National News

Niël Terblanché The mayor of Walvis Bay, Trevino Forbes, has appealed to the public and members of the municipal council and management to abandon what he described as a “blame game” and concentrate on resolving the town’s challenges through cooperation and accountability. Speaking during a special briefing on Tuesday, Forbes addressed recent tensions that arose following his earlier statements alleging sabotage of municipal functions by certain staff and councillors. His remarks were met with resistance, particularly from the current chief executive officer, Victoria Kapenda, prompting the need for the mayor to publicly explain his position. During a meeting of the…

Allexer Namundjebo The Ministry of Health and Social Services says no payments have been made for the procurement of anti-malaria medication, which Job Amupanda criticised on social media.  The ministry released a statement on Tuesday responding to claims made by Amupanda through his investigative platform, Eagle 25. Amupanda alleged that the government paid N$1,500 per pack for 300 packs of malaria tablets, totalling N$450,000.  He claimed the original supplier charged only R580 (about N$696) per pack.  He questioned the price difference and suggested corruption.  “Assuming the transportation cost was N$50,000, a crazy figure, the middlemen still scored N$225,000 just for…

Niël Terblanché The Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Emma Theofelus, said the country’s digital transformation hinges on close collaboration with private sector partners, robust infrastructure, and a digitally skilled population. Speaking at the Huawei Partner Connect Gala Dinner in Windhoek on Tuesday evening, she described the recently launched Namibia LEAP Digital Talent Programme as a turning point in efforts to empower young Namibians. The programme, which is the result of an agreement signed between the ministry and Huawei Technologies Namibia in August 2024, is designed to equip young Namibians with the skills needed to participate meaningfully in the global…

Niël Terblanché The country’s national minimum broadband speed could soon increase tenfold, if proposals under discussion at a stakeholders’ meeting hosted by the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology come to fruition. The executive director, Audrin Mathe, spoke at the gathering in Windhoek on Wednesday, where he outlined the rationale for raising the country’s standard download speed from 2 Megabits per second (Mbps) to 25 Mbps and upload speed to 3 Mbps. “The question before us is not whether these technologies can deliver the required performance, but rather how we can deploy them efficiently, equitably and affordably,” he said. He…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja  Project Never Walk Alone (PNWA) says it is satisfied with the impact of its efforts to provide footwear to vulnerable children across Namibia, citing improved school attendance, academic performance, and confidence levels among beneficiaries. The project, launched by Tim Ekandjo in August 2021, aims to restore the dignity of barefooted Namibian children by providing them with access to new pairs of shoes. Since its inception, the initiative has distributed over 12,200 pairs of shoes across eight regions, having travelled more than 9,500 kilometres nationwide. According to the project, a recently concluded impact survey conducted in eight regions has…

Niël Terblanché The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) has issued a nationwide alert, urging all Namibians to prepare for an intense wildfire season. Following one of the country's most productive rainy seasons in recent years, the resulting dense vegetation has created conditions ripe for wildfires. In a statement released on Wednesday, the ministry revealed that fuel load assessments conducted across the country indicate a high risk of wildfires. "Some parts of Namibia are already experiencing dry and seasonal strong windy conditions, which are conducive for wildfires to spread," the statement said. Wildfires pose a severe threat to both…

SADC PF Correspondent Sweden has called for urgent action to address the intersection of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and climate change, warning that the synergies between the two remain critically underestimated despite their profound impact on vulnerable populations, especially women and girls. Veronica Perzanowska, representing the Embassy of Sweden in Lusaka, made the call when she delivered a keynote address at the beginning of a virtual capacity-building seminar for parliamentary staff in Southern Africa on Tuesday. Perzanowska stressed that climate change is not merely an environmental crisis but a human rights issue. “The increasing frequency and severity…

Staff Writer  Nedbank Namibia has pledged N$560,000 to sponsor students at the Agra Agricultural Academy in 2025.  The funding will cover registration and tuition fees for national certificate and diploma students, making education more affordable for aspiring agricultural professionals. The Agra Agricultural Academy is managed by Agra ProVision, a subsidiary of Agra Limited. It offers training in plant production, animal production, advanced farm management, agricultural extension, and agri-sales and services.  The academy provides accredited online courses through the South African Qualification Authority and is affiliated with the International Agricultural Academy for Africa. At the sponsorship handover, Nedbank Namibia Managing Director…

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Namibia Industrial Development Agency (Nida) has failed to explain why Naute Kristel Distillery, a wine-producing farm owned by a private tenant, continues to receive free raw materials from the Naute Irrigation Project. This is according to a report by the National Council Standing Committee on Public Accounts and Economy on agro-projects across the country.  The committee found that the distillery receives free grapes and dates from the Naute Irrigation Project, along with free water and electricity.  The Naute Irrigation Project, managed by Nida, is located about 50 kilometres southwest of Keetmanshoop, in southern Namibia. It lies just…

Niël Terblanché The Swakopmund Municipality will no longer accept unsolicited land applications, and all land intended for sale or lease will henceforth be advertised publicly. The municipality’s spokesperson, Linda Mupupa, said the change follows a sharp rise in demand for serviced land.  She said this demand is driven by population growth and the expansion of informal settlements around the town. “Many development proposals have been received, but the uncoordinated influx of applications has overburdened planning resources and led to delays in service delivery,” Mupupa said. “The strain on municipal systems has made it difficult to process requests efficiently.” To respond…