AGP Executive Report

Child Protection Push: Stakeholders meet in Windhoek to map strategies and funding mechanisms to strengthen Namibia’s children’s protection systems, with UNICEF and Sweden backing the National Child Protection Conference. AI Governance & Digital Divide: Namibia joins global talks in Geneva on AI governance, while Rwanda’s Paul Kagame co-chairs an AI for Good commission aimed at widening access and narrowing the digital divide. Namibia–China Trade Drive: President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah invites Chinese investors to partner in mining, agriculture, renewables, logistics and infrastructure during her China visit, as Namibia’s space cooperation expands with a China-aided satellite ground station. Road Safety Tech: Namibia eyes Chinese technology to tackle crash hotspots and blind spots, complementing speed camera enforcement. Health System Upgrade: Health Minister Luvindao says Namibia is planning a national air ambulance service to improve emergency care in remote areas. Local Governance Accountability: Minister Sankwasa warns councils with unaudited books will not get budget approval, tightening oversight on public funds. Zambezi Food Security: Zambezi Governor Kabula says the Kalimbeza Rice Project remains hamstrung by a broken processing machine, storage limits and weak market access. Marine Conservation: Namibia supports accession to ACAP to cut seabird bycatch and strengthen sustainable fisheries. Sports Funding: Government may release an extra N$50m for sport, lifting this year’s investment to N$68.5m. E-hailing Safety: Yango and AA Namibia launch certified driver training to improve road safety and passenger protection. Business & Investment: The Presidency says Namibia’s China business delegation was not taxpayer-funded, while NBL reports over N$35.6m invested in water-saving initiatives.

Windhoek Service Delivery & Transparency: The Khomas Ratepayers and Residents Association says Windhoek’s leadership is suppressing public participation, withholding information and not fixing key services. City Billing Probe: City employees accused of manipulating the billing system have been suspended pending disciplinary action, while the city refuses to say how many staff are affected. Electricity Crackdown: Windhoek will remove illegal electrical wiring starting in September, with initial focus areas including Otjomuise and Oku… Court Watch: The High Court dismissed activist Michael Amushelelo’s urgent bid to stop speed humps on the Western Bypass, saying he failed to show the law was violated. Fuel Market Move: Energy minister Modestus Amutse overturned a Namibia Competition Commission restriction, clearing the way for Nasan Energies to buy fuel from Vitol to protect supply and consumers. Cement Deal: Amutse also overturned NaCC’s decision, allowing a Chinese businessman to take effective control of Namibia’s cement industry. Water Summit: Namibia was selected to host the 2028 World Basin Summit in Windhoek, boosting its profile in water governance. Local Economy & Housing: Young professionals warn Windhoek rent is crushing affordability, while the city approved a rates framework giving Brakwater residents the same rates as other Windhoekers. Energy & Industry: Namibia eyes lithium battery manufacturing with a push for skills transfer, and green hydrogen was highlighted to Chinese business leaders during the president’s China visit. Culture & Events: The CST Expo 2026 will showcase Namibia’s creative talent in September, and Miss World Namibia’s send-off raised N$116,000.

Cement Deal: Namibia’s Industries Minister Modestus Amutse has approved the Ohorongo–Cheetah Cement merger, overturning the Competition Commission’s block and ordering conditions including job protection—Cheetah Cement says it has halted retrenchments. Jobs & Skills: The Labour ministry says the Namibia Integrated Employment Information System is struggling under heavy demand, with slowdowns when vacancies are advertised, as unemployment pressure grows. Health Services: Namport has donated two fully equipped ambulances to the Health ministry for Kalkfeld and other priority areas, as officials push to expand emergency care and plan an air ambulance service. Local Governance: City of Windhoek begins formalising informal settlements after submitting its first five ECC applications, aiming to create thousands of serviced erven. Education Oversight: Parliament’s education committee launches an inquiry into health training quality and accreditation delays amid graduate unemployment concerns. Aviation Safety: Namibia Airports Company hosts an ACI Africa aircraft recovery management course in Windhoek to strengthen emergency preparedness. Energy/Industry: The Deepsea Mira offshore drilling rig has finished Shell’s Namibia contract and is demobilising to Walvis Bay for upgrades. Economy & Markets: Pension savings lifted Namibia’s investment assets to N$342.6bn in Q1 2026, with local investments still the biggest share.

Namibia–China Ties: President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has arrived in Guangzhou for a 5–11 July state visit to deepen trade, investment and industrial cooperation, with talks planned with Xi Jinping and Chinese provincial leaders. Windhoek Power & Debt: The City of Windhoek says municipal debt owed by government institutions has dropped by 60%, and about 1,300 households in informal settlements are set to be connected to the grid by October. Lüderitz Port Push: ǁKharas governor Dawid Gertze calls the Lüderitz port expansion a national urgency, warning delays could hit investment and jobs. Health System Scrutiny: Namibia’s health ministry is investigating claims that doctors are leaving interns to run facilities, raising alarms about patient safety and supervision. Local Economy & Jobs: Standard Bank Namibia workers threaten industrial action over a wage dispute after negotiations deadlocked. Public Service Oversight: South Africa’s communications minister and the Public Service Commission are set to brief media on the Sita investigation outcomes. Global Watch: Australia is probing mysterious “space balls” washed up on a beach in Queensland, with exclusion zones in place due to possible hazards. Community Good News: A Windhoek preschool raised over N$50,000 for charity at its annual auction.

City Planning: Windhoek has submitted the first five Environmental Clearance Certificate applications to formalise informal settlements and unlock about 3,587 residential erven, following public participation launched in March. Public Safety: The City has also approved new dog registration and licensing rules, including fees, fitness certificates, leash requirements, and stronger controls for dangerous dogs. Youth & Skills: Namibia Youth Energy Forum has appointed Fanuel Shinedima as its new chief executive, while Parliament’s education committee held talks on health training challenges, including graduate unemployment and accreditation delays. Health Capacity: Namibia’s Ministry of Health received a Russian mobile laboratory to speed outbreak detection and diagnostics in remote areas, with training included. International Ties: President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah departs for China to deepen trade and push value addition beyond raw minerals. Energy/Industry Outlook: A natural resource roadmap argues Namibia should link extraction to industrialisation, using minerals, oil and gas, desalination and renewables to create jobs. Education Support: The Zambezi Education Directorate received 440 desks and 440 chairs to ease shortages in schools.

Namibia–China Ties: President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has departed for a week-long state visit to China to deepen trade and investment, with a push for more value addition in minerals and cooperation across energy, agriculture, education and health. Education & Skills: The Zambezi Education Directorate received 440 desks and 440 chairs worth over N$340,000, while Unam says nursing students are being turned away from some clinics due to limited clinical training capacity. Health Training Oversight: Parliament’s education committee held consultations with health training institutions to tackle quality, accreditation delays and graduate unemployment. Local Planning: City of Windhoek has lodged its first environmental clearance applications to formalise informal settlements and develop thousands of residential plots. Youth & Culture: NASCAM secured a N$1.5m UNESCO-backed grant to boost Namibia’s music industry through research, digital tools and copyright reform. Energy & Economy: Industries, mines and energy minister says the National Energy Fund remains stable after fuel-bailout spending, and Ultra Special Energy invested N$17m in biomass equipment for the Oshikoto power station. Finance & Fraud: Namra reports 316 fraudulent tax and VAT refund cases since 2022, with N$144m recovered.

AI Governance: The UN and ITU launched the “AI for Good” Global Commission, putting top AI CEOs in the same room as heads of state for the first joint session in Geneva on July 8. Namibia–China Ties: President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah departs for a week-long state visit to China (July 5–11) to deepen cooperation on trade, investment, energy, mining, digital innovation and people-to-people links. Health & Education: UNAM nursing students are being turned away from clinical placements due to overcrowding at clinics, while a new N$13m mobile lab from Russia will speed outbreak detection by bringing testing closer to communities. Fraud & Revenue: NamRA says it detected 316 fraudulent tax and VAT refund claims over four years, with about N$1b suspected and N$144m recovered. Energy & Jobs: Ultra Special Energy invested N$17m in biomass equipment for NamPower’s Oshikoto biomass plant; and Cheetah Cement says it has halted retrenchments after approval of the Ohorongo-Cheetah merger. Homelessness: A Windhoek pastor opened a temporary night shelter in Khomasdal offering beds, showers and meals for up to 35 people.

China Visit Watch: President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah will travel to China from 5–11 July for talks with Xi Jinping and other senior leaders, with the trip aimed at boosting trade, investment and cooperation across mining, energy, technology and education. Tax Crackdown: NamRA says it detected 316 fraudulent claims and forged documents over four years, involving about N$1 billion, and warns the public and employers to stop VAT and PAYE scams. Windhoek Court Update: The High Court dismissed Michael Amushelelo’s bid to halt Western Bypass speed humps, with an appeal expected. Homelessness in Winter: A Windhoek-area pastor opened a temporary night shelter in Khomasdal offering beds, showers and meals for up to 35 people, with no one turned away for lack of money. Local Business & Jobs: Hope and Gorob Mining broke ground on a Copper-Gold project near Gobabeb, projecting around 270–280 jobs and community support. Water Pressure: Neu Samarou’s growing population has strained boreholes, pushing residents to fund diesel while a longer-term pipeline is proposed. Energy/Industry: Namdeb reported broadly stable diamond reserves, with licence timelines and resource reclassifications shaping its latest outlook.

Water Security: Namibia launched the N$2.1 billion Erongo SUNAM desalination project, with PM Ngurare calling water “the currency of sovereignty” and stressing long-term economic and social stability. Local Economy Boost: The SOE Games Kavango East kick off in Rundu (2–4 July), with businesses expecting close to N$10 million in short-term spending. Court & Governance: Windhoek’s High Court advanced the Windhoek Council’s oil spill case against Namibia Dairies after a pre-trial order, while another court bid to remove Western Bypass speed humps was dismissed. Public Service & Pay: Kunene Regional Council salary delays were resolved after agreement on an acting CRO to restore lawful administration and unlock withheld pay. Energy & Costs: Government’s July–September fuel import arrangement is set to ease pressure on the National Energy Fund by buying at Basic Fuel Price. Finance Leadership: FNB Namibia appointed Colaindunn von Luttichau to lead Private Clients and Private Wealth. Sports & Society: NFA president Robert Shimooshili addressed prize-money gaps between men’s and women’s football as the NFA Cup concluded. Cybersecurity: NAM-CSIRT reported fewer threats and vulnerabilities in Q1 2026, but warned organisations to stay alert.

Digital Learning Push: MBRGI’s The Digital School will roll out a sustainable digital learning initiative reaching 500,000+ people across Namibia and five other African countries, with support for schools, teachers and youth job readiness. Satellite Connectivity: Echo Namibia, Q-Kon and Oblixx partner to launch OneWeb LEO VSAT services after CRAN licensing, aiming to narrow the digital divide for remote schools, government sites and industries. Consumer & Finance Watch: NAMFISA reports N$1.7m compensation for non-banking financial institution complaints in Q1, while Bank of Namibia data shows reserves down 5.8% to N$55.4bn at end-May. Aviation Security: Namibia Airports Company launches its first Basic Aviation Security Training in Windhoek, training 50 participants to strengthen airport safety. Education & Compliance: The education ministry warns the public to avoid enrolling in unregistered/unaccredited higher education institutions. Local Economy & Jobs: A N$18m grant fund supports youth and women-led SMEs to formalise and expand, with the first application round closing 24 July. Energy & Power: City of Windhoek says it will remove illegal electricity connections from September, as residents link the problem to inadequate electrification. Mining & Industry: Northern Graphite completes relocating its Okanjande processing plant, targeting a restart by end-2027; Rosh Pinah Zinc commissions a new SAG mill to double throughput. Oil & Governance: Namcor appoints Victoria Sibeya as managing director for five years from 1 July.

Local Governance: City of Windhoek to remove illegal power connections from 1 September, warning unsafe wiring has caused deaths and fires in informal areas. Courts & Accountability: Windhoek High Court postponed a ruling on Western Bypass speed humps, urging parties to let the legal process run its course. Health & Society: Namibia launches plans to tackle vitiligo stigma, including the first national research and a patient support group after misconceptions about “witchcraft” and HIV. Energy & Cost of Living: Namibia will cut fuel prices from 3 July as international oil and shipping costs ease and the Namibian dollar strengthens. Offshore Oil: Rhino’s Capricornus-1A appraisal well offshore confirms oil-bearing reservoir continuity, boosting Namibia’s Orange Basin prospects. Mining & Investment: Kaoko Metals finds a new outcropping copper prospect at Chalkos ahead of maiden drilling; Namibia also pushes export growth to N$168bn by 2030 and backs local film production with NBC funding. Telecoms: MTC says it met CRAN over complaints of “disappearing” data and billing issues.

Energy & Mining: Celsius Resources has agreed to sell its Opuwo copper-cobalt project in Kunene to China’s Chinalco (Xiong’an) Mining for about N$250 million, with the deal expected to restart momentum for Namibia’s critical minerals. Oil & Gas: NAMCOR says the Capricornus-1A appraisal well in the Orange Basin hit oil-bearing rock linked to Capricornus-1X, strengthening offshore production hopes. Governance & Data: Khomas governor Sam Nujoma urged the Namibia Statistics Agency to prioritise routine, region-aligned economic data so budgeting and investment decisions can be made with better local numbers. Telecom & Consumer Protection: CRAN will run independent technical testing into complaints about “disappearing” mobile data and billing issues involving MTC. Education: Government says more than 500 education infrastructure projects are underway nationwide, and public institutions have been told to buy furniture locally to support jobs. Health: Namibia’s polio response reached over 90% coverage, but officials admit some children were missed, calling for tighter campaign performance checks. Leadership: Victoria Sibeya is appointed managing director of Namcor from 1 July. Local Economy: Ondangwa recorded N$1.1 billion in land and property transactions since 2016, with 45 recorded so far in 2026.

Agriculture & Trade: Namibia is looking to deepen cooperation with the Netherlands on agriculture, water management, trade and investment to strengthen food security and growth. Education Push: Government says more than 500 new schools and expanded classrooms are in the pipeline to ease overcrowding, while Swakopmund and Walvis Bay have temporarily paused new primary enrolments amid capacity strain. Health Update: Namibia reports polio vaccination coverage has reached 90% and says vaccinations have been halted after hitting the target. Governance & Pay: In the National Assembly, the Prime Minister says Kunene salary delays stem from a technical administrative issue, after allegations of deliberate non-payment. Digital Sovereignty: CRAN rejects Starlink’s bid to operate, citing Namibia’s 51% local ownership requirement. Sports Development: Volleyball delegates in Rundu set the sport’s strategic direction, and youth competitions in Swakopmund show growing participation. Justice & Finance: A High Court bail appeal in a N$40m fraud case is dismissed, while authorities also report freezing 20 accounts linked to suspected N$61m fraud and money laundering. Energy & Resources: Offshore, Rhino Resources says an appraisal well confirms a connected oil-bearing reservoir in the Orange Basin; Northern Graphite completes processing plant relocation for a planned 2027 restart.

Anti-Corruption Leadership: President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has nominated Bryan Eiseb to succeed Paulus Noa as Director General of the Anti-Corruption Commission, signalling a push toward tackling modern corruption through financial intelligence and enforcement. Governance & Land Reform: Rural and Urban Development Minister James Sankwasa reiterated that communal land remains state property and chiefs are custodians only, reigniting debate on how communal land is administered and protected. Public Health: Namibia has interrupted transmission of circulating vaccine-derived polio type 2 after reaching over 90% vaccination coverage, with no cVDPV2 detected since 4 March 2026. Statistics Coordination: The Namibia Statistics Agency and Khomas leadership called for better coordination, funding and data use across ministries, councils and stakeholders under the National Strategy for the Development of Statistics. Electricity Safety: The City of Windhoek ordered the removal of illegal electricity wiring in several informal settlements, warning of deaths and injuries linked to unsafe connections. Tourism Watch: International tourist arrivals fell 3.2% from 2024 to 2025, with Germany down sharply, and officials citing safety concerns as a key driver. Mining & Investment: Northern Graphite completed relocation of its processing plant equipment to the Okanjande mine site ahead of a planned restart, while Celsius agreed to sell its Opuwo cobalt-copper project to Chinalco for US$15m. Sports & Community: Telecom Namibia appointed Armando Perny as acting CEO; Nkurenkuru’s stadium completion was promised this year; and Quality FC won the inaugural NFA Futsal Cup.

Veterans Protest Row: IPC says Defence and Veterans Affairs minister Frans Kapofi “missed the point” in Parliament after veterans camping outside Swapo HQ complained they were not personally engaged to resolve grievances. Procurement Under Fire: Namibia Airports Company (NAC) defended its direct purchase of two airport firefighting trucks worth about N$40m, saying it was needed for operational reasons and fleet standardisation. Telecom Namibia Shake-up: Telecom Namibia appointed Armando Perny as acting CEO from 1 July after CEO Stanley Shanapinda resigned; the CCO and CFO also tendered resignations. Water Security & Policy: Cabinet backed hosting an Africa uranium legacy sites workshop in Swakopmund (23–27 Nov 2026) and endorsed a Namibia–China development cooperation grant of about N$480m. Data Governance: Namibia Statistics Agency called for stronger collaboration among data producers and users to improve the national statistical system. Fisheries Pressure: Government sought to postpone an ESJA/Fishrot-related civil case until the main criminal trial, citing witness safety concerns. Transport Disruption: Namibian truck firms are pulling drivers from South Africa ahead of an anti-immigrant protest, fearing xenophobic violence. Agriculture Snapshot: NSA reports livestock auctions up 32.1% in Q1 2026, while cereal grain imports fell 52.1%.