National News

Allexer Namundjembo The Home-Schooling Association of Namibia (HSAN) says it has never presented itself as a regulatory body or a registering or approving authority. It also says it does not act as an oversight or inspection body, nor is it a school or private education institution. Responding to questions sent by the Windhoek Observer on Monday, HSAN said it has also never presented itself as a substitute for the Ministry of Education or as a school in any way, type or form. “The media release correctly states that only the Ministry has the legal mandate to regulate, approve, and oversee…

Justicia Shipena  Local authorities and state-owned enterprises (SOEs) owe NamPower N$557 million after failing to meet repayment arrangements.  The Electricity Control Board (ECB) disclosed the figures following its board meeting on 9 December 2025.  The Mariental municipality owes the largest amount at N$233.29 million.  Meanwhile, Gobabis Municipality owes N$70.2 million, followed by Karasburg Municipality with N$59 million, Aranos Town Council with N$58 million, Maltahöhe Village Council with N$34 million, Gibeon Village Council with N$24 million and Bethanie Village Council with N$21 million. Local authorities on bulk prepayment arrangements owe a further N$210 million.  Rehoboth Town Council, which has been on…

Justicia Shipena  Election results remain binding even when they contain errors, unless a court sets them aside, the High Court has ruled in a case that corrected a mistake in the allocation of a council seat in the Rundu local authority election. In a ruling delivered on 9 December 2025, High Court judge Thomas Masuku said administrative decisions, including election outcomes, remain valid and effective until set aside by a competent court. He stressed that this principle underscores the central role of legality in the electoral process. “It is now firmly settled that administrative decision-making remains valid and binding, however…

Allexer Namundjembo The High Court has granted a preservation order freezing funds in the accounts of two individuals linked to a suspected corruption scheme involving the ||Karas Regional Council. High Court acting judge Eileen Rakow issued the order after an application by the office of the prosecutor general.  The order bars the account holders from accessing or moving the funds while investigations continue.  It also opens the way for possible forfeiture to the state under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA). The case follows allegations raised in Parliament in April by Affirmative Repositioning leader Job Amupanda. Amupanda accused August…

Renthia Kaimbi Prime minister Elijah Ngurare says the new Kaisosi Medical Centre must serve all Namibians and not only those with medical aid.  He stressed that health care must remain a right and not a privilege. “Health is a human right, not a luxury commodity… I challenge you to structure your services to assist the wider access and delivery of primary health services to all people… not just those with medical aid cards,” Ngurare said at the official opening of the facility on Friday in Rundu. Ngurare officially opened the Kaisosi Medical Centre, describing it as a key milestone in…

Allexer Namundjebo The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism says the Sossusvlei shuttle concession only restricts access for certain vehicles and unregistered operators and does not block self-drive visitors or Namibia Tourism Board (NTB)-registered tour operators and lodges from entering Sossusvlei at no cost. The ministry issued the clarification on Saturday following growing concern from tourism operators and the public about how the concession works and whether it limits access to the iconic site. According to the ministry, the restrictions apply only to unregistered operators, environmentally risky vehicles such as buses and trucks, and unsuitable 2×4 vehicles, especially on the…

Renthia Kaimbi Novo Security Services has started approaching companies that lost the N$40 million Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust) security tender, asking them to help provide and manage the required services.  This comes after Novo told the review panel it had the capacity to carry out the contract on its own. On 2 December 2025, Herman Nekomba contacted Namibia Protection Services (NPS) chief executive officer Fanie Horn with a request for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to manage security services at Nust for three years.  He wrote that the anticipated start date was 1 January 2026 and asked…

Justicia Shipena QKR Navachab Gold Mine has won a limited victory in the High Court in a case where it tried to recover more than N$1.4 million paid to former employee Petrus Nambondi under an arbitration award that was later set aside.  The court ruled that Nambondi must repay only N$149 838, plus interest.  He does not have to return the rest of the money he received during his reinstatement period. The matter began when Nambondi was dismissed and later won an arbitration case in May 2020.  The arbitrator ordered Navachab to reinstate him with full benefits and to pay…

Justicia Shipena The Supreme Court has ruled that Dr Rudie van Vuuren’s irregularity claim in a lawsuit where he is being sued for N$2.6 million could not be considered because it fell outside the approved grounds of appeal.  The court said hearing that claim would have been unfair to Expedite Aviation CC. Van Vuuren, a medical doctor, conservationist and co-founder of the N/a'an ku sê Foundation, was challenging a High Court decision that removed his attempt to force the Expedite Aviation CC to hand over documents needed for the case.  This process is known as discovery, and it requires each…

Staff Writer  Presidential advisor and head of the Upstream Petroleum Unit, Kornelia Shilunga, has warned that Namibia’s growing oil and gas opportunity comes with a responsibility to ensure citizens are prepared to participate in the sector.  She delivered this message at the launch of the Petroleum Training and Education Fund's (Petrofund) new brand and refurbished head office in Windhoek this week.  Shilunga said recent discoveries in the Orange Basin and the announcement from ReconAfrica on the Kavango West 1X well have repositioned Namibia as an emerging petroleum player.  She said the sector carries the potential to reshape the economy for…