Also known as: Minister Veikko Nekundi · Minister of works and transport Veikko Nekundi · Minister Nekundi · works minister Veikko Nekundi · Works and transport minister Veikko Nekundi · Nekudi · Transport minister Veikko Nekundi · works and transport Veikko Nekundi · deputy works minister Veikko Nekundi · Transport and works minister Veikko Nekundi
Veikko Nekundi — Works and Transport Minister directing road safety improvements, fare regulation, and state-owned enterprise accountability in Namibia.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
May 2026
The Namibian
Minister Veikko Nekundisaidno individual is permitted to transport passengers for a reward without a valid permit
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“Minister of works and transport Veikko Nekundi yesterday said no individual is permitted to transport passengers for a reward without a valid permit.”
Works and transport minister Veikko Nekundisaidtaxis and buses remain important for daily transport despite financial pressure
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“Works and transport minister Veikko Nekundi said taxis and buses remain important for daily transport despite the financial pressure facing operators.”
Transport Minister Veikko Nekundihas the authority tosuspend or cancel driving licences of reckless drivers
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“Swartz further warned that Transport Minister Veikko Nekundi has the authority to suspend or cancel driving licences of motorists found guilty of reckless behaviour.”
Transport minister Veikko NekunditoldThe Namibian that the e-hailing sector has not complied with directives
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“Transport minister Veikko Nekundi last month told The Namibian that the e-hailing sector has engaged in good faith since last year, and has not complied.”
Minister Veikko Nekundisaidtaxi fare adjustment applies to taxis, minibuses, and buses between towns from 18 May
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“Minister of works and transport Veikko Nekundi yesterday said the adjustment applies to taxis, minibuses and buses transporting people between towns from 18 May.”
Works and transport minister Veikko Nekundisaidthe joint airline will be managed in collaboration with Ethiopian Airlines as a strategic partner
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“In an interview with NBC News, Nekundi said the approach and idea behind establishing a joint national is designed to combine resources and create a more competitive commercial airline that will compete with others while also running sustainable operations.”
Minister Veikko Nekundisaidproposed rollout will begin with domestic routes before expanding to regional and international markets
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“He said the proposed rollout will begin with domestic routes, allowing the joint airline to stabilise operations before expanding to regional and international markets.”
Works and transport minister Veikko Nekundiwarnedillegal taxi and bus operators will not be allowed to increase fares
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“Illegal taxi and bus operators will not be allowed to increase fares under the newly approved 15% public transport tariff adjustment, works and transport minister Veikko Nekundi has warned.”
Minister Veikko Nekundiannounced15% increase in passenger transport fares
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“A 15% increase in fares announced by minister of works and transport Veikko Nekundi during a media briefing in Windhoek on Thursday applies to taxis, minibuses and buses operating in urban areas and transporting passengers between towns.”
The Roads Authority has begun construction of speed humps along the B1 Western Bypass and A1 road south of Windhoek to reduce pedestrian fatalities and improve road safety. The work, initiated by transport minister Veikko Nekundi, will cause temporary traffic disruptions as one lane is closed at a time on the affected sections.
Why it matters
Roads Authority speed-hump installations address pedestrian fatality reduction on major Windhoek routes with immediate public safety impact.
The Roads Authority has begun construction of speed humps along the B1 Western Bypass and A1 road south of Windhoek to reduce pedestrian fatalities and improve road safety. The work, initiated by transport minister Veikko Nekundi, will cause temporary traffic disruptions as one lane is closed at a time on the affected sections.
The Ministry of Works and Transport has installed an electric vehicle charging station at its Windhoek headquarters as a pilot project to assess the feasibility of a nationwide charging network. The facility, designed by ministry engineers, will serve as a case study to guide future EV charging infrastructure deployment across the country, initially targeting government-owned vehicles and government employees before expanding to the public.
TransNamib's northern railway line, which runs from Tsumeb through Ondangwa to Oshikango and received N$1.17 billion in investment, faces severe infrastructure and capacity challenges including the need for rail upgrades, limited rolling stock capacity, and regulatory gaps. The government is demanding board accountability over frequent derailments on the line.
Public passenger transport operators have been urged to keep fares within an approved 15% increase that took effect on 18 May, aimed at minimising the impact of rising international oil prices and global geopolitical tensions on commuters. The ministry encourages the public to report operators charging fares above the approved increase.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said at the opening of the Omaludi Agricultural Festival in Ohangwena that development must not come at the expense of cultural identity. She noted the festival boosts the local economy through accommodation, transport, and informal trade, and announced the government will focus on improving existing agricultural schemes rather than establishing new ones.
Two senior TransNamib Holdings executives suspended in February over allegations of property mismanagement and statutory breaches returned to work on Tuesday following a directive from the works and transport minister. Their disciplinary hearing is continuing.
A year after cancellation over single-sourcing concerns, TransNamib will restart the process to buy 23 new locomotives for N$1.7 billion following an independent technical evaluation of manufacturers. The procurement will proceed through the Central Procurement Board of Namibia using secured development finance.
The Ministry of Works and Transport plans to construct dual-carriageway freeways across Namibia to reduce road accidents and improve transport efficiency. The government will start construction of the Usakos-Arandis dual-carriageway this year, prioritising key roads with heavy traffic volumes and accident records including Windhoek-Okahandja, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay.
Works and transport minister Veikko Nekundi has instructed newly appointed boards of the Roads Contractor Company, Namibia Civil Aviation Authority and TransNamib Holdings Limited to urgently improve performance, accountability and service delivery. Nekundi ordered the RCC to submit outstanding annual reports and complete projects on time and within budget, directed the aviation authority to strengthen surveillance systems and address concerns raised by recent plane crashes, and demanded an end to delays in TransNamib's locomotive remanufacturing and frequent derailments.
Namibian police have warned that illegal taxi operators will face fines starting at N$2,000 and arrest upon a third transgression. The warning follows concerns raised by the Namibia Public Passenger Transport Association about 3,450 illegally operating cars since 2018, particularly in Rundu in Kavango East.
Namibian Police chief of traffic law enforcement Petrus Swartz has called on motorists to install dashcams and report reckless driving incidents, saying the strategy aims to create a sense of constant accountability on roads and shift driver behaviour. Swartz stressed that video evidence is most useful when submitted within 24 to 48 hours of an incident.
Taxi drivers in smaller towns like Katima Mulilo say the new N$15 nationwide fare increase, which took effect yesterday, offers little benefit to them as commuters refuse to pay full fares and negotiate lower prices. Drivers in smaller towns report being forced to accept below-approved payments to avoid conflict with passengers.
A report launched during UN Global Road Safety Week found that more than 70% of daily travel among low-income households in Namibia depends on walking and cycling, but major gaps exist in infrastructure, funding and policies supporting pedestrians and cyclists. Namibia recorded more than 1,000 motor vehicle crashes during the first four months of 2026, resulting in 179 deaths and over 1,700 injuries.
The Roads Authority has appealed to a member of the public who captured images of a truck overtaking on a solid line to come forward and assist police investigations, saying the footage is important in addressing reckless driving and improving road safety. Commissioner Petrus Swartz said authorities are committed to tracing drivers involved in dangerous conduct and can pursue both transport company owners and private vehicle owners through official registration records.
Ride-hailing company Yango Namibia has submitted about 1,500 permit applications and spent N$1.3 million on temporary operating permit fees while navigating administrative delays. The Ministry of Works and Transport has threatened action if Yango and its drivers do not comply with regulations.
Public transport fares between towns will increase from N$13 to N$15 from 18 May, according to Transport Minister Veikko Nekundi, following taxi drivers' complaints about fuel price hikes with no fare adjustment since 2021. Commuters say the increase will worsen their financial difficulties while their salaries remain unchanged.
Namibia and Botswana plan to launch a joint national airline by the end of this year, with Ethiopian Airlines as a strategic partner. The airline aims to create roughly 700 direct jobs and 500 indirect jobs, starting with domestic routes before expanding to regional and international markets.
Namibia's works and transport minister Veikko Nekundi has warned that illegal taxi and bus operators will not be permitted to increase fares under a newly approved 15% public transport tariff adjustment that takes effect on 18 May, with the minimum taxi fare rising from N$13 to N$15.
The ministry of works and transport announced a 15% increase in taxi, minibus and bus fares for urban and intercity transport, effective 18 May, following complaints from drivers about fuel price hikes. The increase marks the first adjustment to general taxi fares since 2021.
Transport and works minister Veikko Nekundi says the ministry will respond as a matter of urgency to a request from taxi drivers for a fare increase. Taxi drivers say fares have not increased since 2021 despite multiple fuel price rises, with the current fare remaining N$13 while petrol costs N$22.08 and diesel costs N$23.
The Ministry of Works and Transport has approved a 15% increase in taxi and bus fares, raising taxi fares from N$13.00 to N$15.00 effective 18 May 2026, in response to rising fuel prices and operational costs cited by transport operators.
Public transport fares will increase by 15% nationwide from 18 May 2026, raising the minimum taxi fare from N$13 to N$15, following approval by the Ministry of Works and Transport. The increase cites rising fuel prices and geopolitical tensions, and comes after the Namibia Public Passenger Transport Association requested a 30% increase.
The Minister of Works and Transport and Ohangwena Region Governor officially opened the 23 km district road D4119 from Omulonu to Oshuuli on 24 April 2026, funded through Namibian-German Development Cooperation at a contract value of N$53 million. The all-year-round road connects two schools, a heritage centre, and more than 2,000 people in a previously sandy-track area.
Board earnings for chairs and senior members at Namibian banks, listed companies and state-owned enterprises range from N$400,000 to N$1.6 million annually. Opposition chief whip Rodney Cloete argues board work has shifted from part-time public service to a full-time income stream for a politically connected group, often appointed through personal connections rather than merit.
Opposition leaders and labour experts have raised concerns about "jobs for comrades"—the practice of hiring based on political party membership and regional affiliation rather than merit. The Popular Democratic Movement secretary general Manuel Ngaringombe says the practice undermines fair employment and compromises nationalism, tracing the issue back to post-independence hiring patterns within state-owned enterprises.
The Namibia Industrial Development Agency is fighting a government directive to transfer 154 properties worth about N$3 billion to a new Public Asset Management Agency, warning that the assets are central to its funding and operations. The transfer, allegedly mandated by Cabinet as part of state asset restructuring, has raised fears about job losses and the agency's existence.
Works and transport minister Veikko Nekundi told parliament that compliance with mandatory vehicle branding requirements for e-hailing operators remains low, with drivers resisting rules requiring permanent identification marks on vehicles often used for private purposes. The ministry also cited broader non-compliance issues, including applicants' failure to meet basic permit requirements such as submitting certificates of good conduct.
Transport Minister Veikko Nekundi ordered an investigation into alleged tribal bias in recruitment at the Roads Authority, finding it employs about 74 people from the Zambezi region compared to more than 300 from northern Namibia. The probe has revived broader allegations of tribalism in hiring practices across Namibian state-owned enterprises and government offices.
The government has confirmed plans to expand Hosea Kutako International Airport, including construction of a third terminal, as part of efforts to increase capacity and position Namibia as a regional aviation hub. The upgrades will include improving air navigation systems and expanding passenger handling capacity, with the government exploring public-private partnerships to finance the infrastructure.
Minister of Works and Transport Veikko Nekundi says the government lacks funds to build permanent bridges in flood-prone regions including Zambezi, Oshana, Oshikoto, Ohangwena and Omusati, and is instead deploying floating bridges as a temporary solution. The ministry has purchased 24,640 double floating cubes totalling N$24 million, with bridges already installed or under construction at Kalimbeza and Masikili villages to restore access to schools and essential services during seasonal flooding.