Namibia Minute.
Sunday, 6 September 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Sunday, 6 September 2026
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Namibian press · Organization

Parliament

Also known as: Parliament of the Republic of Namibia · The Namibian Parliament · the Eighth Parliament

Namibia's bicameral legislature comprising the National Assembly and National Council, responsible for considering bills, oversight of government, and parliamentary democracy processes.

2018-03-092026-09-06
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What’s been said

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

  1. August 2026

  2. New Era

    Parliament is holding budget discussions with Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy

    Source

    “It said budget discussions are being held with Parliament and the Ministry of Finance, while preparations are under way for a new organisational structure expected to be presented around September 2026.”

    Mines faces shortage of qualified technical staff

  3. Windhoek Observer

    Parliament needs to understand how many registered veterans remain outstanding and how beneficiaries are prioritised

    Source

    “Parliament and the public need to understand how many registered veterans remain outstanding, how beneficiaries are prioritised, what has been spent to date, what the IVPs have achieved and what mechanisms exist to ensure that grants translate into sustainable livelihoods.”

    Veterans Deserve More Than Promises

  4. Informanté

    Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources observed inadequate safety measures at the mine

    Source

    “She said the committee had observed inadequate safety measures at the mine, despite workers having reportedly been operating at the site for about two years.”

    Parliamentary committee raises concerns over Okarikua Mine conditions

  5. Windhoek Observer

    Parliament unanimously approved Bryan Eiseb as new ACC Director-General on 10 July 2026

    Source

    “Nashinge says Parliament unanimously approved Bryan Eiseb as the new ACC Director-General on 10 July 2026, while also approving a one-year statutory extension for deputy director general Erna van der Merwe to ensure continuity during the leadership transition.”

    IPC questions legality of Noa’s reported two-month ACC extension

  6. Windhoek Observer

    Parliament should incorporate town hall conversation findings into legislative debate

    Source

    “Imagine if ministries responded formally to proposals raised by citizens. Imagine if universities incorporated the findings into research, businesses into innovation strategies and Parliament into legislative debate.”

    From Conversation to Change: Making the Geingob Town Hall Matter
  7. July 2026

  8. The Namibian

    Parliament's impeachment committee decided to appeal against the interdict that stopped public impeachment proceedings against President Cyril Ramaphosa

    Source

    “In a narrow 14 to 13 vote, Parliament's impeachment committee on Wednesday decided to appeal against the interdict that effectively stopped public impeachment proceedings against President Cyril Ramaphosa in connection with the Phala Phala theft of forex stashed in sofa cushions.”

    How Ramaphosa’s impeachment process could take two years — or more

  9. Windhoek Observer

    Parliament passed the Civil Registration and Identification Act, 2024

    Source

    “In an effort to strengthen the country's civil registration system, Parliament passed the Civil Registration and Identification Act, 2024 (Act No. 13 of 2024), which was gazetted on 30 December 2024.”

    Omusati residents frustrated over delayed ID processing

  10. Informanté

    Parliament is in recess

    Source

    “The report is, however, yet to be tabled, with Parliament in recess.”

    Boys’ arm amputated amid claims of medical negligence at Otjiwarongo Hospital

  11. The Namibian

    Parliament is currently in recess until 1 September after debate on Sindano's nomination could not proceed

    Source

    “Parliament is currently in recess until 1 September after the debate on Sindano's nomination could not proceed because there was no voting quorum.”

    ECN nominee Sindano faces opposition scrutiny over past Swapo ties

  12. Windhoek Observer

    Parliament must close gaps in tobacco-control legislation left by market changes

    Source

    “Parliament must close those gaps.”

    Namibia must stop smoking away its future…Namibia is sleepwalking into a public-health crisis.
Mining & Energy

Agriculture ministry challenges phosphate mining environmental clearance

The News

The Minister of Agriculture is challenging an Environmental Clearance Certificate granted to marine phosphate mining company Namibian Marine Phosphate, citing a moratorium placed on phosphate mining in 2013, while the Environment Minister said the Environmental Management Act process will take its course and environmental groups oppose the project citing ecosystem damage risks.

3 September 2026 · Informanté →

Thursday 3 September

  1. Agriculture ministry challenges phosphate mining environmental clearance

    The Minister of Agriculture is challenging an Environmental Clearance Certificate granted to marine phosphate mining company Namibian Marine Phosphate, citing a moratorium placed on phosphate mining in 2013, while the Environment Minister said the Environmental Management Act process will take its course and environmental groups oppose the project citing ecosystem damage risks.

    3 September 2026 · Informanté →

Tuesday 1 September

  1. Prime Minister addresses Junior National Council on water and development

    Prime Minister Tjitunga Ngurare delivered a keynote address to the 4th Junior National Council, urging young members from Namibia's fourteen regions to champion water, sanitation, and national development as participants in parliamentary democracy.

    1 September 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. National Council approves updated Mental Health Bill

    The National Council has passed the Mental Health Bill (no. 8 of 2025) without amendments. The Bill replaces the Mental Health Act of 1973 and provides an updated legal framework for mental health care, expanded community-based services, stronger patient rights protection, and treatment aligned with modern human rights standards.

    1 September 2026 · Informanté →

  3. Junior National Council convenes on water and sanitation access

    Prime Minister Elijah Tjitunga Ngurare has opened the Fourth Junior National Council session in Windhoek, bringing together 42 young Namibians from all 14 regions to deliberate on universal water and sanitation access. The session runs from 31 August to 3 September and focuses on developing practical solutions to the country's water and sanitation challenges.

    1 September 2026 · Informanté →

Monday 31 August

  1. National Assembly resumes Fourth Session on September 1

    The National Assembly will resume the Fourth Session of the Eighth Parliament on Tuesday, 1 September 2026, to consider several agenda items including continuation of debate on the Land Bill, Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Amendment Bill, Regional Councils Amendment Bill, Public Enterprises Governance Amendment Bill, Income Tax Amendment Bill, and the Accountants and Auditors Regulatory Authority Bill, as well as reports and tabled motions.

    31 August 2026 · Informanté →

Thursday 27 August

  1. Lüderitz vulnerable children's centre seeks more resources

    The Empowerment Centre for Vulnerable Children in Lüderitz called for increased support for food, educational materials and other resources during a Parliamentary Standing Committee oversight visit to child-care facilities in //Kharas and Hardap regions. The centre provides breakfast and lunch to children and produces learning materials from recycled items, but says monthly food assistance remains insufficient and quality educational materials are needed.

    27 August 2026 · Informanté →

Tuesday 25 August

  1. Opinion: Namibia's constitution needs decolonisation

    An opinion piece argues that Namibia's constitutional framework treats opposition parties as inferior and enables majority rule to suppress truth and facts in parliamentary and cabinet decisions, calling for amendment of Articles 32 and 35 to establish a consensus-based system of governance.

    25 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Monday 17 August

  1. Namibia's mental health bill faces staffing and resource shortages

    Namibia's new Mental Health Bill, applauded in June, confronts operational challenges: the system is severely stretched with too few psychiatrists, inadequate resources, limited community services, and heavy reliance on a single Windhoek facility. In the 2023–2024 fiscal year, over 91,500 outpatient consultations, 11,400 inpatient admissions, and 542 deaths were reported.

    17 August 2026 · New Era →

  2. Justice system advances security plan for magistrates, prosecutors

    Namibia's Chief Justice has convened stakeholders to consider security assessment findings covering more than 400 judicial officers and prosecutors, with the assessment to be submitted to Cabinet and the Office of the Prime Minister. The move addresses risks of intimidation and violence faced by those administering and prosecuting the law, prompted partly by the death of regional control prosecutor Justine Shiweda in October 2025.

    17 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

  3. Welwitschia Fund reaches $30.85 million market value

    The Welwitschia Fund, established in 2022 to convert Namibia's resource wealth into longer-term financial wealth, has recorded a market value of US$30.85 million (N$508.47 million) as of 31 July, with an annualised return of 15.5% since inception. The fund is designed to strengthen Namibia's resilience to economic shocks and promote intergenerational equity, with a companion Sovereign Wealth Fund of Namibia Bill expected to be tabled in Parliament in 2026.

    17 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

  4. Namibia's education curriculum requires urgent modernisation review

    An opinion piece argues that Namibia's education curriculum, last substantially reformed in the 2000s, is outdated and no longer reflects the country's evolving economy, technology, and societal changes since independence. The author contends that education must evolve with society to prepare children for a world shaped by digitalisation, artificial intelligence, and global competition.

    17 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Saturday 15 August

  1. Namibia questions whether veterans programmes actually work

    Namibia has tried various forms of support for liberation struggle veterans including payments, grants, and income-generating schemes, but the article argues the country needs to evaluate whether these programmes are achieving their intended outcomes, not simply increase spending.

    15 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Friday 14 August

  1. Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy faces technical staffing shortage

    The Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy is facing a shortage of technically qualified and skilled personnel that could affect the ministry's ability to implement its programmes in mining, energy and industrial development. The shortage, identified as a key challenge during a National Assembly presentation, comes as the ministry evolves following fiscal consolidation and wage bill reductions.

    14 August 2026 · New Era →

  2. Oshikuku Council finance overseen by unqualified official for two decades

    The National Assembly's Public Accounts Committee expressed concern that Oshikuku Town Council's finance function was overseen for nearly two decades by Filippus Angula, who lacked formal finance qualifications or a finance-related professional background. After Angula's retirement in January 2026, the council retained him on extensions while its recruitment for a qualified replacement remained unfinished.

    14 August 2026 · Informanté →

Thursday 13 August

  1. 80% of Zambezi employers breach minimum wage obligations

    The sole labour inspector in Zambezi Region reports that 80% of employers are not complying with the national minimum wage, and identifies widespread non-payment of overtime and unfair dismissal practices, attributing some issues to employer and worker lack of knowledge of the Labour Act.

    13 August 2026 · Informanté →

  2. Approximately 11,000 liberation veterans still lack Individual Veterans' Projects

    About 11,000 registered liberation veterans remain without Individual Veterans' Projects (IVPs), with only about 15,000 of approximately 26,000 registered veterans having received the N$200,000 once-off grant. Funding the remaining beneficiaries is estimated to require N$1.9 billion, prompting calls for government to provide Parliament with a time-bound plan.

    13 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

  3. Amnesty International seeks court role in Namibia-Germany genocide reparations case

    Amnesty International has applied to be admitted as a "friend of the court" in a High Court challenge to the Namibia-Germany Joint Declaration on the 1904-1908 genocide, bringing international human rights expertise to debates over what meaningful reparations should entail for the Ovaherero and Nama communities.

    13 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Tuesday 11 August

  1. Parliamentary committee flags safety and sanitation gaps at Okarikua Mine

    A Parliamentary Standing Committee member raised concerns following a site visit to Okarikua Mining in Kunene Region, observing that workers lack adequate personal protective equipment and proper ablution facilities despite operating there for about two years. The committee questioned claims that the operation is still in a testing phase, noting that copper production is taking place at the site.

    11 August 2026 · Informanté →

Monday 10 August

  1. President challenges state enterprises to reform within 24 months

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has challenged state-owned enterprises to stop producing plans and attending meetings, and instead identify one strategic investment project and one reform that can produce measurable results within 24 months, with the test of an SOE ultimately being what it delivers to citizens and the economy.

    10 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Friday 7 August

  1. IPC queries legal basis of ACC chief's two-month extension

    Opposition politician Imms Nashinge has questioned the legality of outgoing Anti-Corruption Commission Director-General Paulus Noa's reported two-month tenure extension, arguing it bypassed Parliament and may constitute executive overreach. Nashinge says Parliament approved Bryan Eiseb as Noa's replacement and a one-year extension for deputy director general Erna van der Merwe in July 2026, but Noa's additional time was granted during parliamentary recess without parliamentary involvement as required by the Constitution and Anti-Corruption Act.

    7 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Thursday 6 August

  1. Mining sector contributed N$24 billion to local procurement

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah announced that the mining sector contributed a combined N$24 billion to local procurement during the year under review, and set an end-of-August deadline for government ministries to implement reforms aimed at improving Namibia's business environment.

    6 August 2026 · New Era →

  2. DA, AfriForum challenge South Africa Expropriation Act in court

    The Democratic Alliance, a member of South Africa's Government of National Unity coalition, has joined AfriForum and the Institute of Race Relations in challenging the Expropriation Act, which would permit the government to expropriate land without compensation in certain circumstances. The high court in Cape Town is hearing arguments over five days on the Act's validity and constitutionality, with the Presidency, Parliament, and the Economic Freedom Fighters presenting counter-arguments.

    6 August 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 3 August

  1. Hage Geingob Town Hall launches to strengthen democratic dialogue

    The inaugural Hage Geingob Town Hall Conversation aims to preserve the late president's commitment to consultation and participatory governance. The Windhoek Observer argues that a successful town hall's value lies in whether participants feel heard, not in attendance figures or polished presentations.

    3 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Friday 31 July

  1. Presidential platforms must prioritise national interest

    An editorial argues that every presidential engagement should advance national interest, citing debate over President Nandi-Ndaitwah's appearance at the MTC Kasi Vibe Festival and noting concerns from NUDO and PDM leaders about how the Presidency's time and authority should be deployed.

    31 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Thursday 30 July

  1. National Council examines road safety after 229 fatalities in six months

    Namibia's National Council Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Housing held a stakeholder engagement in Erongo Region to address rising road accidents. Motor Vehicle Accident Fund statistics show 1,333 road crashes between January and June 2026 resulted in 2,273 injuries and 229 fatalities, prompting the committee to seek recommendations for reducing traffic accidents and assessing road safety regulations and enforcement mechanisms.

    30 July 2026 · Informanté →

  2. Ramaphosa impeachment process could stretch two years or longer

    Parliament's impeachment committee voted 14–13 to appeal an interdict halting public proceedings against President Ramaphosa over the Phala Phala forex theft; delays over procedural matters such as appointing evidence leaders and finalising terms of reference suggest a lengthy process ahead if hearings commence.

    30 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 29 July

  1. Pan-African Parliament calls for roadmap to end Sudan conflict

    The Pan-African Parliament has called for an immediate end to the conflict in Sudan and recommended an extraordinary session to develop a roadmap for peaceful resolution, with Namibia's Head of Delegation to the parliament presenting a report that examined the security crisis and humanitarian impact of the conflict.

    29 July 2026 · Informanté →

Tuesday 28 July

  1. Omusati residents face years-long delays in identity document processing

    Residents of Omusati region report prolonged processing times for national identity documents from the ministry of home affairs, immigration, safety and security, with some waiting years without receiving feedback on applications and losing access to essential services and employment opportunities.

    28 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Wednesday 22 July

  1. Limited capacity and funding hamper Namibia's decentralisation agenda

    A Parliamentary Standing Committee has identified limited institutional capacity, inadequate funding, and weak coordination between government levels as key obstacles to Namibia's decentralisation reforms under NDP6. The committee is holding a five-day workshop in Gobabis to examine whether the country's legal, institutional, and financial frameworks are sufficient to support decentralisation objectives.

    22 July 2026 · New Era →

Monday 20 July

  1. Swapo veterans urge party discipline ahead of elective congress

    With Swapo's elective congress a little over a year away, veteran party leaders have called on the ruling party to strictly uphold its constitution, restore internal discipline, and refocus on ordinary Namibians' concerns. Former Cabinet minister Jerry Ekandjo cited the party's loss of its two-thirds majority in the National Assembly—now holding 51 seats while opposition parties collectively occupy 45—and urged the party to follow constitutional provisions, including filling the long-vacant vice president position.

    20 July 2026 · New Era →

Parliament — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute