… Reaffirming the government’s commitment to working with traditional authorities, Witbooi said the Zambezi Region has immense potential to become one of Namibia’s agricultural and tourism hubs. …
… will be held on 18 September at Kamanjab to finalise congress preparations and identify candidates for the positions of secretary and deputy secretary. “The 9th Swapo Party Women’s Council Congress will take place from 9 to 11 December 2026 in Katima Mulilo in the Zambezi Region …
… Currently undoubtedly, the biggest star to come out of the Zambezi region, DJ Siya, is in demand far beyond Namibia’s borders, with bookings coming in from Botswana, South Africa and Zambia. …
… VICE President Lucia Witbooi has called on traditional leaders and communities to use culture as a tool for promoting unity, preserving heritage and driving economic development, while reaffirming government’s commitment to supporting development initiatives in the Zambezi Region …
… The recent acknowledgement by Urban and Rural Development Minister James Sankwasa that Katima Mulilo’s recurring sewage crisis is primarily the result of an ageing sewer system should serve as a wake-up call, not only for the Zambezi Region, but for every local authority in Namib …
… The concerns come weeks before the 9th Zambezi Bream Festival and Cultural Expo, an annual event aimed at showcasing the region’s cultural heritage, promoting tourism and creating opportunities for local businesses. …
… From the towering dunes of Sossusvlei to the haunting silence of the Skeleton Coast, from the wildlife spectacle of Etosha National Park to the rugged landscapes of Damaraland and the life-giving waters of the Zambezi Region, Namibia possesses a tourism product that is both authe …
Katima Mulilo Town Council has handed over the site for a N$450 million wastewater treatment plant to contractor Fulbright Water, financed by Standard Bank Namibia and Old Mutual. The 13 to 14-month project aims to address persistent sewerage problems while creating local employment opportunities.
Katima Mulilo Town Council has handed over the site for a N$450 million wastewater treatment plant to contractor Fulbright Water, financed by Standard Bank Namibia and Old Mutual. The 13 to 14-month project aims to address persistent sewerage problems while creating local employment opportunities.
Sean Naude, involved in the search for 15-year-old Erwin Bezuidenhaupt who reportedly drowned at Swakopmund marina in July, claimed on Facebook that authorities would have recovered the teenager's remains sooner had he been a "wambo child," a remark that has ignited debate over tribalism, privilege, and whether race belongs in the search effort.
Livestock attacks in Judea Lyaboloma conservancy have surged, with 37 incidents recorded between January and July, lions accounting for most recent attacks. A conservancy field officer cited bush encroachment around communities as a factor, with lions increasingly found close to villages where dense vegetation provides daytime cover before nighttime attacks.
Construction of the Katima Mulilo Wastewater Treatment Plant has begun following the handover of the project site to Fulbright Water, after delays related to environmental clearance and resident relocation. The project includes the treatment plant, upgraded sewer infrastructure, and network expansion, with about 70–75% of the workforce sourced from the Zambezi region.
Prime Minister Tjitunga Ngurare delivered a keynote address to the 4th Junior National Council, urging young members from Namibia's fourteen regions to champion water, sanitation, and national development as participants in parliamentary democracy.
According to UNICEF, 47.2% of Namibians still practise open defecation, rising to 70.9% in rural communities, a sanitation gap linked to wider inequalities in access to basic services. Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare said inadequate water and sanitation directly affects children's ability to live, learn and develop with dignity.
Farmers in Zambezi region's Judea Lyaboloma are experiencing mounting livestock losses to lions and hyenas, with at least six lion attacks on cattle recorded in Makanga village over the past month. A 76-year-old farmer reported losing three cattle since the year's start, while another farmer lost three cattle valued at N$30,000 to lions last Friday.
Prime Minister Elijah Tjitunga Ngurare has opened the Fourth Junior National Council session in Windhoek, bringing together 42 young Namibians from all 14 regions to deliberate on universal water and sanitation access. The session runs from 31 August to 3 September and focuses on developing practical solutions to the country's water and sanitation challenges.
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare says the government is making progress on establishing manufacturing facilities across Namibia's 14 regions, each aligned with local products and economic strengths. The initiative, directed by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, aims to expand local processing, promote value addition, create jobs, and move Namibia beyond primary production.
Construction has begun on an early childhood development centre at Kyeracan in the Zambezi region, built partly with 15 000 bricks residents moulded three years ago. The project, implemented with Atenu Developments and funded by the Palms for Life Fund, will accommodate 60 children upon completion.
The San community in Bwabwata National Park, Zambezi region, says family members die while waiting for ambulances during medical emergencies. After three men were hit by a vehicle in August, one 90-year-old pensioner died while waiting five hours for an ambulance to arrive from Katima Mulilo, located 170–202 km away.
Prime Minister Tjitunga Elijah Ngurare has called on Regional Governors to use newly available resources to address practical community needs and produce visible improvements to people's lives, emphasizing that governors serve as a critical link between central government and communities and must have sufficient human and financial resources to respond to local challenges.
The Namibia Special Risks Insurance Association has contributed N$25 million to strengthen the capacity of the Offices of the Regional Governors and support development across all 14 regions of Namibia. Prime Minister Tjitunga Elijah Ngurare stated the funds will be channelled towards productive development, with a focus on establishing factories and businesses to stimulate local economic activity.
The Namibia Special Risks Insurance Association has handed over N$25 million to regional governors to support productive initiatives across all 14 regions, with Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare emphasising that the funds must deliver tangible economic benefits including job creation and infrastructure improvements.
The Prime Minister announced N$40 million in government funding to purchase grains directly from local millers through the Agricultural Marketing and Trading Agency, addressing post-harvest losses and market access challenges faced by Namibian grain farmers.
Eleven children under five have died from diarrhoea-related illness in Namibia's Zambezi region this year, with 1,146 total diarrhoea cases reported in epidemiological week 31 of 2026, according to the health and social services minister. The cause remains under investigation.
Namibia is one of five African countries participating in Mercedes-Benz's '140 Years. 140 Places' journey, where three S-Class vehicles travel across six continents visiting 140 locations to commemorate 140 years since Carl Benz invented the automobile. The Namibia Tourism Board, NIPDB, and M&Z Motors Namibia are collaborating to showcase the country's tourism attractions, culture, conservation achievements, and investment opportunities to global audiences.
Just 712 police officers serve a population of about 142,000 people in the Zambezi region, creating a ratio of one officer for every 201 residents, which is described as far above the standard rate.
Livestock farmers in Zambezi region say the Zambezi Meat Corporation has collected 770 head of cattle since June but failed to pay for them, despite promising payment within four to seven days. The payment delays follow Meatco's handover of Katima Mulilo abattoir operations to Zamco in June, and farmers report lack of communication about the transition.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform is accelerating servicing and repair of tractors and agricultural implements across all 14 regions ahead of the 2026/27 summer cropping season, which runs from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027. The National Tractor and Agricultural Implements Servicing Intervention is currently underway at agricultural technology centres including Rundu.
Erongo governor Nathalia /Goagoses criticised senior education officials, regional leaders, and the Erongo Regional Council chairperson for skipping the opening of the Erongo Arts and Culture Regional Festival 2026 in Karibib, and said she has expressed her disappointment to education minister Sanet Steenkamp, demanding an explanation for their no-shows.
Zambezi regional governor Dorothy Kabula-Simushi has called on traditional authority leaders to advocate for climate-resilient adaptation and natural resource management within their communities, noting that the region faces heightened exposure to floods, drought, and changing rainfall patterns that threaten livelihoods dependent on natural resources.
The Namibia Sport Commission has launched a regional capacity-building initiative running from 17 to 29 August across five regions, beginning in Katima Mulilo, to strengthen sports structures, develop coaches, and expand sporting opportunities. The tour involves engagement with regional sport officers, coaches, federation representatives, and athletes to address regional challenges and align development strategies with national standards.
Members of Parliament have backed Namibia's proposed Mental Health Bill 2025 but warned that its reforms could fail without adequate funding, specialised staff, infrastructure, and services reaching rural communities. MPs called for mental health units at regional hospitals and trained staff at district facilities, citing that services remain concentrated in Windhoek while regions struggle to access specialised care.
The Palms for Life Fund, partnering with the President's office division of marginalized communities, has launched the Healthy Communities Programme, which invites community-based youth groups to submit proposals for projects combining environmental improvement with activities promoting healthy lifestyles and sobriety. The initiative will support 10 community projects and use community service to encourage young people to engage in improving their surroundings while creating alternatives to harmful alcohol use.
The Bwabwata National Park debate involves competing claims by the Hambukushu Traditional Authority and Khwe community over historical jurisdictional interests and traditional leadership recognition, spanning Kavango East and Zambezi regions. The article argues that resolving the dispute requires an impartial facilitator rather than a government minister, given the complexity of conservation, community rights, and land issues at stake.
Three Mercedes-Benz S-Class vehicles will travel through Namibia from 22 to 27 August as part of the automaker's "140 Years. 140 Places" anniversary campaign, showcasing the country's tourism attractions including the Zambezi and Fish River Canyon to an international audience.
Livestock farmers in the Zambezi region staged a demonstration calling for government intervention after Meatco handed over management of the Katima Mulilo abattoir to Zambezi Meat Cooperation in June; the abattoir has remained closed pending regulatory and operational requirements, leaving farmers without a formal market.
Urban and Rural Development Minister James Sankwasa has rejected allegations that he received preferential treatment in purchasing four business plots in Bukalo Extension 2 for N$45,000 combined. Former Bukalo Village Council CEO Martin Limbo questioned whether the transaction complied with legal requirements and whether the price represented a discount, claiming the properties were individually valued at approximately N$23,500 each.
Namibia is set to sign a memorandum of understanding with Cuba on water harvesting and distribution, with technical expertise to develop canals, tunnels and other infrastructure to move floodwater from regions prone to flooding to water-scarce areas across nine regions.