National News

Justicia Shipena A consortium that was previously rejected has now been awarded the Naute–Keetmanshoop Water Pipeline Replacement and Ancillary Works tender.  The newly appointed Public Procurement Review Panel upheld the decision to grant the contract to Adaptive Building Land Construction CC in partnership with China State Engineering Corporation (Southern Africa) (Pty) Ltd Namibia. Two months ago, Finance Minister Ericah Shafudah appointed 15 members to the Public Procurement Review Panel for a three-year term that began on 1 October 2025 and ended on 30 September 2028. The Central Procurement Board of Namibia (CPBN) confirmed that the N$191 million contract was approved…

Allexer Namundjembo The Namibian College of Open Learning (Namcol) experienced a decline in tertiary and vocational programme enrolments during the 2023/2024 financial year. This was mainly due to the discontinuation of certain courses and the end of the 2023 relief scheme that had allowed students to enrol without full upfront payment. Despite this drop, Namcol recorded a solid financial recovery and steady growth in secondary education enrolment. According to its 2023/2024 annual report, the institution achieved a surplus of N$7.2 million, reversing a deficit of over N$21 million from the previous year. The improvement was driven by stronger cost management,…

Justicia Shipena President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has warned that any attempt to seize power through unconstitutional means in Madagascar undermines democracy and regional stability. Namibia has expressed concern over the ongoing political crisis in Madagascar. Madagascar’s crisis escalated this week when a senior army colonel announced that the military had taken control after parliament voted to impeach President Andry Rajoelina.  Crowds celebrated in the capital, Antananarivo, following the military’s declaration. The announcement by colonel Michael Randrianirina came soon after parliament’s vote on Tuesday.  Nandi-Ndaitwah said such actions “run counter to the values and obligations that bind SADC member states” and threaten…

Moses Magadza  The second regional engagement meeting on adolescents’ access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) began on Tuesday, calling for stronger regional action to improve SRHR services for adolescents across East and Southern Africa. Held under the theme “Step Up 4 Adolescents SRHR Access: Collaborating for Equitable SRHR in East and Southern Africa”, the two-day gathering has drawn policymakers, youth advocates, parliamentarians, health experts, and civil society organisations from more than 12 countries. The chief executive officer of the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC), Farai Machinga, was the guest of honour.  He called for urgent, coordinated…

Renthia Kaimbi Walvis Bay is mourning the passing of businessman John Savva, whose death has drawn tributes from across Namibia. Savva was celebrated for his business success and generosity but his life also touched a key chapter in Namibia’s history, the reintegration of Walvis Bay. He came to Namibia from Cyprus 59 years ago with little but determination and a dream, often working as a barman to build a future.  Through decades of hard work, he became a pillar of the Walvis Bay community, creating generational wealth through ventures in property development, including the Afrodite Beach project, the Venus Supermarket,…

Renthia Kaimbi The Namibia Institute of Mining and Technology (NIMT) in Arandis will carry out renovations to the town’s community hall and sports stadium following a N$1.3 million donation from Rössing Uranium Limited. The mining company made the announcement last Thursday during a ceremony attended by local councillors, community members, and stakeholders. Councillor Rita Hoëses said the project represents a collective commitment to improving the lives of Arandis residents and reflects strong community partnership. She said the renovations are a symbol of hope and progress for the town. Hoëses commended Rössing Uranium’s corporate social responsibility, saying the investment will strengthen…

Renthia Kaimbi The Swakopmund Municipality has reaffirmed its commitment to education through its annual School Donation Initiative, which has set aside N$200 000 for schools in 2025. At a handover ceremony on Wednesday, Swakopmund deputy mayor Suamma Kautondokwa presented the first donation, marking the start of this year’s rollout. Kautondokwa said the N$10 000 contribution reflects a shared commitment to ensuring that every child learns and grows in a safe, supportive, and inspiring environment. She emphasised that education is the foundation of a prosperous and sustainable community. The initiative supports both public and private primary and secondary schools within the…

Justicia Shipena Health workers who do not report suspected abuse of mentally ill patients could be fined up to N$100 000 or jailed for two years under the new Mental Health Bill. Health minister Esperance Luvindao presented the Bill in Parliament on Tuesday.  It makes it a crime for any mental health worker who sees or suspects abuse and fails to report it to their supervisor, the head of the facility, and the review board. It seeks to regulate mental health care in Namibia and promote dignity, autonomy, and the human rights of people with mental health conditions.  The bill…

Justicia Shipena Former mines and energy minister Tom Alweendo says RWE’s withdrawal from a non-binding offtake memorandum of understanding (MoU) should serve as a wake-up call for Namibia to re-evaluate its green hydrogen strategy. He said the exit by the German energy company highlights the need for Namibia to rebuild its hydrogen programme on firmer ground, focusing on domestic use before pursuing large-scale exports. “The global market is soft, timelines are slipping, and only a few projects worldwide are reaching final investment decisions. That tells us this is not the time for bravado, it’s time for phasing and bankability,” Alweendo…

Allexer Namundjembo  The Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) has defended the performance of the Port of Walvis Bay after it ranked 376th out of 405 ports worldwide in the 2024 Container Port Performance Index (CPPI). The CPPI, published by the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence, measures how efficiently ports handle container vessels. Namport acknowledged the findings but said the results were influenced by global and regional challenges beyond its control.  “While Namport acknowledges the findings of the report, it is important to note that the 2024 CPPI results were guided by global and regional factors that had a direct…