National News

Niël Terblanché The Namibia Water Corporation (NamWater) has responded to concerns from Katima Mulilo residents about brownish discolouration in their tap water.  NamWater spokesperson Lot Ndamanomhata said the water is microbiologically safe to drink, despite its colour. He explained that the Katima Water Treatment Plant is operating beyond its design capacity during peak demand, putting extra strain on the plant’s sand filtration system.  “This strain has affected the water’s appearance,” he said. Ndamanomhata added that seasonal increases in the Zambezi River’s flow have raised iron and manganese levels in the raw water.  He said that while this affects the water’s…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Ministry of Health and Social Services has admitted that stockouts of chronic medication remain an ongoing issue despite efforts to deliver supplies to regional facilities through the Central Medical Stores. Spokesperson Walters Kamaya said the ministry has been actively dispatching medication in response to reported shortages. “Last week, we were actively engaged in delivering supplies through our Central Medical Stores (CMS).through our Central Medical Stores (CMS). We were dispatched to the regions. The issue of stockouts has been ongoing, but we have tried to resolve it,” he said. Kamaya explained that some delays result from coordination challenges…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja  The Ministry of International Relations and Trade (MIRT) has rejected claims in the Windhoek Observer on 15 May that diplomatic missions, including the High Commission in London, had not displayed the official portrait of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. Executive director Penda Naanda said the article was "inaccurate and misleading" and confirmed the portrait is displayed at the London mission. "Upon consultation with the Mission, it was confirmed that the official portrait has indeed been displayed at the High Commission in London, contrary to the impression created in the article that no official portrait has been displayed," Naanda said. The…

Niël Terblanché A two-day training session hosted in Windhoek earlier this week has equipped Namibian agricultural technicians with practical skills in soil sampling, a critical element in sustainable farming and land use.  The program, organised under the auspices of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), aims to enhance the country’s approach to improving food security by combining international expertise with local knowledge. The session also aimed to improve food security by combining international expertise with local knowledge.  It forms part of the second phase of the China–FAO–Namibia South-South Cooperation project to boost Namibia’s agricultural productivity. The…

Allexer Namundjebo Six senior members of the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) are suing their party, the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), and the National Assembly for compensation over their exclusion from Parliament in 2020. Mike Venaani, Raymond Diergaardt, Charmaine Tjirare, Yvette Areas, Nghidipo Hamata, and Maximalliant Katjimune were originally on the PDM’s list of parliamentary candidates for the 2019 general election.  However, after the elections, the party submitted a modified list to the ECN, excluding their names and replacing them with others. This change caused internal turmoil within the party and led to a legal battle.  In 2022, the High…

Hetta-Maria Amutenja  Some Namibian Diplomatic missions have yet to display the official portrait of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, nearly two months after her inauguration.  The Namibian High Commission in London, for instance, has not yet hung the portrait.  Photos obtained by the Windhoek Observer show only the portrait of Founding President Sam Nujoma on display, with no image of the current or former president visible. A source, who visited the mission recently, expressed surprise at the absence of the portrait of President Nandi-Ndaitwah. “It was surprising to walk into the High Commission and see that only the portrait of President Nujoma…

Justicia Shipena  The Muduva Nyangana Conservancy and Community Forest (MN-CCF) in Kavango East has secured a price increase for Devil’s Claw, raising it from N$44 to N$50 per kilogram. The negotiation took place in mid-April with off-taker Ecoso Dynamics and the Dryland Sustainable Landscapes Impact Program (DSL-IP) Project Management Unit. The new price includes N$2 per kilogram for Namibia’s Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) mechanism.  This ensures that communities benefit from the use of local genetic resources. “This is not just about money, it’s about dignity and long-term benefit,” said MN-CCF manager Max Muyemburuko. “For the first time, we feel that…