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Hertta-Maria Amutenja  The family of Apostle Paulus Shiwoomwenyo Shetu is grappling with the shock of his burial in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) without their prior knowledge. Shetu (50) passed away on 22 April 2025 in Lubumbashi, DRC. Speaking to the Windhoek Observer, family spokesperson Petrus Sheya said they only found out about Shetu’s death and burial after receiving a message from an unknown number. “We just received a message after he was buried already. In fact, someone texted me from the DRC and then sent an SMS in French. Then I responded in English, asking who the person…

Niël Terblanché Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Marine Resources, Ruth Masake, urged the fishing industry to join forces with the government in building a more inclusive, science-based regulatory system. Speaking at the annual fishing industry address held in Walvis Bay on Friday, Masake outlined a vision of sustainable practices, equitable resource allocation, and stronger collaboration to ensure the long-term viability of the sector. Delivering her first formal address to stakeholders since her appointment, Masake stressed the importance of partnership between government and industry to achieve broader development objectives. "Our President, Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, has made it clear that the…

Niël Terblanché The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Land Reform (MAFWLR) has reported a locust outbreak in the Zambezi region, with swarms currently in the hopper and fledgling stages. The ministry’s executive director, Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata, said in a statement that the outbreak began in early February 2025, following substantial rainfall in the area. She indicated that affected locations include Ibbu near the Chobe River, Sachona, Lubuta, Singalamwe, Omega, Chinchimane, Kanono, Batabaja, Muyako, Ngala, Mahundu, and Seke. “The presence of green vegetation over large areas in the north-eastern, north-central regions, and to some extent in neighbouring Zambia, Botswana, and Angola,…

Niël Terblanché The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has announced a complete ban on drones within Etosha National Park, citing escalating security concerns linked to rhino poaching. Colgar Sikopo, the ministry’s deputy executive director of Natural Resource Management, stated that while drones were previously permitted under strict conditions, the increasing misuse by visitors has necessitated a stricter approach. “Many visitors have been entering the park and using drones with no such permission. This situation created some security risks and a disturbance to other visitors to the park,” Sikopo explained. He added that drones can be exploited by poachers to…

Ester Mbathera  With the Namibian dollar pegged to the South African rand, the country finds itself caught in the eye of the storm as the trade dispute between the United States and South Africa intensifies. At the same time, with 40% of its public budget reliant on the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) revenue pool, Namibia has every reason to be concerned. These are the sentiments of economist Dr. Omu Kakujaha-Matundu, who warned that any shift in SACU's tariff structures could deal a severe blow to President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah's dream of job creation and economic growth. He cautioned that Lesotho,…