… He added that stricter enforcement of the country’s Public Procurement Act is a must, as government contracts must benefit Namibian citizens, small and medium enterprises as well as women and youth, and not mainly foreign-owned companies. …
… Sankwasa James Sankwasa, has criticised local authorities for favouring foreign-owned companies over Namibian-owned businesses when it comes to tenders, emphasising that such actions not only significantly hinder national development but also contravene the Public Procurement Act …
… ECN, on the other hand, remains tight-lipped about the process they are going to use. “The commission has, through its internal procurement structures, considered alternative procurement methods in accordance with relevant provisions of the Public Procurement Act to ensure timely …
… e projects disputed having worked with the company. “The consultants for the construction of bitumen roads, access roads and stormwater drains for the agricultural centre at Ongwediva stated that they did not have any projects with the selected bidder.” The Public Procurement Act …
… In its findings it said Namcor acted contrary to the regulations of the Public Procurement Act by setting up an evaluation committee eight days after the bid’s closing date. …
Namibia's revised public procurement regulations, which came into operation on 4 August 2026, give over 80 public entities greater scope to undertake procurement independently, aiming to reduce administrative delays and improve service delivery. The success of the reform will depend on implementation rather than the regulations themselves, balancing efficiency with transparency and accountability.
Namibia's revised public procurement regulations, which came into operation on 4 August 2026, give over 80 public entities greater scope to undertake procurement independently, aiming to reduce administrative delays and improve service delivery. The success of the reform will depend on implementation rather than the regulations themselves, balancing efficiency with transparency and accountability.
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.
Private caterer Pamo Trading Enterprises is challenging a N$540-million hostel food tender awarded to the Namibia Training Authority for supplying food to 239 government school hostels accommodating 77,281 pupils nationwide. The company filed an application at the Windhoek High Court on 20 July seeking to have the award set aside and any procurement contracts declared null and void.
The Central Procurement Board of Namibia received 422 applications from qualified individuals across the country in response to its call for Bid Evaluation Committee members, with 235 (56%) submitted by women and 187 (44%) by men. The board attributes the strong response to recent reforms aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability, and integrity in public procurement processes.
The education ministry sought an exemption from finance to appoint the Namibia Training Authority to supply food to government school hostels outside open competitive bidding, citing the need to reduce litigation risks and ensure food security after prolonged court cases. The interim arrangement is budgeted at just over N$90 million per month for six months pending resolution of a Supreme Court case.
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 Anti-Corruption Commission is investigating the Keetmanshoop Municipality over alleged irregularities in a N$3.4-million service level agreement awarded to JJF Investments and Bellatrix SME Finance for the supply of prepaid electricity meters. The Ministry of Finance also launched an investigation after receiving information alleging non-compliance with the Public Procurement Act.
The controversy over Uhuru Dempers' position at the National Youth Council has become a broader question of transparency and accountability within the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture. While attendance records confirm Dempers attended NYC meetings and exercised influence on behalf of Minister Sanet Steenkamp, the ministry insists he is merely an independent temporary consultant rather than a special advisor, but this terminological distinction does not address underlying concerns about his involvement in strategic meetings and policy discussions.
An anonymous complaint submitted to the Anti-Corruption Commission has alleged corruption, nepotism, favouritism and governance irregularities at the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board under former CEO Nangula Uaandja between 2021 and 2025. The allegations, which have not been independently verified, include claims of recruitment irregularities, including the appointment of Tinus Fourie to positions without public advertisement or interview.
The finance ministry's executive director clarified that the government does not accept unsolicited funding bids from private entities or agents for infrastructure projects. Instead, all government funding and development projects must follow established procedures under the National Planning Commission Act and State Finance Act.
The Ministry of Health and Social Services has requested cancellation of a N$194-million tender to build new central medical stores in Windhoek, citing that the expected outcome did not justify costs. The cancellation follows allegations of political interference and concerns raised by the Global Fund over the redirection of its N$194-million donation originally earmarked for the project.
The Central Procurement Board of Namibia has introduced new measures for appointing Bid Evaluation Committee members, including requirements for accredited qualifications, police clearance certificates, and mandatory training and competency assessments. The reforms aim to address longstanding concerns about transparency, capacity gaps, and delays in public procurement evaluations.
The Central Procurement Board of Namibia has introduced stricter procedures for appointing bid evaluation committee members, requiring accredited qualifications, police certificates of conduct, compulsory training, and competency assessments to ensure integrity and transparency in public procurement.
The Institute for Public Policy Research has criticized the government's decision to bypass the Central Procurement Board on N$350 million in projects, arguing it creates risks of corruption and waste. The government has directly awarded contracts including a N$140-million sports stadium project to the Roads Contractor Company and other projects to August 26 without public tendering, a practice that lacks transparency and limits competition for local businesses.
The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture has distributed N$10 million to each of Namibia's 14 regions for construction of basic, multi-purpose community sports facilities as part of a phased national sports infrastructure development programme. The first phase, funded with N$140 million, will support construction of 28 facilities nationwide, with implementation decentralised to Regional Governors.
Puma Energy Namibia has filed an urgent court application seeking restoration of its access and control over fuel facilities at Eros and Ondangwa Airports, which it claims were unlawfully seized by Namibia Airports Company and other respondents on 11 March. NAC argues the matter does not warrant urgent intervention and that it followed proper procurement procedures in awarding fuel supply services to competitor Central Oil Namibia.
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare told Parliament that government will enforce tougher oversight of contractors and service providers who fail to meet project timelines or abandon government sites. Since March 2025, Ngurare has approved the discharge or demotion of several underperforming public servants and called for closer coordination between the executive, legislature, and private sector to improve service delivery.
Namibia's incoming information commissioner will earn N$120,000 monthly plus extensive benefits, exceeding the prime minister's estimated salary. The role, created to implement the Access to Information Act and strengthen public procurement transparency, will be filled through a formal recruitment process advertised by parliament.
Urban and Rural Development Minister James Sankwasa has called on regional and local authority councillors to award tenders to Namibian companies and ensure local participation in development projects. He emphasized that procurement must promote job creation and empower Namibian-registered small and medium enterprises, while cautioning councils to conduct thorough background checks on company ownership and ensure genuine Namibian involvement rather than token partnerships.
Urban and Rural Development Minister James Sankwasa said local authorities will no longer auction state land at inflated prices and announced a nationwide land audit to determine ownership and illegal acquisitions by councillors. He also called for stricter enforcement of procurement rules to prevent foreign companies from dominating tenders at the expense of local businesses.
Minister of Urban and Rural Development Sankwasa James Sankwasa has criticised local and regional authorities for favouring foreign-owned companies over Namibian businesses in procurement, saying such practices breach the Public Procurement Act and hinder national development. He stressed that Namibian-registered SMEs should receive preferential treatment and called for stricter vetting of joint ventures to prevent foreign firms from sidelining local partners after contract award.