The Parliamentary Standing Committee on International Relations, Defence and Security concluded a critical five-day oversight and stakeholder consultative visit to the Erongo Region, held from 14 to 18 July 2025. Led by Committee Chairperson Honourable James Uerikua, formed part of the Committee’s constitutional mandate to evaluate the performance, readiness, and coordination of institutions responsible for national defence, international relations, and internal security.
The programme commenced with a comprehensive stakeholder workshop in Swakopmund, bringing together representatives from the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, Namibia Central Intelligence Service, the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs, and the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security (including the Namibian Police Force (NAMPOL) and the Namibian Correctional Services). These engagements allowed for in-depth briefings on institutional mandates, current challenges, and strategic priorities.
A highlight of the visit was the Committee’s engagement with the Namibian Navy, during a tour of the Naval Headquarters in Walvis Bay, Members were welcomed by the Navy Commander Rear Admiral Sacheus !Gonteb. The delegation toured the NS Elephant, which gained regional recognition after its transatlantic deployment to Brazil for the 63rd UNITAS multinational naval exercise in 2022. Briefings focused on the Navy’s role in safeguarding Namibia’s maritime interests, as well as its operational needs.
The mission provided the Committee with indepth pressing challenges, particularly relating to Namibia’s maritime security readiness and raised alarm over significant gaps in coastal surveillance, law enforcement capacity, and defence infrastructure along Namibia’s coastline. A major concern highlighted was the limited presence of patrol vessels and insufficient surveillance of the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), especially in remote coastal areas such as Cape Fria and the northern border with Angola, leaving Namibia’s coastline vulnerable to illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, smuggling, and environmental crimes. The Committee equally emphasized that as maritime economic activity expands, so does the need for robust security infrastructure and members warned that without urgent investment in modern maritime assets and broader security coordination, Namibia risks increased exposure to external threats and the exploitation of its marine resources.
In addition, the Committee conducted familiarization visits to security facilities in both Swakopmund and Walvis Bay. These included police stations, civic centres, and immigration offices. Members were received by the Executive Director of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Mr. Etienne Maritz, Deputy Commissioner-General Mariana Martin of Correctional Services, and Commissioner Lilungwe Mayumbelo, Head of the NAMPOL Legal Department. At the DRC Police Station in Swakopmund, Commissioner Nikolaus Kupembona, Erongo Regional Police Commander, provided an operational briefing. The oversight continued with visits to regional correctional facilities. Senior Superintendent Felicity Mwiya of the Swakopmund Correctional Facility outlined reintegration programmes and challenges faced by staff and inmates. The Committee concluded its visit at the Walvis Bay Correctional Facility, where they were received by Assistant Commissioner Frans Windstaan.
Across all sectors, the Committee identified broader logistical and operational shortcomings—including shortages of vehicles, limited personnel, and inadequate staff accommodation—which continue to impact service delivery across the security cluster. The Erongo oversight mission underscored the Committee’s commitment to ensuring that Namibia’s territorial integrity is protected, and that security institutions are adequately resourced and held accountable. The Committee will present its findings and recommendations before Parliament when it resumes in September 2025, it’s report is expected to shape upcoming policy discussions and fiscal decisions concerning defence and national security.
