A MONTHLY WRAP-UP OF NEWS WORTH KNOWING
Call to halt Illegal sand and gravel mining in Namibia
Indileni Ndeshipanda Daniel, lawmaker and Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, expressed “deep concern” over rising illegal sand and gravel mining in Namibia. She said the activities occur “without the required Environmental Clearance Certificates” under the Environmental Management Act of 2007. Daniel reminded individuals, businesses and authorities that mining requires an environmental impact assessment, management plan and clearance certificate. She warned that illegal mining causes land degradation, riverbank erosion, destruction of wetlands, unsafe water-filled pits and threats to food, water security and biodiversity. She urged Namibians to stop illegal mining and to join upcoming regional consultations on draft mining regulations.
Schengen visa rejections for Namibians
Ian Coffee, Chief Operations Officer at IBN Immigration Solutions Namibia and a legal immigration expert, warns that securing a Schengen Visa is “not a mere formality but a compliance-driven process,” noting that 14.5% of applications were rejected in 2024. Common reasons include “false or forged documents,” unclear travel purpose, insufficient funds, invalid insurance, and weak ties to one’s home country. Coffee stresses that these are “structural weaknesses,” not clerical errors. With rising costs, strict scrutiny, and new systems like ETIAS and EES, he urges individuals and organisations to use professional assistance to avoid costly refusals.
Govt loan guarantees fall by more than N$2bn over five years
Bank of Namibia (BoN) data shows central government loan guarantees have fallen by over N$2 billion in five years, signalling reduced exposure to contingent liabilities. Guarantees stood at about N$11.4 billion in 2020/21, rose slightly to N$11.9 billion in 2021/22, then declined to N$10.4 billion in 2022/23 and N$9.1 billion in 2023/24. By 2024/25, they fell to just under N$9 billion. Foreign guarantees made up the larger share, while domestic guarantees declined steadily. As a percentage of GDP, total guarantees dropped from above 6% in the early years to around 3% or less by 2024/25.
Windhoek approves building plans worth N$2.29 billion in 2025
The City of Windhoek approved 1,968 building plans worth N$2.29 billion in 2025, a slight rise from 2024. In December, 149 plans valued at N$121.3 million were approved, with approval values down 2.1% month-on-month and 58.1% year-on-year. IJG Securities reported 32 building completions in December worth N$26.3 million. Property additions totalled 1,564 for the year, valued at N$661.1 million. Residential approvals reached 330 units worth N$692.4 million in 2025, while completions fell to 135 units. No commercial buildings were completed in December, though 74 commercial and industrial approvals worth N$937.7 million were recorded for the year.
Office of the Judiciary appoints MTC as cloud hosting partner
The Office of the Judiciary (OOJ) has chosen Mobile Telecommunications Ltd (MTC) as its digital partner for cloud hosting services after a competitive procurement process. The agreement forms part of the Judiciary’s plan to modernise and strengthen its digital infrastructure. Deputy Executive Director Innocent Kandandu said the partnership will “ensure reliable access to justice and efficient case management,” supporting public trust and local empowerment. MTC General Manager Elton Katangolo said the company will provide a secure, scalable cloud solution to protect critical data. He praised the Judiciary for its “forward-looking stance” and encouraged other institutions to adopt similar digital upgrades.
YYeni AI, PatientCare and GovRecruit win CRAN Tech Challenge out of 110 entries
The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) received 110 submissions for its first-ever CRAN Tech Challenge, selecting YYeni AI, PatientCare and GovRecruit Namibia as winners. The challenge, launched in October, supports youth-led innovations in AgriTech, HealthTech and the gig economy. CRAN’s Jairus Kapenda said the strong response showcases “the innovative spirit of Namibia’s youth,” while ICT Executive Elton Witbooi called it “an investment in ideas that can transform our economy.” YYeni AI won N$50,000, PatientCare earned N$30,000 and GovRecruit Namibia N$20,000. CRAN will showcase the winning solutions to boost visibility and attract partnerships, said Mufaro Nesongano.
