Namibia Minute.
Friday, 24 April 2026
A daily Namibian brief · Est. 2026
Windhoek—:—London—:—New York—:—Beijing—:—
Organization

United Nations Children's Fund

Also known as: Unicef · United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund

United Nations Children's Fund — research and advocacy organization working on child protection, health, and welfare in Namibia.

Society

Japan, UN fund health projects targeting emergency preparedness

The News

Japan, the UN, and global partners have launched major investments to strengthen Namibia's health system, including three key projects focused on emergency preparedness, disease prevention, and diagnostic capacity. The initiatives, valued at approximately N$18.4 million, will benefit more than 118,000 people across eight hospitals and vulnerable regions including Kunene, Omusati, and Otjozondjupa.

22 April 2026 · New Era →

Wednesday 22 April

  1. Japan, UN fund health projects targeting emergency preparedness

    Japan, the UN, and global partners have launched major investments to strengthen Namibia's health system, including three key projects focused on emergency preparedness, disease prevention, and diagnostic capacity. The initiatives, valued at approximately N$18.4 million, will benefit more than 118,000 people across eight hospitals and vulnerable regions including Kunene, Omusati, and Otjozondjupa.

    22 April 2026 · New Era →

Tuesday 21 April

  1. Cybercrime bill has serious flaws, experts say

    The final draft of Namibia's cybercrime bill contains multiple shortcomings including undefined terms around computer viruses, cyberbullying, and obscene images that could lead to unconstitutional restrictions on free speech and inadequate victim protection. The author argues the bill should be improved before parliamentary submission, citing concerns that key provisions lack clarity, may inhibit online speech, and could create practical enforcement problems.

    21 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 8 April

  1. Namibia urged to strengthen prevention as child deaths persist

    Unicef's country representative warned during World Health Day that thousands of Namibian newborns continue to die in their first days of life and children under five remain vulnerable to preventable diseases including malaria, pneumonia and diarrhoea. While Namibia has made progress in maternal and child health, officials stressed the need for preventive interventions and science-backed responses to emerging threats.

    8 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 27 March

  1. 20,000 Namibian children suffer online sexual abuse annually

    Research by Unicef shows that approximately 9% of internet-using Namibian children aged 12–17 — an estimated 20,000 children annually — experience online sexual exploitation or abuse. Police and justice sector officials are undergoing training to strengthen victim identification and enforcement efforts as digital exploitation increasingly involves sophisticated cross-border methods.

    27 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 19 March

  1. Vice president opens disability and indigenous communities workshop

    Vice President Lucia Witbooi opened a planning workshop for divisions handling disability affairs and marginalised communities, highlighting progress including a sign language app launch, disability cost report, and national disability policy 2025–2035, while acknowledging resource constraints and challenges such as limited funding and land disputes affecting indigenous minorities.

    19 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 17 March

  1. Vice President opens planning workshop on disability and inclusion

    Vice President Lucia Witbooi opened a planning workshop for the Divisions of Disability Affairs and Marginalised Communities, calling for stronger efforts to advance the rights and socio-economic development of persons with disabilities and marginalised communities. The workshop aims to review progress, identify challenges and map out strategies to improve service delivery, with Witbooi highlighting recent milestones including a sign language application launch, the Disability Cost Report, and a revised National Policy on Disability for 2025–2035, while acknowledging challenges such as limited financial resources and institutional capacity constraints.

    17 March 2026 · Informanté →

Tuesday 10 March

  1. Namibia's women's football rise from grassroots to regional champions

    Namibia's Brave Gladiators' Cosafa Championship victory in March was built on decades of grassroots development through the NFA's Galz & Goals programme, which gave young girls safe spaces and structured competition, supported by Unicef and later sponsorship from Skorpion Zinc Mine and FNB Namibia. Captain Lovisa Mulunga credited the pathway from community fields to the FNB Women's Super League for developing the team that won the trophy, though she noted women's football still requires more sponsors to sustain progress.

    10 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 8 March

  1. Namibia debates social media ban for children under 15

    Namibian lawmakers and child welfare experts are divided over whether to ban social media for children under 15, with supporters citing mental health and cyberbullying concerns while critics argue for evidence-based regulation rather than an outright ban. Experts also note that enforcement would be technically challenging given the ease of age verification manipulation.

    8 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 6 March

  1. Health Minister launches National Parenting and Caregiver Handbook

    Health Minister Esperance Luvindao officially launched the National Parent and Caregiver Handbook and Facilitator Guide in Windhoek, framing parenting as a strategic economic imperative under Namibia's Sixth National Development Plan. The handbook aims to support parents and caregivers in improving child health, cognitive development and future productivity, while equipping master trainers to carry the guidance into communities.

    6 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 24 February

  1. Namibia launches second polio vaccination round for children

    The Ministry of Health and Social Services is urging parents to vaccinate all children under 10 during a second round of polio immunisation scheduled for 24–27 February 2026, following detection of poliovirus type 2 in sewage in Rundu in November 2025, though no cases of illness have been reported. The free oral vaccine will be available at health facilities, schools and community outreach sites, with health officials emphasising it is safe and necessary to strengthen immunity and prevent possible outbreaks.

    24 February 2026 · Informanté →

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