.

    NPC director general admits government cannot track jobs created
  13. The Namibian

    Director general of the National Planning Commission contributed technical expertise and insights to the Cabinet retreat discussions and sectoral priorities

    Source

    To all ministers, the director general of the National Planning Commission, our deputy ministers, our regional governors, the secretary to the Cabinet and the executive directors, the chief executives of state-owned enterprises, resource persons and our moderators, your contributions have been deeply enriching.

    Closing Statement by Vice President Lucia Witbooi at the First Cabinet Retreat
Politics

Slower growth and lower revenue restrict development funding

The News

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

Yesterday

  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

Thursday 30 April

  1. President orders government institutions to budget for internships

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has directed all government institutions to budget for internships and apprenticeships to address graduate unemployment. While the directive is practical, the article questions its timing, noting that many institutions have already completed their annual budgeting and planning cycles.

    30 April 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Monday 20 April

  1. Hyphen secures EUR 600,000 for Namibian green hydrogen supplier development

    Hyphen Hydrogen Energy, partnering with Enertrag and GIZ, will sign a cooperation agreement under the International Hydrogen Ramp-up Programme to strengthen Namibian supplier capacity in the green hydrogen sector. The initiative, funded by EUR 300,000 from H2UPPP and EUR 300,000 from Hyphen, will implement an Enterprise and Supplier Development Programme to build capability and competitiveness of Namibian enterprises.

    20 April 2026 · Informanté

Friday 17 April

  1. Government launches Vision April 2026 healthcare reform initiative

    Namibia's government has begun phased implementation of Vision April 2026, an initiative to transform public healthcare by improving accessibility, quality and citizen confidence. The programme, which mandates senior government officials to use public facilities starting April 2024, includes infrastructure upgrades, N$239 million in medical equipment procurement and recruitment of 2,307 health workers, with expansion to additional facilities planned for 2027.

    17 April 2026 · New Era

Wednesday 15 April

  1. Minister Nekundi presents N$592.9m Works budget for 2026/27

    Minister Veikko Nekundi presented the 2026/2027 budget allocation of N$592.972 million for the Department of Works to the National Assembly, with N$499 million for operational costs and N$93.972 million for capital investment. The budget addresses public infrastructure development, government asset management, and maintenance of state facilities across five programmes.

    15 April 2026 · The Namibian

Tuesday 14 April

  1. Namibia strengthens green hydrogen industry through supplier partnerships

    Hyphen Hydrogen Energy, Enertrag and GIZ signed an agreement to support Namibian suppliers in the green hydrogen value chain through an Enterprise and Supplier Development Programme. The partnership aims to strengthen local capacity and participation, with over €40 million committed to Namibian projects and focus on building domestic industries, creating jobs, and increasing processed exports rather than raw material exports.

    14 April 2026 · New Era

Thursday 9 April

  1. RCC seeks N$500 million loan for stadiums in 14 regions

    The state-owned Roads Contractor Company has requested a N$500 million loan from the Development Bank of Namibia to build sport stadiums across 14 regions without a public tender process. The project, part of the president's infrastructure pledge to all 121 constituencies, has raised concerns about unclear costs, lack of transparency, and potential involvement of foreign contractors despite a directive limiting subcontracting to local small and medium enterprises.

    9 April 2026 · The Namibian

Tuesday 7 April

  1. DBN funds N$1bn health infrastructure programme nationwide

    The Development Bank of Namibia has disbursed N$1 billion towards a national health infrastructure programme, part of the government's "Roadmap" initiative. The funding will support construction of a 500-bed Windhoek District Hospital and district hospitals in Nkurenkuru, Otjiwarongo, and Ondangwa to address bed shortages and improve healthcare access.

    7 April 2026 · New Era

Sunday 5 April

  1. DBN funds N$1 billion Windhoek District Hospital construction

    The Development Bank of Namibia has allocated N$1 billion for construction of a 500-bed Windhoek District Hospital in Havana to address bed shortages and ease pressure on existing facilities in the Khomas region. The project is part of the government's healthcare infrastructure development plan and is expected to stimulate economic activity through construction and job creation, though land clearing remains pending before work commences.

    5 April 2026 · The Namibian

Wednesday 1 April

  1. Mining chamber warns policy uncertainty damaging investor confidence

    Namibia's mining competitiveness ranking fell sharply in the 2025 Fraser Institute survey, dropping from 30th to 51st globally and from 4th to 7th in Africa, as investor concerns about policy direction and regulatory clarity intensify. The Chamber of Mines attributes the decline to weakening perceptions of mining policy and governance, citing a proposed 51% local ownership requirement and new legislative changes as compounding investor uncertainty.

    1 April 2026 · New Era

Tuesday 31 March

  1. N$166 million park infrastructure upgrades enhance conservation and tourism

    Namibia's Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has inaugurated newly constructed and renovated infrastructure across Etosha, Hardap, and Bwabwata National Parks, valued at N$166 million and co-funded by Germany's development bank. The upgrades include enhanced facilities, staff stations, and utilities designed to strengthen wildlife protection and improve visitor experiences.

    31 March 2026 · Informanté

National Planning Commission — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute