Windhoek Observer – Page 253 – Windhoek Observer

18 May

Namibia and Zambia target reciprocal trade

National News

Niël Terblanché Namibia and Zambia are exploring ways to boost reciprocal trade by identifying goods each country can supply to the other. Officials from both sides have been tasked with studying their import lists and finding products that can be sourced through mutual trade. The plan was revealed during President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s working visit to Zambia. She returned to Windhoek on Friday afternoon after a two-day visit to Botswana and Zambia, focused on cooperation in agriculture, infrastructure, and industry. In Lusaka, Nandi-Ndaitwah met with President Hakainde Hichilema. The two leaders held private and official talks. They agreed that human-centred development…

18 May

LPM leader wants restricted service terms for senior civil servants

National News

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Landless Peoples Movement (LPM) leader Bernadus Swartbooi has proposed a five-year term limit for civil servants in senior positions to boost accountability and improve service delivery. Speaking during a meeting with the Public Service Commission in Swakopmund last week, where members of parliament were undergoing a week-long induction, Swartbooi suggested directors, deputy directors, and others in senior roles should have contracts like politicians. He said politicians face five-year terms and are expected to deliver within that period. Swartbooi said civil servants often remain in office for 20 to 35 years without innovation and reject new ideas. Members of…

18 May

Return of translocated lions revives fear in Ngonga

National News

Niël Terblanché The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism confirmed renewed concerns from Ngonga residents after a pride of lions returned just days after being relocated. On Friday, 9 May, six lions, two adult females and four cubs, were moved from Ngonga to the Kasimba area within Bwabwata East (Kwando Core Area). By Tuesday evening, the lions had crossed back over the B8 road through the Kwando Gate and returned to Ngonga. “The return has understandably heightened fears and frustration among the residents in the area,” said ministry spokesperson Ndeshipanda Hamunyela. She added that one adult female and two cubs…

18 May

New shopping centre brings opportunity to Onankali

National News

Niël Terblanché The Nambaza Shopping Centre in Onankali is expected to employ up to 200 people once fully operational. So far, it has created about 70 permanent and 15 temporary jobs. The centre officially opened on Thursday and will serve residents, nearby villages, and travellers along the B1 road. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industries, Mines, and Energy, Natangue Ithete, praised the locally owned project at the inauguration. He said it adds value to the community and creates jobs. “This shopping mall, owned by Namibians, is evidence that Namibia is a country that has a lot to offer…

18 May

A garden grown for 70 years now needs a fence to survive

National News

Justicia Shipena A 90-year-old woman in Damaraland's Kunene region needs approximately N$45 000 to install an electric fence around her garden. Known as Ouma Elsie, she has cared for her garden for over 70 years. She settled on her homestead at the age of 20 and has grown vegetables and fruits like spinach, tomatoes, carrots, onions, cabbage, watermelon, sweet potatoes, beetroot, and strawberries. In 2020, the Elephant Human Relations Aid (EHRA), a Namibian non-profit, built a stone wall around her garden to keep elephants out. The wall helped for a while, but elephants eventually broke through. Damaraland is home to…

18 May

Real Madrid football clinics to train 1 000 learners

Sports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The 2025 Real Madrid Foundation Football Clinics will benefit more than 1 000 learners and 150 teachers across four regions. This year’s clinics will be held in Katima Mulilo in the Zambezi region from 19 to 23 May and in Nkurenkuru in the Kavango West region from 26 to 30 May. Rogerdeltry Kambatuku, national coordinator of the Real Madrid Foundation in Namibia, said the clinics aim to empower boys and girls through sport while training teachers using the Real Madrid Foundation methodology. “The program is implemented through the Namibia Schools Sport Union, on the one hand, and the…

18 May

Sports leaders in Ohangwena seek firm deadlines for stadiums

Sports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The sports fraternity in the Ohangwena region wants the government to set clear deadlines for the start and completion of promised sports infrastructure. Ohangwena Regional Sport Commission vice chairperson Alexander Teofelus requested on Friday during a meeting between regional leaders and deputy minister of sport Dino Ballotti in Eenhana. The meeting was part of the ministry’s efforts to strengthen collaboration with grassroots sports leaders and to identify challenges and opportunities in regional sports development. Teofelus said the region faces several challenges, including a lack of sports infrastructure, equipment, and qualified trainers. These problems, he said, are hindering sports…

15 May

Youth seek answers on B2Gold Funds

Main

Allexer Namundjembo Concerns have emerged over how the “Be Your Own Boss” youth empowerment programme in Otavi is being managed. Sponsored by B2Gold Namibia with N$1.19 million, the program aims to equip 20 young people with business skills and start-up capital. Johannes Johannes, a local activist, has questioned the transparency of the project. He raised issues about the funds allocated to participants and the quality of the training. He said trainees were told they would receive equipment worth N$3 000 each after completing the program, which he believes is too low compared to the overall budget. “Twenty times N$3,000 amounts…

15 May

Omitara residents struggle after BIG ended

National News

Justicia Shipena Residents of Otjivero–Omitara say their lives have worsened since the Basic Income Grant (BIG) pilot program ended. They report increased hunger, crime, and school dropouts in the settlement. These concerns appear in a new report by the National Council's Standing Committee on Health, Social Welfare, and Labour Affairs. The committee, chaired by Emma Muteka, held consultations with community members and other stakeholders. They conducted door-to-door interviews to hear directly from beneficiaries and assess the long-term impact of the BIG pilot. Before the BIG, the community relied mainly on old-age pensions and child grants. The majority of the residents…

15 May

‘Report drunk police officers’ – Shikongo

National News

Allexer Namundjebo The Inspector General of the Namibian Police, Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo, urged the public to report police officers who are drunk or misbehaving. Speaking on a local radio station, Shikongo said he has received many complaints about officers suspected of being drunk. “The calls to implement mandatory breathalyser tests at police stations are many, but at the moment, there are no resources to implement such measures. We have many police stations, and that might not be possible to implement,” he said. Shikongo warned officers who show up drunk at work to stop this behaviour. “They have the responsibility…