National News

Patience Makwele Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) president Panduleni Itula has raised fresh questions about a proposed N$612 million solar power project linked to the Chinese-owned Tsumeb smelter. Itula alleged that companies associated with President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s sons are involved in the development. He has called for full public disclosure of the project’s documentation. In a media statement released on Thursday, Itula presented what he described as the “Sinomine-Massaus power file”, arguing that the public deserves answers regarding the ownership structure, licensing process and governance arrangements surrounding a project connected to one of Namibia’s most strategic industrial assets. The opposition…

Patience Makwele The Trade Union Congress of Namibia (TUCNA) has called for urgent reforms to labour legislation after Namibia was classified as a regular violator of workers’ rights in the 2026 International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) Global Rights Index. The report placed Namibia in the ITUC’s “orange” category, highlighting concerns over restrictions affecting trade union registration, collective bargaining and the right to strike. TUCNA secretary general Mahongora Kavihuha said the rating should serve as a warning that workers’ rights guaranteed by law are not always fully realised in practice. “We need to pull up our socks and realise that some…

Allexer Namundjembo The Office of the Judiciary has announced that court operations at the Omuthiya Periodical Court will officially commence on Monday, 8 June 2026, bringing essential judicial services closer to residents of the Oshikoto Region. “The initiation of court operations will provide essential judicial services to the community, enhance access to justice and facilitate the delivery of services in closer proximity to the community of Omuthiya and surrounding areas,” the Office of the Judiciary said in a statement issued on Tuesday. Currently, residents of Omuthiya travel to the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court to access court services. To address this, the…

Allexer Namundjembo Popular Democratic Movement member of parliament Winnie Moongo has tabled a series of questions for the minister of home affairs, immigration, safety and security, Lucia Iipumbu, over what she described as “persistent administrative and operational deficiencies” affecting police stations across Namibia. In a notice of question set for Thursday, Moongo said communities continue to raise concerns about inadequate fleet management, weak logistical coordination, delayed vehicle and infrastructure maintenance, and uneven distribution of resources between regions. She added that some border patrol activities have allegedly been suspended for extended periods due to transport constraints. “Police officers are expected to…

Patience Makwele A leadership dispute within the SWAPO Party Youth League (SPYL) in Kavango East has escalated after the regional executive committee suspended a senior youth leader pending an investigation — a move she has rejected as unconstitutional and politically motivated. The suspension of SPYL regional secretary for information, publicity and mobilization, Bibiana Shapi, comes amid preparations for an extraordinary regional conference expected to fill the vacant regional secretary position following the resignation Anselm Marungu, who was appointed as deputy minister of environment, forestry and tourism. In a letter dated 1 June and addressed to the SWAPO party regional executive…

Patience Makwele Community leaders in Tsumkwe have called for urgent intervention to revive several stalled development projects, including a multi-million-dollar agricultural initiative and a cultural museum that has remained incomplete for more than a decade. The concerns were raised during a three-day visit by a delegation from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), which is assessing living conditions, development challenges and service delivery in the constituency. The delegation visited several sites, including Tsumkwe Secondary School, the school hostel, Tsumkwe Clinic and multiple incomplete community projects. Among the projects highlighted was the Tsumkwe Agricultural Hub and Integrated Food System project.…

Eugenia Moche The German government has invested N$1.9 million to support the Namibia Planned Parenthood Association (NAPPA) in rolling out the “Pamwe” project. The initiative is aimed at promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) among young people in Namibia’s rural regions. The agreement was signed on Monday by German Ambassador to Namibia Thorsten Hutter and NAPPA, represented by its chairperson, Sevelia Kasuto, dxecutive director, Natalia Ihemba, and communication and advocacy manager, Louise Mhundwa. The project is being implemented in the Kavango, Kunene, and Omusati regions from 1 May to 31 December 2026. ‘Pamwe’, which means “Together” in several…

Allexer Namundjembo JA Africa, with support from the ExxonMobil Foundation and the Mindsinaction STEAM Centre, has launched the 2026 ExxonMobil Foundation STEM Africa Program to equip young Africans with critical skills in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) and artificial intelligence (AI). The 2026 edition, dubbed STEM Africa 2.0, will target 4,000 additional students aged 14 to 17 across the continent. It builds on a partnership that has already reached more than 10,000 young people in Angola, Mozambique, Namibia and Nigeria. The launch comes as Africa’s youth population grows rapidly while access to STEM and digital skills remains limited. The program…