Windhoek Observer

20 May

Enter Swapo: The succession debate never sleeps

Editorial

Prime minister Elijah Ngurare this week offered what many would consider a reasonable appeal for political discipline. In a message circulated widely, he cautioned against premature debates about who should succeed President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, arguing that the country ought to focus instead on governance, implementation of the ruling party manifesto, and the delivery agenda articulated through National Development Plan 6. On paper, his argument is difficult to oppose. Namibia has barely settled into a new political chapter. The President is still in the infancy of her first term. Government ministries are expected to align their priorities, implement policy, and respond…

20 May

Ngurare says NNN deserves two full terms …calls succession debate premature and childish

Main, National News

Justicia Shipena Prime minister Elijah Ngurare says President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah should be allowed to serve her full two terms in office without distractions from early succession debates. Ngurare’s remarks come as succession discussions intensify less than two years into Nandi-Ndaitwah’s first term. Ngurare said Namibia’s presidents since independence have all served two constitutional terms and argued that Nandi-Ndaitwah deserves the same political space. “Since independence in 1990, our successive presidents have uninterruptedly served their two terms as the Constitution dictates. Her Excellency Dr Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, President of the Swapo Party and Namibia, will serve her two terms, too,” he said…

20 May

Nust’s N$40 million security tender heads to court

National News

Renthia Kaimbi Eight active Namibian police officers, including warrant officers and sergeants, were falsely presented as employees and managers of a security company that won a N$40 million tender to guard the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust), according to court filings submitted to the High Court. The allegations form part of a review application lodged by PIS Security Services CC, the incumbent security provider that lost the three-year contract to Novo Security Services CC. The tender, valued at N$40 million, was awarded in October 2025 following a procurement process overseen by the Central Procurement Board of Namibia (CPBN).…

20 May

Councillor urges Govt to act on road deaths

National News

Allexer Namundjembo Otavi Constituency councillor George Garab has called on the government to declare road crash fatalities a national emergency. He said the country can no longer treat fatal crashes as routine incidents. Garab recently tabled the motion during the first session of the seventh National Council. “I rise with sincere gratitude for the opportunity to table this important motion, which speaks directly to a matter of urgent national concern affecting every household across Namibia,” Garab said. He referred to figures from the Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund newsletter dated 30 April 2026, which recorded 921 crashes, 1 467 injuries…

20 May

Govt yet to approve toll gates

National News

Allexer Namundjembo Road Fund Administration (RFA) chief executive officer Ali Iipinge says the proposed toll gate system has not yet been approved by government. He said it will not be implemented until that process is complete. Iipinge told the Windhoek Observer on Sunday that the toll gate project remains on hold. “The vehicle tolls initiative is not yet implemented, as it’s subject to approval by the government. Once approved, we will notify the public accordingly," he said. The proposal was first introduced in 2021 and aims to install toll gates at between 21 and 23 points across the country's national…

20 May

CoW halts Havana house demolition

National News

Allexer Namundjembo The City of Windhoek says it has resolved the matter involving a house built without municipal approval in Havana Informal Settlement earlier this year. City of Windhoek spokesperson Lydia Amutenya said the homeowner approached the municipality after compliance directives were issued and requested that some of the conditions be relaxed. Amutenya said the city considered the request and revised some of the conditions, subject to strict compliance measures. “As part of the agreement reached, the owner committed through a sworn affidavit that the structure will primarily be used for residential purposes, while limited charitable activities such as Bible…

20 May

Experts question Namibia’s economic transformation since independence

National News

Patience Makwele Theologian and social development expert Dirk Haarmann says Namibia’s economic system still reflects colonial-era inequalities more than three decades after independence. Speaking during the first day of an economics journalism training workshop in Windhoek on Tuesday, Haarmann said political independence did not fundamentally change how wealth and economic opportunities are distributed in the country. “Even if you were born free, you are not free because the choices are still determined by the system,” Haarmann said. The workshop brought together economists, journalists and social development experts to discuss poverty, unemployment and economic inequality in Namibia. Haarmann said wealth and…

20 May

Namibia joins Africa medicines safety drive

National News

Patience Makwele The Ministry of Health and Social Services says Namibia is strengthening its medicine safety systems as African countries push for closer regulatory cooperation through the African Medicines Agency (AMA). The move comes as concerns grow across the continent over counterfeit medicines, weak reporting systems for medicine side effects and pressure on governments to improve patient safety. Speaking at the International Society of Pharmacovigilance Africa Chapter annual meeting in Windhoek on Tuesday, the ministry's executive director Penda Ithindi said fragmented medicine regulation across Africa continues to place patients at risk. “Pharmacovigilance is no longer simply a technical or complementary…

20 May

Govt rejects private unsolicited borrowing proposals

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira The government says infrastructure funding must follow existing procurement and borrowing laws and cannot be sourced through unsolicited proposals from private individuals or companies. Ministry of Finance executive director Oscar Capelão said the ministry has recently received several funding proposals from private entities and agents representing investors interested in financing projects in Namibia. Some of the proposals included requests by investors to finance specific infrastructure projects while also appointing contractors to implement them on behalf of the government. Capelão said the government recognises that such proposals could help support national infrastructure development. However, he stressed that all funding…

20 May

BoN benchmarks East African central banks

Observer Money

Staff Writer Bank of Namibia governor Ebson Uanguta last week completed a regional working visit to Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda as part of efforts to strengthen cooperation and learn from other African central banks. The engagements focused on financial systems, digital transformation, banking supervision, oil sector management and economic policy. Uanguta first visited the National Bank of Rwanda in Kigali, where he met governor Soraya Hakuziyaremye and deputy governor Nick Barigye. During the visit, the Bank of Namibia and the National Bank of Rwanda signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at strengthening cooperation in economic research, financial inclusion, digital transformation,…