National News

Namibia’s medicine shortages are no longer an intermittent inconvenience. They have become a structural crisis with real consequences for ordinary citizens who depend on public healthcare for survival. When the Ministry of Health and Social Services reports national pharmaceutical stock levels hovering at around 60%, it may sound, on paper, as though the system is limping along. But averages are dangerous comfort blankets. A country cannot medicate its people with percentages. For the pensioner in Katutura who arrives at a clinic only to be told that hypertension medication is unavailable, the national stock figure means nothing. For the diabetic patient…

Patience Makwele  The Namibian Police Force (Nampol) has denied allegations of a cover-up in a recent shooting incident at Okondjatu settlement in the Otjozondjupa region.  The debate intensified over the weekend after social justice activist Michael Amushelelo alleged that police attempted to conceal details surrounding the shooting incident earlier this month. In response, Nampol spokesperson deputy commissioner Kauna Shikwambi rejected the allegations and insisted the force remains committed to “fairness, transparency and professionalism". According to Shikwambi, officers responding to a violent incident on 4 May allegedly came under attack from a suspect armed with a machete before officers shot and…

Patience Makwele  A new report has found that more than 70% of daily travel among low-income households in Namibia depends on walking and cycling.  The findings were highlighted on Friday during the launch of the United Nations Global Road Safety Week in Windhoek under the theme “Make Walking and Cycling Safe”. The report, titled Towards Policy Interventions for Non-Motorised Transport in Small and Medium-Sized Urban African Towns: The Namibian Case, found major gaps in infrastructure, funding and policies supporting pedestrians and cyclists. Speaking at the event, executive director in the ministry of works and transport Jonas Sheelongo, speaking on behalf…

Renthia Kaimbi Residents of a housing development project in Rundu say they have been paying mortgages since 2022 for houses that remain unfinished. The affected homeowners secured bank pre-approvals for houses in the Kaisosi housing development owned by Chinese businesswoman Stina Wu. Despite receiving financing approval two years ago, the residents say they have still not taken occupancy of their homes. Social justice activist Michael Amushelelo said he received complaints from several affected homeowners. According to Amushelelo, homeowners are paying monthly mortgage deductions while also paying rent elsewhere. “It is rather painful to be paying for a house loan in…

Allexer Namundjembo The Asoli Progressive Party has questioned President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah over what it described as silence on ongoing medicine shortages in public hospitals.  Asoli's president Josef Kauandenge said the government has not responded to the crisis with enough urgency. Kauandenge said the party is disappointed by the “deafening silence” from the presidency as state hospitals across the country continue struggling to supply critical medicines. “The President, as the custodian and leader of the Namibian nation, should have come forth outlining why there are shortages of critical medicines in our hospitals,” he said on Sunday.  Kauandenge also questioned health minister…

Allexer Namundjembo The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has revived the review of the Electoral Amendment Bill as it moves to strengthen the country's electoral framework ahead of the 2029 presidential and National Assembly elections and the 2030 regional and local authority polls. Speaking at a stakeholder engagement at Election House in Windhoek, ECN chairperson Elsie Nghikembua said the post-election period following the 2025 Regional Council and Local Authority Council elections offers an opportunity to assess challenges and propose reforms. “Today is the beginning of this very important post-election stakeholder consultation, with many more to come,” Nghikembua said. ECN chief…

Justicia Shipena  The Benguela Current Convention (BCC) has approved a new regional strategic action plan aimed at strengthening marine protection, tackling illegal fishing and promoting a sustainable blue economy across Angola, Namibia and South Africa. The decision was taken during the 7th BCC Ministerial Conference held in Luanda on 13 May. The conference brought together ministers, senior government officials, ambassadors, technical experts and international organisations involved in fisheries, transport, mining, oil and gas, environmental management and ocean governance. During the meeting, Namibia handed over the chairpersonship of the BCC Ministerial Conference to Angola. Namibia's agriculture, fisheries, water and land reform…

Patience Makwele  Urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa has warned against political and administrative power struggles as the government rolls out the decentralisation of youth and sporting functions to regional councils. Speaking at the official handover launch in Otjiwarongo on Wednesday, Sankwasa said tensions between governors, regional councils and decentralised staff could affect the success of the programme if reporting lines and responsibilities are not respected. “What is remaining there is their salary. Your operation, your supervisor is now the regional council,” Sankwasa said, referring to staff transferred from national ministries to regional structures. The government has officially delegated…

Patience Makwele  Travellers are reporting delays and disrupted immigration services at the Ngoma Border Post.  They are raising concerns about staffing levels and operations at one of Namibia’s key entry points into Botswana. Several travellers who spoke to the Windhoek Observer said they waited for hours without assistance during peak morning movement on Wednesday. Some described confusion at the counters and poor communication about when services would resume. “I got there just after sunrise and nothing was moving. People were just standing around, with no explanations,” said traveller Sisco Simasiku, who was travelling into Namibia from Kasane. Another traveller said…

Allexer Namundjembo The Labour Court has ruled that Trans Desert Logistics unfairly dismissed former truck driver Donovan Le Roux.  The court ordered Trans Desert Logistics to pay him more than N$58 000 in compensation and severance pay. The Labour Court delivered the arbitration award on Wednesday following hearings held on 21 August and 6 to 7 October 2025, according to documents seen by the Windhoek Observer. Le Roux referred the dispute to the labour commissioner on 24 April 2025, claiming unfair dismissal, unpaid leave days and unlawful deductions. The parties agreed that Le Roux worked as a driver from 1…