Namibians jailed in SADC could soon finish prison terms locally
Allexer Namundjembo Convicted Namibians serving prison sentences in other Southern African countries may soon be transferred home to complete their jail terms, following the gazetting of an amended SADC protocol on prisoner transfers. The amendment, published in Government Notice no. 177 of 2026 and seen by the Windhoek Observer, updates Namibia’s ratification of the SADC […]
Allexer Namundjembo
Convicted Namibians serving prison sentences in other Southern African countries may soon be transferred home to complete their jail terms, following the gazetting of an amended SADC protocol on prisoner transfers.
The amendment, published in Government Notice no. 177 of 2026 and seen by the Windhoek Observer, updates Namibia’s ratification of the SADC Protocol on Inter-State Transfer of Sentenced Offenders.
It was signed by home affairs minister Lucia Iipumbu on 29 January and appeared in the Government Gazette of 5 June 2026.
The notice states that, under subsection 20(3) of the Transfer of Convicted Offenders Act of 2005, Government Notice no. 151 of 11 July 2025 is amended by replacing the schedule with an updated version.
The new schedule outlines the full protocol adopted by SADC Heads of State and Government in Dar es Salaam on 18 August 2019.
Its stated aim is to support the social reintegration of citizens sentenced for criminal offences committed in foreign countries.
