AGP Executive Report

Higher Education Access: Welwitchia University opens/expands its Outapi campus in Omusati, offering nursing and health science foundation programmes to bring quality training closer to northern communities. Digital Regulation: Namibia’s telecom regulator CRAN is pushing “regulatory sandboxes” to help innovators test new tech under flexible rules, aiming to speed up digital adoption. Connectivity & Space Links: Telecom Namibia signs strategic deals with Angola partners at ANGOTIC 2026, including exploring Angosat-2 satellite use for VSAT in remote areas and pilots for commercial rollout. Public Health: Kavango East/West launch a cataract surgical campaign at Intermediate Rundu Hospital targeting 400+ patients to prevent avoidable blindness. Governance & Corruption Watch: ACC investigates Keetmanshoop Municipality over a reported N$3.4m prepaid electricity meter-related SLA, citing possible procurement non-compliance. Road Safety Tech: Roads Authority defends the N$704k speed hump/signage rollout on Windhoek’s B1/A1, saying it’s an urgent response to pedestrian crashes. Education & AI: Namibia’s academic year focus highlights how AI is already reshaping teaching and assessment, with calls for smarter, competence-based responses. Agritech in Action: Namibia’s first commercially grown bananas reach shelves after Etunda trial results, using tissue-culture seedlings and expanding to more regions. Digital Security & Infrastructure: Namibia faces ongoing telecom cable theft and vandalism, driving service disruptions and adding pressure to digital transformation efforts.

Telecom & Connectivity: Telecom Namibia signed strategic digital connectivity deals with Angola at ANGOTIC 2026, including a pilot to test Angosat-2 satellite services for remote Namibian areas and a second agreement with Angola Telecom to strengthen cross-border IT cooperation. Public Health: Kavango East and West launched a cataract surgical eye campaign at Intermediate Rundu Hospital, targeting 400+ patients and already treating 240 to help restore sight and cut avoidable blindness. Governance & Procurement: The Anti-Corruption Commission is probing Keetmanshoop Municipality over a reported N$3.4m service level agreement for prepaid electricity meters, after procurement non-compliance concerns were raised. Road Safety Tech & Policy: Namibia’s Roads Authority says it spent about N$704,000 on B1 Western Bypass speed humps and related signage, pushing back on claims the project cost far more. Education Systems & AI: A new Okahandja NaTIS rollout brings computerised learner licence testing plus an electronic book-and-pay system to speed up and secure assessments. Agritech: Namibia’s first commercially grown bananas from the Etunda trial project are now on shelves, aiming to reduce fruit import dependence. Digital Economy & Work: The ILO adopted a global treaty for decent work in the gig/platform economy, setting binding standards on pay, safety, social security and platform management. SME Growth: ProSME’s SME Fund is open for women- and youth-led businesses seeking support to scale and compete digitally. Telecom Resilience: Industry coverage highlights how cable theft and vandalism keep disrupting Namibia’s networks, with operators weighing fibre swaps, hardening and better monitoring. Trade & Energy: Namibia’s trade deficit widened to N$4.4bn in April as exports fell, while petroleum oils remained a major import driver.

Housing & Finance: Economist Omu Kakujaha-Matundu says Namibia’s long home-loan repayment periods aren’t the real culprit—high house prices and costly serviced land are. He urges government to cut land and transfer costs so buyers can afford homes without relying on extended terms. Road Safety Tech & Governance: The Roads Authority says it spent about N$704,000 on speed humps and signs on the B1 Western Bypass and A1, after criticism that the project cost far more. A separate report also alleges Nekundi’s speed-hump push bypassed earlier technical concerns. Public Service Modernisation: Okahandja NaTIS Centre has launched computerised learner licence testing plus an electronic book-and-pay system, aiming for faster results and fewer delays. Connectivity & Infrastructure: Paratus Namibia unveiled its first private LTE and 5G network, backed by Vertiv power and cooling in a converted high-availability data centre. Telecom Namibia also signed an agreement to pilot Angosat-2 satellite services to reach remote communities. Trade & Energy Signals: Namibia’s trade deficit widened to N$4.4bn in April as exports fell and petroleum oils drove imports. Labour Rights in the Gig Economy: The ILO adopted a binding treaty for platform workers, setting standards on pay, safety, social security and algorithmic management.

Telecom & Connectivity: Paratus Namibia launched the country’s first private LTE and 5G network, backed by Vertiv power and cooling after converting storage into a high-availability data centre. Satellite Trials: Telecom Namibia signed an agreement with Angola to pilot-test the Angosat-2 satellite for remote connectivity, with a view to commercial services. Digital Governance: Namibia’s Bank of Namibia hosted an Internal Audit Awareness Day, stressing internal audit’s role in stronger governance and accountability. SME Growth: The ProSME project launched an SME Fund to support women- and youth-led businesses with expansion potential, backed by NPC, NIPDB and GIZ. Cyber & Fraud: TransUnion reports Namibia’s suspected digital fraud stayed below the global average in 2025, with third-party seller scams on trusted platforms driving most losses. Infrastructure Security: Namibia’s cable theft problem is hitting telecom reliability, with experts pointing to legacy copper and low-surveillance routes as key drivers. Energy & Trade: Namibia’s trade deficit widened to N$4.4bn in April as exports fell, while petroleum oils dominated imports. Agritech Resilience: Namibia launched a drought-preparedness programme using climate-smart farming like solar irrigation, shade nets and hydroponics. Road Safety: The Roads Authority defended speed hump costs and aims after pedestrian-related crash concerns. Labour Rights Globally: The ILO adopted a binding treaty for platform gig workers, setting standards on pay, safety, social security and algorithm management.

Telecom Security: Copper cable theft and vandalism are repeatedly knocking out Namibia’s telecom services, with experts pointing to legacy copper lines and remote, low-surveillance routes that delay repairs. Energy & Trade: Namibia’s April imports were dominated by petroleum oils (18.1% of all imports), while the trade deficit widened to N$4.4bn as uranium, nickel and gold exports fell. SME Growth: A new SME Fund under ProSME will back women- and youth-led MSMEs with turnover up to N$10m, aiming to boost competitiveness and jobs. Connectivity & Data Centres: Paratus Namibia launched the country’s first private LTE and 5G network, building a high-availability data centre with Vertiv power/cooling support. Satellite Trials: Telecom Namibia signed to test Angola’s Angosat-2 satellite for remote connectivity, with a pilot commercial trial before any long-term rollout. Governance & Skills: Bank of Namibia hosted an Internal Audit Awareness Day, while Namibia ranked 4th in lifelong learning participation on the continent. Policy & Health Supply: Cabinet approved Namibia’s agreements with Egypt (pharma/devices) and Africa CDC (procurement services) amid medicine shortages. Digital Work Rights: The ILO adopted a global treaty for decent work in the gig/platform economy, setting binding standards on pay, safety and algorithmic management.

Education & STEM Push: Kavango East honoured top teachers and learners from the 2025 National Examination Assessment, urging stronger literacy and numeracy and better performance in science, technology, engineering and maths, plus more digital learning and lifelong education. Telecom Connectivity: Telecom Namibia will test Angola’s Angosat-2 satellite in a pilot commercial trial aimed at improving service reach for remote communities, with plans to assess performance and viability before scaling. Digital Work Rights: The ILO adopted a landmark treaty for platform/gig workers (Convention No. 193), setting binding standards on pay, safety, social security and algorithmic management. Road Safety Debate: Namibia’s Roads Authority says it spent about N$704,000 on speed humps and related measures on key Windhoek bypass routes, defending the move as an urgent pedestrian-safety intervention amid criticism. Trade Pressure: Namibia’s trade deficit widened to N$4.4bn in April as exports fell to N$9.8bn, hit by lower uranium and other mineral sales, while imports stayed high. Health Supply Cooperation: Cabinet approved agreements with Egypt on medical supplies and with Africa CDC for procurement services, responding to ongoing essential-medicine shortages. SME Digital Growth: Bank Windhoek urged SMEs to adopt digital tools and secure reliable payment systems to compete in a more digital economy. Agriculture Resilience: Namibia launched a drought-preparedness programme (about US$2.99m) using climate-smart inputs and water-efficient technologies like solar irrigation and hydroponics. Namibia–Angola Tech Links: Namibia is using ANGOTIC 2026 to deepen IT and connectivity cooperation with Angola, including leveraging shared undersea cable routes for redundancy. Mining & Critical Minerals: Namibia Critical Metals began an RC drilling programme at its Lofdal heavy rare earths project, targeting resource expansion and potential underground mining options.

Digital Policy & Connectivity: Namibia is pushing stronger digital ties with Angola at ANGOTIC 2026, with plans to leverage shared undersea cable routes and improve redundancy for internet access. Regulation & Telecom Access: CRAN says it has received 624 review applications after rejecting Starlink’s licence bid, reflecting public demand for better connectivity in coverage-poor regions. Water Security: Namibia reaffirmed its commitment to global water governance, while communities in Kavango West fear the Kavango–Grootfontein water link could disrupt local development. Climate-Resilient Farming: Namibia launched a drought-preparedness programme (about US$2.99m) using climate-smart inputs like solar irrigation, shade nets and hydroponics, plus farmer training. Mining & Critical Minerals: Namibia Critical Metals started an RC drilling campaign at its Lofdal heavy rare earths project, targeting resource expansion and possible underground options. SME Support: A new SME fund offers grants of N$50,000–N$100,000 for Namibian-owned micro, small and medium businesses, with extra support in sectors including ICT and manufacturing. Health & Inclusion: WHO flagged high teen vaping use in Namibia, and Lüderitz Disability Council used sport to promote inclusion and wellbeing.

Drought-smart farming: Namibia launched a N$50m (about US$2.99m) agricultural support programme to boost drought preparedness in five regions, bringing climate-smart inputs and training plus water-saving tech like solar irrigation, shade nets and hydroponics. Water governance: Namibia reaffirmed its commitment to global water governance at the Global Water Partnership board meeting, stressing innovation and long-term planning for water security. Migration tech upgrade: Public consultations on Namibia’s New Migration Bill have wrapped, with the draft aiming to modernise immigration using online visas, electronic payments, real-time case tracking and secure digital documents. Local water fears: Kavango West residents worry the Kavango-Grootfontein water link could slow development and argue for earlier borehole drilling. Connectivity fight: CRAN says it has received 624 review applications challenging its March 2026 rejection of Starlink’s licence bid, as demand grows in connectivity-poor areas. Green industry push: Swakopmund will host the African Green Industries Summit (9–10 Sept) with a focus on renewable energy, green hydrogen, critical minerals and electric mobility. Public health: WHO warns vaping is being engineered to target teens; Namibia’s 2024 survey found 23% of 13–17-year-olds use vaping products. Road safety controversy: Windhoek’s speed humps on the B1 Western Bypass sparked backlash over traffic bottlenecks and collision risks. Blue economy gap: Namibia protects just 1.69% of marine areas, far below the 30% “30 by 30” target for 2030. SME funding: A new SME fund offers N$50,000–N$100,000 grants, prioritising agriculture, tourism, ICT and manufacturing, with mentorship and market support.

AI in Browsers: Google is expanding Ask Gemini in Chrome to Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa, bringing built-in AI search and help to more African users. Teen Health: Namibia’s latest school survey shows nicotine and vaping use among adolescents is widespread, with WHO warning the industry targets youth through flavours, design and digital marketing. Road Safety & Infrastructure: Walvis Bay road works face tough geotechnical and groundwater conditions plus heavy port traffic, as Works deputy minister Hans Haikali pushes for coordinated fixes. Blue Economy & Conservation: Namibia has only 1.69% of marine areas under conservation, far below the 30% “30 by 30” goal—highlighting a major gap for ocean protection. Digital Connectivity Policy: Starlink’s licence rejection is under renewed scrutiny after Namibia’s regulator received a reconsideration request and public submissions. Local Investment in Aquaculture: Omankete Investments backs the African Aquaculture Company’s offshore salmon farming with N$40m, aiming to grow indigenous ownership and jobs. Education & Skills: A new push to explain Namibia’s secondary education systems to parents comes as learners navigate Advanced Subsidiary Levels and related pathways. Archives & Memory: Namibia’s archives sector faces storage, systems and skills gaps that could endanger records and institutional history. Energy & Research: AGL Energies Namibia and Kelp Blue sign a cooperation framework to build sustainable coastal logistics and joint R&D for the blue economy.

Blue Economy & Marine Conservation: Namibia has only 1.69% of its marine territory under conservation, far below the “30 by 30” goal, with officials saying more marine protection work is urgently needed. Local Investment in Aquaculture: Omankete Investments put N$40 million into the African Aquaculture Company’s offshore salmon farming near Lüderitz, backing plans to grow an industry and deepen Namibian ownership. Road Safety Tech & Governance: Windhoek’s speed humps on the B1 Western Bypass and A1 have sparked backlash from MPs and critics, who call the fixes reactive and warn they’re creating bottlenecks and more collision risk. Satellite Internet Policy: Starlink has asked for reconsideration after Cran rejected its licence bid, with critics arguing the regulator’s approach may be inconsistent and could leave rural users behind. Cancer Preparedness: Health officials warn Namibia’s cancer cases could jump 84% by 2045 without stronger prevention, earlier detection and rural screening. Education Systems Explained: A new explainer breaks down Namibia’s Advanced Subsidiary Levels and how they relate to older Cambridge-style secondary education. Critical Minerals & Energy Systems: US officials say Namibia’s value lies in building connected systems—minerals, energy, logistics and technology—to attract long-term investment. Uranium Resource Update (Namibia): Elevate Uranium says infill drilling at its Marenica project lifted its resource to 52.8 Mlb U3O8, a 31% rise in contained metal.

EV & Digital Infrastructure: Namibia launched a pilot electric vehicle charging station at the Ministry of Works and Transport in Windhoek, with the goal of informing a possible nationwide charging network. Road Safety & Governance: Windhoek’s Western Bypass speed humps sparked fresh debate after reports of congestion and accidents, with lawmakers questioning whether technical planning was sidelined. Health Tech & Cancer Care: Health officials warned Namibia could see 6,300+ new cancer cases annually by 2045, citing late diagnosis and uneven rural screening and treatment access. Education & Skills: The 27th ALV Engineering GTSS tournament kicked off in Ongwediva, backing sport as a route to teamwork and sharper learning. Regulation & Connectivity: Namibia’s regulator Cran received 624 public reconsideration applications tied to Starlink’s licence decision. Mining & Critical Minerals: Elevate Uranium said infill drilling lifted the Marenica resource to 52.8 Mlb U3O8, while Ongwe Minerals reported a new multi-kilometre gold soil anomaly at Omatjete. Agritech & Food Security: Etunda’s banana trial project delivered Namibia’s first locally grown bananas to shelves, aiming to cut import dependence. Renewables & Community Trust: //Kharas leaders urged communities to shape Namibia’s green industrial future, including hydrogen plans.

Uranium & community safety: A fresh controversy is unfolding around the White Mesa uranium mill in Utah, where a second operation has sparked health and safety concerns for nearby residents. Namibia cancer warning: Health officials say Namibia could see 6,300+ new cancer cases annually by 2045—an 84% jump—driven by late diagnosis and limited rural screening and treatment. Critical minerals push: The US ambassador says Namibia’s resource strategy is attracting “serious capital” by linking critical minerals to processing, value addition, energy and logistics systems. Windhoek road engineering debate: Speed humps on the Western Bypass are under fire after claims they were rushed and are worsening congestion, fuel use and accident risk. AI for decent work: Namibia’s labour minister says AI can support decent jobs if governments prioritise retraining over layoffs, citing a digital service overhaul that avoided job losses. EV charging pilot: Namibia launched a pilot EV charging station at the Ministry of Works and Transport, aiming to guide a future nationwide network. Salmon farming investment: A N$40m private stake backs offshore salmon farming near Lüderitz, as Namibia moves toward local aquaculture capacity. Gold exploration update: Ongwe Minerals reports a new multi-kilometre gold in-soil anomaly at its Omatjete project, expanding targets for follow-up work.

Cancer Care Training: Merck Foundation is expanding cancer capacity across Africa, including Namibia, with hundreds of oncology scholarships and a new “Ray of Hope” children’s storybook and animation to boost awareness. Aquaculture Finance: A share underwriting agreement has moved Namibia’s Atlantic salmon project (NAD 2.5bn) closer to reality, with export-guaranteed loans expected to follow. Marine Protection Gap: Namibia’s marine conservation coverage is still below 2% (1.69%), pushing the government to fast-track protected-area declarations under the CBD “30 by 30” goal. Neonatal Health: Swakopmund Hospital has opened a N$30m Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to cut neonatal mortality and reduce families’ need to travel for specialist care. Electric Mobility: Namibia launched a pilot EV charging station at the Ministry of Works and Transport in Windhoek, designed to inform a future nationwide charging network. Governance & Energy: The Presidency denies links to a proposed N$612m solar project tied to the Tsumeb smelter, rejecting opposition claims about presidential family involvement. Wildlife Diplomacy: KAZA states are meeting in Victoria Falls to align on elephant conservation and potential trade in elephant products, with EU funding supporting regional plans. Driver Testing Tech: Okahandja’s Natis centre rolled out computerised learner licence testing plus online booking and payments, with wider rollout planned. Oil & Gas Update: ReconAfrica has started production testing at Kavango West 1X, a key step toward assessing Namibia’s hydrocarbon potential. Biosafety Review: Namibia’s Biosafety Act on GMO products is under review as NCRST consults agencies ahead of possible updates. Broadcasting Partnership: NBC and MultiChoice Namibia reaffirmed their partnership to strengthen access to TV and radio content, including digital reach.

Kavango-Zambezi (KAZA) Conservation: Five southern African nations met in Victoria Falls to align on wildlife conservation and elephant product trade, with EU Natural Africa funding of €5m supporting updated plans and livelihoods. Broadcasting Tech & Access: NBC and MultiChoice Namibia renewed their partnership to keep NBC TV and radio channels accessible nationwide, with digitalisation flagged as key to reaching youth. Oil & Gas Testing in Namibia: ReconAfrica (with NAMCOR and BW Energy) started production testing at Kavango West 1X, isolating six intervals across Huttenburg and Elandshoek formations to assess deliverability and hydrocarbon potential. Driver Testing Modernisation: Okahandja launched a computerised learner licence test plus online booking and payment at the Natis centre, rolling out to other towns after the pilot. Energy Transition Watch: Green hydrogen is pitched as a route to new industrialisation, while Namibia’s “digital oil revolution” story highlights AI/IoT/blockchain/digital twins for exploration and production. Environment & Risk: A study warns many African solar power pools face rising climate-driven synchronisation risk, threatening grid resilience. Biosafety Update: Namibia’s Biosafety Act for GMO products is under review as NCRST consults agencies ahead of possible changes. Mining & Power Planning: Koryx Copper reported progress on Haib pre-feasibility and infrastructure planning, including grid power plus solar and storage. Housing Solutions: Bank of Namibia symposium research outlines five pathways to tackle Namibia’s housing crisis, including incremental upgrading and self-help models.

Gender & Security: Namibia marked a first in police training as women outnumbered men at the Gobabis graduation of 670 cadet constables, with Vice President Lucia Witbooi linking the shift to stronger capacity against cybercrime, trafficking and other threats. Health & Climate: Malaria is gaining ground in southern Africa as shifting rain and warmer temperatures boost mosquito breeding; South Africa’s Mpumalanga saw a sharp rise in cases, threatening elimination goals. Mining & Processing: UK-listed Unicorn Mineral Resources says it’s close to signing legal documents to acquire a controlling stake in Namibia’s Klein Aub copper mine, while testing glycine leaching for slimes and tailings extraction. Environment & Advisory Services: SLR acquired Anchor Environmental Consultants, expanding marine and natural capital expertise in Namibia and southern Africa, including a marine taxonomy lab. Skills & Training: Namibia approved the state-owned Omuthiya vocational training centre, targeting smart agriculture, mining, energy and construction skills for over 1,700 trainees. Governance & Research: Defence Minister Frans Kapofi launched a book on security, resource control and democracy, urging stronger research centres for evidence-based policymaking. Diplomacy & Tech: Namibia participated in a Korea–Africa foreign ministers meeting in Seoul focused on trade, investment and technology cooperation. Fuel & Industry Tensions: The Fuel and Franchise Association of Namibia accused Nasan Energies of allegedly engineering a supply shortage. Uranium Market Watch: A new analysis argues the 2026 uranium deficit is larger than expected, driven by tightening supply and rising demand from AI data centres. Public Safety: Windhoek reported a 14% drop in murders in the first five months of 2026, alongside declines in several other crime categories.

Fuel Supply Tensions: Namibia’s Fuel and Franchise Association says it’s worried Nasan Energies may be engineering a supply shortage, raising fresh questions about fuel market stability. TVET Expansion: Omuthiya VTC has been approved in Oshikoto, with Phase 1 construction set to start this September; the state-owned centre targets 1,700 trainees across smart agriculture, automotive, hospitality, mining, energy and construction. Public Safety Tech in Action: Windhoek reports a 14% drop in murders (Jan–May 2026), with house break-ins down 27%, linked to neighbourhood watch and the city’s safer city technology. Governance & Energy Scrutiny: The Presidency rejects IPC claims of “dirty business” around a N$612m solar project tied to Sinomine and Massaus, saying the President was not involved and that allegations lack evidence. Women in Aviation: Women in Aviation Namibia ran career outreach in Oshana, highlighting gaps in representation—only 10% female pilots and 5% female aircraft maintenance engineers. STEM & Infrastructure Services: Smart Hands Africa adds Supermicro to its services portfolio across multiple African territories, expanding installation, support and maintenance for data centre and AI infrastructure. Whale Recovery Research: New findings based on decades of sightings from Namibia and South Africa suggest Antarctic blue and fin whales are slowly recovering in the South-East Atlantic. NBC at 35: Namibia’s public broadcaster marks 35 years, reaffirming its mandate and pushing deeper digital and regional news coverage.