Thursday, 23 July 2026

Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026

Thursday, 23 July 2026

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Namibian press · Person

Peter Shivute

Also known as: chief justice Peter Shivute · Judge President Peter Shivute

Chief Justice of Namibia overseeing a judiciary facing critical staffing shortages and rising caseloads in 2025-2026.

2023-10-252026-07-23

What’s been said

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

February 2026
11 FebThe Namibian
Chief justice Peter Shivute has extended condolences to Shiweda's family and colleagues
Source
“Chief justice Peter Shivute, alongside judicial and administrative staff, have extended condolences to Shiweda's two children, her family, colleagues, and all touched by her remarkable life.”
State to pay medical bills of prosecutor who died after acid and gun attack
11 FebThe Namibian
Chief justice Peter Shivute received congratulations for leadership and administrative stewardship of the judicial system
Source
“I take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt congratulations to chief justice Peter Shivute and deputy chief justice Petrus Damaseb for their leadership, foresight, and administrative stewardship of our judicial system.”
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah at the Opening of the 2026 Legal Year
10 FebNew Era
Chief Justice Peter Shivute said plea bargaining has received acceptance from all sectors and is set to gain momentum in 2026
Source
“Alternative dispute resolution in criminal matters through plea bargaining has received acceptance from all sectors of the criminal justice sector and is set to gain momentum in 2026, Chief Justice Peter Shivute said on Thursday.”
Plea bargaining gains momentum
7 FebThe Namibian
Chief Justice Peter Shivute said shortage of judicial officers has reached critical point
Source
“Speaking at the same event, chief justice Peter Shivute said a shortage of judicial officers in Namibia "has reached a critical point".”
Nandi-Ndaitwah warns unresolved corruption cases undermine public trust in Namibia’s judiciary
7 FebThe Namibian
Chief Justice Peter Shivute said combined backlog in magistrate courts increased from 57,090 to 63,679 cases
Source
“He recounted that the combined backlog in Namibia's magistrate courts increased from 57 090 cases at the end of 2024 to 63 679 cases at the end of 2025.”
Nandi-Ndaitwah warns unresolved corruption cases undermine public trust in Namibia’s judiciary
6 FebInformanté
Chief Justice Peter Shivute stated at the opening of the 2026 Legal Year judicial officer numbers have reached a critical point
Source
“He added that, in addition to this, judicial officer numbers have reached a critical point.”
Namibian judges buckling under the caseload
January 2026
23 JanThe Namibian
Chief justice Peter Shivute heard the appeal
Source
“The appeal on which the judgement was delivered yesterday was heard by chief justice Peter Shivute, deputy chief justice Petrus Damaseb and acting judge of appeal Theo Frank.”
Supreme Court slams NaCC for unlawful delegation in PSN pharmacy price‑fixing saga
October 2023
25 OctThe Namibian
High Court Judge President Peter Shivute says the case was not heard in secret as The Namibian reported
Source
“HIGH Court Judge President Peter Shivute says the case in which a Supreme Court justice is accused of using his 16-year-old daughter to conceal his part-ownership of a company was not heard in secret as The Namibian reported on Friday.”
Judge President defends conduct of Teek hearing

Politics

AR MP questions US ambassador's judicial interference remarks

The News

Affirmative Repositioning MP Tuhafeni Kalola is questioning remarks made by US ambassador John Giordano to chief justice Peter Shivute, in which Giordano allegedly told judges they could call him to contact people he knows to help with their cases. Kalola argues the remarks appear to breach Article 78(3) of the Namibian Constitution, which safeguards judicial independence, and has asked the justice minister whether the government has assessed the ambassador's statements and whether they constitute an attempt to interfere with the Judiciary.

25 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 25 June

AR MP questions US ambassador's judicial interference remarks
Affirmative Repositioning MP Tuhafeni Kalola is questioning remarks made by US ambassador John Giordano to chief justice Peter Shivute, in which Giordano allegedly told judges they could call him to contact people he knows to help with their cases. Kalola argues the remarks appear to breach Article 78(3) of the Namibian Constitution, which safeguards judicial independence, and has asked the justice minister whether the government has assessed the ambassador's statements and whether they constitute an attempt to interfere with the Judiciary.
25 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 5 June

Omuthiya Periodical Court opens Monday to serve Oshikoto Region
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.
5 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Wednesday 29 April

Supreme Court upholds ex-PM's block of ACC investigator
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.
29 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 4 March

Three foreign judges appointed to Namibia's High Court
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.
4 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 3 March

First woman permanently appointed to Namibia Supreme Court
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.
3 March 2026 · New Era →

Monday 23 February

Justice Minister urges urgent security protection for magistrates and prosecutors
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.
23 February 2026 · New Era →

Friday 20 February

Judiciary budgets depleted; legal aid travel suspended
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.
20 February 2026 · New Era →

Monday 16 February

Slain prosecutor Justine Shiweda laid to rest with state honours
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.
16 February 2026 · New Era →
Prosecutor shot and acid-attacked last year laid to rest
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.
16 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 15 February

High Court workload surge leaves judges overwhelmed, system fragile
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.
15 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Judicial delays harm economic confidence and investment, says Schlettwein
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.
15 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 12 February

Namibia pitches mining, energy and logistics growth strategy
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.
12 February 2026 · The Namibian →
High Court judge warns of crisis in Namibian judicial system
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.
12 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 11 February

State covers medical bills of slain prosecutor Justine Shiweda
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.
11 February 2026 · The Namibian →
President addresses judiciary at opening of 2026 legal year
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.
11 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 10 February

Plea bargaining gains acceptance as Namibia reforms criminal justice
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.
10 February 2026 · New Era →

Saturday 7 February

Unresolved corruption cases undermine public trust in judiciary
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.
7 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 6 February

Judiciary faces crisis as caseload per judge rises 60%
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.
6 February 2026 · New Era →
Namibian judges face surging caseloads amid staff shortages
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.
6 February 2026 · Informanté →

Thursday 5 February

Namibian legal year opens with focus on reform and safety
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.
5 February 2026 · New Era →

Friday 23 January

Supreme Court rules NaCC unlawfully delegated pharmacy investigation
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.
23 January 2026 · The Namibian →