Windhoek Observer

09 Jun

ACC summons tender official in ‘health rot’ probe

Main, National News

Renthia Kaimbi The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has issued a formal summons to a member of the ministry of health and social services’ Bid Evaluation Committee, compelling the official to appear for questioning over allegations of widespread procurement manipulation, systemic supply chain fraud, and the theft of pharmaceutical medicines from state warehouses. The summons, seen by the Windhoek Observer, demands that the committee member appear before ACC investigator Frans Ndjai on 18 August 2026 at the commission’s headquarters in Windhoek, where they will be questioned under oath and required to produce a range of sensitive internal documents. The identity of the…

09 Jun

Kalangula slams speed humps on B1 as ‘reactive and short-sighted’

National News

Allexer Namundjembo Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) Member of Parliament Nelson Kalangula has criticised the installation of speed humps along the B1 Western Bypass, calling the move reactive and short-sighted after vehicle collisions were reported on the new structures this past weekend. Responding to questions from the Windhoek Observer on Monday, Kalangula said the chaos on the roads in recent days is a clear indicator that the current administration's approach to road safety is flawed. He acknowledged that the high number of pedestrian fatalities between the Independence Avenue interchange near Katutura Hospital and Lafrenz, as well as on the A1…

09 Jun

Sesfontein councillor pushes for tarred roads

National News

Allexer Namundjembo Sesfontein Constituency Councillor Bernadus //Hoeb is calling for urgent action on road infrastructure, saying the tarred road from Sesfontein to Opuwo is long overdue and should be completed during his term. Speaking to the Windhoek Observer last Tuesday, //Hoeb said the regional council has a procedure to address roads, but he is yet to see a master plan for Kunene. “The specific road from Sesfontein to Opuwo was supposed to be tarred long back in 2016 to 2018. During the budget under the tenure of the late President Hage Geingob, there was a budget cut, and the funds…

09 Jun

Namibian cancer cases set to surge 84% by 2045

National News

Patience Makwele Health Minister Dr Esperance Luvindao has warned that Namibia could face an 84% increase in cancer cases by 2045, as health experts raised concerns over delayed diagnoses, limited rural screening services and growing barriers to treatment. Speaking at the opening of the World Health Organization (WHO), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) imPACT Review Mission in Windhoek on Monday, Luvindao described cancer as one of Namibia's most pressing public health threats. According to figures presented by the minister, Namibia recorded approximately 2,200 new cancer cases in 2018. Four years later, that…

09 Jun

‘AI should serve workers, not replace them’ – Immanuel

National News

Renthia Kaimbi Minister of justice and labour relations, Fillemon Wise Immanuel, has said that artificial intelligence can be harnessed for decent work without job losses, provided governments choose retraining over retrenchment. Speaking at the 114th International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland on Monday, Immanuel offered an example of how the Social Security Commission had recently introduced digital tools to improve service delivery and accountability. Although the transition directly affected 65 positions, no worker lost their job. “Instead, retraining and upskilling were prioritised, demonstrating our commitment to a human-centred transition,” Immanuel said. Addressing delegates during debates on a report harnessing AI…

09 Jun

Speed humps on highways: When quick fixes create bigger problems

Editorial

The recent installation of speed humps along sections of Windhoek’s B1 Western Bypass and A1 highway has once again exposed an unfortunate tendency within government decision-making: responding to tragedies with knee-jerk solutions rather than evidence-based interventions. No one disputes that pedestrian fatalities on these roads are a serious concern. Every life lost is one too many, and authorities have a duty to act decisively to prevent further deaths. However, acting decisively is not the same as acting wisely. The speed humps introduced by the Ministry of Works and Transport and implemented by the Roads Authority appear to be a reaction…

09 Jun

Namibia a key player in supply of critical minerals

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Namibia has been cited as an important country in the global supply of critical minerals. At the Critical Minerals Forum's US-Africa Investment Summit, the United States Ambassador to Namibia, John Giordano, delivered a keynote address highlighting Namibia's growing importance in the global race to secure critical minerals, energy resources and integrated industrial systems. Giordano emphasised that the global economy is entering a new phase in which economic power is increasingly determined not only by access to natural resources but by the ability of countries to build “systems that scale”. These systems connect resources, infrastructure, energy, capital and technology…

09 Jun

GIPF earns N$134m from MTC shares

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) increased its dividend payments to shareholders to N$467.1 million during the latest reporting period ended 31 March, up from N$369.5 million paid in the corresponding period a year earlier. The largest beneficiary of the dividend distribution was the Government of the Republic of Namibia, which received N$280.9 million, compared to N$212.1 million in the previous period. The government's stake in MTC is held through the Namibia Post and Telecommunications Holdings Limited (NPTH), which received N$222.2 million in the prior period. No dividend allocation was recorded under NPTH in the latest reporting period following changes…

09 Jun

Geopolitical tensions threaten fiscal outlook

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira In light of geopolitical tensions and economic disruptions, achieving the proposed fiscal outcomes for the 2026/27 financial year will require significant improvements in how offices, ministries and agencies (OMAs) manage their daily operations. Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare says Namibia is standing at a critical juncture as it prepares to implement its 2026/27 national budget of N$87.9 billion, a fiscal framework he says was tabled under initially stable global conditions that have since shifted sharply due to the ongoing war in the Middle East. Ngurare told a budget reform rollout workshop held in Windhoek that the changing global environment…

09 Jun

CRAN gets 624 Starlink reconsideration applications

Observer Money

Staff Writer The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) has received 624 applications for reconsideration following its decision on the licence application submitted by Starlink Internet Services Namibia (Pty) Ltd. In a statement issued yesterday, CRAN said members of the public and interested stakeholders had exercised their right to request a reconsideration of the decision within the period prescribed by law. The regulator clarified that none of the reconsideration applications were submitted by Starlink itself. Instead, all 624 applications were lodged by members of the public and other stakeholders who were aggrieved by the decision. CRAN said the reconsideration requests…