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Allexer Namundjembo As Namibia prepares to mark another year of independence, debates have emerged over who will take the stage at this year’s celebrations across the country. This year’s Independence Day commemorations will take place simultaneously in all 14 regions for the first time.  The decentralised format aims to allow communities to celebrate within their own constituencies rather than gathering in a single location. However, the lineup of keynote speakers has drawn criticism from opposition politicians and analysts who say the programme appears dominated by members of the ruling Swapo. Posters circulated ahead of the celebrations list current and former…

Allexer Namundjembo The City of Windhoek has ordered the demolition of a house built in Havana location in Windhoek after it found that construction took place without municipal approval. City spokesperson Lydia Amutenya stated that the construction of the structure did not adhere to municipal building regulations, which mandate the submission and approval of building plans. “City officials discovered that a brick structure was being erected on the erf and instructed the individual to stop construction because the area is still under incremental development and no approval had been granted,” Amutenya said in response to questions by the Windhoek Observer…

Patience Makwele  Former and current members of the Windhoek council say some improvements were made in land servicing and municipal reforms, but the demand for housing continues to outpace supply. Windhoek’s population is estimated at about 486 186 residents. About 224 000 people live in informal settlements, placing pressure on housing and land delivery in the capital. Joseph Uapingene, a former councillor who served from 2020 to 2025, representing the National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo), said the council made progress in servicing land and facilitating housing development. According to Uapingene, the municipality serviced about 1,200 urban plots and about 800…

Justicia Shipena  Bringing railway maintenance back to TransNamib Holdings Limited could help save the struggling state-owned enterprise, according to Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) member of parliament Nelson Kalangula. Kalangula made the remarks while contributing to the budget debate in the National Assembly on Tuesday. He said TransNamib is facing operational and financial challenges, including an ageing fleet, limited operational capacity and rising debt. “Bringing railway maintenance back to TransNamib could potentially save the enterprise by consolidating resources, ensuring direct oversight, and aligning maintenance schedules with long-term goals,” he said. Kalangula said TransNamib operates depots in more than 18 towns…

Justicia Shipena  Swapo member of parliament Tobie Aupindi has proposed that Namibia consider receiving dividends from its mineral resources in physical commodities such as gold, uranium and lithium instead of only cash payments. Aupindi made the proposal while contributing to the national budget debate in parliament on Tuesday. He said Namibia should explore building strategic commodity reserves as part of a new approach to managing national wealth. “I am calling for the commodity dividend model. Instead of the state receiving its dividends in Namibian dollars or United States dollars, we should explore taking dividends in physical commodities, be it gold,…

Allexer Namundjembo The family of a seven-year-old learner at Bet-El Primary School in Windhoek plans to open a police case after the child was allegedly assaulted on the school premises last week. The pupil was allegedly attacked by the father of another learner at the school. According to the child’s parent, Magano Iikwambi, the incident occurred on Thursday while the boy was playing with other children at the school. Iikwambi said her child sustained injuries to his private parts and experienced swelling in the genital area after the alleged assault. She said her child was taken to hospital for treatment…

Staff Writer  Paragon Investment Holdings (Pty) Ltd has formally expressed interest in acquiring the 10.2% equity stake in Rössing Uranium Limited currently held by the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa (IDC), a move analysts say marks a significant milestone for the company and for Namibia’s growing role in strategic mineral ownership. The IDC, one of the founding shareholders of Rössing Uranium since the 1970s, recently issued a call for expressions of interest (EOI) from potential buyers for its 10.2% equity stake. According to the IDC, the sale is part of its normal investment cycle, having reached its investment horizon…

Justicia Shipena The government is engaging the office of the attorney general on what legal route to take to hold e-hailing companies accountable for allowing illegal operators on their platforms. Works and Transport minister Veikko Nekundi revealed this in the National Assembly on Thursday while responding to questions from Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) member of parliament Nelson Kalangula about compliance by e-hailing drivers with Namibian transport laws. Nekundi said the Ministry of Works and Transport conducted inspections at the Windhoek offices of Yango to determine whether drivers on the platform comply with Namibian regulations. “It follows that the Ministry…

Renthia Kaimbi Allegations of disrespect from the interim executive chairperson and board have forced the acting director of the National Youth Council (NYC) to resign after just 25 days in the role. The Windhoek Observer has learnt that Mzingisi Gqwede, who was appointed acting director on 3 February 2026, resigned on Friday. His departure has deepened instability at the youth institution. NYC’s programmes manager, Sircca Nghitila, was appointed acting director yesterday. Sources inside the institution say tensions escalated when Gqwede refused to approve sitting fees for the board’s fourth and fifth extraordinary meetings. The dispute centred on whether the meetings…

Renthia Kaimbi The appointment of Oscar Capelao as executive director of the Ministry of Finance has raised questions about potential conflicts of interest, as he continues to serve on the board of the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor). Capelao was appointed executive director in December 2025, a role that places him at the centre of government oversight of public enterprises, including Namcor. He has served as a Namcor board member since July 2024. His dual position has drawn scrutiny from governance expert Johannes Coetzee, who cautioned that the arrangement presents structural risks. “If the same person is on the…