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Staff Writer  Namibia has ranked first in Africa in the Market Perception Pillar of the StartupBlink Innovators Business Environment Index 2026.  This places the country at the top of the continent for institutional trust and governance credibility. The ranking, released on Tuesday by StartupBlink, also places Namibia first in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Africa in the same category.  The index measures the conditions that support innovation, with a focus on ease of doing business, incentives and market perception.  It covers more than 125 countries and draws on over 30 indicators to assess how easily businesses can start, operate and build…

Allexer Namundjembo Rundu urban constituency councillor Paulus Mbangu has called on government to take urgent action to stop recurring food poisoning incidents in the Kavango East and Kavango West regions.  He warned that continued delays are costing lives. Speaking to Windhoek Observer on Monday, Mbangu said the two regions must be treated as a special priority.  He said targeted measures are needed to address food safety failures, poverty and the lack of local laboratory capacity to investigate deaths. “I don’t know how many people the government is waiting to die so they act. I think for now the central government…

Allexer Namundjebo Lawyer Kadhila Amoomo has called on inspector general of the Namibian Police Joseph Shikongo to urgently implement structural and mental health reforms within the force.  The call follows an incident in Khomasdal in which police officer Ivanoi Inacio Vatilifa (39) allegedly shot and injured his 36-year-old girlfriend with a service pistol during an argument.  He later turned the gun on himself and died from his injuries on Saturday. Monday, Amoomo expressed condolences to affected families and said years of close professional engagement with the police system had shown that internal reforms are long overdue. “The news on Police…

Justicia Shipena  The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has arrested an inmate and a police officer following investigations into alleged corrupt practices at the Ondangwa police station. On Monday, the ACC said it arrested Fillemon 'Kasita' Kadhikwa (36), an inmate at the Ondangwa police holding cells and Sgt Victory Hafeni Vateleni (37), a police officer based at the same station.  The two were arrested on 22 January.  ACC interim spokesperson Marina Matundu said that while Kadhikwa was in police custody on 30 January 2023, he allegedly offered a bribe of N$2 000 to a certain detective warrant officer Hashoongo to avoid being…

Allexer Namundjembo Environmental protection and gender inclusion must form the basis of Namibia’s disaster preparedness, government leaders said during the opening of the environmental stewardship and gender mainstreaming for state resilience to shocks and disasters workshop on Monday. The two day workshop is taking place in Windhoek.  The workshop brings together government officials, members of parliament, traditional leaders, civil society organisations, academics, development partners and private sector representatives to discuss how Namibia can strengthen its ability to withstand and recover from recurring shocks such as droughts, floods and wildfires. The executive director in the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism,…