Blog – Page 359 – Windhoek Observer

13 May

Villagers claim officials ignored sewage complaints

National News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Residents in Iitapa village and surrounding areas in the Okahao Constituency say government officials failed to act after being alerted to sewage being dumped near homes and communal farmland. According to the Ekwawo Community Foundation, health inspectors confirmed the incident during a site visit, but no steps have since been taken to address the issue. The foundation said it reported the issue to the Waste Water Management office under the Ministry of Health and Social Services in Okahao. This comes as the foundation has raised concerns over unsafe sewage disposal in villages under the Okahao Constituency. The foundation…

13 May

Leaders push for innovation and equity in HIV response

National News

Niël Terblanché Policymakers, clinicians, researchers, and development partners from across Africa have converged at Windhoek for the 19th International Conference on HIV Treatment, Pathogenesis, and Prevention Research in Resource-Limited Settings (INTEREST 2025). The weeklong gathering aims to advance HIV treatment and prevention efforts in some of the continent’s most underserved communities. Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare said during the official opening of the event that Namibia is committed to combatting HIV and strengthening the country’s health systems. Ngurare commended both national and international efforts to curb the spread of HIV and added that the conference is another call to action that…

13 May

Rooibos tea is most expensive in the north

National News

Justicia Shipena Consumers in Kavango East, Kavango West, Kunene, and several northern regions paid the highest for rooibos tea in April. In April a 100g pack cost N$37.76, according to the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA)'s latest consumer price index bulletin. Meanwhile, for consumers in the Khomas region, sunflower oil was most expensive at N$33.43. The report by the NSA also says meat prices in April 2025 surged by 7.1%, up from 4.9 % in April 2024. The rise was driven by key meat products such as biltong, which jumped from -8.4% to 8.7 %. Minced meat rose from -2.5 percent…

13 May

Youth to benefit from free offshore oil and gas training

National News

Niël Terblanché Young Namibians are set to benefit from a new offshore oil and gas training initiative through a partnership between the Namibia Youth Energy Forum (NYEF) and global recruitment firm Atlas Professionals. The Greenhand Program will offer free training to prepare young people for jobs in the oil and gas sector. It will be rolled out in Windhoek, Walvis Bay, and Lüderitz. This is the first time offshore oil and gas training of this kind has been offered in the country. The programme has already been implemented in countries such as the United Kingdom, Brazil, and Suriname. It is…

13 May

Technical training opens doors for unemployed youth

Observer Money

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Eight young Namibians have secured internships after completing a two-week technical training program through CodeConnect Namibia, run by the non-profit organisation African Connection. The training was conducted under the Binary Program, in partnership with Document Warehouse. Participants were introduced to the company’s systems and records management tools. Boitshepo Pieters, operations manager at The African Connection, said the initiative aims to address a lack of opportunities in the technology sector. “The African Connection was inspired by the need to bridge the gap between ambition and opportunity for Namibia's youth. Recognising the global shift towards technology-driven economies, the organisation aimed…

13 May

Caltex re-enters Namibian market under new partnership

Observer Money

Niël Terblanché The Caltex fuel brand has officially returned to the Namibian market with the launch of a newly rebranded service station in Windhoek, operated by Bachmus Oil and Fuel Supplies (Pty) Ltd. The new service station, located in the Southern Industrial area, represents the first of several planned outlets to operate under the Caltex brand following a strategic partnership between Bachmus and Chevron Brands International LLC. The managing director of Bachmus, Corne van Schalkwyk, said that Caltex has long-standing ties to Namibia. “This is a proud and historic moment for Bachmus. The Caltex brand holds a special place in…

13 May

EU invests N$1 million in local crafts

Observer Money

Justicia Shipena The European Union delegation to Namibia has invested N$1 million to support local crafters in the Khomas and Zambezi regions. This investment was made through the EU-Namibia Craft Project, under the Cultural Relations Platform. In this regard, 11 elected artisans took part in a workshop at the Penduka Training Centre in Windhoek. The training focused on product development, pricing, packaging and storytelling. Artisans gained hands-on experience in turning their ideas into market-ready products, especially in jewellery, beadwork and corporate gifts. “This workshop has helped build those foundations. We are investing N$1 million to support local crafters in the…

13 May

Pepkor merger could strengthen market dominance

Observer Money

Justicia Shipena The Namibian Competition Commission (NaCC) says the Pepkor Holding merger with national clothing retailer Big Daddy Clothing will strengthen an already dominant market position. The NaCC said it could also give the merging parties the ability to facilitate coordination. On Tuesday, the commission announced the approval of 13 mergers, following a meeting held on 8 May 2025. The first merger involves JD Financial Services Proprietary Limited acquiring the retail furniture segment of OK Bazaars Namibia Ltd, including the Furniture Debtors Book. JD Financial Services, which operates across various sectors such as retail, fintech, and strategic services, has extended…

13 May

Boxing duo set to bring back victory to Namibia

Sports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Boxing promoter Nestor Tobias says it is not easy for African boxers to get international fights, but Namibians like Jeremiah Nakathila and Jon Ndjolonimus have earned their place. Tobias, founder and owner of the MTC Nestor Tobias Sunshine Boxing and Fitness Academy, made the remarks on Tuesday while announcing upcoming international bouts for the two fighters. Nakathila is set to face American prospect Abdulah Mason on June 7 June 2025 in Virginia, United States. This will be his fifth fight in the U.S. He first appeared in the country in 2021 when he fought Shakur Stevenson. In 2022,…

12 May

‘Remove taxation from chronic medication’ – patients tell GRN

Main

Hertta-Maria Amutenja A group of Namibians living with chronic conditions is calling on the government to remove Value Added Tax (VAT) and import duties on essential medication. Group spokesperson Stephen Bellesini said the appeal comes from personal experience of paying out of pocket for chronic medication not available in public hospitals. “State pharmacies only stock items listed on the Namibia Essential Medicines List (NEMLIST), which excludes many specialised or newer treatments required for chronic conditions. That leaves responsible citizens no choice but to turn to private pharmacies, where they face not just the full price of the medicine but layers…