The Namibian Presidency has dismissed as false a viral statement circulating on social media which claimed that President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah rejected a supposed proposal from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to conduct trials of a hormonal intrauterine device (IUD) in the country.
The fabricated post alleged that the President had turned down the initiative on moral and religious grounds, sparking heated debate online.
However, Presidential spokesperson Jonas Mbambo has confirmed that no such proposal was ever submitted or discussed with Namibia.
“This is fake news. The Presidency distances itself from these statements, which are malicious and misleading,” he said.
Fact-checking organisations including Africa Check have also verified that the viral statement is false.
The misinformation comes amid wider debates around public health, reproductive rights, and external funding in Africa. Analysts warn that such fake stories exploit historical sensitivities around family planning programs and foreign influence in African health systems.
The Presidency has urged citizens to verify information before sharing and to rely on official government channels for updates on national health policy.
