National News

Allexer Namundjembo Motorists who have fallen behind on vehicle licence payments now have a path to relief.  The Road Fund Administration amendment act, 2024, came into force with new regulations gazetted on 22 August 2025.  The law allows exemptions and waivers for license fees, penalties, and interest. Finance minister Ericah Shafudah said in the notice of the gazetted regulations that the aim is to ease financial strain while protecting the Road Fund’s sustainability.  “With this law now in effect, we are introducing a fair and transparent process through which vehicle owners can seek relief on certain fees and penalties. Our…

Allexer Namundjembo Urban  and rural development minister James Sankwasa’s recent comment about “married people running to unmarried social workers” has been described as ignorant and misleading.  Sankwasa made the remarks on Saturday during the official designation of chief Eugene Kudumo of the Uukwangali Traditional Authority in Nkurenkuru.  He said the best social workers did not graduate from the University of Namibia (Unam). "Our best social workers in this world were our grandparents and uncles, and not graduates from Unam," he said.  Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah criticised the statement, saying it undermined a profession central to Namibia’s social welfare system.  “There…

Justicia Shipena Preparations are underway for the next EU–Namibia Business Forum, scheduled for 24–25 March 2026.  The announcement was made during the 2025 EU–Namibia Partnership Dialogue held in Windhoek on Monday. The dialogue was co-chaired by Namibia’s minister of international relations and trade, Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, and the European Union (EU) ambassador to Namibia, Ana Beatriz Martins.  It brought together senior Namibian government officials, EU representatives, and member states, including France, Finland, Germany, Portugal, and Spain. Talks focused on strengthening economic and trade ties, with emphasis on the EU–SADC Economic Partnership Agreement and the African Continental Free Trade Area.  The meeting…

Allexer Namundjembo After more than a decade of legal battles, Eugene Siwombe Kudumo has officially been designated as chief of the Vakwangali people, succeeding the late chief Sitentu Mpasi, who died 11 years ago. The ceremony drew traditional leaders from across the country and neighbouring Angola, including chief Sofia Mujembwe of Sambyu, chief Alfons Kaundu of Mbunza, and chief May Kasamane of Mangondo. The path to Kudumo’s recognition was long and contested. In February 2017, the Windhoek High Court set aside the minister of urban and rural development's decision to designate him, citing irregularities in the nomination process.  The challenge…

Justicia Shipena  Between 2021 and 2024, a total of 165 murders were committed with firearms in the country. In 2021, the Namibian police (Nampol) recorded 36 firearm-related murders, rising to 56 in 2022, which marked the highest annual total. In 2023, 38 cases were recorded, and 35 were recorded in 2024, bringing the total to 165. Nampol deputy inspector general Elias Mutota also highlighted attempted murder cases involving firearms. In 2021, police recorded 115 cases. In 2022, there were 132 cases, rising to 141 in 2023 and 150 in 2024. He said firearm-related crimes remain high, including robberies, attempted murders,…

Allexer Namundjembo The Association of Dependents of Veterans of Namibia (ADVN) is calling on the government to amend the Veterans Act of 2008 to include children of war veterans, including those born in exile, in state benefits. During a demonstration in Windhoek, ADVN secretary general Petrus Nedongo accused the government of discrimination, calling the group “the forgotten children of the liberation struggle.” “It is now 35 years of independence; we have endured hardships and torments from poverty. We now believe and understand that we have been discriminated against, ignored and forgotten as the dependents of the living and the late…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja  The parliamentary standing committee on gender equality, health and social welfare found serious gaps during its oversight visit to the region. At Kaenda Clinic, the committee learnt that the facility has no cleaners. The community rejected the recruited candidate, preferring to select one of its two volunteers. The clinic now operates without cleaning staff. Although it has a mortuary and an incinerator, both remain unused because there are no trained workers. Nurses at the clinic have housing and said they are satisfied with their living conditions. At Sachona, the situation is worse. The clinic has been operating from…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja  Nearly one in four children under the age of five in Namibia is stunted as malnutrition worsened due to drought.  The World Food Programme (WFP) Namibia Country Brief for July 2025 reported that 24% of children under five are stunted, 6% suffer from wasting and 13% are underweight.  It said 1 101 deaths due to malnutrition were recorded in all 14 regions during the reporting period. The WFP linked the crisis to prolonged dry spells and erratic rainfall, which disrupted crop and livestock production, increased food prices, and reduced food access.  “Namibia’s deteriorating food security is mainly driven…

Chamwe Kaira Windhoek and Swakopmund are expected to see a rise in high-net-worth residents over the next decade, alongside Mombasa in Kenya, according to Henley & Partners’ Africa Wealth Report 2025. The report highlighted Namibia’s lack of capital gains tax and estate duty, which makes it especially attractive to wealthy retirees. “Its capital gains exemption places it in an exclusive group alongside Mauritius, the UAE, Singapore, Bermuda, and the Cayman Islands. Namibia also has a well-developed banking system, low population density, and a comparatively high level of safety when compared to most other African countries. With over 40% of its…

Allexer Namundjembo The Ndoro Memorial Combined School hostel in Omega 3, Kongola Constituency, Zambezi region, has officially opened after nearly eight years of construction delays.  The school serves learners from pre-primary to Grade 11 from Omega 3 and nearby villages in Bwabwata National Park. Since 2016, learners, especially those in Grades 9 and 11, were forced to camp outdoors while preparing for exams because the hostel remained incomplete.  The school had no electricity, clean water, or fencing, leaving students exposed to wildlife such as lions and wild dogs. Students repeatedly raised safety concerns, saying, “We will not rest until our…