Namibia’s Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Emma Theofelus, met a Deloitte & Touche Namibia delegation on 3 August 2026 to discuss trustworthy AI, broadband expansion, cybersecurity, data centres, AI factories, clean energy solutions and women in technology.
The meeting, held at the Ministry, forms part of ongoing consultations on Namibia’s Artificial Intelligence Strategy Framework. The National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST) is leading the strategy work. Theofelus said government has prioritised developing a national strategy before introducing legislation, so that clear guiding principles can support responsible AI development and governance as the technology evolves.
Deloitte’s team, led by Country Leader Melanie Harrison, shared insights from the firm’s global AI policy advisory frameworks. The firm advises across telecommunications, data centres and artificial intelligence and works with technology-sector investors. Harrison noted that technology is advancing rapidly and stressed the need for policy and legislation to keep pace. The delegation expressed readiness to support Namibia’s efforts to strengthen its AI policy and legislative landscape.
Namibia has been building out its digital policy architecture in recent years, including a National Digital Strategy covering infrastructure, skills and digital government. An earlier UNESCO AI readiness assessment highlighted gaps in specific AI regulation, expertise among policymakers and public awareness. The current strategy consultations aim to address those gaps before formal legislation is drafted.
Topics covered in the Deloitte meeting broadband for all, data centres, cybersecurity and clean energy reflect the practical foundations required for any meaningful AI deployment. Reliable power, connectivity and secure data infrastructure remain prerequisites for both public-sector AI use and private-sector investment.
The engagement is exploratory rather than a formal partnership announcement. Its value will depend on whether the discussions feed into concrete strategy language, capacity-building plans or subsequent technical collaboration. For now, it signals that Namibia is actively seeking external policy expertise as it shapes its approach to AI and the supporting digital infrastructure.
