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June 2026
Windhoek Observer
Chief Justice Peter Shivutedisclosed that plans for an Omuthiya court had been draftedbut construction was waiting on financial resources
Source
“In 2018, Chief Justice Peter Shivute disclosed that plans for an Omuthiya court had already been drafted, but construction was waiting on financial resources.”
Chief Justice Peter Shivutestated that inadequate resources remain one of the judiciary's most pressing challengesparticularly in human capital
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“Outlining the most significant challenges encountered in the past year, he stated that inadequate resources, especially in human resources, remain one of the judiciary's most immediate and pressing challenges.”
Chief Justice Peter Shivutewarned thatviolence against officers of the court threatens Namibia's justice system
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“Speaking at the funeral service, chief justice Peter Shivute warned that violence against officers of the court threatens Namibia's justice system, describing the fatal attack as cruel and brazen.”
Chief Justice Peter ShivuterevealedHigh Court's civil bench managed 4,295 cases during 2025, averaging 614 cases per judge
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“Last week, chief justice Peter Shivute revealed that the High Court's civil bench managed 4 295 cases during 2025, which is an average workload of 614 cases per judge.”
Chief justice Peter Shivuteraised concerns aboutthe wider social impact of judicial delays caused by an under-staffed and overworked judiciary
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“His comments come after chief justice Peter Shivute last week raised concerns about the wider social impact of judicial delays caused by an under-staffed and overworked judiciary.”
Peter Shivutesharedinsights on industrial growth during Namibia country showcase at Mining Indaba
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“Peter Shivute, the executive for micro, small and medium enterprise development and export promotion at the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), shared these insights during the Namibia country showcase at the Mining Indaba in Cape Town, South Africa, on Wednesday.”
The Office of the Judiciary announced that the Omuthiya Periodical Court will commence operations on Monday, 8 June 2026, providing essential judicial services including criminal proceedings, marriage solemnization, maintenance disputes, and bail payments to residents of Oshikoto Region who previously had to travel to Ondangwa Magistrate's Court.
Why it matters
The Omuthiya Periodical Court opening brings essential judicial services to Oshikoto Region residents, improving access to justice.
The Office of the Judiciary announced that the Omuthiya Periodical Court will commence operations on Monday, 8 June 2026, providing essential judicial services including criminal proceedings, marriage solemnization, maintenance disputes, and bail payments to residents of Oshikoto Region who previously had to travel to Ondangwa Magistrate's Court.
The Supreme Court found that former prime minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila acted lawfully under the Public Service Act when she blocked the appointment of Phelem Masule as the Anti-Corruption Commission's chief of investigations and prosecutions in July 2020. Although the court found the High Court erred in setting aside her decision, it dismissed the government's appeal after determining the appellants failed to rely on the correct section of the Act in their appeal.
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.
Justice Esi Malaika Schimming-Chase has become the first woman to be permanently appointed as a judge to Namibia's Supreme Court, taking her oath of office at a ceremony administered by Chief Justice Peter Shivute. She assumes duties effective 1 March 2026, following a distinguished legal career spanning more than two decades.
Namibia's Justice Minister Filemon Wise Immanuel has urgently requested residential security protection for all magistrates and prosecutors following the death of Magistrate Justine Shiweda and rising threats against judicial officers in Grootfontein and Ondangwa. Immanuel warned that attacks on judges threaten the independence of the justice system and emphasised that financial constraints cannot delay protecting those who administer justice.
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.
Thousands gathered to pay respects to late Ondangwa regional control prosecutor Justine Ndapandula Shiweda, who died on 7 February 2026 from injuries sustained in a violent attack in October 2025. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and other state officials condemned the attack and pledged that violence against law enforcement will be met with the full force of the law, while a trust fund has been established to support Shiweda's two young children.
Ondangwa regional control prosecutor Justine Shiweda, who was shot and doused with corrosive acid on 17 October 2025 and died on 7 February, was buried at her family cemetery in Oshana region on Saturday. Chief Justice Peter Shivute warned at her funeral that violence against court officers threatens Namibia's justice system and called for prosecutors and judges to remain committed to administering justice without fear or intimidation.
The High Court's civil bench saw case load surge from an average of 384 cases per judge in 2024 to 614 in 2025, prompting judge Beatrix de Jager to declare publicly that she would not sacrifice her health for an impossible workload. The Namibian editorial argues that government prioritizes resource allocation to natural resource distribution and military recruitment over supporting the judiciary, risking constitutional democracy.
Former finance minister Calle Schlettwein and Chief Justice Peter Shivute have warned that delays in Namibia's under-staffed judiciary damage economic confidence and deter investment, with the civil division of the High Court handling an average of 614 cases per judge last year. However, some analysts dispute this, arguing that Namibia's rule of law remains strong and that executive and legislative delays have a larger impact on investment than judicial delays.
Namibian officials showcased the country's development strategy at the Mining Indaba in Cape Town, emphasizing mining as a foundation for economic growth and positioning Namibia as a regional logistics hub with potential for energy development and mineral value-addition.
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.
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.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah addressed the Supreme Court on the opening of the 2026 legal year, emphasising the constitutional independence of the judiciary, its role in democratic governance, and the need to address challenges including case backlogs, judicial security concerns, and rising crime affecting the tourism sector.
Namibia's criminal justice sector is embracing plea bargaining as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism to speed up case disposal, Chief Justice Peter Shivute announced at the 2026 Legal Year opening. Justice Minister Fillemon Immanuel said the system would help manage courts' heavy workload and conclude criminal trials within reasonable time limits.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah warned that prolonged backlog of cases, particularly those involving abuse of public resources, weakens public confidence in Namibia's state institutions. Chief Justice Peter Shivute cited a critical shortage of judicial officers and rising caseloads, with magistrate court backlogs growing from 57,090 cases at end of 2024 to 63,679 at end of 2025.
Chief Justice Peter Shivute warned that Namibia's judiciary faces a critical shortage of judicial officers, with judges handling an average of 614 cases each in 2025—a sharp increase from 384 in 2024—while magistrates' courts contend with a growing backlog of over 63,000 cases. He cited retirements and inadequate staffing as primary challenges, though noted that mitigation measures including a judges' training programme have been launched.
Chief Justice Peter Shivute reported that average caseloads per civil judge jumped nearly 60% between 2024 and 2025 as judicial vacancies mounted, while Magistrates' Courts backlogs grew 11.5% to over 63,000 cases. The judiciary is exploring recruitment from SADC countries to address critical staffing gaps.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah opened Namibia's legal year at the Supreme Court today, marking the start of a year the justice ministry hopes will bring meaningful reform, improved efficiency, and strengthened public confidence. The judiciary has established a Safety and Security Task Force to address concerns following recent attacks on prosecutors, while legal professionals advocate for plea bargaining reforms and amendments to obsolete laws.
The Supreme Court has found that the Namibian Competition Commission acted unlawfully by delegating its authority to investigate alleged price-fixing in the pharmaceutical sector to its secretary rather than exercising that power itself. The court has referred the matter back to the commission to determine whether to continue the investigation against the Pharmaceutical Society of Namibia and pharmacies accused of imposing a uniform 50% mark-up on prescription medicines.