President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has called for open dialogue in Namibia's fishing industry as unions warn the sector is in crisis, with workers facing job insecurity, poor conditions, and limited benefits. The three-day consultation at Walvis Bay includes presentations from unions and employers, with government officials to discuss fish stocks, employment practices, and quota allocation reforms.
Why it matters
Urgent crisis: President calls fishing sector dialogue as unions warn industry in crisis with job insecurity, poor conditions, and benefit gaps affecting workers.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has called for open dialogue in Namibia's fishing industry as unions warn the sector is in crisis, with workers facing job insecurity, poor conditions, and limited benefits. The three-day consultation at Walvis Bay includes presentations from unions and employers, with government officials to discuss fish stocks, employment practices, and quota allocation reforms.
The Namibia-European Union Business Forum, scheduled for 12–13 May in Windhoek, aims to secure N$390 billion in investment for green energy, logistics hubs, and sustainable economic diversification. The event will focus on green hydrogen, renewable energy, critical raw materials, agribusiness, cultural and creative industries, and the automotive sector, with Walvis Bay and Lüderitz positioned as key logistics hubs.
The Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs confirmed that the USS George HW Bush, a US nuclear-powered super aircraft carrier, is transiting in Namibia's exclusive economic zone under international maritime law without entering territorial waters. The vessel is sailing under provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which guarantees freedom of navigation, and is en route around the African continent to avoid heightened activity in the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah held discussions with fishing industry stakeholders in Walvis Bay to explore how the sector can be strengthened, emphasizing the need to address worker welfare concerns, fish stock sustainability, and identify practical solutions through collective action.
Richard Masule Milinga and Grant Charmon Cloete, accused of fraud and using office for gratification in connection with the alleged theft of a Roads Authority weighbridge in Walvis Bay valued over N$2 million, have had their case postponed to 20 August 2026 pending the Prosecutor General's decision on whether to proceed to trial. Both men, released on N$30,000 bail each, also face charges of fraud or theft relating to fraudulent certification of a suspicious invoice valued over N$3 million.
The Walvis Bay municipal council has approved a relocation intervention to address illegal land occupation in Kuisebmond, Build-Together, NHE land and selected backyard dwellings. Portions of Farm 37 have been set aside for temporary relocation of qualifying households, and the municipality approved 80 temporary workers to support enforcement, though it stressed the process does not replace the official housing waiting list.
Namibia's emerging Orange Basin oil and gas discoveries require strong regulatory and policy frameworks before commercial development momentum becomes difficult to redirect. The country must develop technical regulatory strength, clarify its fiscal regime, and build credible local content systems before major projects are sanctioned, drawing lessons from Guyana, Trinidad, Mozambique and other petroleum states.
Namibia will access 100% duty-free entry into the Chinese market from 1 May 2026 under a "Pre-Early Harvest" arrangement. The government says the zero-tariff measure will boost industrialisation, strengthen export growth, and enhance Walvis Bay's role as a regional trade hub.
Green Metals Refining has appointed seasoned mining and banking executive Fabian Shaanika to the board of its Namibian subsidiary Kudu Chemicals, which is developing a sulphuric acid plant at Walvis Bay for battery-grade manganese chemical production.
A writer from Walvis Bay highlights a lack of job attachment and internship opportunities for occupational health and safety students in Namibia, particularly in construction and mining sectors, despite many safety officer positions requiring years of experience. The author calls on companies to create more internship opportunities to help graduates gain the experience needed to launch their careers.