Blog – Page 288 – Windhoek Observer

08 Jul

Ombudsman asked to probe police conduct in Hengari case

National NewsMac-Albert Hengari, Simon Hanga.

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Office of the Ombudsman has been asked to investigate alleged misconduct by police officers in the criminal case involving former minister Mac-Albert Hengari and his co-accused Simon Hanga. In a sworn statement dated 2 July, Hanga claimed he was unlawfully arrested and detained after arriving in Namibia from Germany in April. He said police pressured him to falsely implicate Hengari in exchange for his release. Hanga submitted the complaint to Ombudsman Basilius Dyakugha and also sent copies to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), the prosecutor general, and the inspector general of the Namibian Police. “I am being unlawfully…

08 Jul

NNN had the power to grant Amweelo a state funeral but did not – Mulongeni

National NewsMoses Amweelo

Justicia Shipena Political analyst Ben Mulongeni says the late Moses Amweelo, a former minister and liberation struggle veteran, deserved a state funeral. He questioned why President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah did not use her constitutional powers to grant him the honour. Amweelo died at the age of 73 in June at Lady Pohamba Private Hospital in Windhoek after battle with cancer. He was buried over the weekend, shortly after Cabinet announced a moratorium on official funerals until March 2026 to allow for a review of the criteria used to grant such honours. While Cabinet clarified that the President retains the constitutional power…

08 Jul

Legal missteps sink Kavango concession challenge

National NewsKavango concession

Justicia Shipena The Windhoek High Court has struck an urgent application by tourism operators in the Kavango region who tried to stop a government-approved safari lodge project. The court cited their inordinate delay in bringing the challenge as the reason for dismissal. High Court acting judge Gerson |Narib ruled on 3 July 2025 that the application, brought by Shamvura Camp CC and six other tourism lodges, lacked urgency. The applicants had attempted to interdict the implementation of a concession awarded by the minister of environment, forestry and tourism to Nyime Safari Lodges CC for the development of a lodge in…

08 Jul

Sankwasa blames Windhoek residents of delaying road upgrades

National News, UncategorisedJames Sankwasa

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Urban and Rural Development Minister James Sankwasa says some Windhoek residents are delaying road construction projects due to a lack of patriotism. Sankwasa made the remarks on Monday during the groundbreaking ceremony of Winnie Mandela Avenue in Windhoek. He said some individuals are refusing to relocate to allow construction to proceed, not because they have nowhere to go, but because they want to continue running businesses from their informal structures. In May, the Windhoek Observer reported that business owners along Peter Nanyemba Road, formerly Monte Christo Road, urged the City of Windhoek to revise parts of the ongoing…

07 Jul

Politicians accuse Tsumeb smelter of disrespecting law

National News

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Politicians from different parties have criticised Sinomine Tsumeb Smelter for refusing entry to minister of justice and labour relations Fillemon Immanuel during a planned labour inspection on Monday. According to media reports, the Chinese-owned company demanded that the minister, his security team, and delegation undergo alcohol testing before being allowed in. The company also instructed the minister’s bodyguards to surrender their firearms at the gate. Immanuel had visited the smelter to inspect a voluntary retrenchment process that the Labour Ministry suspects violates labour laws. He was accompanied by the labour commissioner and a workers’ union representative. The incident…

07 Jul

Global Cancer Atlas lists Namibia’s registry

National News

Allexer Namundjembo Namibia’s efforts to improve cancer surveillance have received international recognition with the inclusion of the National Cancer Registry (NNCR) in the newly launched Global Cancer Atlas. The Atlas, developed by the American Cancer Society, the World Health Organisation, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), offers a global picture of cancer trends, prevention, and response efforts. Namibia’s registry, endorsed by the African Cancer Registry Network (AFCRN), is notable for being fully initiated, funded, and managed by the Cancer Association of Namibia (CAN) “This international recognition affirms the global community’s trust in Namibia’s commitment to strengthening cancer…

07 Jul

Inflation risks persist despite easing fuel costs

Featured, Observer Money

Justicia Shipena Fuel price reductions announced in June, backed by over-recoveries in May, are expected to help keep the country’s headline inflation below 4% in the near term. This is according to Almandro Jansen, a junior economist at Simonis Storm Securities. Jansen said this brings some short-term relief for households, especially amid slow wage growth. However, he noted that underlying risks continue to weigh on the economic outlook. The country's annual inflation rate eased to 3.5% in May 2025, slightly down from 3.6% in April and from a recent peak of 4.2% in March. Much of the decline came from…

07 Jul

Bankers Association appoints new CEO

Observer Money

Staff Writer The Bankers Association of Namibia (BAN) has appointed Dantagos Naomi Jimmy as its new chief executive officer, effective 1 July 2025. Jimmy brings more than 20 years of experience in investment management, financial markets, corporate governance, and strategic advisory. She founded Ndapunikwa Investment Management (Pty) Ltd and has held senior roles at the Bank of Namibia, Alexander Forbes Investments, and IJG Securities. She holds a BSc in International Management from La Roche College in the United States and an MBA in General and Strategic Management from the Maastricht School of Management in the Netherlands. She also completed executive…

07 Jul

Premium cuts drive beef price increases in June

Observer Money

Justicia Shipena Consumers in the Khomas Region paid more for beef fillet in June compared to May, as beef prices climbed across several regions of the country. According to the latest figures from the Livestock and Livestock Products Board of Namibia, the price of fillet in Khomas rose from N$315.98/kg in May to N$378.25/kg in June. This was a 6.93% weekly increase, the board said. Other prime cuts also saw increases. Topside climbed 3.66% to N$187.94/kg, neck rose 6.48% to N$99.99/kg, and shin increased by 5% to N$106.51/kg. At the same time, the price of thin flank dropped by 5.41%…

07 Jul

New masterclass series aims to boost financial skills

Observer Money

Justicia Shipena Come September, Namibians will have the chance to take control of their finances through a newly launched Financial Education Masterclass by Old Mutual Namibia. The initiative, the first of its kind by Old Mutual, invites individuals across the country to complete a short online survey to express their interest in attending the free training. According to Old Mutual, based on the responses, two regions will be selected to host the inaugural masterclasses, with the announcement scheduled for 11 August 2025 via Old Mutual’s official social media platforms. The sessions are expected to take place in September or October…