Windhoek Observer

Renthia Kaimbi The minister of urban and rural development, James Sankwasa, has called an urgent meeting with all Erongo regional councillors this Friday. The meeting will involve all regional councillors, chief regional officer Mupenzeni Ntelamo, and regional heads of the three political parties represented in the council. Sankwasa raised concern in a formal letter to Erongo governor Natalia Goagoses, warning that the council’s inaction is undermining accountability. “The inactivity of the regional council to take corrective measures therefore violates the code of conduct governing the expected good conduct of regional councillors,” the letter states. Sankwasa linked the council’s defiance of…

Allexer Namundjembo Food poisoning that affected 33 learners at Maria Mwengere Secondary School in Rundu was linked to contaminated water in the school hostel.  The minister of education, Sanet Steenkamp, told parliament on Tuesday.  In August, learners at the school fell ill after eating leftover macaroni and sausages served for dinner.  Soon after, they reported stomach pains, vomiting, headaches, and weakness.  Two learners were admitted to intensive care, while others were hospitalised for treatment and observation. Steenkamp said an investigation by the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health confirmed that the hostel’s water supply was unsafe.  She said inspectors…

Allexer Namundjembo The Landless People’s Movement (LPM) has confirmed that former Lüderitz mayor Philipus Balhao has officially joined the party as an ordinary member, but his candidacy in the upcoming local and regional elections has not yet been decided. Speculation has been growing in Lüderitz that Balhao could be fielded as one of the party’s candidates.  LPM has stressed that such decisions lie strictly within its constitutional structures. LPM deputy spokesperson William Minnie told Windhoek Observer yesterday that while Balhao’s membership is confirmed, the question of his candidacy is for the leadership to determine.  “Membership is one thing, but being…

Justicia Shipena The land bill was reintroduced in the National Assembly on Tuesday by minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Management Inge Zaamwani-Kamwi.  She said the legislation aims to create a coherent legal framework to drive equitable land reform in Namibia. Zaamwani-Kamwi told lawmakers that the land question remains one of the most complex and emotive issues in the country’s history.  “The land reform process does not view access to land merely as a commodity. It is a foundation of dignity, identity, and economic freedom,” she said. The bill was first tabled in March 2025 by former minister Calle…

Renthia Kaimbi A truck that was not permitted to use the Sam Nujoma Drive intersection disobeyed restrictions and triggered a chain of collisions in Windhoek yesterday.  The police confirmed the truck exceeded the gross vehicle mass allowed at the junction. The incident began around 12h20 when the westbound truck lost its brakes at the junction of Sam Nujoma Drive and Robert Mugabe Avenue.  Windhoek City police spokesperson superintendent Marcelline Murapo said the accident highlights the risks of ignoring restriction signs.  “This applies to trucks exceeding the permitted gross vehicle mass, as was the case with the truck involved in this…

Moses Magadza  A senior United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) official has presented findings from a recent vulnerability assessment showing that climate change is magnifying existing humanitarian, health and gender challenges in South Sudan. Hussein Hassan, the emergency coordinator and head of the UNFPA Humanitarian Response Unit in South Sudan, presented the assessment at a high-level workshop convened by the SADC Parliamentary Forum and UNFPA for researchers and senior parliamentary staff in Johannesburg on Monday. Speaking via Zoom, Hassan outlined the scale of South Sudan’s climate crisis.  He said rising temperatures, which are projected to increase by up to 2.5°C by…

Renthia Kaimbi A new agreement in Lüderitz will see temporary workers gain permanent employment under a new three-year wage agreement.  Eighty-five land-based employees and 31 seagoing staff will be converted from temporary to permanent status each year until 2027. The agreement was signed between Novanam (Pty) Ltd, Lalandii (Pty) Ltd and the Namibian Seamen and Allied Workers Union after nearly 11 months of negotiations.  The minister of Justice and Labour Relations, Fillemon Wise Immanuel, chaired the talks and confirmed the deal.  It covers land-based employees in Lüderitz and seagoing staff on the wet fish and Walvis Bay-based freezer fleets. The…

Renthia Kaimbi The chief of the Dâure Daman Traditional Authority, Zacharias Seibeb, has threatened to evict tourism operator Ultimate Safaris and remove endangered black rhinos from communal land if the company continues opposing mining in the Kunene Region. In a letter dated 30 September, Seibeb expressed firm support for miners Timoteus Mashuna and Ottilie Ndimulunde.  "Tourism and mining should coexist to benefit my community and the Namibian nation at large," he said.  He cited high youth unemployment and described it as “unacceptable for me as a leader to oppose projects that will bring gainful employment for my people.” Seibeb said…