Windhoek Observer

11 Jun

Complete the prosecutor-general appointment without delay

Editorial

The process of appointing Namibia’s next Prosecutor-General represents far more than the filling of a vacant office. It is a test of the country’s commitment to transparency, institutional integrity and the rule of law. With Advocate Martha Imalwa expected to leave office at the end of the year after more than two decades at the helm of the Prosecutor-General’s Office, Namibia finds itself at an important crossroads. The nation now has an opportunity to demonstrate that key constitutional appointments are conducted openly, professionally and within a reasonable timeframe. The Prosecutor-General occupies one of the most consequential positions in the country’s…

11 Jun

/Goagoses slams 10 protesters calling her “root of all evil”

Main, National News

Renthia Kaimbi Erongo Governor Nathalia /Goagoses has condemned a petition calling her the “root of all evil”, describing it as a defamatory personal attack rather than a legitimate governance complaint. Speaking at a press conference in Swakopmund yesterday, the governor said she was petitioned by a group of 10 people led by one Stanislaus Napuka, who claimed to speak on behalf of the Daure Daman traditional community. The petition titled 'Petition for Governor’s Removal’, dated 1 June 2026 and addressed to the Office of the Governor, accused /Goagoses of dishonourably disrespecting the Council of Elders by creating a position that…

11 Jun

PG recruitment hits dead end as eight candidates fail written test

National News

Renthia Kaimbi The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has been forced to restart the search for the next Prosecutor-General after none of the eight shortlisted candidates passed a written assessment, raising fresh questions about the depth of senior prosecutorial talent in the country. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Commission revealed that the highest score among the applicants was just 49%, with the lowest at 30% out of a possible 100 marks. Candidates required at least 50% to pass the assessment. The assessment, which took place on 8 May 2026, was designed to test legal knowledge, analytical ability, legal reasoning…

11 Jun

State ordered to pay activists over arrests

National News

By Patience Makwele The High Court has ordered suspended Inspector-General of the Namibian Police Joseph Shikongo and the ministry of home affairs, immigration, safety and security to compensate activists Michael Amushelelo and Dimbulukeni Nauyoma for their arrests, detention, and prosecution following an anti-unemployment protest in 2023. In a judgment delivered on Wednesday, the court awarded Amushelelo N$300,000 in damages and Nauyoma N$80,000. The government was also ordered to pay their legal costs. The case stems from the pair's arrests during a planned protest against unemployment in Windhoek on 21 March 2023, which coincided with Namibia's Independence Day celebrations. The demonstration…

11 Jun

Health ministry rolls out new complaints system

National News

Patience Makwele Health Minister Esperance Luvindao has acknowledged growing public frustration over conditions in Namibia's public health system, including allegations of negligence, poor communication, discrimination, and the unauthorised sharing of patient information. The admission came as the ministry unveiled a new complaints management system aimed at improving accountability. Speaking at the launch of the ministry’s Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the Management of Complaints in Windhoek on Wednesday, Luvindao said the ministry could no longer ignore concerns repeatedly raised by patients and their families. “For too long, the headlines in our national media have painted a distressed picture of our…

11 Jun

PDM MP questions implementation of SORA commitments

National News

Allexer Namundjembo Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) Member of Parliament Rosa Mbinge-Tjeundo has submitted questions to the minister in the Presidency, Charles Mubita, regarding the monitoring and delivery of projects announced during State of the Region Addresses (SORAs). In her notice of question, set for Thursday next week, Mbinge-Tjeundo noted that the addresses were originally intended to provide Namibians with a transparent account of development progress and improvements in regional quality of life. However, she argued that they have increasingly become platforms for announcing ambitious projects without proper mechanisms to measure delivery, evaluate impact, or hold authorities accountable. She further stated…

11 Jun

OBSERVER COASTAL | Works deputy minister assesses Walvis Bay’s road infrastructure challenges

Featured, National News

Renthia Kaimbi Deputy minister of works and transport, Hans Haikali, convened an urgent meeting with local government officials, engineers, and private contractors yesterday to assess the state of road infrastructure projects in Walvis Bay and to devise solutions for persistent challenges affecting the town’s road network. The session, which took place at the municipality’s engineering headquarters, brought together the town’s mayor Johanness Shimbilinga, chief executive officer Victoria Kapenda, technical teams from the municipality, the Roads Authority, Otesa Civil Engineering, Namibia Construction, Tulipamwe Consulting Engineers, and other key stakeholders. The engagement was part of Haikali’s broader effort to familiarise himself with…

11 Jun

OBSERVER COASTAL | School survey reveals widespread vaping among teens

Featured, National News

Renthia Kaimbi A senior World Health Organization (WHO) official has warned that nicotine addiction among teenagers is not accidental but deliberately engineered by the tobacco and vape industry, as new national data reveals that nearly one in four school-going adolescents in Namibia currently uses vaping products. Speaking at the World No Tobacco Day commemoration held at the Kuisebmond Stadium Sport Field in Walvis Bay last week, WHO Country Representative Dr. Richard Banda presented findings from the 2024 Namibia Global School-based Student Health Survey. The survey found that 23% of students aged 13 to 17 currently use vaping products, 18% use…

11 Jun

OBSERVER COASTAL | Local businessman donates 1,500 sanitary pads to Erongo governor’s office

National News

Renthia Kaimbi Benguela Petroleum Supplies, a Namibian-owned company based in the Erongo Region, has donated 1,500 sanitary pads valued at nearly N$30,000 to the Office of the Erongo Governor. The donation followed a courtesy visit aimed at aligning the company’s future plans with regional development priorities, particularly youth unemployment. The donation was made in collaboration with JaDa Pads. Company founder Gideon Tshomokuti met with Erongo Governor Nathalia /Goagoses to provide an overview of Benguela Petroleum’s operations and future plans. The company operates in the downstream petroleum sector, supplying a wide range of fuel and oil products to various industries, including…

11 Jun

Namibia has N$14.5 billion value addition opportunity

Uncategorised

CHAMWE KAIRA Namibia has an opportunity to unlock approximately N$14.5 billion in new manufacturing and value-addition activities, according to an analysis by Simonis Storm, which says the country's widening trade deficit highlights the urgency of industrialisation efforts. In a report analysing Namibia's April 2026 trade figures alongside a recent United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) assessment, Simonis Storm said the country's N$4.4 billion trade deficit reflects longstanding structural challenges linked to the export of raw materials and the import of higher-value finished products. The analysis draws on a UNCTAD Rapid Assessment published in February 2026 and developed in…