Namibia gambling houses urged to pause operations for National Prayer Day
The government says the prayer day is not a public holiday and is intended as a once-off observance for 2026.
Namibia.- Namibia’s gambling operators have been asked to temporarily suspend their activities on September 12 as the country observes a Cabinet-approved National Prayer Day.
Vice President Lucia Witbooi has called on gambling houses, alongside alcohol outlets and other businesses, to take a break and allow employees and customers to participate in prayer activities being held across Namibia’s 14 regions.
The 2026 observance is being held under the theme “Seeking Divine Intervention Towards Behavioural Transformation to Save Lives” and is intended to address concerns over violent crime, gender-based violence (GBV) and road accidents.
The government has encouraged Namibians who are able to participate to make time for the event. Prayer sessions are being coordinated with regional governors, traditional authorities and local leaders. The main event in Windhoek will take place at Independence Arena in Katutura, while activities are expected to be organised across the other regions.
However, the call does not introduce a new mandatory closure rule or permanent restriction on gambling operations. Cabinet Secretary and spokesperson Emilia Mkusa clarified that the National Prayer Day is not a public holiday and will apply only during the 2026 calendar year.
The call also does not specifically require online gambling platforms to stop accepting bets. As the government’s appeal directly targets gambling houses, its immediate effect is limited to land-based gambling venues rather than the wider gambling sector.
