Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
February 2026
The Namibian
Noredhasprepaid vending system currently off
Source
“The Northern Regional Electricity Distributor company (Nored) prepaid vending system is currently off, leaving customers and electricity vendors in the dark.”
Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (NORED)claimedemployees are designated essential service workers and prohibited from striking
Source
“The electricity distributor has claimed that employees are designated essential service workers and are prohibited from going on strike, warning that the strike, which commenced on 26 February, is illegal and may lead to summary dismissal and result in a "no work, no pay" policy.”
Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (Nored)has been accused of failing to providereliable electricity to Kavango West region
Source
“Kavango West leaders have accused the Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (Nored) of failing to provide reliable electricity to the region despite years of complaints.”
NOREDwas allegedly defrauded ofN$7,131,986.12 over seven years (2018–October 2025)
Source
“THE Namibian Police in the Omusati Region are investigating a case of fraud targeting the northern power utility, NORED, which has allegedly cost the company exactly N$7,131,986.12 over a period of seven years, from 2018 to October 2025.”
“The Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (Nored) has urged its customers to always report electricity outages, saying the company cannot respond to faults it is not aware of.”
Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (Nored)responded positively and is currently electrifyingtwo locations, Okandjabona and Ondumbo
Source
“Nored responded positively and is currently electrifying two locations, Okandjabona and Ondumbo, with contractors already on-site taking measurements and installing infrastructure.”
Northern Regional Electricity Distributoris being consultedto assess the entire pumping system before new pump installation
Source
“To prevent further issues, we are actively consulting with the Northern Regional Electricity Distributor to assess the entire pumping system and ensure the necessary adjustments are made before the new pump is installed.”
The Managing Director of the Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (Nored)saysNamibia needs to explore the possibility of having its own petroleum refinery
Source
“THE Managing Director of the Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (Nored) says Namibia needs to explore the possibility of having its own petroleum refinery.”
Katima Mulilo Town Council has resolved to donate two plots in Extension 27 and Townlands no 1328, measuring 2.52 hectares and 6 hectares respectively, to the Ministry of Education to address classroom overcrowding in the town, where most schools have more than 1,000 pupils enrolled.
Katima Mulilo Town Council has resolved to donate two plots in Extension 27 and Townlands no 1328, measuring 2.52 hectares and 6 hectares respectively, to the Ministry of Education to address classroom overcrowding in the town, where most schools have more than 1,000 pupils enrolled.
The Northern Regional Electricity Distributor incurs N$4.5 million annually to repair sabotaged networks and replace stolen copper cables, with the worst-affected areas in Oshana, Omusati, Kavango East and Kavango West. CEO Sylvester Wayiti said the figure excludes revenue losses from power outages and broader costs including customer dissatisfaction, reputational damage, and business losses.
Rundu mayor Andreas Jikerwa has accused the Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (Nored) of failing to maintain the town's street lights, leaving widespread areas dark.
The Rundu Town Council met with Nored officials to discuss plans to install streetlights in poorly lit areas across the town to improve safety and visibility.
NamPower and Nored will conduct planned maintenance on electricity infrastructure in Kavango West and East regions on 17 May, with power switched off from 07h00 to 19h00. The work includes repairing a broken conductor at Mururani road crossing, maintaining the Otjikoto–Rundu line, and replacing wooden crossarms on Mahango and Mpasi feeders; the outage will also affect parts of Angola and Shakawe in Botswana.
Namibian Cabinet approved development of a commercial cattle feedlot and livestock value chain hub at Farm Kehoro under a 25-year lease, reserved the Okoutjete Gold occurrence in Kunene from mining operations, and ordered a technical assessment of Northern Regional Electricity Distributor's infrastructure needs following recent industrial action.
The Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (Nored) has appointed Silvester Wayiti as chief executive. Wayiti previously served as chief executive of HopSol Africa and brings more than 10 years of experience in technical, executive and board-level roles across the electricity supply chain.
Residents of Omuthiya raised concerns at a public meeting about the council's failure to fix broken streetlights, clear overgrown areas, clean the town, collect household waste, and address unsanitary conditions at the open market. The mayor said the council is working with the Northern Regional Electricity Distributor to fix the lights and will investigate the market conditions, while noting that waste collection depends on residents placing bins outside their yards on designated days.
Residents and businesses in Ongwediva complained at a town council meeting about dark streets creating safety risks, crumbling infrastructure, and slow service delivery, while Nored confirmed streetlight bulb shortages of two weeks but said stocks have been replenished and repairs will soon resume.
Auditor General Junias Kandjeke says the council cannot account for N$4.7 million in salary payments because there are no updated staff record cards or salary advice, leading to an adverse audit opinion on the council's financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2021. The audit also flagged multiple other discrepancies including unreconciled cash balances, unconfirmed investments, and insufficient assets backing the Build Together Housing Fund.
Employees of the Northern Regional Electricity Distributor have returned to work after the company and the Mineworkers Union of Namibia signed a three-year collective agreement that includes a 4% salary increase for 2025/26, restoring electricity services in Northern Namibia.
The Mineworkers Union of Namibia has confirmed a final agreement with NORED ending the recent strike, which provides for payment of a 14th cheque and salary increases of 4% for 2025/2026 and 4.3% for 2026/2027. Union Secretary General George Ampweya said the outcome reflects workers' resilience while noting the dispute was avoidable and criticised governance inefficiencies, pledging the union's commitment to constructive engagement and service restoration.
The Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (Nored) and its employees, represented by the Mineworkers' Union of Namibia, have reached an agreement ending a five-day strike. The deal includes a 14th cheque for 2024/25, a 4% salary increment for 2025/26, and a 4.3% increase for 2026/27.
A Northern Regional Electricity Distributor strike in Kavango East has cut power to school hostels since Friday, forcing the closure of facilities serving over 2,000 pupils and spoiling food supplies. The strike stems from wage negotiations; employees are demanding a 6% pay increase and a 14th cheque, while Nored has offered 3.5% and agreed to the cheque.
An ongoing strike by Northern Electricity Distributor employees has caused a power outage at Ogongo Water Treatment Plant since Saturday evening, suspending water operations for residents, UNAM campus, and boarding schools in the area. NamWater says restoration depends on the strike's resolution, and has urged affected residents to make necessary arrangements.
Northern Regional Electricity Distributor employees across eight Namibian regions have stopped work over salary disputes, demanding a 6% raise and payment of a 14th cheque. The strike threatens widespread power cuts and economic damage to businesses in affected areas including Oshana, Omusati, Oshikoto, and others.
Nored employees began a nationwide strike on Thursday demanding a 6% salary increase, leaving the company's prepaid vending system offline. Customers are unable to purchase electricity tokens, affecting households, businesses, healthcare facilities, schools, and potentially water supply in some areas.
The Namibian Water Corporation has cautioned that water supplies in northern communal areas may be interrupted due to a strike by Northern Electricity Distributor employees that began on 26 February, as water systems depend on electricity for pumping and treatment. NORED has separately warned of delays in responding to power failures and customer service requests, while a dispute over salary increments and the legality of the strike has escalated between the electricity distributor and the Mine Workers Union.
Workers at the Northern Regional Electricity Distributor, represented by the Mine Workers Union of Namibia, began a strike on 26 February 2026 demanding a 14th cheque payment and 6% wage increase, citing management's reluctance to engage constructively. The union criticized NORED's response of threatening dismissals and legal action, and called for the removal of the board.
Kavango West leaders have accused the Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (Nored) of failing to provide reliable electricity to the region, citing constant power cuts and slow restoration times. The criticism came during a stakeholder engagement hosted by the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, where local officials and businesses, including telecommunications operators and a tourism lodge, expressed concern about the outages and their economic impact.
Namibian Police in Omusati Region are investigating a fraud case in which NORED, the northern power utility, has lost exactly N$7,131,986.12 between 2018 and October 2025, allegedly after a suspect in Ondukuta village bypassed the company's prepaid meter.
The Minister of Information and Communication Technology has called on the Northern Regional Electricity Distributor to speed up connection of three completed network towers in Kavango West's Mpungu and Tondoro constituencies to the power grid, as the region remains one of the least connected in the country. Once connected, the towers will provide free Wi-Fi for seven years to schools and health facilities to enable e-education and e-health services.
Employees of the Northern Regional Electricity Distributor have gone six years without a pay increase despite union negotiations, prompting the Mineworkers Union of Namibia to refer the dispute to the labour commissioner. The union has issued formal strike notice, with protected industrial action scheduled to commence on 23 January 2026.
The Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (Nored) is asking customers to report power outages as the company cannot respond to faults it is unaware of. The distributor explained that outages—whether planned maintenance or unplanned technical faults—increase during the rainy season due to weather damage, and that residents can report outages by calling 083 282 2123.
Northern Regional Electricity Distributor workers will strike on Friday after a year of failed wage negotiations, with the Mineworkers Union of Namibia seeking pay increases and improved working conditions. The union says workers have not received pay raises in six years and that strike procedures were lawfully initiated, despite management's legal challenges.
Community members of Okaonde–Oshitha Shembungu village in Omusati region have received electricity for the first time following years of waiting, a development officials say follows the broader government electrification plan for schools. Residents expect the power to improve daily life, enable income-generating activities, and eliminate the need for practices like drying fish.