National News

Justicia Shipena  The Okandjoze Chiefs’ Assembly on Genocide (OCAG) has called on the Namibian government to adopt a “business unusual” approach in dealing with genocide, apology and reparations.  OCAG said years of discussions have produced little action. Namibia will mark its second Genocide Remembrance Day on Thursday in memory of tens of thousands of Ovaherero and Nama people killed during German colonial rule between 1904 and 1908. Cabinet declared 28 May as Genocide Remembrance Day and approved it as a public holiday in 2024. The first official commemoration took place last year at Parliament Gardens.  Some Ovaherero and Nama leaders…

Patience Makwele Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture Sanet Steenkamp has warned that Namibia risks future instability if young people continue to be excluded from governance, economic opportunities and national decision-making. Speaking at the opening of the dual capacity-building programme on Namibia’s National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security in Windhoek on Tuesday, Steenkamp said Namibia’s future stability depends on how the country responds to the realities facing young people. Steenkamp said about 37% of Namibia’s population is under the age of 15. “That is not background information. That is the central fact around which everything…

Allexer Namundjembo Swapo says it supports the One-China policy and recognises Taiwan as part of China’s territory. The party’s secretary general, Sophia Shaningwa, made the remarks in a statement issued last week. Shaningwa said Swapo considers the One-China principle important for international stability and cooperation. "The Swapo party fully recognises that there is but one China in the world, that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory and that the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China,” she said. She said Namibia and China share a long relationship that…

Patience Makwele Government and church leaders have warned that growing hopelessness, mental health pressures, substance abuse and unemployment are placing many young Namibians at risk. Speaking on behalf of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah during the National Prayer Breakfast in Windhoek last week, vice president Lucia Witbooi said Namibia continues to face serious social challenges despite decades of peace and stability. “These challenges include gender-based violence, violence against children, substance abuse, rising road fatalities, youth unemployment, family breakdown, mental health pressures, corruption and increasing levels of hopelessness among some of our young people,” Witbooi said. The concerns come amid rising public debate…

Renthia Kaimbi Namibia’s plan to make GLOBALG.A.P. certification compulsory for all horticultural exports by 2027 is facing financial, operational and structural challenges, according to a new report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development. The report, released in April 2026, examined countries that have integrated voluntary sustainability standards into export promotion systems. Researchers said Namibia’s partnership with GLOBALG.A.P. shows progress but warned that the Namibian Agronomic Board is facing several difficulties as it expands the programme. One of the main concerns raised in the report is NAB’s dual role as both trainer and regulator. The board helps farmers comply with…

Patience Makwele  Traditional leaders from Kavango East and Kavango West say government-driven communal land reforms could weaken customary authority and increase pressure on ancestral land. The concerns were raised during consultations between the Chiefs’ Council and the parliamentary standing committee on urban and rural development and land reform. Traditional leaders said growing pressure on communal land, illegal fencing, weak enforcement and delays in land administration are creating uncertainty in rural communities already affected by population growth and shrinking grazing areas. They also warned that formal land registration could lead to increased land sales and leave future generations without access to…

Allexer Namundjebo Windhoek activist Sem David has called on the City of Windhoek and the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development to release full details of Windhoek mayor Sackarias Uunona’s trip to the World Urban Forum in Baku, Azerbaijan. David said residents were not informed in advance about the trip or its purpose. “Residents were never informed that he would be travelling, nor were we told the purpose of the trip,” he said. He said he only became aware of the visit through a Facebook post. David questioned why the municipality sent the mayor instead of technical officials from departments…

Allexer Namundjebo The newly elected Namibia Media Professionals Union (Nampu) president, Shelleygan Petersen, has pledged to defend the rights of media workers and ensure employers comply with labour laws. Responding to questions from the Windhoek Observer on Saturday, Petersen said all media organisations must follow the Labour Act when employing staff. “Media professionals have been exploited for far too long. We are engaging international partners for support on issues affecting freelancers and exploitation in the industry," she said.  Petersen said her leadership plans were to establish union branches at media organisations across the country and organise the union’s first congress.…