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March 2026
New Era
Office of the Prime Ministerreceived donation ofrice worth N$61 million from South Korea for drought relief
Source
“He was speaking at a handover of rice worth N$61 million, which was donated from the Republic of South Korea to the Office of the Prime Minister to be used for drought relief.”
The Office of the Prime Ministerhas providedthe region with 60 tents, 50 mattresses, 50 blankets, and other aid supplies
Source
“The Office of the Prime Minister has provided the region with 60 tents, 50 mattresses, 50 blankets, 4 104 bottles of cooking oil, 2 663 tins of fish and 9 097 40kg bags of rice.”
Office of the Prime MinisteremployedGladice Pickering as Executive Director
Source
“EXECUTIVE Director in the Office of the Prime Minister, Gladice Pickering, has called for the dismantling of silo-based operations within the Public Service, urging government institutions to strengthen collaboration and deliver practical, citizen-centred innovation.”
Office of the Prime Ministerreceived reports submitted bythe regional disaster risk management committee on damaged crops
Source
“He added that his office, along with the regional disaster risk management committee, has assessed the damaged crop and submitted reports to the Office of the Prime Minister.”
Office of the Prime Ministerheldhigh-level meeting with local stakeholders in Kavango East
Source
“This comes after a recent high-level meeting held between a delegation from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and local stakeholders in Kavango East.”
Office of the Prime Ministerteamed up with Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform todrill a new borehole to address water crisis
Source
“The breakthrough follows a joint effort by the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform and the Office of the Prime Minister, which teamed up to drill a new borehole to address the long-standing water crisis in the village.”
The Rupara Rural Community Development Centre in Musese, Kavango West, is expected to open by the end of July after construction delays since 2020. The N$141 million facility will include a guesthouse, VIP units, restaurant, conference facilities and welding workshop, designed to support skills development and entrepreneurship in the region.
Why it matters
A N$141 million regional development centre delayed since 2020 is a concrete infrastructure investment affecting Kavango West skills and entrepreneurship.
The Rupara Rural Community Development Centre in Musese, Kavango West, is expected to open by the end of July after construction delays since 2020. The N$141 million facility will include a guesthouse, VIP units, restaurant, conference facilities and welding workshop, designed to support skills development and entrepreneurship in the region.
Community leaders in Tsumkwe have called for urgent intervention to revive several stalled development projects, including a multi-million-dollar agricultural initiative and a cultural museum incomplete for more than a decade. A delegation from the Office of the Prime Minister visited the constituency to assess development challenges and service delivery.
More than 105,000 households across Namibia received rice assistance in May as food security challenges persisted despite declining acute hunger levels following drought recovery interventions. The World Food Programme distributed 2,326 metric tonnes of rice nationwide through government-led drought relief efforts.
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare says providing every village with two boreholes is possible under president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah's leadership. He visited a community garden project at Otjombinde and said the initiative would fight malnutrition, create rural employment, improve food security, and support livestock farming and irrigation.
Namibia's health system is fragmented with high administrative costs and limited fiscal pooling. A health professional has proposed a Shared Prosperity Health Covenant framework to transform the system into a unified, equitable, and digitally enabled ecosystem that addresses disparities and promotes universal health coverage.
The Office of the Prime Minister will provide food and relief supplies for the next three months to 2,700 flood-affected households in Zambezi region, where annual and flash floods have displaced residents and destroyed crops. About 20 relocation camps have been established across the region's affected constituencies.
Namibia has launched a National Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Policy designed to bridge the gap between classroom learning and practical workplace experience by integrating theoretical training with real-world industry exposure. The framework guides employers, training institutions, and students on implementing workplace learning programmes such as internships, apprenticeships, and attachments, with implementation coordinated through a structure outlined in the policy's implementation plan.
Oshikoto governor Sacky Kathindi said the region needs approximately N$22 million to comprehensively address water challenges affecting communities. The region recently secured N$6.4 million from the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia for the initial phase, with technical assessments underway to determine boreholes for drilling and rehabilitation.
Former executive director of urban and rural development Petrus Sindimba has been transferred to the Cabinet secretariat in the Office of the Prime Minister, where he will serve as executive director without accounting powers, following a recommendation by the Public Service Commission.
The Landless People's Movement is calling for state-owned enterprises to become financially independent and end their dependence on public funds, arguing that since 1999 most SOEs have underperformed and failed to innovate. LPM leaders attribute poor performance to politically motivated appointments and said limited public resources should instead address urgent socio-economic needs.
The Office of the Prime Minister has dismissed claims that recent amendments to the Public Service Employees Medical Aid Scheme require members to reapply, stating the changes—including increased contribution rates, removal of the 5% co-payment, and benefit structure review—do not affect current membership status and were automatically implemented through payroll systems.
Namibia and Zambia are negotiating a joint dredging project for the Zambezi River to deepen waterways and mitigate severe seasonal flooding. Over 1,510 people have been displaced in the Zambezi region, with the government preparing a dredging machine procured in 2015 to begin operations pending agreement renewal with Zambia.
Flooding along the Kunene River has destroyed crops in 17 Epupa villages and cut off clean water supply to Otjimuhaka Primary School, which serves about 300 pupils now forced to fetch water from the river. The constituency councillor said assessment is ongoing and a report will be sent to the Office of the Prime Minister.
Namibia's agriculture ministry is implementing floodwater and rainwater harvesting across the country to improve water security and build climate resilience against recurring droughts and floods. Six earth dams have been completed so far out of a target of 17, with additional dams finished in various regions last year.
The government has installed floating bridges in Kalimbeza and Masikili in Zambezi region to help flood-affected communities safely access schools and clinics. The Ministry of Works and Transport procured 24,640 double floating cubes at a cost of N$24 million to provide rapid access to areas that become isolated during seasonal flooding, with more installations planned for other affected areas.
Farmers around Lake Liambezi are rushing to harvest maize, sorghum and other crops weeks early as floodwaters advance from Angola through the Zambezi Region. The premature harvesting follows earlier locust damage, and officials warn more severe flooding is expected in coming weeks, with water levels potentially rising above seven metres and affecting multiple constituencies including Kabbe South, Sibbinda and Katima Rural.
Three flood-affected schools in Kabbe North and Kabbe South have relocated approximately 528 learners to higher ground in Luhonono and Lusese, with classes resuming on Tuesday. The Ministry of Works and Transport assisted with the relocation using larger and smaller boats, and learners will be accommodated in hostels, community facilities, and temporary classroom tents while the region deploys floating bridges to restore access to isolated communities.
Swapo member of Parliament and former Otjozondjupa governor James Unomasa Uerikua died in a car accident between Otjiwarongo and Okakarara on Friday, along with his 14-year-old son. Parliamentary colleagues and opposition leaders mourned him as a capable legislator, committed servant, and respected figure across political divides.
Swapo parliamentarian and former Otjozondhupa governor James Uerikua died aged 43 in a car accident on Friday, along with one of his sons. President Nandi-Ndaitwah described him as a "young and promising leader" whose loss comes at a time when the country needs clarity and commitment on complex challenges.
Devastating floods and locust outbreaks in Namibia's Zambezi region have destroyed thousands of hectares of crops and displaced over 2,000 people, prompting the government to commit to feeding affected residents until the next harvest season. The regional minister has called on government to provide seeds, fodder for livestock, and continued support as communities struggle with starvation.
Nineteen schools in the Zambezi Region have been affected by floods, with 509 learners losing approximately two weeks of learning. The Ministry of Education has identified relocation sites and is working to address logistical challenges including transportation, meal provision, and catch-up teaching during school holidays.
Prime Minister Ngurare met with Namibia's Honorary Consul in Bavaria to discuss strengthened economic and development cooperation between Namibia and Germany across sectors including renewable energy, agriculture, tourism, and TVET education. Ngurare also commended the consul for his donation of beds and mattresses to schools in Omusati and Ohangwena regions.
Rising water levels in the Zambezi River during March displaced residents, caused loss of income, and isolated communities from schools and healthcare. The flooding has also intensified human-wildlife conflict as animals compete for reduced available land, with elephants damaging crop fields in some areas.
Urban and Rural Development Minister James Sankwasa has urged the government to rethink flood relief distribution, arguing that assistance should be allocated based on the actual number of people affected rather than households, since "people don't eat as a household; they eat individually." He stressed that relief must include food security measures beyond clothing and temporary parcels and sustain communities until the next farming season, particularly given the severe crop losses affecting the Zambezi Region.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah visited the Zambezi region to assess flooding caused by heavy rains since January, urging residents to accept 9,097 bags of rice donated by South Korea and to relocate despite local preference for maize meal. The flooding has submerged over 75% of land in Kabbe South and Kabbe North constituencies, displaced hundreds, and closed schools and clinics.
Minister of Education Sanet Steenkamp visited the Zambezi Region to assess flooding impacts on schools, where several institutions including Muzii Combined School have been temporarily closed. The Ministry is coordinating with the Prime Minister's office to provide temporary shelter, nutrition, and bedding for affected learners as water levels continue to rise across the region.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has toured the Zambezi region, where water levels have surged to 6.88 metres, inundating up to 75% of land in affected constituencies and forcing the temporary closure and relocation of schools. Education Minister Sanet Steenkamp has warned that at least 587 learners in the region are already affected, with the flooding disrupting access to healthcare and critical public infrastructure as authorities distribute relief supplies and facilitate relocations.
Oshikoto Regional Council has started distributing 9,203 bags of rice (40kg each) donated by South Korea to vulnerable households through the Office of the Prime Minister. The rice, valued at N$61 million, is expected to reach more than 46,000 households across all 11 constituencies, with distribution beginning in Guinas and Oniipa.