Windhoek Observer – Page 3 – Windhoek Observer

12 Sep

Africa’s absence at the biggest Chinese military parade in history

Opinions

PAUL T. SHIPALE (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar) Introduction Africa today finds itself in a paradoxical position, one that demands an introspection transcending the coldness of econometric language, delving into the depths of structural causes and existential implications for the continent's self-determination. The continent is, unequivocally, one of the largest suppliers of the critical minerals and raw materials that form the bedrock of China’s industrial and technological ascendancy, such as cobalt from the Democratic Republic of Congo for electric batteries, oil from Angola to fuel its burgeoning industry, platinum from South Africa for advanced manufacturing, uranium from Namibia,…

11 Sep

Nekundi orders 1 500 state cars to be destroyed …306 vehicles sold off at auctions

Main

Justicia Shipena The government will dispose of 1 500 vehicles that have exceeded both their age and mileage limits under the government fleet policy. Works and transport minister Veikko Nekundi announced this in Parliament on Wednesday. He said the process is aimed at cutting costs and improving efficiency in state transport operations. “The government fleet across our ministries, agencies, and regions has experienced significant ageing over the past decade, necessitating an urgent and comprehensive phase-out and renewal programme,” Nekundi said. The policy requires vehicles to be replaced after five years of service or once they have clocked 120 000 kilometres. …

11 Sep

Willemse says he was cautioned not to interfere in Namcor-Enercon deal

National News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Former National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) executive Cedric Willemse told the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday that his involvement in the fuel supply agreement between Namcor and Enercon Namibia was limited to an advisory role and that he was warned not to make decisions on the transaction. Willemse testified on Wednesday during his bail application before Magistrate Olga Muharukua. He explained that the project owners of the Enercon deal were Namcor's sales and marketing team. “The project owners of this deal between Enercon and Namcor were the sales and marketing team. I was guiding the team if…

11 Sep

‘We did not sign for Gaddafi to be our king’ – Shuumbwa

National News

Allexer Namundjembo The Ondonga Traditional Authority leader, king Fillemon Nangolo Shuumbwa, has dismissed claims that the Southern African Development Community (SADC) kings supported Muammar Gaddafi’s proposal to be recognised as Africa’s “king of kings”. Speaking at a Council of Traditional Authorities meeting in Ondangwa this week, Shuumbwa responded to remarks by Professor Joseph Diescho, who suggested some leaders backed Gaddafi’s idea in 2008. Shuumbwa said none of the kings or chiefs from the region agreed to the plan. He explained that he was part of a delegation invited to Libya by the Libyan Embassy in Namibia after the late king…

11 Sep

Govt dragging its feet on sign language recognition, says NNAD

National News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Namibian National Association of the Deaf (NNAD) is calling on parliamentarians and the ministry of education to urgently act on the motion to recognise Namibian Sign Language (NSL) as a national language. The national executive director of NNAD,Paul Nanyeni, said the parliamentary standing committee on constitutional and legal affairs has already acknowledged that communication is a human right and confirmed that NSL is a legitimate language with its own grammar and structure. “We want to express our profound thanks to the committee who has made all the possible recommendations. However, it is time they follow up with…

11 Sep

Namibia to sign water MoU with Finland

National News

Justicia Shipena Namibia is preparing to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Finland to strengthen cooperation in water management. The agreement will build on the work of the Finland–Namibia Twinning Project, which ended with a final workshop in Windhoek this week. The three-year project, launched in 2023, supported Namibia’s accession to the United Nations Water Convention, formally known as the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes. Namibia became a party to the convention on 8 June 2023, joining a global framework that promotes cooperation and sustainable management of shared water resources. Speaking on…

11 Sep

Walvis Bay’s homeless living with the dead

National News

Renthia Kaimbi Homeless people in Walvis Bay are turning to cemeteries for shelter, with some also engaging in illegal activities among the graves. The discovery was made after Landless People’s Movement councillor Ryan Gordon investigated reports of a young homeless mother and her son living in the Narraville graveyard. Gordon said he was alerted by residents concerned about the woman. He later found that she had hidden her belongings inside a gravestone but had since been hospitalised fter an assault. Before moving to the cemetery, she had been living near the KFC area in town. During his visit, Gordon also…

11 Sep

Swapo infighting in Erongo derails election preparations

National News

Renthia Kaimbi With the November local authority elections approaching, internal conflict in the Swapo party has delayed candidate selection and forced the postponement of the Walvis Bay and Arandis district conferences. The conferences, set for last weekend, were meant to shortlist aspirants for the Arandis, Walvis Bay Urban, and Walvis Bay Rural constituencies. A dispute over candidate eligibility in Walvis Bay disrupted the process. Members claim they were informed only registered party delegates may stand as candidates. The rule sparked outrage, with some saying it was not communicated at the start of nominations and accusing leadership of trying to manipulate…

11 Sep

Henties’ Omdel extension 7 still waiting for power

National News

Renthia Kaimbi Residents and property owners of Omdel Extension 7 in Henties Bay are are still without electricity more than a year after being promised electrification of their area. The community, which includes pensioners, say they face hardship and safety risks while being charged full land tax for properties they cannot use. According to residents, the acting chief executive officer of the municipality of Henties Bay, Ignasia Neis, informed them that a tender for the electrification project had been awarded to Faraday Electrical in February 2025. However, no visible work has taken place, and residents say they have received no…

11 Sep

Swakopmunder backs community fight against substance abuse

National News

Renthia Kaimbi Bornfree Fishing (Pty) Ltd, a youth-owned Namibian fishing company, has donated N$10 000 to the Swakopmund Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (SAADA) Community Outreach. The outreach event, held on 29 August 2025, focused on addressing substance abuse among young people in the town. Bornfree Fishing founder, Regto Ndemufayo David, said supporting SAADA was a natural decision decision for the company, which was established in 2018. David said the company’s roots as a youth-run enterprise gave it insight into the struggles of young people. “We cannot employ every young person, but we can support initiatives that keep them off…