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Chamwe Kaira Minister of Finance Ericah Shafudah tabled Namibia’s N$87.9 billion national budget for the 2026/27 financial year in Parliament on Thursday under the theme “People, Productivity and Prudence”. The total budget, excluding statutory payments, amounts to N$87.9 billion under the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework. Shafudah said the budget focuses on macroeconomic stability, debt sustainability and value for money while protecting key social and economic investments. She said the plan seeks to restore balance in public finances. “The choices before us are difficult, but they are necessary,” she said. The overall budget deficit is projected to decline to 5.5% of GDP…

Chamwe Kaira  All eyes will be on revenue projections when finance minister Erica Shafudah tables the 2026/27 national budget in Parliament today, as economists warn that limited income growth could force tough spending decisions. Capricorn Group chief economist Floris Bergh said the key issue will be how much revenue the government expects to collect in the 2027 financial year. He noted that the October 2025 estimate projected almost no growth, with revenue at N$90.5 billion. “If that is still the case, expenditure will have to be curtailed decisively; otherwise, the deficit will balloon to a confidence-eroding level that will be…

Renthia Kaimbi A leadership dispute is unfolding at the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor), where board chairperson Florentia Amuenje and interim managing director Maureen Hinda-Mbuende are at odds over the future of the top executive post. Hinda-Mbuende’s six-month contract ends on Friday, one day after applications close for a substantive managing director. She was appointed after former acting MD Victoria Sibeya was removed in August 2025, five months into her tenure. Sources within Namcor claim Amuenje has made it clear that Hinda-Mbuende will not be reappointed beyond her initial term. Insiders say the chairperson has already identified a preferred…

Renthia Kaimbi Justice and labour relations minister Fillemon Wise Immanuel has requested round-the-clock residential security for every magistrate and prosecutor. In a letter dated 21 February to safety and security minister Lucia Iipumbu and copied to President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Immanuel requested the immediate deployment of security personnel to the homes of about 400 judicial and prosecutorial officers. The request follows the death of Ondangwa regional control prosecutor Justine Shiweda and recent threats against members of the justice system. Shiweda (32) died on 7 February from injuries she sustained in an attack in October 2025. During the attack, she was shot…

Renthia Kaimbi Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture Sanet Steenkamp has intervened in a dispute involving former National Youth Council (NYC) director Calista Schwartz-Gowases over an alleged debt of more than N$125 000. The Windhoek Observer understands that the matter relates to transactions dating back to 2021 and forms part of a broader review of the office of the director. Schwartz-Gowases’ contract ended on 13 December 2025 after she was informed in July that it would not be renewed. Before her departure, concerns had already been raised about approved international trips and a planned trip that overlapped…

Allexer Namundjembo The engineering department at the Tsumeb Municipality has been accused of forging building plans and approving designs that allegedly do not meet municipal standards. Sources who spoke to the Windhoek Observer on condition of anonymity claim that some engineers alter or redesign building plans that initially failed to meet requirements and later approve them for use. The Windhoek Observer has seen a building plan originally drawn last year by Star Innovations.  The version later submitted to the municipality carried different contact details from those of the company named on the document. When contacted, the founder of Star Innovations…

Allexer Namundjembo  Khomas region’s population has risen to 494 605. This marks an increase of 44.6% between 2011 and 2023, according to the latest regional results of Namibia’s population and housing census released by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA). Presenting the findings, NSA statistician general Alex Shimuafeni said the 2023 census marked a shift in data collection. “This was Namibia’s first digital census with real-time, computer-aided data collection using handheld devices,” Shimuafeni said. He said the census remains central to public planning and governance.  “The census generates diverse data on demographic and socioeconomic information and plays an essential role in…

Justicia Shipena  Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah says the Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco) must demonstrate that its reported profit was made in a transparent and accountable manner.  His comments come after the meat processor announced that it had recorded a profit following years of losses, bailouts and boardroom battles.  For the financial year ended 31 January 2025, Meatco’s revenue increased by N$662 million, rising to N$1.865 billion from N$1.203 billion the previous year.  The state entity revealed the figures on Monday ahead of its annual general meeting scheduled for Friday. Preliminary performance indicators show the group recorded an operating profit…

Renthia Kaimbi The N$5 million tender for reflective livestock gear was first advertised on the e-procurement platform in November 2025, but the availability of companies that could supply immediately led to an emergency procurement process, according to the National Road Safety Council (NRSC). This comes as questions have been raised about the transparency of the tender, which was piloted in the Khomas, Omusati and Oshana regions late last year. Concerns centred on the decision to award the tender on an emergency basis just weeks before the festive season. Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) member of parliament Nelson Kalangula last week…

Renthia Kaimbi TransNamib Limited Holdings has suspended two senior executives with immediate effect following a forensic investigation into alleged property mismanagement, disposal irregularities and statutory breaches. Executive for human capital Webster Gonzo and executive for properties Alynsia Platt were placed on precautionary suspension on Friday by the TransNamib board. Minister of Works and Transport Veikko Nekundi confirmed that he approved the decision. The suspensions follow a forensic probe commissioned into the conduct of the executives. The board has resolved that disciplinary proceedings will now follow. Two days before the suspensions, the company acknowledged that an internal investigation was under way.…