Unpacking Namibia’s Cybercrime Bill

The Cybercrime Bill (2019) has serious but fixable flaws that can be addressed as the final draft is finalised, argues Frederico Links in this new paper produced as part of the ‘Mainstreaming Human Rights in Cybercrime Law and Policy Making (MHRC)’ project, funded by Global Partners Digital (GPD).

Mid-Term Budget Review: Analysis

This Democracy Report special briefing paper analyses the Mid-Term Budget Review presented to the National Assembly by the Minister of Finance Iipumbu Shiimi on November 3 2021.

Regional Government In Namibia

This paper examines the extent to which power has been decentralised to regional governments in line with the decentralisation policy and legal framework adopted over two decades ago. The impact of decentralisation on the efficacy of regional governments as conduits of public service delivery and local development is also explored.

Depleting Natural Capital

Wildlife poaching, illegal logging, and illegal sand mining have come to characterise Namibia’s struggle to maintain its natural assets in the face of the threats to sustainability posed by climate change. Damage to Namibia’s natural capital has escalated since 2015. This briefing paper maps publicly reported governance failures that are leading to this hugely concerning […]

Civil Society & The Struggle Against Corruption

In the wake of the Fishrot scandal, Namibian civil society needs to significantly step up its efforts to fight corruption. The best way of doing this would be for civil society organisations to create a common platform that can vigorously promote a national anti-corruption agenda.

Conservation Agriculture

Policymakers and government officials have maintained for years that agriculture has the potential to significantly contribute to national wealth, job creation and food security. Despite being adopted in theory as an approach that can boost output while protecting the environment, Conservation Agriculture (CA) has struggled to take hold in Namibia. The time is now ripe […]

COVID-19 Welfare Measures

This short briefing paper reviews the measures taken by government to mitigate the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on households and businesses. The paper presents a concise summary of measures taken, puts them in context, and gives updates on progress where evidence is available.

The Auditor-General’s Role in Tackling Corruption

This new briefing paper argues that the Office of the Auditor-General should take a more pro-active approach to tackling corruption and find ways of collaborating with key stakeholders including the Anti-Corruption Commission and civil society.

Countering the Disinfodemic

As the COVID-19 pandemic spread from its initial epicentre in China at the end of December 2019, so too did a rising tide of disinformation. Some of this disinformation, known as a ‘disinfodemic’, has undermined the effectiveness of health responses to the pandemic. This new briefing looks at what can be done to stem the […]

Executions in Colonial Namibia

In light of the controversy around the Henties Bay gallows and the consequent #GallowsMustFall petition, this briefing note looks at the history of executions, hangings and lynchings in colonial Namibia. The note points out that while the gallows at Henties Bay were never used for the purpose of public execution, the noose attached to a […]