Windhoek Observer – Page 326 – Windhoek Observer

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…

15 May

Cooperation on water is essential, says Zaamwani

National News

Niël Terblanché The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Land Reform, Inge Zaamwani, called for stronger regional cooperation and unity in managing the Zambezi River Basin. She made the call during the 12th Council of Ministers Meeting of the Zambezi Watercourse Commission (ZAMCOM) held in Windhoek on Thursday. Zaamwani welcomed ministers and delegates from Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zambia, and Zimbabwe to Namibia’s capital. She thanked them for their commitment to working together on transboundary water governance. She described this cooperation as “not optional—it is essential,” pointing to the shared nature of Namibia’s perennial rivers and the country’s position…

15 May

Workers exploitation cannot be blamed on government alone

Opinions

Kae Matundu Tjiparuro Most of the time the dagger has been falling on the government and the Swapo Party of Namibia for its blatant lack of ideology. This is not without reason because since the dawn self - rule and determination, it is the Swapo Party that has been at the helm of the country’s political direction, and/or the lack thereof, let alone being responsible for delivery and/or non-delivery on the socio-economic front. As much as on the economic front, investors, entrepreneurs, businesspeople and what-have-you predominantly whites, have been ruling the roost. With the government at best in this regard…

15 May

NamWater confirms Katima Mulilo’s discoloured tap water is safe

National News

Niël Terblanché The Namibia Water Corporation (NamWater) has responded to concerns from Katima Mulilo residents about brownish discolouration in their tap water. NamWater spokesperson Lot Ndamanomhata said the water is microbiologically safe to drink, despite its colour. He explained that the Katima Water Treatment Plant is operating beyond its design capacity during peak demand, putting extra strain on the plant’s sand filtration system. “This strain has affected the water’s appearance,” he said. Ndamanomhata added that seasonal increases in the Zambezi River’s flow have raised iron and manganese levels in the raw water. He said that while this affects the water’s…

15 May

Chronic medication stockouts continue despite deliveries

National News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Ministry of Health and Social Services has admitted that stockouts of chronic medication remain an ongoing issue despite efforts to deliver supplies to regional facilities through the Central Medical Stores. Spokesperson Walters Kamaya said the ministry has been actively dispatching medication in response to reported shortages. “Last week, we were actively engaged in delivering supplies through our Central Medical Stores (CMS).through our Central Medical Stores (CMS). We were dispatched to the regions. The issue of stockouts has been ongoing, but we have tried to resolve it,” he said. Kamaya explained that some delays result from coordination challenges…