WINDHOEK, Nov. 21 — Namibia aims to cut road fatalities and serious injuries by 50 percent by 2030, setting an ambitious target as the country launched its annual festive-season road safety campaign on Thursday.

The 2025/2026 Festive Season Road Safety Campaign, running from Thursday to Jan. 16, 2026, was officially unveiled in the capital, Windhoek, under the theme “Enhancing Policing and Road Safety Through Sustainable Infrastructure Development.”

Delivering the keynote address on behalf of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Minister of Works and Transport Veikko Nekundi underscored the scale and urgency of the challenge.

“Annually, around 500 lives are lost on our roads through road crashes,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said, noting that the country has recorded 2,793 road crashes as of Nov. 10 this year, resulting in 431 fatalities and 4,565 injuries.

To support the 2030 goal, the campaign launch was coupled with the inauguration of the upgraded Okapuka Road Traffic Checkpoint, a critical piece of modern road-safety infrastructure at the strategic northern gateway to Windhoek.

“This facility is not just a building or a checkpoint, it is a symbol of our nation’s commitment to protecting lives, enforcing road safety, and ensuring that our transport system supports national development safely and efficiently,” she said, urging all stakeholders in the road transport subsector to intensify efforts to halve fatalities and serious injuries. (Xinhua)

WINDHOEK, Nov. 21 — Namibia is enacting a set of policies and infrastructure investments to become a leader in Africa’s digital economy, Minister of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Emma Theofelus said Thursday.

During a high-level ICT stakeholders’ meeting in the Ohangwena Region, she highlighted significant progress in connectivity, cybersecurity, and regulatory reform.

According to Theofelus, the government has allocated substantial funds to bridge the persistent digital divide, committing 145 million Namibian dollars (about 8.4 million U.S. dollars) over the next three years to complement the Universal Service Fund.

Beyond physical infrastructure, the government is fast-tracking a series of strategic legal and operational reforms, she said, noting that a 5G strategy is now being implemented to expand digital infrastructure and enhance machine-to-machine telecommunications across all economic sectors.

Furthermore, Namibia is moving swiftly to secure its digital future as the Data Protection Bill has been modified and resubmitted for final legislative scrutiny, and an expert has been appointed to finalize the Cybercrime Bill by the end of November, said Theofelus.

Theofelus revealed that the ministry has also finalized the review of the National Broadband Policy, which will increase the minimum national broadband speed target from the current 2 megabits per second (Mbps) to 25 Mbps.

Operators are expected to implement the new targets in 2026. To address immediate threats, Theofelus noted that the Namibia Cyber Security Incident Response Team is fully operational, coordinating cyber defense efforts across the nation.

The minister also highlighted support for the creative economy, noting that the Namibia Film Commission will pilot two new film hubs in the Zambezi and Oshikoto regions. (Xinhua)

WINDHOEK, Nov. 20 — Namibia and Angola on Wednesday signed a new asset-sharing agreement in the Namibian capital Windhoek, formalizing a key bilateral commitment to combat cross-border corruption and illicit financial flows.

The agreement, signed by Namibia‘s Minister of Justice and Labor Relations Fillemon Wise Immanuel and Angola’s Auditor General Helder Fernando Pitta Gros, aims to strengthen cooperation in tracing, recovering, and returning unlawfully acquired assets that may have been moved or hidden across the region.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Immanuel highlighted the long-standing and strategic ties between the two countries, saying the agreement reflects their continued cooperation in the recovery and equitable sharing of illicit assets.

Gros acknowledged the challenge corruption has posed in Angola and said the government is determined to confront it head-on.

The signing, he noted, underscores the role of dialogue and intergovernmental cooperation in fighting corruption. He also expressed appreciation for Namibia‘s constructive approach and commitment to partnership, saying it sets a positive example for the international community. Namibia Daily News/ Xinhua

WINDHOEK, Nov. 19  — Namibia has intensified efforts to narrow the digital divide by allocating 145 million Namibian dollars (about 8.5 million U.S. dollars) for the next phase of the Universal Service Fund (USF) rollout.

The allocation forms part of national capital projects for the 2024-2027 period to accelerate the deployment of digital technology and infrastructure across the country.

Minister of Information and Communication Technology Emma Theofelus confirmed the allocation on Wednesday during the commissioning of the new USF Epinga tower in the Ohangwena Region.

“It stands as a testament to our nation’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that every Namibian, regardless of their location, has access to vital communication services,” she said.

The USF, a government-mandated initiative managed by the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia, serves as the primary vehicle for expanding access to information and communication technology in underserved and unserved areas.

“Under Phase Two, 11 sites have been allocated for new infrastructure development. The bidding process has been completed, and I am pleased to announce that the award of these sites will be made public this Friday,” she said.

The Epinga tower, which became operational on Wednesday, represents the first site completed under Phase One. Once the initial phase is fully rolled out, nine new 4G towers will provide high-speed mobile services to an estimated 4,765 Namibians, she said.

Beyond connectivity, the program will offer free 4G voice and broadband data services for seven years to 16 schools and four clinics, according to the minister. (Xinhua)

By Hamunime Gervasius

Rundu, Nov.20 — The Rundu Town Council has officially launched its new Traffic Law Enforcement Unit today at the Rundu Trade Fair grounds. Council officials, stakeholders, and local residents attended the ceremony to witness this milestone.

CEO Olavi Nathanael described the launch as a “big step for road safety in Rundu.” He said the unit, now equipped with trained traffic officers, branded patrol vehicles, and fine books, will help make the town’s roads safer for everyone. “Our goal is safer streets for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists alike,” Nathanael said.

Residents welcomed the move with hope. “It’s good to see the town taking traffic seriously,” said Maria Shikongo, a local shop owner. “We’ve seen too many accidents, having officers on patrol will really help.”

The council emphasized that the new unit would work closely with the Namibian Police Traffic Department, combining efforts to enforce traffic laws, educate road users, and reduce accidents across Rundu.

At the event, officers demonstrated the new patrol vehicles and explained how they will monitor traffic, issue fines, and raise awareness about safe driving practices.

The council said this is just the beginning of a strong and visible traffic unit. With continued collaboration and improvements, Rundu aims to make its roads safer for everyone.