Windhoek Observer

Martin Endjala The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) has conducted assessments to determine whether the ongoing drought relief will be extended or reversed.  Rhingo Mutambo, the OPM spokesperson was responding to inquiries about the drought relief program's future after the conclusion of the 2024/25 financial year. The drought relief programme is set to end on 30 June 2025. “The current drought relief programme is premised on assessments conducted, namely the crop assessment and the vulnerability assessment and analysis (VAA). These assessments confirm that food insecurity is perpetuated by low rainfall and low or no harvest yield. They also confirm…

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Affirmative Repositioning (AR) leader Job Amupanda said the registration of AR as a political party means Namibians now have a party that seeks to transform the political system that kept people in the dark and hostage. Amupanda made these remarks on Tuesday during his first national address, while unveiling the party’s past, present, and future activities. He said the AR was founded by young people who are not part of the ruling elites, who are not in government, and who did not face a fallout that resulted in infighting for positions or old exile squabbles imported into post-independent…

Stefanus Nashama Bernadus Swartbooi, the president of the Landless People’s Movement (LPM) claims the government's intervention to avail N$365 million to subsidise electricity consumers for the 2024–2025 financial year is a short-term election gimmick. He said this during the party press conference in Windhoek on Wednesday. “While the government's intervention to avail N$365 million to subsidise electricity consumers for the 2024–2025 financial year, effectively cancelling the increment for 2024 and 2025, provides temporary relief, concerns remain about the future. The Electricity Control Board (ECB) has projected further increases in electricity tariffs for the subsequent years, with significant hikes expected from…

Niël Terblanché The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform convened a week-long workshop bringing together management from all 14 regions to review the major activities and performance of the first quarter of the current financial year. The ministry’s Executive Director, Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata, outlined key accomplishments and challenges, emphasising the ministry's commitment to improving service delivery and sustainable development. Water supply and sanitation initiatives Nghituwamata highlighted progress in providing rural water supply and sanitation. She detailed the construction of 12 new earth dams for water harvesting across four regions: Ohangwena (5), Oshana (4), Kavango West (2), and Hardap (1). Additionally,…

Stefanus Nashama Lay lawyer and community activist, August Maletzky has accused police officers of racially profiling crime suspects when making arrests. He made these allegations during a community meeting between the police and the Swakopmund police last week. “The hands of police officers itch when it comes to arresting non-white Namibians when they commit crimes just because white is right, black is wrong. Drugs are moved from where white people are to the DRC,” Maletzky stressed. According to Maletzky, the crime rates in the DRC location would naturally be high due to the large number of people living there. “When…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja City police have issued warnings to Yango drivers, highlighting their lack of proper transport permits as a violation of municipal regulations. Several drivers have reported that when they can't produce the necessary permits, police pull them over and threaten to issue tickets. Yango is an international app-based ride-hailing service that already operates in many countries across Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, including Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon, Senegal, Zambia, Angola, Congo Brazzaville, the DRC, Mozambique, and Algeria. Imene Nicodemus, a Yango driver, shared his experience, explaining the difficulties drivers face. "The problem with police officers is…

Niël Terblanché Four men have been convicted for the 2016 robbery and murder of Hans Jörg Möller, or Captain Hans, as he was fondly referred to, bringing closure to a case that has gripped the Namibian community for eight years. High Court Judge Dinnah Usiku delivered the verdict on Monday, finding Panduleni Gotlieb, David Tashiya, David Shekundja, and Elly Hinaivali guilty on multiple charges, including murder, attempted murder, housebreaking with intent to rob, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and possession of a firearm and ammunition without a license. Captain Möller, a well-known businessman in Walvis Bay, was fatally shot in his…