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Friday, 21 August 2026
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Friday, 21 August 2026
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Namibian press · Person

Patience Makwele

Also known as: Roide David

2026-04-302026-08-21

What’s been said

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

  1. August 2026
  2. Windhoek Observer

    Patience Makwele Cabinet approved establishment of Public Assets Management Agency of Namibia

    Source

    Patience Makwele Cabinet has approved the establishment of the Public Assets Management Agency of Namibia (PAMA), a new state-owned company intended to strengthen the management of the country's commercial public assets.

    Cabinet approves PAMA to manage commercial public assets
  3. Windhoek Observer

    Patience Makwele allegedly disappeared from home in Omitara in early hours of Saturday

    Source

    The mother of a nine-month-old Namtani Loretta Nuses has described the frantic search for her daughter after the baby allegedly disappeared from their home in Omitara, Omaheke region, in the early hours of Saturday.

    Omitara mother recounts baby’s final hours
  4. Windhoek Observer

    Patience Makwele allegedly had N$60,900 transferred from FNB account without permission while asleep

    Source

    Patience Makwele Police in Tsumeb are investigating a suspected case of fraud after N$60 900 was allegedly transferred from a complainant's FNB account without his permission while he was asleep.

    N$60 900 allegedly transferred while victim slept
  5. Windhoek Observer

    Patience Makwele was denied bail for allegedly murdering domestic worker

    Source

    A 41-year-old woman accused of murdering her 22-year-old Angolan domestic worker and allegedly setting fire to the room where the body was found to conceal the crime has been denied bail.

    Bail denied in Angolan domestic worker murder case
  6. Windhoek Observer

    Patience Makwele faces charges of murder, arson and defeating or obstructing the course of justice

    Source

    Roide David made her first appearance in the Rundu Magistrate's Court on Monday, where she faces charges of murder, arson and defeating or obstructing the course of justice in connection with the death of Fernandu Christine Chipi at Mile 30 village in the Ncamagoro constituency, Kavango West.

    Bail denied in Angolan domestic worker murder case
  7. Windhoek Observer

    Patience Makwele is mentioned as an individual in context of cervical cancer article

    Source

    Patience Makwele An estimated 98% of cervical cancer cases in Namibia are linked to persistent infection with the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), prompting renewed calls for greater uptake of HPV vaccination and routine cervical screening as the country marks National Cancer Awareness Week.

    About 98% of cervical cancer cases linked to HPV
  8. Windhoek Observer

    Patience Makwele reported on the truck crash incident

    Source

    Report: Patience Makwele One person has died after a truck transporting cattle overturned on the Western Bypass in Windhoek in the early hours of Monday.

    Driver killed, as 90 cattle perish in Western Bypass truck crash
  9. July 2026
  10. Windhoek Observer

    Patience Makwele is mentioned as a person in the article

    Source

    Patience Makwele The government has begun implementing Namibia's National Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Policy, bringing together education institutions, employers and state agencies to close the long-standing gap between classroom learning and workplace skills as part of efforts to improve graduate employability.

    Government moves to bridge graduate skills gap
  11. Windhoek Observer

    Patience Makwele is a 24-year-old mother from the Zambezi region

    Source

    A 24-year-old mother from the Zambezi region has turned money which she receives from the government as her daughter's monthly child grant into a thriving vegetable business, using the venture to support her family and challenge perceptions of youth unemployment.

    Young mother turns child grant into thriving vegetable business
  12. June 2026
  13. Windhoek Observer

    Patience Makwele reported the incidents

    Source

    Report: Patience Makwele

    Two children die in separate domestic incidents
Mining & Energy

Cabinet approves Namibia's upstream petroleum local content policy

The News

Namibia's Cabinet has approved the National Upstream Petroleum Local Content Policy, designed to increase Namibian participation across the petroleum value chain through local business development, employment, skills transfer, and procurement access. The government aims to move from exploration to production between 2026 and 2030, prioritising local employment, suppliers, and skills development.

21 hours ago · Windhoek Observer

Yesterday

  1. Cabinet approves Namibia's upstream petroleum local content policy

    Namibia's Cabinet has approved the National Upstream Petroleum Local Content Policy, designed to increase Namibian participation across the petroleum value chain through local business development, employment, skills transfer, and procurement access. The government aims to move from exploration to production between 2026 and 2030, prioritising local employment, suppliers, and skills development.

    21 hours ago · Windhoek Observer

Wednesday 19 August

  1. Government cancels N$39.5m agriculture AI system deal

    The government has cancelled its agreement with US-based 6th Grain Corporation for an AI and satellite imagery-driven crop monitoring system. The agriculture ministry said the review found the agreement did not meet required legal and procedural requirements.

    19 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer

  2. Ministry to consult on driving school and instructor regulations

    The ministry of works and transport will conduct nationwide stakeholder consultations from August 2026 to March 2027 on proposed regulations for driving schools and instructors aimed at improving driver training quality and road safety. The framework will address instructor certification and competence, standardised training, consumer protection, and requirements for training vehicles and facilities.

    19 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer

  3. Windhoek court provisionally withdraws N$4m Zambezi corruption case

    Prosecutors have provisionally withdrawn a long-running corruption case against six Zambezi Regional Council officials at the Windhoek High Court, following a previous withdrawal in October 2024. The case concerns alleged corruption involving more than N$4 million in capital projects in the Kongola constituency.

    19 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer

  4. Namibia revises procurement thresholds, expands entity participation

    More than 80 public entities gain broader procurement authority under Namibia's revised regulations effective August 4, 2026, aimed at reducing administrative delays, decongesting central procurement, and expanding supplier opportunities. The changes raise procurement thresholds to reflect current economic conditions including inflation and currency depreciation.

    19 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer

  5. MPs warn Mental Health Bill needs resources, rural access

    Members of Parliament have backed Namibia's proposed Mental Health Bill 2025 but warned that its reforms could fail without adequate funding, specialised staff, infrastructure, and services reaching rural communities. MPs called for mental health units at regional hospitals and trained staff at district facilities, citing that services remain concentrated in Windhoek while regions struggle to access specialised care.

    19 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Tuesday 18 August

  1. Namibia launches N$17.5m creative sector plan for 470 jobs

    Namibia's government has formalised a N$17.5 million Local Content Plan expected to create approximately 470 direct jobs and support film production across all 14 regions through a memorandum of understanding between the ministries of education, innovation, youth, sports, arts and culture and information and communication technology. The funding will finance a national soap opera, two limited television series, 14 regional short films, and a film production equipment access programme, as part of a broader N$50 million government allocation to creative industries programmes.

    18 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Monday 17 August

  1. Cabinet approves PAMA to manage commercial public assets

    Namibia's Cabinet has approved the establishment of the Public Assets Management Agency of Namibia (PAMA), a state-owned company intended to strengthen transparent and efficient management of the country's commercial public assets. The government's immovable assets are valued at about N$47.4 billion, comprising approximately 9,640 properties including land, housing, clinics, prisons, hospitals, and schools.

    17 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Saturday 15 August

  1. Namibia launches digital learning platform for rural youth

    The Namibia Learning Passport, launched by the ministry of education in partnership with UNICEF, provides digital and offline access to learning materials for young people in rural and underserved communities to develop skills relevant to education, employment and entrepreneurship.

    15 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer

  2. Youths urged to engage actively in community development

    During International Youth Day commemorations in Keetmanshoop, youth leaders called on young people to take active roles in shaping their communities and preparing for opportunities in technology, innovation and new industries. Officials emphasised that youth outside major centres should have access to platforms for participating in Namibia's development.

    15 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Friday 14 August

  1. Namibia raises N$700,000 for Cuba, renews embargo opposition

    Namibian people and organisations have raised over N$700,000 through a humanitarian campaign to support Cuba, with President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah renewing calls for the complete and unconditional lifting of the US economic embargo against the Caribbean nation. The funds will be used to deliver medical supplies and solar-panel kits for electricity generation to Cuba.

    14 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer

  2. High Court rules NAC must allow Puma to resume airport fuelling

    The Windhoek High Court has clarified that an earlier order restoring Puma Energy Namibia's possession of airport facilities at Eros and Andimba Toivo ya Toivo airports also required the Namibia Airports Company to allow Puma to resume its aviation fuelling business. Acting judge James Devittie found that restoring physical possession alone was insufficient, and that the April order covered both corporeal possession of the premises and the incorporeal aspect of operating the fuelling business.

    14 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Thursday 13 August

  1. Police intensify enforcement on B1, B2 during holiday period

    Namibian Police have launched an integrated road safety operation running from 12 August to 10 September, focusing on the B1 and B2 national road corridors following 279 deaths in 1,747 road crashes between January and August 2026. The operation will deploy twenty dedicated Traffic Law Enforcement Officers and target speeding, drunk driving, reckless driving, and vehicle safety violations.

    13 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Tuesday 11 August

  1. Robben Island political prisoners' remains to be repatriated to Namibia

    The remains of Festus Nehale and Simon Petrus Niilenge, former Robben Island political prisoners, are set to be exhumed in Cape Town this week, more than 50 years after their deaths. They are among 84 other Namibian human remains identified in South Africa for repatriation to Namibia, with South Africa's sport minister formally handing them over to Namibia's education minister.

    11 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer

  2. Minister's warning on foreign cultural influence divides analysts

    Minister James Sankwasa warned against foreign cultural influence in Africa, questioning the adoption of trends like Brazilian hairstyles and artificial nails at the Olufuko Cultural Festival gala dinner. Analysts remain split: one supports his concerns about globalisation weakening local practices, while another cautions against framing cultural identity as a binary choice between "African" and "foreign."

    11 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Monday 10 August

  1. Nine-month-old found dead in shrubs near Omitara home

    A nine-month-old girl disappeared from her home in Omitara, Omaheke region, early Saturday morning while her mother briefly left the house. The baby was later found dead in shrubs about 30 minutes' walk from the house, with a cloth tied around her mouth and wrapped in heavy clothing; police investigation into the circumstances is ongoing.

    10 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Sunday 9 August

  1. Police investigate N$60 900 unauthorized bank transfer in Tsumeb

    Tsumeb police are investigating a suspected fraud case after N$60 900 was allegedly transferred from a complainant's FNB account without permission while he slept on the night of 6–7 August. The complainant reported receiving no requests for banking details, card numbers, or one-time passwords.

    9 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

  2. Namibian data scientist publishes debut memoir to inspire youth

    Monica Tangeni-Omua, a Namibian philanthropist and data scientist, has published her debut book, A Village Girl with a Mighty God, a memoir drawing from her experiences growing up in Omundi village in northern Namibia amid poverty and loss. The book, launching at Avani Windhoek Hotel on 15 August with sold-out tickets, aims to encourage young people to persevere through life's challenges by reflecting how faith, resilience and personal growth shaped her journey to a corporate career.

    7 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer

  3. Young Namibians urged to sustain Geingob's governance legacy

    At the inaugural Dr Hage Geingob Town Hall Conversation at the University of Namibia, speakers called on young Namibians to become custodians of late President Geingob's governance legacy by strengthening institutions, defending constitutional values, and demanding accountable leadership. The newly established Dr Hage Geingob Presidential Centre aims to preserve Geingob's ideas through research, documentation, and public dialogue.

    7 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer

  4. Three Namibian boxers win medals at Glasgow Commonwealth Games

    Namibia's boxing team delivered medal success at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, with Tryagain Morning Ndevelo winning silver and Mischa Monique Araes and Philip Pumulo Mutakela Haoseb each claiming bronze. The athletes received a heroes' welcome at Hosea Kutako International Airport and were recognised with monetary rewards totalling N$195 000 under the government's sports reward policy.

    7 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Thursday 6 August

  1. Namibia Air receives five-year operating licence

    Namibia Air has received its Air Operating Licences valid for five years from 6 August 2026, enabling the national carrier to acquire aircraft and begin operations. The airline's first commercial flight is expected during the first week of December.

    6 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer

  2. Woman denied bail in Angolan domestic worker murder case

    A 41-year-old woman accused of murdering her 22-year-old Angolan domestic worker and setting fire to conceal the crime has been denied bail. She faces charges of murder, arson and defeating or obstructing the course of justice in connection with the death at Mile 30 village in Kavango West.

    6 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer

  3. HPV linked to 98% of cervical cancer cases in Namibia

    An estimated 98% of cervical cancer cases in Namibia are linked to persistent HPV infection. The Cancer Association of Namibia calls for greater uptake of HPV vaccination and routine cervical screening, noting that Namibia records about 453 new cervical cancer cases annually—nearly three times the global average—and that cervical cancer remains the second most commonly diagnosed cancer among Namibian women despite being largely preventable.

    6 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer

  4. N$132m hostel project aims to solve Grootfontein school placement crisis

    A N$132 million hostel under construction at Otjiwanda Secondary School in Grootfontein is intended to ease secondary school placement pressure by providing accommodation for learners from remote communities. The facility, expected to be completed in 2028, will include separate boys' and girls' hostels, staff houses, a kitchen and dining hall, and sports facilities to address the challenge of learners securing school places but lacking suitable accommodation.

    6 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Wednesday 5 August

  1. Judge rejects recusal bid in girlfriend murder trial

    High Court judge Dinah Usiku ruled that Roger Beeth (36), accused of murdering his girlfriend Bertha Witbooi in March 2023 and obstructing justice, had failed to establish reasonable apprehension of bias against her. The judge found no grounds to recuse herself from the trial and allowed proceedings to continue.

    5 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Tuesday 4 August

  1. Aging sewer system exceeds capacity in Katima Mulilo

    Urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa says Katima Mulilo's sewage crisis stems from an aging sewer system designed decades ago for 10,000–15,000 people that has not kept pace with the town's growth. The overflowing infrastructure threatens public health and the town's tourism ambitions ahead of the Zambezi Bream Festival.

    4 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer

  2. Government launches breastfeeding reforms amid low exclusive rates

    Namibia's Health Ministry has announced a nationwide rollout of the "Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding" across health facilities after a 2024 survey found that only 49% of infants aged zero to five months are exclusively breastfed and early weaning onto inadequate foods is driving malnutrition and childhood illness.

    4 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Monday 3 August

  1. Driver killed, 90 cattle die in Western Bypass crash

    A truck carrying cattle overturned on Windhoek's Western Bypass in the early hours of Monday, killing the driver and about 90 cattle. A second truck carrying juice also overturned nearby, injuring at least one person.

    3 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Friday 31 July

  1. Young Namibian describes vaping addiction leading to serious lung condition

    A 27-year-old Namibian man shares his story of vaping addiction that began during Covid-19 lockdown and progressed to repeated hospital admissions and a serious lung condition, despite warnings from doctors about the dangers, particularly given his pre-existing asthma.

    31 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Patience Makwele — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute