National News

Renthia Kaimbi The National Collaborative Board of Namibia (NCBN) and its president, Ingashipola Lucas, face allegations  of misusing donor funds, faking documents, and covering up internal corruption. An internal letter seen by the Windhoek Observer details claims that millions meant for youth programmes were diverted for personal gain.  The letter alleges that senior leadership  misused donor funds, forged documents, and engaged in a cover-up. Lucas, who previously served as National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo)’s regional branch administrator in Ohangwena and Oshana, resigned from the party in April.  In the same month, he also withdrew his candidacy for the upcoming local…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The ministry of finance will establish an integrated data platform to track the National Youth Entrepreneurship Fund (NYEF) in real time. Minister of finance Ericah Shafudah announced the plan during a briefing to the National Assembly this week.  “This platform will enable real-time monitoring, improve decision-making, and ensure that the Fund remains adaptive and responsive to the needs of the youth segment,” Shafudah said. The system will link all development finance institutions (DFIs) responsible for disbursing funds, including the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN), the Agricultural Bank of Namibia (Agribank), and the Environmental Investment Fund (EIF).  Namibia Post…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja  The Japanese government has donated three fully equipped truck ambulances to Namibia’s ministry of health and social services (MoHSS) to strengthen emergency medical response.  The handover took place in Windhoek on Thursday. Health minister Dr Esperance Luvindao said the donation comes at a critical time when many regions continue to face ambulance shortages.  “An ambulance is more than just a vehicle; it represents hope, urgency, and the ability to save lives when every second matters,” Luvindao said. She described the donation as “a gift of health, dignity, and renewed strength for our emergency medical system.” The ministry confirmed…

Allexer Namundjembo The Ohangwena regional governor Kadiva Hamutumwa has revealed that she was recently defrauded through an eWallet scam. Speaking during a community engagement at Endola on Thursday, Hamutumwa said she was contacted by someone claiming to be a student stranded in Namibia after attending their father’s funeral. The individual said they were studying at Cavendish University in Zambia and needed money to return.  “The person texted me saying they came to Namibia for the father’s funeral, and the family was not willing to assist with funds for going back,” Hamutumwa said.  “At first, I ignored the messages, but the…

Allexer Namundjembo The ministry of education  has confirmed that land has been allocated for the construction of a new school for learners of Ndama East Primary School in Rundu. In a press release issued on Tuesday, the education executive director, Erastus Haitengela, said consultations were held with the community before the Ndama South site was legally allocated by the Rundu Town Council.  The site measures 75 000 square metres.  “In contrast, the currently occupied ground is not legally registered. The two sites are 900 metres apart, which falls within the accepted planning standards for school establishment,” Haitengela said. The announcement…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja  The City of Windhoek has warned against disruptions at its 2025/2026 public meetings, saying the gatherings are meant for dialogue on service delivery and development, not political lobbying. The first meeting was held on 3 September at the Rocky Crest Multi-Purpose Centre for the Windhoek West Constituency.  According to the municipality, most residents engaged constructively, but “a few individuals deliberately attempted to disrupt the proceedings.” “These meetings are convened to provide a platform for open engagement between the council and the community on developmental and service delivery matters, not as an avenue for lobbying or political campaigning,” the…

Moses Magadza  The newly appointed minister counsellor and deputy head of mission at the Embassy of Sweden in Pretoria, Kristian Olsson Selerud, has hailed parliaments in the SADC region as the “beating hearts of democracy”.  He spoke on Tuesday during his first official visit to the secretariat of the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) in Windhoek, Namibia. “If our parliaments don’t function, neither the executive nor the judiciary can do their work. Parliamentarians are there to represent and serve the people, and their role is indispensable,” Selerud told SADC PF staff at the Forum’s Secretariat and project…

Allexer Namundjembo Vendors at Ekutu Market in Walvis Bay expressed frustration over the municipality’s slow response to a sewage overflow that flooded the market earlier this week.  The incident was caused by a power outage at the Kuisebmond Sewer Pump Station, which led to raw sewage spilling into the trading area. The vendors later stepped in to clean up the area.  “The dirt had been here for days, so we decided to clean up. I thank my fellow vendors for taking this initiative. Now our place is clean," vendor Moses Shadjanale told the Windhoek Observer.  He urged others to join…

Allexer Namundjembo The speaker of the National Assembly, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, walked out of the chamber yesterday after a dispute over a motion, leaving behind the mace, the symbol of the house’s authority. Affirmative Repositioning (AR) chief whip Vaino Hangula had tabled a motion for parliament to continue with the order of the day without interruption.  Swapo member of parliament Paula Kooper objected, prompting Kuugongelwa-Amadhila to call for a vote on whether the motion should be considered. Speaking after the session, Hangula said the motion aimed to keep business flowing.  “We basically just wanted the House business to continue without any…

Justicia Shipena  The ministry of agriculture, fisheries, water and land reform (MAFWLR) says auctioning the precautionary pilchard quota would have taken too long and put Namibian jobs at risk, defending its choice to award Eco Fish Farms (Pty) Ltd the right to harvest 10 000 metric tonnes. The decision follows backlash over the quota, valued at about N$180 million, which was awarded to a company led by fishing businessman Ivo de Gouveia.  Reports in The Namibian cited claims that the allocation contradicted a cabinet directive to create jobs, with fisheries executive director Theo Nghitila accused of favouring a middleman operator.…