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OBSERVER DAILY | An inconvenient truth: Namibia’s silent suicide crisis

Namibia is facing an inconvenient truth, one we have been too timid to confront head-on: suicide is claiming lives at an alarming rate. Among those who have chosen this tragic path are not only men and women buckling under social and economic strain, but children, our children. Every report of a life cut short is not merely a statistic, but a devastating rupture in families, communities, and the nation’s future. And yet, as the suicide rate climbs, our national response remains timid, fragmented, and inadequate. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was correct to express concern about suicides in her recent address. But…
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Willemse denies fortune built on oil money

Willemse denies fortune built on oil money

Hertta-Maria Amutenja  Former National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) executive Kornelius 'Cedric' Willemse told the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court that his wealth was built from personal investments and not from funds derived from the oil company. He made the statement during his bail application before Magistrate Olga Muharukua, saying that although he held senior positions at Namcor, his assets and businesses did not originate from the company. Willemse outlined his current financial situation, stating that before his arrest he earned about N$250 000 a month, plus N$95 000 from businesses in South Africa and his Namcor salary.  “Since my detention I…
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Congolese fuel supplier says Malima owes N$5.5m 

Congolese fuel supplier says Malima owes N$5.5m 

Justicia Shipena  Congolese fuel supplier Orion Energy SARL may apply for default judgement if Eco Fuel Investment fails to file its plea by 17 October.  This deadline follows a case management order issued by High Court judge Beatrix de Jager in the Windhoek High Court. Orion filed a lawsuit against Eco Fuel and its owner, fugitive businessman Victor "Chris" Malima. The order states that if Eco Fuel does not respond, Orion can move for default judgement on 27 October, with a hearing set for 29 October.  Both sides must also exchange documents and make discovery by 21 November, while a…
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Omuthiya road build marred by worker exploitation claims

Omuthiya road build marred by worker exploitation claims

Allexer Namundjembo Workers  on the Omuthiya–Elambo road project  say are facing unsafe conditions and low pay. The 59 km road, launched in August 2025, is expected to take two years to complete with funding from the Namibian government and external partners, including German entities.  The workers clearing land in Okakoko village for Borromean Contractors on Wednesday said they are not given protective equipment.  A site visit by the Windhoek Observer found labourers cutting trees and clearing thorny bushes without gloves.  Workers say they are earning N$108 per day, with no transport provided, forcing some to walk more than 20 km…
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Amupanda seeks law to stop secret salaries in hiring

Amupanda seeks law to stop secret salaries in hiring

Allexer Namundjembo Affirmative Repositioning leader Job Amupanda has called for the legislation compelling  state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and private companies  to  disclose salary scales in job advertisements.  He said this practice undermines transparency and goes against Article 23 of the constitution. In a notice to Parliament yesterday, Amupanda recalled that Article 23, titled “Apartheid and Affirmative Action”, was included by the Constitution’s framers to outlaw apartheid-era racial discrimination. He added that it was also meant to empower laws addressing social, educational, and economic disadvantages. Parliament later passed the Affirmative Action (Employment) Act No. 29 of 1998, which created the Employment Equity…
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OPCW training focuses on preventing return of chemical weapons

OPCW training focuses on preventing return of chemical weapons

Justicia Shipena  The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has started a week-long training course in Swakopmund to strengthen Africa’s ability to respond to chemical incidents. The course, which opened on Monday, brings together participants from English-speaking States Parties across the continent. Deputy minister of industries, mines and energy, Gaudentia Kröhne, said the destruction of all declared chemical weapons stockpiles in 2023 was a landmark achievement.  “This historic achievement underscores the commitment of the international community to disarmament and reminds us of what can be accomplished through cooperation,” she said. Kröhne stressed that while the elimination of stockpiles…
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Africa holds less than 2% of world military spending

Africa holds less than 2% of world military spending

Justicia Shipena  Africa accounts for less than 2% of worldwide military expenditure even as global spending surged to a record $2.7 trillion in 2024, a new United Nations (UN) report shows. This is despite being home to nearly 20% of the world’s population and about a quarter of UN member states.  Launching The Security We Need: Rebalancing Military Spending for a Sustainable and Peaceful Future on Tuesday, UN secretary general António Guterres warned that excessive military spending does not guarantee peace.  "It often undermines it, fueling arms races, deepening mistrust and diverting resources from the very foundations of stability," he…
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Oryx Properties warns of 30% profit drop

Oryx Properties warns of 30% profit drop

Chamwe Kaira  Oryx Properties Limited has warned shareholders of a sharp fall in profit for the year ended 30 June 2025.  In a trading statement issued this week, the group said earnings per share and headline earnings are expected to drop by more than 30% compared to the previous year.  The decline is linked to the derecognition of deferred tax assets after legislative changes limited the carry-forward period for assessed losses to five years. Despite this pressure, Oryx said distributions to unitholders would increase by up to 10%, showing resilience in its core operations. The company plans to release its…
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Ministry extends Haib Copper project rights

Ministry extends Haib Copper project rights

Chamwe Kaira  The ministry of industries, mines and energy has renewed Koryx Copper’s exclusive prospecting licence (EPL) 3140 for the Haib Copper Project in southern Namibia.  The licence, valid until July 2027, was granted after the company submitted a technical update and confirmed that it had met its expenditure commitments during the previous licence period. Under the renewal terms, Koryx must provide progress updates after the first year and keep annual environmental clearance certificates from the ministry of environment, forestry and tourism. Koryx has also applied for a mining licence, as it moves to shift the Haib project from exploration…
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NamPower launches GridOnline’s new pricing structure

NamPower launches GridOnline’s new pricing structure

Chamwe Kaira  New services under NamPower’s GridOnline platform will enable smaller operators to be competitive and expand internet access to underserved areas.  This forms part of a new, unified national pricing framework launched in Windhoek, replacing the previous cost-recovery model that was based on fibre distance usage. NamPower’s chief operating officer, Fritz Jacobs, speaking on behalf of managing director Kahenge Haulofu, said the change goes beyond pricing adjustments.  “We are adding services that will enable smaller operators to be competitive and to grow, to offer internet connectivity in underserved areas. With these innovations, GridOnline is positioning itself not simply as…
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