Windhoek Observer – Page 4 – Windhoek Observer

27 Feb

YOUNG OBSERVER | From Ohangwena to the world

Featured, Latest

The ecosystem of opportunity in Namibia is undergoing a radical shift as the traditional focus on the central administrative hub of Windhoek begins to give way to a more decentralised and inclusive model of economic empowerment. At the heart of this transformation is the Ohangwena Regional Governor’s Office, which has recently secured a landmark partnership with the Tony Elumelu Foundation to launch a dedicated entrepreneurship programme for the 2026 cycle. This collaboration is not merely a regional win but a national milestone that demonstrates the power of local government acting as a sophisticated bridge to global philanthropic capital. For the…

27 Feb

YOUNG OBSERVER | The health pill: Reclaiming the standard of care

Opinions

Following a directive from President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, senior government officials, including executive directors, the deputy auditor general, the secretary to the National Assembly and the President herself, will begin the transition from private medical suites to the corridors of our state hospitals. This is not merely a policy change or a budget-saving exercise because it is a profound reclamation of the public standard. For the youth of Namibia, this shift represents the end of a two-tier reality where the quality of a citizen’s healthcare was determined by the colour of their medical aid card. To understand the youthful urgency of…

27 Feb

YOUNG OBSERVER | The strength of second acts

Opinions

A child does not mark the end of a young woman's potential, yet for decades, the social narrative in Namibia has often treated young motherhood as a definitive full stop to personal and professional ambition. As we navigate the early months of 2026, it is time to dismantle this outdated stigma and recognise that the resilience required to raise a child while pursuing a future is one of the highest forms of leadership. Following the implementation of the latest national strategies for reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, adolescent health, and nutrition, we are seeing a shift in how the state and…

27 Feb

A budget that stabilises but does not transform

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

When minister Ericah Shafudah tabled the N$104 billion national budget this week, she presented it as a careful balancing act between fiscal discipline and developmental necessity. On paper, it is a responsible document. In substance, however, it raises a more difficult question: is Namibia managing decline cautiously or building growth boldly? The answer, at least for now, leans toward caution. The numbers are instructive. Of the N$104 billion, a staggering N$81.3 billion is directed toward operational expenditure, salaries, administration, recurrent costs and the machinery of government. Only N$6.5 billion is earmarked for development spending. That ratio should concern anyone serious…

27 Feb

Shafudah’s N$87.9bn rainy day budget

Main, National News

Chamwe Kaira Minister of Finance Ericah Shafudah tabled Namibia’s N$87.9 billion national budget for the 2026/27 financial year in Parliament on Thursday under the theme “People, Productivity and Prudence”. The total budget, excluding statutory payments, amounts to N$87.9 billion under the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework. Shafudah said the budget focuses on macroeconomic stability, debt sustainability and value for money while protecting key social and economic investments. She said the plan seeks to restore balance in public finances. “The choices before us are difficult, but they are necessary,” she said. The overall budget deficit is projected to decline to 5.5% of GDP…

27 Feb

Rundu residents raise alarm over new municipal fees

National News

Allexer Namundjembo New tariffs and fines by the Kavango East Regional Council have drawn criticism from a Rundu community activist, who says the charges will add pressure on low-income households and informal traders. Community activist Ndemba Kayone told the Windhoek Observer that the new fee structure does not reflect the realities faced by many residents. “We understand that the council must recover costs and maintain services, but these new tariffs place a heavier burden on people who are already struggling to survive,” Kayone said. The new charges were published in the government gazette No. 123 of 2026 and apply to…

27 Feb

Pensioners to receive N$100 increase

National News

Renthia Kaimbi Pensioners will receive a N$100 increase in their monthly state pension from 1 April. This would raise the grant from N$1 600 to N$1 700. Finance minister Ericah Shafudah announced the increase while delivering the 2026/27 national budget in the National Assembly on Thursday. She said N$447 million has been set aside to fund the adjustment. “The Ministry of Finance received a N$12.9 billion allocation for the 2026/2027 financial year, of which N$447 million is to cater for a N$100 increase in pension (funding) for the elderly,” said Shafudah. The increase falls short of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s election…

27 Feb

Namport rejects allegations on cancelled oil tender

National News

Renthia Kaimbi The Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) has rejected allegations by the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) over the Lüderitz Oil Supply Base tender and its business associations, describing the claims as inaccurate. In a media statement issued on Wednesday, Namport chief executive officer Andrew Kanime responded to three claims made by the opposition party. He addressed the cancellation of the design, build, own, operate and transfer tender; the involvement of the Namibia Industrial Development Agency; and the role of Tradeport Namibia at the Port of Lüderitz. Kanime first dealt with the cancelled DBOOT tender. He dismissed suggestions that Namport…

27 Feb

Windhoek Council urged to set aside land for youth facilities

National News

Allexer Namundjembo Windhoek municipal councillor Austin Kwenani has submitted a motion asking the City of Windhoek to identify land in all constituencies and set it aside for the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture. He wants the land to be used to speed up the development of sports facilities and youth infrastructure across the city. Kwenani, who chairs the Management Committee, introduced the motion in terms of the Standing Rules and Orders of the Municipal Council. He said the proposal aims to ensure coordinated land allocation to support structured sports development in the capital. In motivating the…

27 Feb

Petroleum Governance at a Crossroads: Namibia Must Resist Centralism in Resource Control

National News

GIDEON SHAPUMBA Namibia’s proposed amendments to the Petroleum Act deserve far more public debate than they are getting. Behind technical phrases like “streamlining decision-making” lies a major shift in how the country’s most valuable resource could be controlled, one that risks giving excessive power to the Executive with little parliamentary oversight.The issue is not whether Namibia should benefit more from its petroleum resources. It absolutely should. The concern is how the government plans to achieve this. Moving key petroleum functions to the Presidency under a new Upstream Petroleum Unit is alarming. In reality, it would allow a small group of…