Parliamentcannot rubber-stamp appointments; should interrogate and questionnominees
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“Parliament is not expected to rubber-stamp appointments. Its role is to interrogate, question and satisfy itself that nominations comply with both the letter and the spirit of the law.”
Parliamentwas elected todismantle colonial and apartheid habits and laws of exclusion
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“To Parliament: you were elected to dismantle the colonial and apartheid habits and laws of exclusion, exploitation, and divide-and-rule upon which public institutions were founded, not only to represent the new faces of colonialism and apartheid rule.”
Parliamentadopted unanimously in 2006a motion on genocide, apology and reparations
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“She said Namibia's engagement with Germany stems from a unanimous motion adopted by Parliament in 2006 on genocide, apology and reparations, which directed the government to pursue the matter with Berlin.”
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.
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.
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.
PDM president McHenry Venaani has endorsed the draft Nuclear Bill, arguing that Namibia should use its uranium resources to drive economic growth and value addition rather than export raw minerals. The government has concluded nationwide public consultations on the proposed legislation, which seeks to modernise the nuclear regulatory framework and establish three specialised institutions to oversee the peaceful use of nuclear technology.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has asked the High Court for an urgent interdict to stop impeachment proceedings against him over the Phala Phala allegations, arguing the inquiry would cause him irreparable harm and humiliation. The court heard two days of arguments in Cape Town, with the impeachment stemming from a Section 89 panel report finding he had a case to answer over the theft of $580,000 in cash from his game farm.
Cyril Ramaphosa is applying to the High Court for an interdict to stop impeachment proceedings against him over the Phala Phala allegations, arguing that a public inquiry would cause irreparable harm to his reputation. The impeachment stems from a Section 89 independent panel's finding that Ramaphosa had a case to answer regarding the theft of $580,000 in cash hidden at his game farm.
A mother has alleged that her six-year-old son's arm was amputated at Windhoek hospital following complications from a cast applied at Otjiwarongo State Hospital in April 2026. She claims the cast was applied too tightly, causing nerve damage and turning the child's arm blue, and says the hospital has not explained what led to the amputation.
The Western Cape High Court heard arguments from opposition parties who urged the court to reject President Ramaphosa's urgent interdict to prevent Parliament's impeachment committee from starting proceedings against him over the Phala Phala saga. The ATM, EFF, MK, and UAT parties argued that granting the interdict would encroach on Parliament's authority.
Opposition parties oppose Gerson Sindano's nomination to chair the Electoral Commission of Namibia, citing his past role as personal assistant to a Swapo official and his current Swapo membership as undermining the commission's independence ahead of the 2030 elections. The National Democratic Party president says he would only support Sindano if he publicly renounced his Swapo membership.
The Windhoek Observer warns that children across Namibia, some as young as 10, are smoking Hubbly Bubbly, vaping, and mixing these substances with alcohol and cannabis, skipping school and financing habits through distribution; the National Council is investigating the issue, but the outlet urges that consultations must lead to meaningful action rather than reports without follow-through.
Namibia's plastic bag levy has generated N$249 750 858.91 between the 2021/22 financial year and the first half of the 2025/26 financial year, with the revenue funding waste management, recycling and green economy projects. The levy, introduced under the Customs and Excise Act and expanded from 2018–2019, aims to reduce reliance on single-use plastic bags and promote environmentally responsible behaviour.
The Teachers Union of Namibia says many teachers are trapped in high-interest debt from loan companies, with some left with as little as N$500 after payroll deductions, in violation of Labour Act provisions capping deductions at one-third of remuneration. The union is calling for stricter enforcement of existing legislation and financial literacy programmes to address the crisis.
Home affairs minister Lucia Iipumbu announced that the government will upgrade the Automatic Biometric Information System (ABIS) following technical failures since 2025 that disrupted the processing of certificates of conduct required for employment. The ministry has entered an agreement with a supplier for a software upgrade aimed at improving stability, modernising the platform and reducing delays.
An editorial argues that the disagreement over the Electoral Commission of Namibia's appointments process—specifically a dispute between the Attorney-General and the Affirmative Repositioning movement over access to documents related to the President's nominations—should be resolved through constitutional principle rather than partisan rivalry, given Namibia's reputation for rule of law.
The Office of the Attorney-General has rejected demands to postpone Parliament's vote on the Electoral Commission of Namibia chairperson and commissioners, but agreed to make documents bearing President Nandi-Ndaitwah's signature available to MPs during the sitting. The legal challenge, filed on behalf of AR leader Job Amupanda, argued that MPs lacked critical documents needed for an informed constitutional decision.
Labour MPs are nominating their next leader following Sir Keir Starmer's resignation, with Andy Burnham the only MP to have announced his candidacy so far. Leadership candidates need nominations from 20% of Labour's 403 MPs and support from affiliated trade unions and constituency parties.
A National Council member has raised concerns over the rapid growth of nursing training institutions and employment challenges for graduates. The National Council for Higher Education says new regulations have been introduced to revise entry requirements, regulate training quotas, and control intakes for health professions, particularly nursing.
The Minister of Agriculture responded to parliamentary questions about N$6.2 million in losses at the Agro-Marketing and Trade Agency (AMTA), stating that investigations found the AMTA board did not breach its fiduciary duties. The minister attributed the financial losses to inadequate financial systems and accountability rather than fraud, and said disciplinary proceedings against the former managing director cost significantly less than the alleged N$10 million.
Education Minister Sanet Steenkamp told Parliament that the ministry has not been made aware of maladministration, corruption or recruitment irregularities at UNAM, but will investigate should a formal complaint supported by evidence be submitted. Steenkamp distinguished between interference and intervention, noting that UNAM has its own council and senate.
An editorial in the Windhoek Observer argues that the Electoral Commission of Namibia must maintain public confidence through transparency and openness, noting that a parliamentary debate over the appointment of ECN commissioners—in which opposition parties alleged MPs were denied access to nomination documentation—highlights the importance of institutions being seen as independent, not merely being independent in fact.
An editorial argues that the departure of Chief Regional Officer Kamseb, reportedly following intervention by the Minister of Urban and Rural Development, exposes a persistent ambiguity in Namibia's decentralisation framework over where ministerial oversight ends and regional council authority begins.
Namibian columnist Lazarus Kwedhi argues that despite political independence in 1990, structural inequalities persist: unemployment exceeds 30 percent overall and 60 percent among youth, while inflation and interest rates squeeze households and many families rely on single grants to support multiple generations.
Namibia's rising unemployment and economic stagnation have intensified public debate over immigration, work permits, and border control. The Windhoek Observer editorial argues that while states have the right to regulate immigration, enforcement must follow legal institutions and constitutional principles rather than public mobilisation against particular groups.
Defence and Veterans Affairs Minister Frans Kapofi has rejected calls to visit liberation struggle veterans protesting outside Swapo Party headquarters, saying their grievances fall outside his ministerial mandate and that they raise issues beyond his responsibility.
The Minister of Agriculture announced that the Equalisation Fund, which ensures farmers in the Northern Communal Areas receive the same cattle prices as farmers elsewhere in Namibia, will be operationalised in 2024 after institutional delays prevented implementation the previous year. The ministry is also investing in feedlots and reducing transport costs for NCA farmers as part of broader efforts to remove market inequities.
Landless People's Movement MP Dawid Eigub has called on Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare to address persistent delays in government payments to contractors and service providers, noting that some contractors have waited more than six months for payment and that the situation is threatening businesses and driving up public project costs.
The Chief Veterinary Officer has confirmed the Red Line veterinary cordon fence cannot be removed due to foot-and-mouth disease endemic in Namibia's northern regions, warning that removal could spread the disease to the FMD-free zone and jeopardise beef exports. He also cited uncontrolled cross-border livestock movement with Angola as a risk factor requiring management.
The Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council has confirmed that Fabu-Paracetamol meets required safety and quality standards following independent laboratory testing of samples from health facilities. The tests found all batches complied with quality specifications, contained correct active pharmaceutical ingredient levels, and contained no toxic contaminants such as diethylene glycol or ethylene glycol.
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced his resignation as Labour Party leader and will step down as prime minister once a successor is chosen, with Andy Burnham emerging as the frontrunner. Starmer said he will remain in office until a new Labour leader is selected, ensuring an orderly transition of power.
A National Youth Council elective general assembly that began Friday descended into chaos on Saturday, injuring nine delegates and prompting education minister Sanet Steenkamp to postpone the assembly indefinitely. The disruption involved disputes over the electoral process, with disagreements over delegate allocations and factional tensions.