Sostenus Wilherm
The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) has warned that Namibia risks repeating last year’s devastating Etosha wildfire disaster unless the government urgently strengthens its firefighting capacity, as fresh fires continue to burn in the national park.
IPC shadow minister of environment, forestry and tourism Rodrick Likando said the latest fires should serve as a wake-up call for the government to establish a permanent, properly funded wildfire-response system rather than relying on emergency mobilisation once fires have already spread.
“The latest wildfires in Etosha National Park show that Namibia must strengthen its wildfire preparedness and response capacity,” Likando said.
The warning comes after lightning sparked fires in the Halali, Kamaseb and Tsam areas on 9 September, with the ministry of environment, forestry and tourism confirming that firefighting teams have been battling the fires for several days.
Although the ministry says the fires have been kept under control, Likando said their recurrence so soon after the massive 2025 Etosha blaze raises serious concerns about Namibia’s preparedness, coordination and available resources.
The 2025 fire engulfed approximately 775 000 hectares inside Etosha National Park and another 171 000 hectares outside the park, making it one of the country’s most significant recent wildfire disasters. More than 500 Defence Force members were deployed during the response.
“The disaster exposed weaknesses in firefighting equipment, coordination and rapid mobilization,” Likando said.
He said Namibia should not wait for another major fire before addressing those weaknesses, arguing that wildfire response must be strengthened before emergencies occur.
“Namibia needs a permanent, properly resourced wildfire-response capacity before the next major fire starts,” he said.
Likando said he had raised questions about the absence of a dedicated national wildfire unit, the resources available to fight major fires, response times, private firefighting capacity and support for communities affected by wildfires.
He also questioned the government’s allocation of resources towards wildfire prevention and response, pointing out that the the environment ministry received approximately N$797 million for the 2025/26 financial year.
“The government must explain how much of this is allocated to preventing, detecting and suppressing major wildfires,” Likando said.
The shadow minister also called on the ministry to clarify the status of the Forest and Veld Fire Prevention and Response Protocol and its relationship with the existing Final Fire Management Strategy.
He argued that having policies and strategies is not enough if they are not properly funded, implemented and tested before emergencies occur.
“Plans must be finalized, funded, implemented and tested before emergencies occur,” Likando said.
Among the measures proposed by the IPC is the establishment of a properly resourced rapid-response wildfire unit, equipped with pre-positioned firefighting equipment and trained personnel capable of responding quickly when fires break out.
Likando also called for reliable early-warning and monitoring systems, clearer coordination between government, communities, conservancies and private operators, as well as regular training and simulation exercises.
The party further wants transparent post-fire assessments and annual public reporting on wildfire preparedness and expenditure to ensure accountability over the country’s wildfire-response resources.
Likando said the environment ministry should disclose the resources currently stationed in Etosha, the number of personnel available, equipment acquired since the 2025 fire, the status of maintained firebreaks, aerial monitoring capacity and budget allocations.
He also wants the government to provide an update on progress made in implementing lessons from last year’s devastating fire.
Meanwhile, ministry spokesperson Vilho Hangula confirmed that firefighting teams remain on the ground and have managed to keep the latest fires under control.
Hangula said the firefighting operation has been supported by well-maintained cutlines, including the freshly graded Dungaries-Kamaseb and Dungaries-Trentaal cutlines, which are helping slow the spread of the fires and protect surrounding areas.
Additional firefighting equipment, including a fire truck, as well as more personnel, is being dispatched to Etosha to strengthen the existing response team.
“No animal losses or injuries have been reported as a result of the fire thus far,” Hangula said.
Despite the current containment of the fires, Likando warned that Etosha’s importance to Namibia means that wildfire preparedness cannot be treated as a seasonal or emergency issue.
“Etosha is a vital conservation, tourism and economic asset. Large fires threaten wildlife, habitats, tourism and surrounding communities,” he said.
He said the country must build its wildfire response capacity before another disaster occurs.
“The time to build wildfire response capacity is before the fire, not after it,” Likando said.
He warned that the latest fires should not become another missed opportunity to address the weaknesses exposed by the 2025 disaster.
“The 2025 Etosha fire was a warning. The fires of September 2026 must not become another warning that the government ignores,” Likando said.
