Namibia Minute.
Friday, 24 April 2026
A daily Namibian brief · Est. 2026
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Organization

Public Service Commission

Also known as: PSC

Public Service Commission — Namibian body responsible for civil service regulations, commissioner appointments, and senior government personnel recommendations.

Politics

NEFF demands suspension of officials in pharmaceutical theft probe

The News

The Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters has challenged the health ministry's decision to transfer rather than suspend officials allegedly involved in pharmaceutical theft and stock record manipulation. Health minister Esperance Luvindao said due process and Public Service Commission regulations must be followed before suspensions can occur.

Why it matters

Medicine shortages continue to affect healthcare facilities across Namibia, and alleged theft and stock manipulation within the pharmaceutical supply chain raise serious questions about accountability and whether patients are getting the drugs they need.

21 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 21 April

  1. NEFF demands suspension of officials in pharmaceutical theft probe

    The Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters has challenged the health ministry's decision to transfer rather than suspend officials allegedly involved in pharmaceutical theft and stock record manipulation. Health minister Esperance Luvindao said due process and Public Service Commission regulations must be followed before suspensions can occur.

    21 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 7 April

  1. Legal framework exists for dismissing misconduct public servants

    Namibian law provides clear procedures for holding government employees accountable for misconduct, including suspension, fines, demotion and dismissal through disciplinary committees. The challenge is not legal complexity but lack of political will to enforce these rules consistently.

    7 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 1 April

  1. Namibia reviews TotalEnergies' Venus oil development plan

    The Namibian government has begun reviewing a field development plan from TotalEnergies for the Venus oil project, a key step toward formal negotiations and investment approval. The project is projected to generate between N$127 billion and N$229 billion in government revenue over 25 years, potentially accounting for 7.9% to 14.2% of total government income.

    1 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 11 March

  1. Mariental Youth Centre hamstrung by staff shortages and poor facilities

    The Mariental Youth Resource Centre operates at reduced capacity with only two staff members instead of the required seven, while its converted house premises lacks youth-friendly infrastructure. The centre is pursuing a five-year plan to construct a new multipurpose facility and has revived programmes in agricultural cooperatives, entrepreneurship training, and environmental education despite staffing constraints.

    11 March 2026 · New Era →

Wednesday 4 March

  1. Swapo votes approve four Public Service Commission commissioners

    The National Assembly approved the appointment of Patrick Nandago, Linda Scott, Lidwina Shapwa and Gerson Kamatuka as Public Service Commission commissioners for five years beginning March 2026, with 48 Swapo votes securing approval despite opposition parties boycotting the vote and challenging the process.

    4 March 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. Parliamentary session adjourned after Amupanda-Ballotti confrontation

    The Deputy Speaker adjourned the National Assembly session after AR leader Job Amupanda and Deputy Minister of Education Dino Ballotti engaged in a verbal confrontation. Ballotti later apologized to Amupanda, acknowledging that MPs should treat each other with respect.

    4 March 2026 · Informanté →

Tuesday 3 March

  1. Supreme Court declines Jacobs corruption review application

    The Supreme Court of Namibia has declined to review Salmaan Jacobs's application to overturn a High Court ruling that found him guilty of corruption; Jacobs, the Chairperson of the Public Service Commission, is set to appear in Keetmanshoop Regional Court on 12 May 2026 for sentencing after the High Court in November 2025 found him guilty of using his former office as CRO of //Kharas Region to transfer N$30,000 to a company owned by himself and his wife under false pretenses.

    3 March 2026 · Informanté →

  2. Opposition walkout halts parliament vote on commissioners

    Opposition MPs staged a walkout from the National Assembly on Thursday when the government sought urgent approval of four Public Service Commission commissioners, citing concerns about their age, qualifications, ethnic representation, and lack of adequate debate. The walkout left no quorum for the vote to proceed.

    3 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 26 February

  1. Private lawyers would cost state N$6 million yearly for Fishrot case

    Legal experts say engaging senior private practitioners to prosecute the Fishrot fraud case would cost the government at least N$6 million annually, far more than the state advocates currently handling it—though prosecutors benefit from job security and pension entitlements unavailable in private practice.

    26 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 19 February

  1. Three Bank of Namibia execs race for deputy governor post

    Three Bank of Namibia executives—Nicholas Mukasa, Emma Haiyambo, and Florette Nakusera—have been shortlisted to fill the vacant deputy governor position; according to sources, Mukasa is the front-runner after the Public Service Commission submitted him as the top contender.

    19 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Namibia Minute