Cabinet Briefs

Cabinet approves draft anti-corruption policy

Namibia’s Cabinet has approved a draft national ethics and anti-corruption policy, a revised national broadband policy and catch limits for the 2026-2027 fishing season.

This is among a series of decisions announced following its 34th and 35th meetings held on 13 and 27 October 2026.

The ethics and anti-corruption policy aims to eliminate corruption through greater transparency, accountability and ethical practices across society, information and communication minister Emma Theofelus announced during yesterday’s Cabinet briefings.

She said Cabinet directed offices, ministries, agencies and other government implementing institutions to incorporate the policy’s strategic objectives and actions into their sectoral and annual plans.

Cabinet also approved a revised national broadband policy and implementation plan to address unequal access between urban and rural areas, gaps in usage, affordability challenges, limited digital skills and rapid technological change.

The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology was directed to begin implementation in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

Limited

For the 2026-2027 fishing season, Cabinet approved a total allowable catch for hake of 116 000 metric tonnes, while the rock lobster catch limit was set at 180 metric tonnes for the relevant fishing season.

Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding between Namibia and Angola on fisheries and aquaculture.

The agreement provides for the collection and exchange of information, human-resource development, and joint monitoring, control and surveillance of fisheries and aquaculture activities within the countries’ respective jurisdictions.

The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform was authorised to sign the agreement with its Angolan counterpart.

Namibia will host the 14th Conference of Ministers and the 60th meeting of the Governing Council and its committees of the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development in Swakopmund from 7 to 17 November 2026.

Cabinet said the meetings would support regional cooperation, stakeholder coordination and knowledge exchange, while raising Namibia’s profile in the geospatial sector and providing opportunities to showcase developments in geospatial technology.

Theofelus also announced that Cabinet considered a report on Namibia’s participation in the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, held in Mongolia from 17 to 28 August.

It noted the international negotiations on drought and the focus on land restoration, sustainable rangeland management and community-centred implementation.

The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism was directed to coordinate implementation of the conference’s outcomes through existing national plans and programmes, improve alignment among the three Rio Conventions on desertification, climate change and biodiversity, and mobilise available technical and financial support for drought resilience and land restoration.

Cabinet noted that Namibia’s interventions at the conference focused on drought preparedness and resilience; land restoration and sustainable rangeland management; coordination among the three conventions; and cooperation on transboundary water, given the country’s reliance on shared perennial rivers.

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**Health sector **

A report on the outcomes of the 76th session of the World Health Organisation Regional Committee for Africa was also noted by Cabinet.

It said Namibia participated in the meeting’s 19 core agenda items and delivered national statements advocating health sovereignty, equity and sustainable financing.

Cabinet endorsed a biannual report on the implementation of its decisions between 1 October 2025 and 31 March 2026.

It directed all offices, ministries and agencies to strengthen implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting, and to ensure decisions are communicated promptly to support coordinated action and accountability.

Cabinet also approved Namibia’s 2026-2035 National Strategy on Tree Planting, which will guide tree-planting activities nationwide.

It supported a national target of planting one million trees by 2030 and two million by 2035.

It also directed the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism to mobilise funding for the strategy.

On electronic identity documents, Cabinet noted progress on the development and implementation of e-ID cards, as well as the governance arrangements, stakeholder consultations and public engagement measures established for the programme.

The anticipated launch, previously scheduled for September 2026, has been revised to allow for the completion of regulations under the Civil Registration and Identification Act 2024.

Finally, Cabinet approved in principle the Draft Combating of Narcotic Psychoactive Drugs and Substances Bill 2026 and authorised public consultation.

The bill is intended to regulate the supply of toxic chemical inhalants to individuals as well as prevent the sale and unlawful manufacture of drugs.

The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, through the Department of Police, was authorised to conduct nationwide public and stakeholder consultations on the draft bill over 60 days.

The ministry was also directed to revise the bill to reflect public input and resubmit it to Cabinet for final approval before referral to the Cabinet Committee on Legislation.

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