Windhoek Observer

24 Apr

YOUNG OBSERVER | Stigma shadows youth uptake of HIV prevention pill

Featured, Uncategorised

Patience Makwele PrEP is a daily pill taken by HIV-negative people to prevent infection. When used consistently, it can reduce the risk of contracting HIV by up to 99%. HIV remains a concern among young people, especially young women. Data from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS shows that women aged 15 to 24 in sub-Saharan Africa are more than twice as likely to contract HIV as men of the same age. Some young people say stigma makes it difficult to access the medication. Fatima Amukweya (29) said she started using PrEP after losing family members and a friend…

24 Apr

YOUNG OBSERVER | Breaking the silence on mental health

Featured, Uncategorised

Patience Makwele More young Namibians are speaking openly about mental health in homes, on campuses and online, challenging long-standing silence and stigma. At the centre of this shift is Windhoek-based mental health practitioner DieMut Amushila, founder of NeuroBloom Psychology, whose work is drawing interest from young people seeking safe spaces to talk. “Healing is possible not just for individuals but for the society at large,” she said. Amushila has more than a decade of experience in neuropsychology and neuroscience. She said her work goes beyond clinical care and focuses on changing how mental health is understood, especially among young people.…

24 Apr

Baroque concert to showcase young talent

Featured, Uncategorised

Patience Makwele A Baroque concert set for this weekend in Windhoek will place young Namibian musicians at the centre of a live orchestral performance. The concert is presented by the Namibian National Symphony Orchestra and will feature 52 participants, including seven young Namibian soloists selected through auditions. The event’s chairlady and organiser, Irmgard Rannersmann, said the selection was based on performance, not competition. “They did auditions where they had to play and show if what they’re playing is good enough. Their prize was that they were good enough to be one of the soloists at the concert," she said. She…

24 Apr

ACC in the dark as ministry sits on medical fraud files

Main, National News

Patience Makwele Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) director general Paulus Noa says the ACC is still waiting for details from the Ministry of Health and Social Services on the suspected fraud scheme at the Central Medical Stores (CMS). Last Friday, the health ministry revealed it had uncovered suspected irregularities at CMS, where some staff may have manipulated stock records and diverted medicines. The ministry's executive director Penda Ithindi said the discovery prompted the ministry to launch an investigation into possible fraud within the country’s pharmaceutical supply chain. “The obligation is upon the ministry to provide us with the names of those implicated…

24 Apr

New coins are ‘rusting’ …BoN says coin damage not a production issue

National News

Allexer Namundjembo The Bank of Namibia (BoN) says deterioration of new coins in circulation can be influenced by factors beyond production quality. This follows concerns from the public that some of the country’s new coins show signs of corrosion after exposure to water. The coins have been in circulation for less than a year. The central bank told the Windhoek Observer on Wednesday that it is aware of the complaints and is reviewing the matter. “The Bank of Namibia has taken note of the concerns raised. The matter will be considered in line with the bank's established processes, which include…

24 Apr

Govt to end fishing jobs programme

National News

Justicia Shipena The government’s redress programme in the fishing sector will come to an end in April 2027. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah announced this at the close of a fishing industry engagement in Walvis Bay, where she said the sector is undergoing a transition. “Come April 2027, the redress programme will have to come to an end,” she said. The Government Employment Redress Programme (GERP) was introduced to address job losses linked to the 2015 illegal industrial action and the fallout from the fishrot scandal. It uses fishing quotas to support companies that rehire retrenched workers. The announcement comes a month…

24 Apr

Mushelenga’s return may shift Swapo dynamics — Analyst

National News

Patience Makwele Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah says Peya Mushelenga’s return to the National Assembly could carry political implications within Swapo. Mushelenga is set to return to the National Assembly, where he will take the seat left vacant by the late Swapo member of parliament James Uerikua. He will be sworn in today with his oath to be administered by deputy judge president Shafimana Ueitele, following a designation by deputy chief justice Petrus Damaseb. “His return may shift internal dynamics, as he is often seen as aligned with a different faction within the party. This could subtly affect balances within Swapo,"…

24 Apr

NSA spends N$130m on national income survey

National News

Chamwe Kaira and Allexer Namundjembo The Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) spent close to N$130 million on the 2025/2026 Namibia Household Income and Expenditure Survey. The total cost of the survey reached N$129.4 million, covering activities from the pilot phase to the end of data collection. Out of this amount, N$38.6 million was used to pay field staff over 12 months and to cover four weeks of training allowances for 237 fieldworkers before data collection began. A further N$32 million was spent on purchasing 46 vehicles for the survey instead of renting them for the same period. The remaining funds covered…

24 Apr

Price controls or market reality? The FlyNamibia dilemma

Editorial

The latest standoff between government and the private aviation sector has placed Namibia at a familiar crossroads: the tension between market forces and public interest. This week, Works and Transport Minister Veikko Nekundi issued a firm ultimatum to FlyNamibia: reduce ticket prices on the Windhoek–Ondangwa route within six months or face the possibility of government intervention. It is a bold statement, one that signals growing frustration within government over the cost of domestic air travel. Yet, FlyNamibia’s response, that 67% of its operating costs are driven by external, uncontrollable factors such as fuel prices and aviation levies, complicates what might…

24 Apr

Global nuclear expansion drives uranium demand

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Global demand for uranium is rising as countries expand nuclear power to meet growing energy needs, according to data presented by Paladin Energy, which owns the Langer Heinrich Mine in the Erongo region. The data shows that demand is supported by existing nuclear reactors, new plants under construction and the extension of older facilities, especially in major economies such as the United States. Momentum is expected to grow following commitments made at COP28 and COP29, where 38 countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and France, pledged to triple nuclear capacity by 2050. Policy measures in…