National News

Patience Makwele The Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) has flagged transactions worth about N$103.84 billion linked to potential tax-related offences, warning that Namibia’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list must translate into stronger investigations, prosecutions and recovery of criminal proceeds. The findings were presented in Windhoek on Monday during day one of the two-day national conference on anti-money laundering, countering the financing of terrorism and proliferation financing. According to the FIC’s inaugural AML/CFT/CPF Financial System Integrity Report 2026, the transactions were identified between 2009 and 2025. The figure represents the cumulative value of transactions linked to potential…

Patience Makwele The ministry of education, innovation, youth, sports, arts and culture has identified gaps in learning outcomes and skills development among the challenges it must address, as it seeks to better prepare young people for employment and improve the relevance of education and training. The ministry’s 2025–2030 strategic plan commits it to finalising a National Human Resources Development Strategy to address what deputy minister Dino Ballotti described as a “perceived skills mismatch” and youth unemployment. Speaking at the plan’s launch in Windhoek on Monday, Ballotti said the ministry had deliberately acknowledged its shortcomings rather than conceal them. “We name…

Sostenus Wilherm The ministry of education, innovation, youth, sports, arts and culture is targeting the completion of 148 permanent classrooms and 66 pre-primary classrooms across all 14 regions before the 2027 academic year begins, as it moves to ease overcrowding and improve access to education. Deputy minister Dino Ballotti announced the targets on Monday during the launch of the ministry’s 2025–2030 Strategic Plan in Windhoek, outlining a series of priorities aimed at addressing infrastructure shortages, strengthening teaching and learning, expanding digital connectivity and preparing young people for employment. “Getting classrooms ready for 2027. We are building 148 permanent classrooms and…

Sostenus Wilherm The ministry of health and social services plans to establish at least five additional mental health units by 2037, increase annual mental health funding and send more doctors for psychiatric specialisation as Namibia grapples with limited access to specialised mental health care. The commitments were read by the minister of health and social services Esperance Luvindao on Monday and are contained in the Namibia National Mental Health Commitments of 2026. They outline ten-year plans to strengthen mental health services following the approval of the Mental Health Bill of 2025 by the National Assembly and National Council. The ministry…

Sostenus Wilherm Namibia recorded a suicide rate of 18 deaths per 100 000 people during the 2024/25 reporting period, exceeding the estimated African regional average of 11.  Vice President Lucia Witbooi called for urgent action to strengthen mental health services and address the stigma that prevents people from seeking help. Speaking at the commemoration of World Mental Health Day in Windhoek on Saturday, Witbooi said the figures highlighted the need for stronger suicide prevention measures, early intervention and improved access to mental health care, particularly for people who struggle to obtain professional support. “This comparison is a serious call to…

Patience Makwele Swapo secretary-general Sophia Shaningwa has warned that Namibia must protect its cultural identity from outside influences, describing the preservation of indigenous heritage as a national imperative. “In a world where external influences continuously seek to erode indigenous identities, the deliberate preservation of our culture and heritage is not optional. It is a national imperative,” Shaningwa said. Shaningwa said cultural preservation should go hand in hand with creating economic opportunities for local communities, particularly through entrepreneurship and support for small businesses. She was speaking at a fundraising gala in Okahao on Saturday, where organisers raised N$476 000 towards the…

Sostenus Wilherm Namibia is targeting the planting and maintenance of one million trees by 2030 and two million by 2035 under a proposed national strategy, as the government moves to strengthen climate change mitigation, restore degraded land and protect the country’s natural vegetation. Minister of environment, forestry and tourism Indileni Daniel announced the targets during the National Arbor Day commemoration in Rehoboth on Friday, warning that planting trees without ensuring their survival would undermine the country’s environmental ambitions. “Our proposed draft National Strategy on Tree Planting 2026–2035 sets out a target of one million trees planted and maintained by 2030,…

Patience Makwele The ministry of health and social services (MoHSS) has pledged to strengthen support for patients living with serious illnesses, including improving pain management, treatment referrals and psychological and nutritional support, as Namibia seeks to expand access to palliative care. The commitments were outlined by deputy minister of health and social services Hambelelela Suzan Ndjaleka at the World Hospice and Palliative Care Day symposium in Windhoek on Friday, where she delivered a keynote address on behalf of minister Dr Esperance Luvindao. Ndjaleka said the government’s responsibility to patients did not end when an illness progressed or treatment could no…