Windhoek Observer

Niël Terblanché The President of the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Dennis Francis, will visit Namibia from 18 to 21 June. This visit, at the invitation of Peya Mushelenga, Namibia's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, serves as a prelude to the much-anticipated Summit of the Future (SOTF) that Namibia will co-host with Germany on 22 and 23 September. Announcing the visit, Ambassador Penda Naanda, Executive Director of the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, stressed the visit’s significance and said that it is part of the President of the General Assembly’s outreach activities to various…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja A recent report by the National Assembly Standing Committee on Natural Resources highlights challenges in the implementation and funding of climate change projects across six regions. The report, based on field visits to Kunene, Ohangwena, Kavango West, Kavango East, Zambezi, and //Karas regions, underscores the need for improved strategies and coordination. The visits were aimed at overseeing the interventions outlined in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), assessing progress on adaptation and mitigation projects, and understanding their impact on meeting the Paris Accord goals. The visits also sought to evaluate the financing, accountability, and regional involvement in these projects.…

Martin Endjala The Otjombinde Constituency councillor in the Omaheke region, Wenzel Kavaka, has expressed disappointment following the early departure of the Minister of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform, Calle Schlettwein, during a high-level meeting on the possible impact of uranium mining on the Stampriet aquifer. Schlettwein's departure from a meeting on Monday at Lapa Lange Lodge in the Hardap region has disappointed him. Various stakeholders attended the event to discuss and debate the impact of uranium mining in the Stampriet transboundary aquifer system. He addressed the meeting and left shortly after. “The minister left without even asking to be excused…

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The two factions of SWANU, one led by Evilastus Kaaronda and another by Charles Katjivirue, have agreed to withdraw their claims against each other, subject to the signed terms and conditions in the High Court on Monday. In 2023, the faction of Kaaronda went to court, demanding that Katjivirue and his followers cease calling themselves elected party leaders and stop using party letterheads, emblems, and colours for campaigns. According to court documents, this occurred after Katjivirue and his faction held a meeting on 22 May 2021, at Tjiri Lodge in the Omaheke region. Katjivirue then organised an extraordinary…

Stefanus Nashama The Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) currently holds millions of dollars in unclaimed benefits, a substantial amount that could significantly impact the lives of many former government employees and their families. Edwin Tjiramba, GIPF’s General Manager of Marketing and Stakeholder Engagement said that despite the entitlement of every staff member from participating employers within Government Offices, Ministries, Agencies, state-owned entities, and Regional and Village Councils to receive pension benefits upon leaving employment, a surprising number have yet to claim what is rightfully theirs. According to Tjiramba, the Fund guarantees these benefits under its rules, ensuring that they are…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The father of missing child Spencer Mandela Nakale is pleading for assistance from private investigators to help locate his son, who vanished at Lüderitz in December 2020. Spencer’s father, Nelson Nakale, said that despite his persistent efforts, including putting up posters and seeking monetary support for a thorough investigation, no significant leads have emerged. Nakale said people come to him with different theories, and he stressed that every piece of information that comes forward is considered. “There have been no new developments, but there are always people coming with different stories, and one cannot turn them back. Because…

Stefanus Nashama Member of the National Assembly, Maximalliant Katjimune from the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), has urged the Namibia Football Association (NFA) to enforce and implement rules and regulations regarding the involvement of players in the open political arena. Katjimune believes that without proper guidance for players' participation in politics, they may set a dangerous precedent. Katjimune said this on Tuesday, in response to the Swapo's announcement on Sunday on its social media page that international professional football player Peter Shalulile has joined the party. “Game on. Comrade Peter Shalulile joined Swapo. November, here we come,” the post reads. The…

Niël Terblanché Swakopmund resident and professional big game hunter, Gert Andres Jacobus (Kudu) van der Walt, lost his life during an elephant attack in the Kambangula grazing area of the Tsandi Constituency on Monday afternoon. The 46-year-old was trampled by an elephant while trophy hunting in the company of international guests in the Omusati Region. According to police reports, Van der Walt was hunting an elephant bull that had been officially designated as a problematic animal. Accompanied by a group of international visitors and guides from the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism, Van der Walt was involved in a…