Windhoek Observer – Page 36 – Windhoek Observer

11 Aug

Public backs San community in jobs row

National News

Allexer Namundjembo Namibians on social media and residents of the Zambezi region have backed calls to include the San community in job opportunities at the Ndoro Memorial Combined School hostel. The school is located in Omega Three, Kongola Constituency, Zambezi region. The protest began after no one from the San community was appointed to the 12 advertised hostel positions. The hostel was scheduled to open two weeks, coinciding with the start of the school term, but following the recruitment results, parents withdrew their children from classes. Some pupils have not attended school for the past two days. Activist and Zambezi…

11 Aug

SA police convoy gets Nampol escort from Ariamsvlei to Swakopmund

National News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Namibian Police (Nampol) have confirmed that a South African delegation of police officials and public service employees began travelling through Namibia on 10 August 2025. Commissioner Johanna Ngondo told the Windhoek Observer yesterday her team is escorting the delegation from the Ariamsvlei border post to Windhoek. From Windhoek, another police unit will take over the escort for the convoy’s onwards journey to Swakopmund. “The exact number of vehicles in the convoy has not been confirmed, but all vehicles will travel together,” Ngondo said. She added that no roads have been closed during the convoy’s passage, but motorists…

11 Aug

Namibia eyes nuclear suppliers group

National News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The cabinet has approved the application for Namibia to become a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). The decision was made at the 16th cabinet meeting held last week. Minister of information and communication technology Emma Theofelus said the cabinet has directed the ministry of international relations and trade to coordinate technical updates to the application dossier. “To act as a focal point and to establish an Inter-Ministerial Committee tasked with implementing the NSG Guidelines,” said Theofelus. She added that the Cabinet further approved a ministerial-level delegation to lobby the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency…

11 Aug

Madam President, How About a Jobs Summit?

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

Namibia’s unemployment crisis is not just a statistic. It is the quiet desperation in villages and towns, the hollowed-out dreams of graduates, and the simmering frustration of a generation with no place to go. We have heard the speeches and seen the plans. What we need now is not another promise, but a national reckoning on jobs. When President Nandi-Ndaitwah declared in her inaugural speech that “in Namibia, we are too few to be poor,” it wasn’t just a hopeful slogan. It was a challenge. A reminder that our small population should be an advantage, yet unemployment and underemployment continue to choke opportunity…

11 Aug

Ethical procurement practices and the impact on state-owned enterprises, the procurement profession, and small and medium enterprise development

Featured, Opinions

Zucky Bauleth-Nashima and Lusia Kornelius In Namibia, public procurement is rigorously administered and regulated under the Public Procurement Act and related regulations, ensuring fair participation in economic activities and equitable opportunities, particularly for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The private sector, particularly SMEs, is crucial to the production and supply of goods and services, playing a vital role in ensuring availability, operational efficiency, and sustainability. However, there has been a notable demand for goods and services in offices, Ministries and Agencies (OMAs). This adversity has heightened the need to go beyond local supplies and extend the sourcing of goods and…

11 Aug

DON’T ENTERTAIN INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS, THEY CAN COST YOU!

Featured, Opinions

Morna Ikosa Recent reports cited that Namibia has one of the highest suicide rates in Africa. Although financial distress has been confirmed to be one of the leading causes of suicides, it is time we look deeper into the matters of the mind. Dr Caroline Leaf, a metacognitive neuroscientist who has studied the mind for nearly 40 years, states that “75-98% of mental, physical, and behavioural illnesses stem from toxic thinking.” These statistics are alarming and cannot be ignored. Although Men's Mental Health Month has ended, both men and women must recognise and prioritise the importance of maintaining a consistent…

11 Aug

Nghitumbwa wins WBO global title

Featured, SportsNghitumbwa

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Namibian boxer Fillipus “Energy” Nghitumbwa won the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) Global Super Bantamweight champion on Saturday night after defeating South Africa’s Mxolisi Zuma. Nghitumbwa knocked out Zuma in the sixth round, handing him his first professional loss. Zuma fell to the canvas after taking heavy punches to the head, prompting the referee to stop the fight at two minutes and 56 seconds. Nghitumbwa now holds 16 professional fights, with 14 wins by knockout and two losses. The victory moves him closer to a world title challenge. The fight took place over the weekend at the Windhoek Country…

08 Aug

Namcor fraud plot dates back years – Inambao

Main

Justicia Shipena Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) chief investigator Orberty Inambao says the plot to defraud the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) may have started before 2022. Testifying during the bail hearing of the accused in the N$53 million Namcor asset purchase case, Inambao told the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court that ACC records point to discussions predating 10 May 2022. Court documents show that by that date, Namcor had already begun preparing to acquire Enercon’s infrastructure. The deal was signed by former Namcor managing director Immanuel Mulunga on 18 July 2022. The state alleges the deal bypassed Namcor’s procurement and finance committees.…

08 Aug

IPC labels Govt’s 51% local ownership plan ‘reckless’

Observer Money, Uncategorised

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) has condemned the government’s proposal to secure 51% local ownership in all new mining ventures, calling it “reckless” and driven by populism. The party criticised the proposal as a vote-seeking tactic that could harm the economy. The plan, announced by minister of industries, mines and energy Nantangue Ithete during the 2025 Mining Expo and Conference in Windhoek on Tuesday, proposes that the government negotiate majority ownership in all future mining explorations. IPC shadow minister of industries, mines and energy Ferdinand Hengombe warned that such a policy would deter investors and damage Namibia’s…

08 Aug

Hengari granted bail as court doubts evidence

National News

Allexer Namundjembo Windhoek magistrate Monica Andjaba has questioned the strength of the state’s case against former minister of agriculture, fisheries, water and land reform Mac-Albert Hengari before granting him and his co-accused bail. The duo were granted bail of N$15 000 each with conditions. The co-accused is the 31-year-old brother of the alleged rape complainant. In her ruling, Andjaba noted the court had not seen evidence proving that Hengari paid a bribe to the complainant to withdraw rape charges. “The alleged N$220 000, which the state claims was paid to the complainant, was not found with her but rather on…