Thursday, 23 July 2026

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

Thursday, 23 July 2026

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

Namibian press · Place

State House

2022-08-212026-07-23

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

May 2026
7 MayThe Namibian
The family of Giano Seibeb (29), who is accused of trespassing at State House in Windhoek on Thursday last week, is demanding to see closed-circuit television footage of the incident. …
Naked State House intruder’s family demands answers
7 MayThe Namibian
The police say closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage linked to an incident in which Giano Seibeb (29) was discovered naked on a private floor at State House last Thursday will not be released while investigations are ongoing. …
State House CCTV footage withheld as investigation continues
7 MayWindhoek Observer
… The Windhoek Observer understands that the 12-month suspension followed a security breach at State House last Thursday, where a naked man allegedly bypassed security and entered the premises. …
Venaani defends President’s right to hire and fire
7 MayWindhoek Observer
…as naked State House intruder’s family demands proof Justicia Shipena The Namibian Police (Nampol) is mum on whether inspector general Joseph Shikongo’s reported suspension comes with full benefits. …
Nampol tight lipped on Shikongo’s suspension benefits
President removes police inspector general Shikongo
1. 6 MayInformanté
  Staff Reporter KATHARINA Seibes (49), the mother of Giano Seibeb (29), who is accused of trespassing and breaking into the Presidential residence at State House, said her son has escaped from mental health facilities she had admitted him to on about four occasions. …
  Mother of State House intruder says son escaped mental health facility multiple times
2. 6 MayThe Namibian
  A man alleged to have been found naked in a residence on the State House premises in Windhoek last Thursday is set to undergo a period of psychiatric observation to determine if he can understand court proceedings. …
  Mental observation ordered for State House intruder
3. 6 MayWindhoek Observer
  Patience Makwele The case of the naked State House intruder with a mental health condition does not automatically remove criminal responsibility, says legal expert advocate Paulus Nambili. …
  State House intruder case hinges on mental fitness
4. 5 MayThe Namibian
  … Shikongo’s dismissal came four days after a security breach at State House in Windhoek, where a naked man made it to the president’s private floor on Thursday last week. …
  President removes Shikongo as police chief
5 MayThe Namibian
Former inspector general Sebastian Ndeitunga says the failure to detect an alleged ‘naked’ man who entered the presidential residence at State House last week exposed weaknesses across the police chain of command. …
Ndeitunga slams police after ‘naked’ intruder at State House
5 MayInformanté
UPDATE: Giano Seibeb (29), who is accused of breaching security points at State House and entering the presidential residence naked, appeared in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court this morning. …
Man accused of breaching State House security appears in court

Sport

President hands flag to Team Namibia for Glasgow Commonwealth Games

The News

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah officially handed over the Namibian flag to Team Namibia at a State House ceremony, marking the country's ninth participation in the Commonwealth Games scheduled for July–August 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland. She urged athletes to represent the nation with pride, discipline and sportsmanship, and praised the Olympic Committee and Commonwealth Games Association for their preparation efforts.

18 July 2026 · Informanté →

Saturday 18 July

President hands flag to Team Namibia for Glasgow Commonwealth Games
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah officially handed over the Namibian flag to Team Namibia at a State House ceremony, marking the country's ninth participation in the Commonwealth Games scheduled for July–August 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland. She urged athletes to represent the nation with pride, discipline and sportsmanship, and praised the Olympic Committee and Commonwealth Games Association for their preparation efforts.
18 July 2026 · Informanté →

Thursday 16 July

President sends off Team Namibia to 2026 Commonwealth Games
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah presented the Namibian flag to Team Namibia at State House, calling on the athletes to represent the country with pride, integrity and excellence at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, scheduled for 23 July to 2 August. This marks Namibia's eighth appearance at the games.
16 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 15 July

Christine //Hoëbes appointed High Commissioner to Malaysia
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has commissioned former Cabinet minister Christine //Hoëbes as Namibia's High Commissioner-Designate to Malaysia. The President urged her to strengthen bilateral ties and drive economic diplomacy that delivers tangible benefits for Namibians.
15 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Tuesday 14 July

Hoebes commissioned to strengthen Namibia-Malaysia economic ties
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah commissioned Christine ||Hoebes as Namibia's high commissioner-designate to Malaysia, tasking her with advancing economic diplomacy, attracting investment, and expanding market access for Namibian products. The president emphasised opportunities in renewable energy, oil and gas services, logistics, and digital transformation, noting Malaysia as a key trading partner in Asia.
14 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 3 July

ECN appointments debate raises transparency concerns
An editorial in the Windhoek Observer argues that the Electoral Commission of Namibia must maintain public confidence through transparency and openness, noting that a parliamentary debate over the appointment of ECN commissioners—in which opposition parties alleged MPs were denied access to nomination documentation—highlights the importance of institutions being seen as independent, not merely being independent in fact.
3 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Tuesday 30 June

Namibia renews call for UN-led Western Sahara peace
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has renewed Namibia's call for the United Nations to lead efforts in resolving the decades-long Western Sahara dispute, stating that dialogue rather than confrontation offers the only path to lasting peace. Drawing on Namibia's own liberation history, she said cross-border disputes should be addressed through multilateral mechanisms and UN coordination.
30 June 2026 · New Era →

Monday 29 June

Defence minister declines details on Okongo military base
Defence and veterans affairs minister Frans Kapofi declined on Thursday to provide details about a military base being developed at Okongo in the Ohangwena region, near president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah's homestead. The Namibian understands the base is situated on a site previously used by South African forces and has remained largely inactive for years.
29 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 25 June

State House intruder declared mentally unfit for trial
Giano Seibeb, a 29-year-old Windhoek resident who breached State House security in April when found naked in a presidential guest house, has been assessed as mentally unfit to stand trial. A psychiatrist diagnosed him with schizophrenia and substance use disorder, concluding he was incapable of appreciating the wrongfulness of his actions at the time of the alleged offences.
25 June 2026 · The Namibian →
State House intruder found unfit to stand trial
Giano Seibeb, arrested for intruding into the presidential residence on 30 April 2026, has been found unfit to stand trial. The court postponed the matter to 24 July 2026 to secure legal representation for Seibeb, who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, and ordered his transfer to Gobabis Correctional Facility due to Windhoek's lack of capacity to accommodate his mental health needs.
25 June 2026 · Informanté →

Monday 15 June

Germany willing to apologise for colonial genocide, ambassador says
Outgoing German Ambassador Thorsten Hütter expressed optimism that Namibia and Germany will conclude a long-awaited Joint Declaration addressing Germany's colonial-era genocide against the Ovaherero and Nama people (1904–1908) by the end of 2026. Hütter said Germany is willing to apologise and that discussions with affected communities showed many Namibians want both recognition of the past and a stronger future partnership.
15 June 2026 · New Era →

Monday 18 May

President avoids State House after break-in incident
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has not slept in her private residential wing at State House since a naked mental health patient broke into the premises nearly three weeks ago; she is staying at her private home in Hochland Park. The incident led to the suspension of police inspector general Joseph Shikongo and raised questions about security, as CCTV cameras were allegedly switched off at the time.
18 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Sunday 17 May

Mental health crisis demands urgent action beyond legislation
The Namibian editorial argues that Namibia's mental health system is in crisis, citing a security breach at State House, a fatal police shooting of a man with mental illness, and nurse safety fears as symptoms of deeper problems. While a new mental health bill promises modernisation and human rights alignment, the editorial warns that laws alone cannot treat patients and calls for immediate systemic action alongside legislative reform.
17 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Swapo-linked fishing firm faces US$3m dispute with DRC entity
Hodago Fishing, a joint venture partly linked to Swapo, faces a US$3 million legal dispute after allegedly breaching a horse mackerel quota agreement with a Democratic Republic of Congo entity. The DRC-linked party claims the company failed to meet agreed delivery volumes and has demanded either the release of 500 tonnes of fish or repayment of US$1.4 million.
17 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 14 May

Windhoek mental health facility admits systemic security failures
The Ministry of Health and Social Services acknowledged systemic failures at the Windhoek Central Mental Health Centre, citing inadequate infrastructure and human resource deficits that contributed to poor supervision. The admission followed a patient escaping and a fatal police shooting incident.
14 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 12 May

Cabinet cuts Monica Geingos' post-office benefits and allocations
The Cabinet has reduced the benefits of former first lady Monica Geingos, limiting her to three household staff members and two state-sponsored vehicles effective 1 June, down from her current seven employees. The new policy applies to former first ladies whose husbands die before them, but does not affect founding first lady Kovambo Nujoma.
12 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 11 May

First family graduate overcomes poverty and grief at Nust
Alexander Mungendje, a public management student at the Namibia University of Science and Technology, has become the first person in his family of 16 siblings to earn a degree. Despite losing both parents during his studies, facing mockery in his village, and struggling to afford registration fees, he persisted and is now set to graduate.
11 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Saturday 9 May

Mampara of the Week: VIP Protection Unit lapses
A satirical opinion column criticizes Namibia's VIP protection officers for alleged failures in security at State House, including an incident on 21 April where a mentally ill man allegedly bypassed checkpoints and entered the presidential compound unclothed.
9 May 2026 · Namibian Sun →

Friday 8 May

161-page dossier alleges fraud, corruption by police chief Shikongo
A Windhoek resident submitted a 161-page dossier to the Security Commission in April 2025 requesting President Nandi-Ndaitwah remove inspector general Joseph Shikongo from office, alleging corruption, criminal interference, intimidation and abuse of state institutions. Nandi-Ndaitwah appointed major general Anne-Marie Nainda as acting inspector general, though the president did not publicly state reasons for the suspension.
8 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Suspension of police inspector general leaves public confused
The 12-month suspension of Namibia's inspector general of police, lieutenant general Joseph Shikongo, has created a vacuum of official information, allowing rumors to proliferate about alleged breaches at State House and other unverified claims. The Windhoek Observer editorial argues that the lack of clear, timely communication from top officials has bred public confusion and mistrust.
8 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Thursday 7 May

President removes police inspector general citing State House breach
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah removed Police Inspector General Joseph Shikongo and replaced him with Major General Anne-Marie Nainda, citing a security incident in which a naked man was found inside the presidential residence as the reason for the removal.
7 May 2026 · The Namibian →
State House intruder's family seeks CCTV footage and answers
The family of Giano Seibeb, accused of trespassing at State House in Windhoek, is demanding to see closed-circuit television footage of the incident and wants answers on how he escaped Windhoek Central Hospital's mental health centre where he had been admitted. The incident led President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to suspend police inspector general Joseph Shikongo.
7 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Police withhold State House CCTV footage during investigation
Police say CCTV footage from an incident in which Giano Seibeb was found naked at State House will not be released while investigations are ongoing. A criminal case has been opened; the chief of presidential security has been reassigned, and police say no further details can be provided while the matter is sub-judice.
7 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Venaani defends President's constitutional authority to hire and fire
PDM leader McHenry Venaani said President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has the constitutional authority to dismiss senior officials without necessarily giving public explanations, in response to the suspension of police inspector general Joseph Shikongo. Venaani argued that leaders make key decisions based on sensitive information unavailable to the public.
7 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Nampol silent on Shikongo suspension benefit details
The Namibian Police is not disclosing whether suspended inspector general Joseph Shikongo retains his salary and benefits during suspension; Nampol referred media inquiries to the Presidency's statement, which does not address the conditions of Shikongo's suspension.
7 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Wednesday 6 May

State House intruder has escaped mental health care four times
The mother of Giano Seibeb, who is accused of trespassing and breaking into the Presidential residence at State House on 30 April 2026, said she had admitted her son to mental health facilities on about four occasions, from which he escaped. According to his medical passport, Seibeb has a history of schizophrenia; the prosecutor has ordered a psychological evaluation to determine whether he is fit to stand trial.
6 May 2026 · Informanté →
State House intruder ordered for psychiatric observation
A 29-year-old Windhoek resident charged with trespassing, indecent exposure, and housebreaking after being found naked in a State House guest house has been ordered to undergo psychiatric observation to determine if he can understand court proceedings. He has a history of schizophrenia and escaped from a mental ward at Windhoek Central Hospital before the incident.
6 May 2026 · The Namibian →
State House intruder case depends on mental fitness assessment
A 29-year-old man accused of trespassing and housebreaking at State House must undergo mental evaluation to determine fitness to stand trial, though a legal expert notes mental illness does not automatically remove criminal responsibility. The accused was diagnosed with schizophrenia and had left a mental health facility without formal discharge.
6 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Tuesday 5 May

President removes police inspector general Shikongo
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has removed Namibian Police inspector general Joseph Shikongo from his post, with major general Anne-Marie Nainda appointed as acting inspector general for one year. No grounds for the removal were given, though it came four days after a security breach at State House where an intruder reached the president's private floor.
5 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Former police chief slams security breach at State House
Former inspector general Sebastian Ndeitunga says the failure to detect a man who entered the presidential residence last week exposed weaknesses across the police chain of command. The breach has fuelled speculation about the status of police inspector general Joseph Shikongo and raised questions about the VIP Protection Unit's head Michael Abraham.
5 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Man charged with breaching State House security appears in court
Giano Seibeb (29) appeared in Windhoek Magistrate's Court charged with trespassing, housebreaking with intent to commit an offence, and contravening the Immoral Practices Act after allegedly breaching State House security and entering the presidential residence naked on 30 April 2026. The court postponed the matter to 22 June 2026 for a mental evaluation; Seibeb, who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, indicated he wishes to plead guilty.
5 May 2026 · Informanté →