Allexer Namundjembo
The Namibia Post Limited (Nampost) will deploy additional mobile payment teams at selected post offices to ease congestion during the January social grant payment period.
In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, Nampost and the Ministry of Finance said the move follows long queues at several post offices.
The congestion was linked to beneficiaries accessing payments outside the approved in-branch payment schedule.
The statement said more than 37 000 social grant recipients were paid on the first day of the cycle, compared to an expected 28 000, placing pressure on in-branch services and leading to overcrowding at several service points.
“To address this situation, the Ministry of Finance and NamPost have agreed to introduce stricter controls on in-branch social cash grant payments,” the statement said.
From 15 January 2026, in-branch payments will be limited strictly to the grant categories scheduled for specific payment days.
The statement announced the deployment of additional mobile payment teams at larger branches to facilitate payouts, minimise queues, and enhance service delivery.
Nampost will also add staff at branches to improve turnaround times and shorten waiting periods.
The measures aim to enforce compliance with the in-branch payment programme and help Nampost manage customer volumes.
“Orderly service delivery depends on beneficiaries adhering to the published payment schedule,” the statement said.
The government and Nampost again appealed to beneficiaries and the public to follow the in-branch payment programme and to wait for mobile payment teams at designated pay points.
They said travelling long distances to post offices outside scheduled payment dates adds to overcrowding and disrupts the payment process.
The remaining in-branch payment programme for January 2026 includes Old Age and Disability Cash Grants from 12 to 14 January, Child Cash Grants from 15 to 17 January and the Basic Income Cash Grant from 19 to 20 January.
Beneficiaries who miss their scheduled dates can still collect their grants one week later, between 20 and 25 January 2026.
Nampost’s takeover of social grant distribution has drawn criticism from beneficiaries and community leaders.
Since replacing Epupa Investment Technology in October 2025, the postal service has faced complaints over long queues, delays, and logistical challenges at payment points nationwide.
Social grant beneficiaries previously told the Windhoek Observer that payments under Nampost have been slower and more chaotic than before, with many waiting from early morning until late afternoon without receiving funds.
Some called for Epupa’s return, saying services were “never this chaotic” under the former provider.
Residents in regions such as Kavango East and West raised concerns about overcrowded and unsuitable payment locations.
They described conditions as stressful and unsafe, especially for elderly people and persons with disabilities. The Windhoek Observer noted limited seating and poor queue management at some venues.
Traditional leaders also criticised the rollout, saying delays and missed visits to rural pay points left pensioners stranded and travelling long distances without success.
In some cases, beneficiaries were reported to have spent entire days waiting under difficult conditions due to irregularities in the distribution schedule.
