Windhoek Observer – Page 12 – Windhoek Observer

04 Sep

Voting at sixteen risks exploiting the youth

Featured, Opinions

Hidipo Hamata Over the past weeks, Namibians have witnessed the tabling of a motion in the National Assembly proposing that the voting age in Namibia be reduced from eighteen to sixteen years. On the surface, the idea may appear to be progressive, perhaps even inclusive, as it purports to recognise the voices of our younger generation. However, a deeper interrogation of this matter reveals far more complex constitutional, developmental, social, and political implications which we must not overlook for the sake of political expedience. The Namibian Constitution, as our supreme law, is the foundation upon which we build our democracy.…

04 Sep

Housing loans for civil servants begin in 2026

Observer Money

Justicia Shipena Civil servants will be able to access home loans under the Pension Backed Home Loan Scheme (PBHLS) starting January 2026. The Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) and the office of the prime minister signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to implement the scheme on Wednesday. The MoA was signed by secretary to cabinet Emilia Mkusa and GIPF chief executive officer Martin Inkumbi. The scheme allows qualifying members to borrow up to one-third of their pension savings to buy or build a home, purchase land, or renovate existing properties in both proclaimed and unproclaimed areas. Inkumbi said the loans…

04 Sep

SACU gets 30% of Namibia’s exports

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira The Southern African Customs Union (SACU) was Namibia’s largest export destination in June, taking 30% of total exports, data from the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) shows. The BRIC+5 bloc followed closely with 29.9%, while the European Union (EU) accounted for 12.5%. COMESA made up 11.6% and the OECD 9.1%. Exports to SACU were mainly non-monetary gold and diamonds. The BRIC+5 bloc received mostly uranium. The EU market imported fish, beef and ores and concentrates of base metals. COMESA’s main imports from Namibia were fish, sulphur, unroasted iron pyrites and rubber tyres. The OECD market took uranium and nickel…

04 Sep

Andrada begins drilling at Lithium Ridge

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Andrada Mining Limited has started exploration drilling at its Lithium Ridge project in the Erongo Region. The company is working with Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile SA through its subsidiary SQM Australia (Pty) Ltd. The drilling forms part of the first stage of a three-stage earn-in agreement with SQM. Under this stage, SQM will fund up to U$7 million in exploration to secure an initial 30% interest. Across all three stages, SQM may fund up to U$40 million. The programme involves 14 000 metres of orientated diamond drilling on priority lithium targets. It also includes high-resolution geological…

04 Sep

ReconAfrica says Kavango drilling is on schedule

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd says drilling of the Kavango West 1X exploration well remains on schedule and expects to reach total depth by the end of November. The well spudded on 31 July. Brian Reinsborough, president and chief executive officer, said the operations team in Namibia is making steady progress. “We anticipate entering the Otavi reservoir, the primary target for the Damara Fold Belt Play, in October and plan to penetrate over 1500 metres of potential reservoir section. We look forward to reporting results of this play opening well to all stakeholders around year-end,” he said. The well…

04 Sep

OBSERVER DAILY | Sergeant Eustance Simasiku Matongo: a life of service, cut short

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

On Wednesday night, Namibia lost not just a police officer but a son of the soil, a protector, and a man whose devotion to duty shone through even in his final moments. Sergeant Eustance Simasiku Matongo, aged only 34, was gunned down in Walvis Bay while responding to an armed robbery. His death is a painful reminder of the risks our men and women in uniform face every single day, often with little appreciation, and sometimes with outright hostility from the very society they serve. The weight carried by police officers The Namibian Police Force, like many across the world,…

03 Sep

UN questions Namibia on 2024 Tsumeb Smelter sale

Main

Justicia Shipena Four United Nations human rights experts have asked the Namibian government to explain what steps it is taking to address the impact of the Tsumeb Smelter on local communities. In a report dated 11 June 2025, the experts raised “serious concern” over environmental damage and human rights violations linked to the smelter. The facility has been in operation since 1963, producing blister copper and sulphuric acid. Ownership has shifted over the years from Weatherly International to Dundee Precious Metals, which later sold it to the Chinese-owned Sinomine Resource Group Corporation Limited in 2024 for N$930 million (about US$49…

03 Sep

Student leaders demand classrooms for Ndama East Primary

National News

Allexer Namundjembo Student leaders have demanded the immediate provision of classrooms for more than 550 learners at Ndama East Primary School in Rundu. The learners are being taught under trees by only 14 teachers. The Student Union of Namibia (SUN) national secretary for information and publicity, Johannes Malapi, said the lack of classrooms is a blatant violation of Article 20 of the Namibian Constitution. "It also amounts to discrimination under Article 10, as rural learners are denied the same quality education afforded to their urban peers," Malapi told the Windhoek Observer on Tuesday. He accused teachers’ unions for failing to…

03 Sep

Are honorary PhDs in Namibia sending the right message?

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

Allexer Namundjembo Namibia has seen a growing trend of awarding honorary doctorates to sitting politicians and high-ranking officials. While intended to recognise public service, we must ask: are we equating political office with academic achievement? Honorary degrees should celebrate exceptional contributions to society or scholarship. When they are routinely given to presidents or ministers without evident academic work, the value of higher education risks being diluted. Sociologist Pierre Bourdieu reminds us: “Education is not just about knowledge. It is a means of establishing legitimacy and authority. When credentials are given without the corresponding effort, the social value of education is…

03 Sep

!Aochamub’s acting CEO tenure kicks off at Meatco

National News

Justicia Shipena The Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco) shareholders have seconded Ambassador Albertus !Aochamub to serve as interim chief executive officer. On Tuesday, Meatco confirmed the start of his six-month term, as endorsed by the board of directors.Meatco is yet to appoint a substantive CEO after the contract of former chief executive Mwilima Mushokabanji was not renewed. In July, acting CEO Patrick Liebenberg was suspended pending an investigation, weeks before his term was due to end.Last month, the board endorsed !Aochamub as interim CEO.At the time, Meatco board’s deputy chairperson Stephanie de Klerk said the board was seeking someone with…