Hertta- Maria Amutenja
The ministry of information and communication technology (MICT) has confirmed that the data protection bill will be tabled in parliament in September.
ICT minister Emma Theofelus announced the plan during the Standard Bank Anti-Financial Crime Conference in Windhoek on Thursday.
She said the bill will protect personal data, safeguard privacy, and provide a legal framework for secure digital transactions.
“The data protection Bill will ensure that personal data is protected, privacy is respected, and digital transactions are secure. It will also strengthen public trust in digital platforms and support innovation by providing clear rules for the ethical use of data,” Theofelus said.
She said that in the last financial year, the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) froze over N$96.9 million suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities, while N$79.95 million was preserved in the High Court.
The Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) raised tax assessments totalling N$47 million, collecting N$2.7 million during the same period.
“Financial crimes, including fraud, money laundering, and embezzlement, account for a significant portion of economic losses, affecting both public and private sectors. Every dollar lost to financial crime is a dollar stolen from Namibia’s future,” she said.
Theofelus also announced that electronic signatures under the Electronic Transactions Act of 2019 will be introduced in February 2026.
“These signatures will carry the same legal weight as handwritten ones, enabling secure, efficient, and legally binding digital transactions,” she said.
She added that biometric authentication such as facial recognition or voice signatures will reduce forgery, enhance traceability, and improve accountability in digital transactions. Electronic signatures will also promote financial inclusion by enabling remote and secure access to government and business services.
“By integrating security, convenience, and accessibility, electronic signatures will not only modernise how we do business but also strengthen our defences against illicit financial activity,” she said.
Last month, MICT spokesperson Ngaevarue Heuva told the Windhoek Observer that the draft remains under review by the cabinet committee for legislation.
Heuva at that time said the ministry could not confirm whether the law will be enacted before the rollout of the country’s first electronic identity card (e-ID).
The rollout is scheduled by the ministry of home affairs, immigration, safety and security in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme.
The smart card will store biometric and demographic data and be used for identity verification in healthcare, banking, education, and public services.
However, civil society groups, including the Internet Society Namibia Chapter, have raised concerns over rolling out the e-ID without a national data protection law.
They warned this could expose citizens’ personal information to misuse, pointing to last year’s data breach at a state-owned telecommunications company as a sign of potential risk.
