National News

Patience Makwele Namibians across the country yesterday marked the Day of the African Child with renewed calls to protect children’s rights and improve access to education, water and sanitation, amid concerns that many young people continue to face abuse, neglect and unequal opportunities. Acknowledging the day, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said child abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence remain unacceptable violations of children’s rights. “As we celebrate the African Child, we must also confront the realities that continue to threaten their wellbeing,” the President said in her message marking the day. This year’s commemoration was held under the theme, “Ensuring Universal Access…

Allexer Namundjembo Minister of urban and rural development, James Sankwasa, has raised alarm over what he described as an “underground capture” of Namibia's traditional authorities, warning that certain individuals are attempting to destabilise customary leadership structures. Sankwasa made the remarks during the commemoration of 130 years of Chief Kahimemua Nguvauva at Okahandja on Sunday.. He said the alleged attempts to interfere with traditional authorities are aimed at weakening unity within communities. “There is an underground capturing of the country, particularly targeting traditional authorities. These capturers are using individuals to destabilise traditional setups. The more we become disunited, the weaker we…

Renthia Kaimbi A coalition of youth and student affiliates from across Namibia's political spectrum has thrown its weight behind Ester Simon as their sole candidate for the position of executive chairperson of the National Youth Council (NYC).  The endorsement, announced during a joint press conference on Tuesday, brought together groups including the Student Union of Namibia (SUN), the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) Youth League, the Congress of Democrats (CoD) youth representatives, the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) Youth Wing, the Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) and the Highlands Youth Organization, ahead of the NYC's elective General Assembly in Swakopmund…

Renthia Kaimbi Road safety expert and activist Felix Tjozongoro has said public frustration with the installation of speed humps on the Western Bypass is misguided and that the real crisis lies in Namibian driver behaviour rather than the traffic-calming measures themselves. Tjozongoro dismissed claims that the speed humps are improperly placed or unlawful, asserting that much of the outcry stems from a fundamental misunderstanding of what the Western Bypass actually is under Namibian law. He pointed out that while the road displays green B1 markers, it does not feature the official freeway start sign, which depicts two lanes passing under…

Patience Makwele Oil industry executives have warned that Namibia faces a defining test as the country moves closer to oil production, arguing that discoveries and foreign investment alone will mean little unless the sector translates into jobs, skills and economic opportunities for ordinary Namibians. The warnings were raised at the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) headquarters in Windhoek on Tuesday during the launch of the fourth Namibia Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition, where organisers unveiled the theme, “From Decision to Dividend: Making Namibia’s Oil Work for Namibians.” According to the organisers, the conference’s theme signals a decisive shift…

Allexer Namundjembo The ministry of industries, mines and energy has announced plans to remove the fuel premium currently paid by consumers, saying the move will help lower fuel costs while ensuring a stable supply of petroleum products in Namibia. In a ministerial statement delivered on 10 June, minister Modestus Amutse said the premium, which has been charged over and above the Basic Fuel Price for the past four years, was introduced because fuel wholesalers argued they could not secure fuel at the regulated price due to the country’s relatively small import volumes. Amutse said the Basic Fuel Price already includes…

Allexer Namundjembo The City of Windhoek’s newly launched People-Centred Smart City Strategy (2026–2036) has drawn mixed reactions from community activists, with some welcoming the vision for technological transformation while others question whether the municipality is ready to pursue ambitious smart city projects amid persistent service delivery challenges. The strategy, officially handed over on Monday in partnership with UN-Habitat and the United Nations Innovation Technology Accelerator for Cities, seeks to guide Windhoek’s development over the next decade through digital innovation, improved connectivity, modernised transport systems, and data-driven governance. The announcement, however, has sparked debate among community activists, particularly regarding the city’s…

Patience Makwele The government’s decision to award a three-month fuel supply arrangement worth an estimated N$7.2 billion to international energy trader Vitol has intensified scrutiny of governance at state-owned oil company Namcor, which remains without a substantive managing director months after applications for the top position closed. The arrangement has reignited questions over whether prolonged leadership uncertainty at Namibia’s national oil company may have affected perceptions of its ability to defend its strategic position in the country’s fuel supply chain. The concerns emerge amid claims that Namcor submitted a cheaper proposal than Vitol, with critics arguing that the decision to…