… The ministry’s spokesperson, Romeo Muyunda, in a statement says the declaration follows a notice published in the Government Gazette on 17 March, and is a precautionary measure to safeguard Namibia’s FMD-free status and protect access to international export markets. …
FMD control area established in ||KharasNamibia Minute.
Monday, 18 May 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Monday, 18 May 2026
Windhoek—:—London—:—New York—:—Beijing—:—
Namibian press · Person
Romeo Muyunda
In coverage
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
- March 2026
… emains a priority for the government. “Each company will be granted an employment redress quota aligning with the number of workers they employ in support of job creation measures by the government,” says a joint statement issued by agriculture ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda …
Govt steps in to save Walu fishermen’s jobs… According to a statement issued by the Fisheries ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda, the Government plans to reintegrate 222 employees into the fishing industry through agreements with four interested companies. …
GRN and the fishing sector employers discuss plans to integrate workersStaff Reporter THE Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has appointed Romeo Muyunda as Deputy Director for Public Relations and Information Services and official spokesperson. …
Agriculture ministry names Muyunda as communications head- February 2026
… Murorua said the EIF came to rescue him during the time he needed to be assisted. “I’m really grateful to the government and EIF for this gesture,” he said.EIF spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said the Fund successfully concluded a transformative five-year climate change adaptation pro …
Kunene farmer turns seven goats into 90… However, she says during the rainy season it is difficult to get water from the borehole because it is solar powered.Investment fund spokesperson Romeo Muyunda says the initiative was done in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, which …
Desalinated boreholes bring relief to farmers- January 2026
… A statement issued by EIF spokesperson Romeo Muyunda, the programme originated as an EIF-led innovation and pilot project in 2022, aimed at responding to longstanding water access challenges affecting rural communities. …
EIF invests in new boreholes nationwide …ministry budgets N$40m for water treatment solutions… EIF spokesperson Romeo Muyunda says the initiative was done in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, which allocated a budget of N$40 million to support the planning and design of appropriate, site-specific water treatment solutions. …
EIF completes roll out of water treatment for boreholes- December 2025
… mote the sustainable use and management of natural resources, and foster nature-based entrepreneurship. “The approved grants comprise 12 start-up projects and14 existing projects, with beneficiaries actively engaged in their respective activities,” fund spokesperson Romeo Muyunda …
Environmental Investment Fund approves N$3.7 million in grants- November 2025
… reflected on how unusually heavy rainfall in some areas leads to flooding, while other regions face persistent dry spells and limited rainfall. “This duality of flooding illustrates the complexity and unpredictability of Namibia’s changing climate,” EIF spokesperson Romeo Muyunda …
Namibia sets out its green concerns
World & Region
Global Water Partnership Secretariat relocates to Windhoek from Sweden
The News
The Global Water Partnership Organisation has relocated its headquarters from Sweden to Windhoek, with operations expected to commence on 23 May following a headquarters agreement signed with the Namibian government. The GWPO chief executive described the move as historic, marking the first time a global intergovernmental water organisation will be headquartered in the Global South.
12 May 2026 · New Era →
Tuesday 12 May
Global Water Partnership Secretariat relocates to Windhoek from Sweden
The Global Water Partnership Organisation has relocated its headquarters from Sweden to Windhoek, with operations expected to commence on 23 May following a headquarters agreement signed with the Namibian government. The GWPO chief executive described the move as historic, marking the first time a global intergovernmental water organisation will be headquartered in the Global South.
12 May 2026 · New Era →
Monday 11 May
Illegal pilchard bycatch surges despite fishing moratorium
Pilchard bycatch has risen sharply from 608 tonnes in 2020 to more than 11,000 tonnes in both 2024 and 2025, with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform warning that increasing bycatch could threaten marine biodiversity and fish stocks if not properly managed.
11 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Sunday 10 May
Government loses N$157.5m to illegal hake bycatch in 2025
The government may have lost N$157.5 million from 17,500 tonnes of hake caught as bycatch by 15 horse mackerel freezer trawlers in 2025. The Ministry of Agriculture has admitted that current penalties may not be stopping repeat offenders, with hake bycatch in the horse mackerel fishery increasing sharply from 3,203 tonnes in 2020 to 17,500 tonnes in 2025.
10 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Wednesday 6 May
Agriculture minister questions N$179m border fence quotation
Agriculture minister Inge Zaamwani has questioned a N$179 million quotation from August 26 Construction for a 400-kilometre border fence project along the Namibia-South Africa border aimed at containing foot-and-mouth disease, citing cost concerns and procurement issues.
6 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Ministry clarifies trawling restrictions for horse mackerel sector
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has clarified that a temporary relaxation of trawling restrictions for wet-landed horse mackerel applies only between latitudes 22° South and 24° South, allowing trawling in waters shallower than 200 meters down to 150 meters from May 1, 2026 to April 30, 2027. The ministry said exclusive offshore areas for the subsector south of latitude 22° South have not yet been finalised and will be identified after consultations with the fishing industry.
6 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Monday 4 May
Cabinet eases trawling limits for horse mackerel subsector
Namibia's Cabinet has approved a temporary 12-month change allowing wet-landed horse mackerel trawling within shallower waters (down to 150 metres depth) between latitudes 22°S and 24°S, effective May 2026. The Ministry of Fisheries will identify exclusive fishing zones for the subsector after consulting the industry and stakeholders.
4 May 2026 · Informanté →
Sunday 3 May
Government limits trawling relaxation to narrow geographic zone
The Ministry of Fisheries has restricted a temporary relaxation of trawling in waters shallower than the 200-metre isobath to a defined zone between latitudes 22°S and 24°S, applying only to the wet-landed horse mackerel subsector. The clarification was issued to address confusion about how Cabinet's decision would be applied, with further zone specifications and consultations to follow.
3 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Wednesday 29 April
Agriculture ministry clarifies no livestock foot-and-mouth disease outbreak
The agriculture ministry clarified that confusion over hand, foot and mouth disease reported at Windhoek Gymnasium does not indicate a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in livestock. The ministry explained the two diseases are distinct: hand, foot and mouth disease is a viral illness affecting humans, while foot-and-mouth disease affects cloven-hoofed animals.
29 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Tuesday 28 April
Government to formalise 200m trawling ban by September
The government will turn the 200-metre isobath trawling prohibition into law by September. Cabinet's recent decision to allow limited fishing in the zone is temporary and will end in 2027.
28 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Friday 24 April
Namibia launches national food safety coordination committee
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has officially inaugurated the National Sanitary and Phytosanitary Committee to regulate Namibia's food safety, animal and plant health measures and ensure compliance with international standards. The three-year committee will coordinate science-based measures, facilitate safe trade in agricultural and food products, and strengthen Namibia's participation in regional and multilateral trade systems.
24 April 2026 · Informanté →
Friday 17 April
Northern cattle price fund approved but not yet implemented
The agriculture ministry created a price equalisation fund approved by Cabinet in 2024 to help livestock producers north of the veterinary cordon fence, but the Namibia National Farmers Union says implementation has stalled. A ministry spokesperson confirmed a misunderstanding between finance and agriculture ministries diverted initial funding, though N$50 million has been allocated in the 2026/27 budget.
17 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Thursday 16 April
Government builds earth dams to secure water and prevent floods
Namibia's agriculture ministry is implementing floodwater and rainwater harvesting across the country to improve water security and build climate resilience against recurring droughts and floods. Six earth dams have been completed so far out of a target of 17, with additional dams finished in various regions last year.
16 April 2026 · New Era →
Monday 13 April
Ministry relocates 57.5 tonnes of flood-damaged crops in Zambezi
The Ministry of Agriculture has begun moving salvageable crops from flood-affected farmers in Zambezi region to higher ground, having already helped 14 farmers relocate their harvests across multiple areas and deployed 10 tractors. The ministry, which is also providing water tanks and sanitation facilities to relocation centres, plans to continue the operation until 17 April and will then review next steps.
13 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Sunday 12 April
Ministry denies plan to import South African bees
The agriculture ministry has denied allegations of importing bees from South Africa to boost blueberry harvests, stating that the last application was rejected in 2024 due to South Africa's inability to provide health assurances. The rejection comes amid concerns from local beekeepers and the Namibian Beekeeping Association about threats to native bees and the lack of adequate quarantine systems.
12 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Thursday 9 April
Flooding halts locust spray campaign in Zambezi region
Seasonal flooding has disrupted the Ministry of Agriculture's spraying campaign against a locust outbreak in the Zambezi region that has threatened crop fields and livelihoods since January. By early March, the ministry had sprayed 7,124 hectares of an identified 32,896 hectares using ground teams and drones before floods brought operations to a halt.
9 April 2026 · New Era →
Wednesday 8 April
Floods delay locust spraying in Namibia's Zambezi region
The Ministry of Agriculture says seasonal floods in the Zambezi region have halted spraying efforts against locusts that have infested hundreds of crop fields and grazing areas since January. So far, 7,124 of 32,896 hectares of infested areas have been sprayed, and spraying is expected to resume once floodwater subsides.
8 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Tuesday 7 April
Hardap aquaculture centre reaches 80% of annual fingerling target
Tilapia fingerling production at Namibia's Hardap Inland Aquaculture Centre has reached about 80% of its annual target despite operational constraints including incomplete infrastructure and limited holding space. The Ministry of Agriculture says it is committed to rehabilitating infrastructure and improving production levels by December this year.
7 April 2026 · New Era →
Thursday 2 April
Water ministry expands rural access through boreholes and pipelines
Namibia's water ministry has drilled 94 new boreholes, installed 137 water supply units across all regions, and constructed 55 short pipelines with 2,886 private connections, improving water access in underserved rural communities. The ministry also rehabilitated sanitation facilities and increased access to basic sanitation services to 36.2% nationwide, with rural safe drinking water access rising from 83.5% to 84.9%.
2 April 2026 · New Era →
Monday 30 March
Gendev sends 90 employees home amid financial crisis
About 90 permanent employees of Gendev Fishing Group were sent home last week, with no clarity on their status. The move follows the company's earlier notification of a contemplated retrenchment of 489 workers, attributed to sustained financial losses, reduced revenue, and an inadequate quota allocation of 3,351 metric tonnes against the company's 45,000-tonne annual capacity.
30 March 2026 · New Era →
Wednesday 25 March
Fisheries ministry passes Samherji workers' compensation claims to Labour
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has referred compensation claims from 252 former Samherji employees to the Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations, noting that affected workers were already considered under a government redress programme aimed at reintegrating them into the fishing industry following the company's 2019–2020 closure. Some former employees argue that placement at other companies does not fully address their financial losses.
25 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Monday 23 March
Ministry establishes FMD control zone in ||Kharas region
The Ministry of Agriculture has established a foot-and-mouth disease control area in the ||Kharas region as a precautionary measure to prevent disease spread from neighbouring countries and safeguard Namibia's FMD-free status and international export market access. The declaration does not indicate an outbreak in Namibia.
23 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Friday 13 March
Government reemploys 222 Walu Fishing workers through redress scheme
The government is facilitating the re-employment of 222 former Walu Fishing workers through a redress programme involving four companies following a labour dispute. Walu Fishing lost its 2026 fishing quota after disputes with workers and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Land Reform.
13 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Wednesday 11 March
Government seeks to reintegrate 222 fishing workers
The ministers of agriculture and labour met with four fishing companies to discuss reintegrating 222 workers who lost jobs at Walu Fishing through the Government Employment Redress Programme. Each participating company will receive an employment quota aligned with their workforce size, and the government emphasized its commitment to fair labour practices and zero tolerance for exploitation.
11 March 2026 · Informanté →
Monday 9 March
Agriculture ministry appoints Muyunda as communications head
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has appointed Romeo Muyunda as Deputy Director for Public Relations and Information Services and official spokesperson. Muyunda brings more than 17 years of experience in corporate communications and public relations, having previously served as Corporate Communications Manager at the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia.
9 March 2026 · Informanté →
Wednesday 18 February
Kunene farmer grows herd from seven to ninety goats
Ingrid Heigan, a single mother in Tsaurob, Kunene, built her goat herd from seven animals to over 90 through hard work and a livestock support programme (IREMA) run by the Environmental Investment Fund in partnership with the agriculture ministry, which has benefited an estimated 68,600 people in drought-prone areas.
18 February 2026 · New Era →
Thursday 12 February
Desalinated boreholes improve water access for rural farmers
A water softening project by the Environmental Investment Fund has installed desalinated boreholes in rural communities including Petrusfontein in Kunene, providing fresh drinking water and reducing livestock feeding costs for farmers who previously relied on salty water. The initiative, a collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, has covered 17 borehole sites across six regions since 2022.
12 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Friday 23 January
EIF installs water treatment systems at 17 boreholes nationwide
The Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia, partnered with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, has installed water softening and treatment systems at 17 borehole sites across the country to address high groundwater salinity and improve access to safe drinking water for rural communities. The ministry budgeted N$40 million for the planning and design of site-specific solutions including reverse osmosis systems and solar-powered installations, benefiting over 1,000 households and creating 127 temporary jobs during construction.
23 January 2026 · New Era →
EIF completes water treatment rollout for rural boreholes
The Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia has completed a four-year programme installing water softening and treatment technologies at 17 borehole sites across six regions, with support from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform through a N$40 million budget allocation to address rural water access challenges.
23 January 2026 · The Namibian →