Blog – Page 8 – News Stand

10 Jul

The shattered mirror of Namibia: A Pan-Africanist analysis of economic decline and the urgency of sovereignty

info_e12wt4csOpinions

PAUL T. SHIPALE (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar) There are realities whose poignancy transcends mere numerical quantification. Namibia’s recent downgrade by the World Bank’s classification - a global singularity, being the only state to transition from upper - middle - income to lower - middle - income status in 2025 does not constitute a mere statistical datum. It represents, rather, the visceral cry of an economic paradigm in the process of disintegration, an echo vehemently amplified by intellectual contributions in this prestigious journal. This imperative cry demands an introspection that transcends the coldness of econometric language, delving into…

09 Jul

Oil trails Namcor alumni in bribe web

info_e12wt4csMainAnti-Corruption Act, Cornelius ‘Cedric’ Willemse, Enercon, Validus Energy

Justicia Shipena Four of the eight individuals arrested this week by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on corruption charges are former employees of the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor). The remaining four are private individuals. An ACC official confirmed the arrests to the Windhoek Observer on Wednesday after three more suspects were taken into custody. The eight suspects are accused of violating several sections of the Anti-Corruption Act, including sections 32 to 35. These provisions relate to public officials abusing their position or giving bribes to officials. “For those that were arrested now, four are former employees and four are…

09 Jul

Meatco board fails to appoint CEO as acting term expires

info_e12wt4csNational NewsIngwe Zaamwani, Mwilima Mushokabanji, Sakaria Nghikembua, Stefanie de Klerk

Hertta Maria Amutenja The Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco) is heading into August without a substantive chief executive officer. Acting CEO Patrick Liebenberg confirmed to Windhoek Observer that his six-month term will end this month. “I only will serve my six months, which will end at the end of July. Not been extended; I didn’t ask for an extension. The recruitment process is handled by the board because management doesn’t have any input into the recruitment process,” Liebenberg said on Wednesday. Liebenberg was appointed in February after the board decided not to renew the contract of former CEO Mwilima Mushokabanji. …

09 Jul

Hengari demands revival of dead rent board

info_e12wt4csNational NewsSankwasa, Tjekero Tweya

Allexer Namundjebo Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) Member of Parliament Inna Hengari is demanding answers from minister of urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa over the government’s failure to implement a rent control board. Hengari said the proposed board, first announced years ago to regulate rental markets and protect tenants, remains non-functional. “Without proper implementation, the board remains a symbolic gesture, offering no real protection for struggling tenants,” she said. She wants to know what has delayed the board’s rollout, why it is not operational, and why no members have been appointed to enforce regulations. In 2023, then minister of…

09 Jul

Namibia, India talks centre on trade, diamonds, pharmaceuticals

info_e12wt4csNational News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah on Wednesday said Namibia is committed to strengthening bilateral cooperation with India in strategic sectors such as mining and value addition. She made the remarks during official talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in Windhoek on a state visit. The discussions focused on trade and investment, industrial cooperation, health, defence, multilateral reform, and people-to-people ties. “This State Visit provides us indeed the opportunity to give impetus to that vision and goal by strengthening trade, investment, technical cooperation, political and people-to-people relations between our two countries,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said. She said the two countries…

09 Jul

Govt bars Namdia from its HQ

info_e12wt4csNational NewsMcHenry Venaani, Natangwe Ithete

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The government did not authorise Namib Desert Diamonds (Namdia) to continue operating from its Klein Windhoek headquarters following a diamond heist in January. This was revealed by minister of industry, mines and energy Natangwe Ithete, in Parliament on Tuesday. The diamond heist led to the disappearance of diamonds worth over N$314 million. Ithete said that Namdia has relocated its operations due to security concerns. “As we are currently speaking, Namdia is not operating from the same building for the same reasons and for the same concerns that the country is having that it is probably not safe. So…

09 Jul

Namibia leads Africa group in call for IP reforms

info_e12wt4csNational NewsJulia Imene-Chanduru, World Intellectual Property Organisation

Justicia Shipena Namibia has called for the adoption of an international legal instrument on limitations and exceptions for libraries, research, museums, educational institutions, and archives described the issue as critically important to Africa. Speaking in Geneva at the 66th Session of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) General Assemblies, Namibian Ambassador to Switzerland Julia Imene-Chanduru said such an instrument would improve access to knowledge. She added that it would support education and research and promote innovation, competition, and economic development in Africa and beyond. Namibia is currently serving as the coordinator of the Africa Group for the first time, leading…

09 Jul

San community centres grow their own food

info_e12wt4csNational News

Allexer Namundjembo Palms for Life (Namibia) is addressing food insecurity in marginalised communities by establishing vegetable gardens at six of its ten Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres serving San communities. “These gardens are not just about food; they are a local solution to a local challenge. They help us feed the children while teaching communities about sustainable farming,” said a representative from Palms for Life. Each morning, local support staff harvest available produce to prepare meals for the children. The gardens supply vegetables such as green peppers, cabbages, watermelons, tomatoes, maize meal, beetroots, carrots, and spinach. “These vegetables add great…

09 Jul

Welwitschias crush Senegal in Rugby Africa opener

info_e12wt4csFeatured, Sports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The national rugby team, the Welwitchias, began their Rugby Africa Cup campaign with a 55–17 win over Senegal on Tuesday in Kampala, Uganda. Namibia Rugby Union (NRU) director Jacques Burger described the match as a tough challenge, saying that playing against Senegal was never going to be easy, but the game was a good test for the players. “For us it was like a quarter-final. We want it like that, and we want to be better in the next game. Going into the Algeria game, we will definitely work on a lot of things… Basically just cut the…

09 Jul

NIPDB, NSI ink deal to back MSMEs

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyEino Mvula, Nangula Uaandja

Allexer Namundjembo The Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) and the Namibian Standards Institution (NSI) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen the country’s standards ecosystem. The agreement aims to support micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), boost investment, and improve the competitiveness of Namibian products. The signing took place this week at the Investment House in Windhoek. NIPDB chief executive officer Nangula Uaandja said the agreement shows a shared commitment to building a standards-driven economic environment. “Today’s signing is not just a procedural milestone; it represents our shared commitment to enabling a competitive and standards-driven economic…