Windhoek Observer

Justicia Shipena  A legal battle over the limits of artistic freedom and corporate accountability is underway at the High Court of Justice in London, where Icelandic artist Odee Friðriksson is appealing a ruling in favour of the Icelandic fishing giant Samherji.  The hearing, which began on Wednesday and will end on Friday, deals with concerns about Friðriksson's conceptual art piece We’re Sorry, which draws directly from the Fishrot Files corruption scandal that implicated Samherji in Namibia. The court is conducting a rolled-up appeal, which means it will first consider whether to grant permission to appeal and, if so, proceed immediately…

Allexer Namundjebo The Affirmative Repositioning (AR) Movement wants the voting age lowered from 18 to 16.  AR parliamentarian Tuhafeni Kalola on Wednesday gave notice that he would table a motion on the matter next month. Kalola said the motion is based on the fact that 16-year-olds in Namibia are already permitted by law to make several significant life decisions.  He said this includes giving legal consent to sexual activity, acquiring a national ID card, opening a bank account, making a will, and applying for a learner’s driving licence. Article 20(3) of the Namibian Constitution also allows 16-year-olds to decide whether…

Justicia Shipena A renewed agreement between the University of Namibia (Unam) and the Namibia Institute of Pathology (NIP) will establish specialised training in pathology through a Master of Medicine programme.  It will also create advanced training opportunities for medical technologists and scientists. On Tuesday, NIP and Unam signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Windhoek to strengthen cooperation in pathology education, specialised training, and medical research.  The agreement was signed by NIP chief executive officer Kapena Tjombonde and Unam vice chancellor Kenneth Matengu. The agreement includes joint curriculum development, internships for medical students, joint research projects, technology upgrades, and expert…

Niël Terblanché The Namibia Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has launched a three-week aeronautical surveying and data management training course to improve aviation data systems and align operations with international safety standards. The training began on Monday at the NCAA headquarters in Windhoek.  It is being held in partnership with United Aviation Technology Services (United ATS), whose instructors travelled from Egypt to conduct the sessions. NCAA executive director Toska Sem said the programme is critical as Namibia’s aviation sector continues to evolve.  She stressed the importance of accurate and timely data for safe and efficient air navigation. “This training comes at…

Allexer Namundjembo A new report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has found that widespread disinformation posed a serious threat to the integrity of Namibia’s 2024 national elections.  The report highlights the role of social media platforms, foreign influence, and artificial intelligence in spreading false information. Released on Monday, the report states that election-related mis- and disinformation campaigns were active throughout the year, spiking during the voting period and continuing afterwards.  WhatsApp was identified as the most widely used platform for spreading false content.  TikTok, for the first time, emerged as a major source of viral election-related material.…

Niël Terblanché Sixteen young Namibians have been selected to participate in the 2025 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders. The fellowship, part of the U.S. Government’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), brings together around 650 participants from across Sub-Saharan Africa for a six-week academic and leadership programme in the United States. The United States Embassy in Namibia said the programme aims to build leadership skills, support innovation, and offer hands-on learning through academic study, training, and professional networking. Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Alexis Haftvani said this year’s Namibian cohort includes professionals from Omaheke, Kavango West, Khomas, and Omusati…

Niël Terblanché The European Union (EU) and the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (Unicef) have announced a joint humanitarian contribution of about N$24 million to support Namibia’s drought response. The funding will target the regions most affected by the ongoing drought. The EU is providing €911,000 (around N$19 million) through its Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations Agency (ECHO).  Unicef is contributing an additional €228,000 (roughly N$5 million) from its own resources.  The announcement was made during a formal ceremony in Windhoek on Tuesday, attended by prime minister Elijah Ngurare. The aid will support life-saving services for around 86,000…

Niël Terblanché The Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority (Namfisa) has urged members of registered medical aid funds to actively participate in their upcoming annual general meetings (AGMs).  The authority warned that low turnout could weaken good governance and threaten the long-term sustainability of the healthcare financing sector. Namfisa’s chief executive officer, Kenneth Matomola, described AGMs as essential for accountability, where members can directly shape how their contributions are managed. “Medical aid funds exist to serve their members. The AGM provides a vital platform for members to make their voices heard, scrutinise decisions and ensure the fund is being run in…