Thursday, 23 July 2026

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

Thursday, 23 July 2026

Windhoek—:—London—:—New York—:—Beijing—:—

Namibian press · Person

Sam Shivute

Also known as: judge Shivute · Detective Warrant Officer Shivute

Namibia Revenue Agency commissioner; led customs system upgrade and tax compliance initiatives, but faced ombudsman findings of unfair recruitment practices.

2026-01-152026-07-23

What’s been said

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

January 2026
21 JanNew Era
Shivute said NamRA's goal is to support the growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), not to hinder them
Source
“He told participants that NamRA's goal is to support the growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), not to hinder them.”
SMEs' spotlight with Pricilla Mukokobi – Nakale survives through thrift business

Business

President urges Namibian businesses to pursue China investment opportunities

The News

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah called on Namibian businesses to leverage strengthened ties with China to pursue investment, manufacturing, and value-addition opportunities that can create jobs and support economic transformation. Speaking at the Namibia-China Business Forum in Beijing during a state visit, she urged companies to build strategic partnerships with Chinese counterparts and emphasised moving beyond raw material exports to focus on projects generating greater economic value.

9 July 2026 · Informanté →

Thursday 9 July

President urges Namibian businesses to pursue China investment opportunities
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah called on Namibian businesses to leverage strengthened ties with China to pursue investment, manufacturing, and value-addition opportunities that can create jobs and support economic transformation. Speaking at the Namibia-China Business Forum in Beijing during a state visit, she urged companies to build strategic partnerships with Chinese counterparts and emphasised moving beyond raw material exports to focus on projects generating greater economic value.
9 July 2026 · Informanté →

Thursday 25 June

NYS and NamRA sign three-year partnership for skills development
The National Youth Service and Namibia Revenue Agency have signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding to enhance cooperation in human capital development, capacity-building and national development, including a three-month National Service Training programme for graduate recruits at NamRA.
25 June 2026 · Informanté →
Shivute suggests completing NYS before accessing varsity
Namibia Revenue Agency commissioner Sam Shivute floated the idea of requiring young Namibians to complete National Youth Service training before accessing further education.
25 June 2026 · Namibian Sun →

Wednesday 24 June

NamRA and NYS sign three-year training partnership deal
The Namibia Revenue Agency and National Youth Service have signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen youth development and prepare graduates for public service work through a three-month National Service Training programme focusing on discipline, work ethics, and public service readiness.
24 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Thursday 18 June

Child malnutrition in Omaheke highlights resource-wealth paradox
Child hunger in Omaheke Region persists despite Namibia's economic potential, with regional leaders expressing concern. NamRA employees donated food items worth more than N$44,000 to community organisations caring for vulnerable children.
18 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Monday 15 June

Finance minister says old car import ban may be ineffective
Namibia's finance minister said the government is reconsidering its ban on importing vehicles older than 12 years, acknowledging that the policy may have only increased costs for consumers without stopping the vehicles from entering the market. The minister noted that import policies were developed before online shopping and small-scale import businesses became common.
15 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 21 May

Government convenes meeting on customs charges for importers
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare met with the finance minister and Namibia Revenue Agency commissioner to discuss solutions for small import entrepreneurs, known as 'Order With Me' operators, who face complaints over high and unpredictable customs duties, VAT, and courier clearance charges that are making their businesses unsustainable.
21 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 19 May

NamRA upgrades customs system, resolves border delays
The Namibia Revenue Agency rolled out version 4.4.1 of the ASYCUDAWorld customs system on 5 May, replacing a system that was operating 11 versions behind. Initial delays at border posts including Katima Mulilo and Ariamsvlei have been resolved, and the system has already processed goods worth N$18 billion.
19 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Tuesday 12 May

Truck drivers criticise border post delays and system inefficiencies
The chief of the Namibian Revolutionary Transport Union has criticised long delays at border posts, blaming slow processes within the Namibia Revenue Agency and calling for contingency plans. A truck driver cited extended waits during verification and inspection at Oshikango Border Post.
12 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Tuesday 14 April

Namra collects N$1.1 billion through compliance and legal action
The Namibia Revenue Agency collected N$500 million in three months through a compliance initiative and recovered a further N$622 million through legal action against non-compliant taxpayers, winning 14 of 15 cases. The agency also recovered N$171 million from VAT fraud and intercepted N$67 million in drug-related cases as part of its push to meet its revised revenue target of N$88 billion.
14 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 22 March

Namra enforces tax compliance in betting and gambling sector
The Namibia Revenue Agency has signed a cooperation agreement with the Gambling Board to access data on operators and winners to close compliance gaps and ensure betting and gambling income is properly taxed. Namra commissioner Sam Shivute says the authority will cross-check gambling board data against tax records to identify non-compliance and is calling on operators and individuals to voluntarily regularise their tax affairs.
22 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 15 March

Namra warns all mineral, petroleum licence transfers taxable
Namibia's Revenue Agency has warned that mineral and petroleum licence transfers are subject to Namibian tax even when conducted abroad, with only 5% of companies currently complying. A tax amnesty expires in October, but industry representatives have raised concerns that the current tax regime discourages investment.
15 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 9 March

NamRA and state organs sign border coordination framework
The Namibia Revenue Agency and key state institutions have signed the Inter-Agency Standard Operations Framework for Coordinated Border Management to improve coordination at Namibia's borders, reduce delays in goods movement, and strengthen infrastructure and security. NamRA Commissioner Sam Shivute emphasised the need for effective implementation of initiatives like one-stop border posts and coordinated controls to support economic growth.
9 March 2026 · New Era →

Tuesday 24 February

AG warns of weak gold revenue collection controls
Auditor General Junias Kandjeke has found serious weaknesses in how the Ministry of Industrialisation, Mines and Energy and the Namibia Revenue Agency verify and collect royalties and taxes from gold mining, citing gaps in risk management, production verification and tax auditing that expose the state to potential revenue losses from one of its most valuable mineral resources.
24 February 2026 · New Era →

Friday 13 February

Ombudsman criticises Namra commissioner for recruitment discrimination
The ombudsman has found that Namibia Revenue Agency commissioner Sam Shivute acted unfairly and contravened labour laws when he changed recruitment procedures for assistant tax officer positions, citing to the ombudsman that he "heard from God" when making the decision. The investigation found the agency's recruitment process was biased, lacked transparency, contradicted its own policies, and allegedly involved ethnic discrimination.
13 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 21 January

Young thrift trader battles costs, police to support family
Lydia Nakale, a qualified graduate, runs a second-hand clothing business in Windhoek to support her family after struggling to find formal employment. She faces major challenges from police harassment of informal traders and high import duties from NamRA, which she says can nearly equal the cost of her goods, though she calls for greater government support for small businesses.
21 January 2026 · New Era →

Thursday 15 January

Police seek help locating wanted suspect and missing man
Namibian Police are appealing for public assistance in locating Mpho Mokhatu, a 30-year-old wanted in connection with a vehicle theft case in Windhoek, and Lyamine Proffesser Mupano, a 42-year-old man missing since 5 January in Tsumeb. Anyone with information is urged to contact the police units listed in the statement.
15 January 2026 · Informanté →