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

Supreme Court

Also known as: apex court · Supreme Court in Angola · Namibia's Supreme Court · US Supreme Court · Supreme Court of the Republic of Namibia · Supreme Court in Windhoek

Namibia's highest court, which has issued rulings on asset restraints in the Fishrot case, halted the competition commission's pharmacy investigation, and heard appeals on petroleum licensing and severance disputes.

Politics

Minister blocks funds to Kunene Regional Council over chief officer dispute

The News

Urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa has halted government funds to the Kunene Regional Council, demanding removal of acting chief regional officer George Kamseb, whose appointment is being challenged in court. The council's chairperson Western Muharukua describes the fund freeze as unlawful pressure and says it threatens to disrupt salaries, services, and capital projects; the council plans to seek judicial review.

Why it matters

A government minister has blocked funds to Kunene Regional Council, threatening to halt staff salaries, utility payments, and development projects across the region in a dispute over a chief regional officer whose appointment is under legal appeal.

20 April 2026 · New Era →

Monday 20 April

  1. Minister blocks funds to Kunene Regional Council over chief officer dispute

    Urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa has halted government funds to the Kunene Regional Council, demanding removal of acting chief regional officer George Kamseb, whose appointment is being challenged in court. The council's chairperson Western Muharukua describes the fund freeze as unlawful pressure and says it threatens to disrupt salaries, services, and capital projects; the council plans to seek judicial review.

    20 April 2026 · New Era →

Friday 17 April

  1. Fishrot trial should proceed despite ongoing appeals, defence argues

    A defence lawyer representing one of ten accused in the Fishrot fraud and corruption trial has argued to the High Court that proceedings should continue while appeals against earlier rulings are pursued, citing delays since 2021 and the constitutional right to trial within a reasonable period. Other defence lawyers largely supported the argument, though one disagreed, and the judge is scheduled to hear further oral arguments on 24 April.

    17 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 16 April

  1. Red Soil Energy appeals rejected petroleum licence decision in Supreme Court

    Red Soil Energy has appealed to the Supreme Court over the mines ministry's 2021 rejection of its petroleum exploration licence application for four offshore oil blocks. The company claims it was treated unfairly and differently from competing applicants, while the minister argues the application was incomplete and lacked required financial documentation.

    16 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 15 April

  1. Minister Kantema presents N$417.2m gender equality and child welfare budget

    The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare has been allocated N$417.2 million for the 2026/2027 financial year to advance gender equity, child protection, and women's economic empowerment across Namibia. In the past year, the ministry supported 347 survivors of gender-based violence and trafficking, accommodated 329 street children in boarding schools, and expanded early childhood development enrolment from 110,726 to 126,213 across the country.

    15 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 10 April

  1. Supreme Court halts NaCC pharmacy price-fixing probe

    The Namibian Competition Commission must reassess its investigation into alleged price-fixing by pharmacies linked to the Pharmaceutical Association of Namibia after the Supreme Court ruled the probe was conducted unlawfully, finding that the commission exceeded its legal authority by delegating investigative powers to its secretary.

    10 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 3 April

  1. Fishrot accused lose Supreme Court appeal on asset restraint

    Three accused in the Fishrot fraud case—former attorney general Sacky Shanghala, James Hatuikulipi, and Pius Mwatelulo—lost their Supreme Court appeal against an assets restraint order imposed under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act. The court upheld the High Court's 2023 confirmation of the restraint, which freezes assets including bank funds, property, vehicles, and luxury goods belonging to six of the accused, and ordered the three appellants to pay the prosecutor general's legal costs.

    3 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 1 April

  1. Government launches WIL policy amid unpaid internship debate

    Namibia has launched the National Work Integrated Learning Policy 2025–2030 to address youth unemployment and the education-industry skills gap, with Prime Minister Ngurare emphasising the need for practical implementation and employer collaboration. However, the policy launch comes as unpaid internships remain widespread in the country, creating both opportunities for experience and risks of exploitation, particularly for financially vulnerable students who cannot afford to work without compensation.

    1 April 2026 · New Era →

Tuesday 31 March

  1. Israel approves death penalty law for Palestinians convicted of terror attacks

    Israel's parliament passed legislation making the death penalty the default sentence for Palestinians convicted of deadly terror attacks, with execution by hanging within 90 days. The law has drawn criticism from international observers and civil rights groups who say it is discriminatory and undermines democratic principles.

    31 March 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. Namibia's legal gaps leave surrogacy arrangements vulnerable to exploitation

    Medical experts and legal analysts warn that Namibia lacks laws regulating surrogacy, creating risks of exploitation and trafficking, following a fraudulent advertisement offering N$800,000 to surrogates. While South Africa and Botswana have experience with regulated or unregulated surrogacy arrangements, Namibia's legal framework remains silent on the matter, leaving parties with no legal protection and prompting calls for amendments to the Child Care and Protection Act.

    31 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 30 March

  1. Nepal's ex-PM appears in court after protest crackdown arrest

    Former prime minister KP Sharma Oli appeared by video-link from hospital after arrest for alleged involvement in a deadly 2025 crackdown on anti-government protests that killed at least 76 people. An inquiry commission has recommended prosecution of Oli and other officials for failing to stop security forces from firing on demonstrators, citing "criminal negligence."

    30 March 2026 · New Era →

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