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

Office of the Judiciary

Office of the Judiciary — Namibia's judicial administrative body overseeing court operations, appointments, and budgetary allocation, currently managing severe capacity constraints and budget shortages.

Politics

Government allocates N$512 million to judiciary for 2026/2027

The News

The government has allocated N$512 million to the Office of the Judiciary for the 2026/2027 financial year, with N$497 million for operations and N$15 million for development projects including construction of magistrates' courts in Nkurenkuru and Katima Mulilo. The allocation reflects the government's commitment to strengthening the justice system and expanding court capacity in underserved areas.

8 April 2026 · New Era →

Wednesday 8 April

  1. Government allocates N$512 million to judiciary for 2026/2027

    The government has allocated N$512 million to the Office of the Judiciary for the 2026/2027 financial year, with N$497 million for operations and N$15 million for development projects including construction of magistrates' courts in Nkurenkuru and Katima Mulilo. The allocation reflects the government's commitment to strengthening the justice system and expanding court capacity in underserved areas.

    8 April 2026 · New Era →

Thursday 2 April

  1. Judiciary allocated N$512 million for 2026/27 financial year

    The Office of the Judiciary has been allocated N$512 million for the 2026/27 financial year, with N$15 million directed to development expenditure including the construction of magistrates' courts at Nkurenkuru and Katima Mulilo. The allocation represents a total decrease of N$88.96 million from the previous financial year.

    2 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 20 March

  1. Namibia's justice system evolves 36 years after independence

    Namibia's judicial system has transformed from a racially discriminatory colonial and apartheid-era instrument into a constitutional democracy grounded in the rule of law and equal protection. Since independence in 1990, reforms including the Bill of Rights, Legal Aid Directorate, and increased Namibianisation of judicial leadership have significantly broadened access to justice for all citizens.

    20 March 2026 · New Era →

Tuesday 10 March

  1. Five new judges appointed to Namibia's High Court

    The Office of the Judiciary has appointed five judges to the High Court, including three from other southern African countries on temporary contracts to address capacity constraints in the civil stream. The appointments are part of a temporary measure while longer-term domestic solutions are pursued.

    10 March 2026 · Informanté →

Sunday 8 March

  1. Minister hails women's advances in Namibian justice sector

    Gender Equality Minister Emma Kantema has praised the growing presence of women in Namibia's judiciary, noting recent milestones including the appointment of the first permanent woman judge to the Supreme Court and increased representation of women judges and magistrates. She acknowledged these achievements as evidence of women's capacity to lead at the highest levels while also flagging safety concerns for female judicial officers, referencing the 2025 death of prosecutor Justine Shiweda.

    8 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 5 March

  1. Omaheke Regional Council chair outlines continuity and advancement agenda

    Rocco Nguvauva, chairperson of Omaheke Regional Council, said the new council will build on foundations laid by previous leadership, focusing on infrastructure development, basic service provision, and community empowerment while maintaining fiscal discipline and responsiveness to regional needs.

    5 March 2026 · New Era →

Wednesday 4 March

  1. Three foreign judges appointed to Namibia's High Court

    The Office of the Judiciary appointed judges from Zimbabwe and Botswana to Namibia's High Court, effective March 2025, as part of efforts to address critical shortages in the judiciary. Esi Schimming-Chase was sworn in as Namibia's first permanent female Supreme Court judge, and Chief Justice Peter Shivute noted that women now constitute the majority of the High Court bench.

    4 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 20 February

  1. Judiciary budgets depleted; legal aid travel suspended

    Memos from the Office of the Judiciary and Ministry of Justice confirm severe budget shortages: the legal aid travel budget is depleted and legal aid counsel must seek to postpone out-of-station hearings; magistrates are barred from travelling outside duty stations for cases between 15 March and 15 April. Chief Justice Peter Shivute warned that underfunding and staff shortages threaten judicial capacity, with civil judges' workload rising 60% despite fewer cases being filed.

    20 February 2026 · New Era →

Thursday 12 February

  1. High Court judge warns of crisis in Namibian judicial system

    Judge Beatrix de Jager postponed delivering a judgement to protect her health, citing an unsustainable workload and workforce shortage that she described as "inhuman." Chief Justice Peter Shivute confirmed that judges are under immense pressure, with civil judges managing an average of 614 cases each in 2025, and called for urgent judicial appointments and support.

    12 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 11 February

  1. State covers medical bills of slain prosecutor Justine Shiweda

    The Ministry of Justice has confirmed it will cover all medical expenses for prosecutor Justine Shiweda, who died in December 2025 following a brutal October attack in which she was shot five times and had acid thrown on her body. The Ondangwa regional control prosecutor spent four months in hospital before succumbing to complications from her injuries; one suspect, a medical doctor, has been charged with murder and conspiracy.

    11 February 2026 · The Namibian →

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