Windhoek Observer

Niël Terblanché In order to bolster security along Namibia’s perennial waterways, the deployment of the Namibian Navy on the Zambezi, Chobe, and Kavango rivers has markedly diminished security challenges that have long plagued the region. The Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs, Frans Kapofi, said that the deployment of sailors in troubled areas is clear evidence of the Navy's successful efforts in curtailing illegal border crossings, unregulated fishing, poaching, and drug smuggling. The transformative impact of this deployment was underscored during the ceremonial renaming of the Naval Base Impalila to Naval Base Lieutenant General John Sinvula Mutwa, in honour of…

Niël Terblanché NamPower has successfully restored electricity to Okahandja and its surrounding areas after a disruptive outage that began on the morning of Tuesday. The power cut, which plunged the town and surrounding areas into darkness for almost two days, was traced back to vandalism at the Okahandja Substation which is a critical juncture in the area's electricity supply network. Collin Klein, NamPower’s Area Manager for the Central Region, revealed that the outage was the result of intentional damage to a transformer component, inflicted by vandals at the CENORED Okahandja Intake Station. He said a cable on one of the…

Niël Terblanché Namibia's aviation sector achieved a significant milestone when the Namibia Airports Company along with key stakeholders, successfully passed the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) safety audit. The certification is the result of the implementation of improved regulatory compliance and safety measures. The audit, which scrutinized the performance of the Hosea Kutako International Airport and the Walvis Bay International Airport, highlighted the country's dedication to elevating its aviation standards. The results of the audit were announced by the Namibia Civil Aviation Authority’s (NCAA) Executive Director, Toska Sem who pointed to the significant strides made since the last evaluation in…

Martin Endjala Katoro Gold Plc announced that it is withdrawing from investment projects in Namibia and South Africa, due to unfavourable local ownership limitations and a strategic shift towards higher-value ventures. Given the challenges encountered in obtaining evidence of ownership title for the Namibian project, Katoro Gold Plc’s Chief Executive Officer, Louis Coetzee said they have determined that it is prudent to cease further investment in this venture. This comes after Katoro entered into a binding conditional agreement with Trans Namibian Mining and Minerals (Pty) Ltd in 2022, to establish a 50-50 unincorporated joint venture. The joint venture aimed to…

Niël Terblanché In an effort to address the pressing challenges facing the Zambezi region, President Nangolo Mbumba met with leaders of the four Traditional Authorities a day before Namibians celebrated Independence Day. The meeting held in the spirit of collaboration and mutual respect was aimed at introducing President Mbumba to the traditional leadership during which he requested their sage advice on various regional concerns. The gathering, which included the Masubia, Mafwe, Mayeyi, and Mashi Traditional Authorities, became a platform for voicing critical issues plaguing the region, most notably the devastating impact of drought. The leaders unanimously called on the government…

Martin Endjala The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security has refuted recent allegations circulating on social media regarding the acquisition of land where its headquarters are built unlawfully, terming the allegations baseless and defamatory. The social media message in question states that the Ministry’s new headquarters was allegedly built on the ruling party Swapo’s land and that the party had plans to build its headquarters there before abandoning the project. The allegation had it that as a result of this, the government is now paying rental fees to Swapo for occupying the party’s land It is also alleged…

Stefanus Nashama A group of unemployed Namibian youths marched through Windhoek streets yesterday demanding jobs or financial support from the government. “We want jobs or money, not useless speeches. We want jobs, stop fake promises,” the protestors demanded, chanting and singing some liberation struggle songs. The group led by social activist, Michael Amushelelo shouted that the government should stop making false promises and provide them with employment opportunities. The protestors planned to hand over a petition to the government at Zoo Park in the centre of the capital city, however, no government official showed up to receive their petition. Speaking…