National News

Martin Endjala The Keetmanshoop Town Council has announced an interest waiver amnesty initiative to assist residents settle outstanding municipal service account debts. The initiative was made public in a notice issued on 15 January 2024, seen by the Windhoek Observer. According to the notice, the amnesty will allow residents to settle their outstanding capital balances without accruing interest charges. The amnesty will run from 1 August 2024 to 31 May 2025. During this period, residents, who pay off their capital debt, will have the interest on their accounts waived by 100%. “This initiative aims to provide residents with an opportunity…

Niël Terblanché The Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service refuted claims that the government paid N$11 million in rent for unoccupied office space in Windhoek. The ministry’s executive director, Erastus Haitengela, in a statement on Wednesday, made it clear that the allegations, published by a daily newspaper, are baseless, misleading, and damaging. “We call on The Namibian to correct its misleading article. Failure to do so will necessitate further action,” he asserted. Haitengela also criticised the report, insisting that the claim was entirely false. “The government has not disbursed N$11 million in rental fees for an unoccupied building. The…

Stefanus Nashama Originally scheduled for last Wednesday, the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) has postponed the release of its long-awaited disability report citing an ongoing extensive review process.  This is the second time in recent months that the agency has delayed a major report, raising concerns about its ability to meet deadlines and the impact on timely data availability for the public. On Monday, Iipumbu Sakaria, spokesperson for NSA, said the delay is part of a rigorous quality assurance process aimed at ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the data.  “All thematic reports are going through an extensive review to ensure…

Niël Terblanché The Namibian Police’s Explosives Control Division has received a substantial upgrade to its operational capabilities, thanks to a N$22.4 million donation from the Ministry of Works and Transport. The donation on Tuesday, which includes vehicles and specialised equipment, aims to enhance the division's ability to respond effectively to incidents involving explosives. During the handover ceremony, the donated items were put on display. These include six vehicles—four double-cab pickups and two minibuses—as well as twenty metal detectors. Speaking at the event, Inspector General of the Namibian Police Force, Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo said the new resources strengthen the division’s…

Niël Terblanché The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has acknowledged receipt of a public petition alleging maladministration and corrupt activities within several Namibian municipalities, particularly concerning the appointment of RedForce Debt Management as an external debt collector. The petitioners, who approached the head offices of the ACC on Monday, called for the appointment of special investigators to probe local authority matters, an inquiry into complaints lodged against the City of Windhoek, Okahandja, and Gobabis municipalities, and clarity on evidence protection measures. The petitioners demanded a comprehensive response from the ACC by 28 February 2025. While receiving the petition, the ACC’s deputy director-general,…

Martin Endjala Windhoek local authority councillor, Ivan Skrywer has called for a collaborative national approach to address the escalating urban migration and influx of people to Windhoek. He told the Windhoek Observer on Tuesday that the growing population of the city is no longer an issue the municipality can handle alone. According to the 2023 preliminary population and housing census, the Khomas region’s population has grown to 494 000, marking an urban population increase of 65% between 2011 and 2025.  Windhoek’s estimated annual population growth rate is about 4%, adding pressure to the city’s already strained resources. “There’s a big…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja  Police investigations will determine whether any wrongdoing occurred during a robbery incident in Windhoek’s Dorado Residential area, where a police officer intervened by shooting one of the suspects on Monday. Deputy Commissioner Chrispin Mubebo confirmed that the case is being investigated as a robbery with aggravating circumstances. The incident reportedly took place on Dr Kuaima Riruako Street, where two suspects armed with pangas attempted to rob a woman who was purchasing fruits and vegetables from street vendors.  The suspects tried to steal her phone and other valuables. A community member, who was later identified as a police officer,…

Martin Endjala Small-scale farmers in Namibia have raised concerns over the increase in stock brand fees, which came into effect on 8 January.  The fee hike, announced by the Livestock and Livestock Products Board of Namibia, is regulated under the Stock Brands Act No. 24 of 1995, which governs livestock identification and requires farmers to register official cattle brands. According to Anita Boshoff-De Witt, the executive for meat standards, the increase is tied to an average inflation rate of 4%, as reported by the Bank of Namibia's Consumer Price Index. However, for small-scale farmers, the added expense poses significant challenges.…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) is calling for support from all sectors to address the malaria outbreak in the northern regions of the country.  In an interview with DesertFM on Monday, the MoHSS’s executive director, Ben Nangombe said the ministry is faced with a limited hospital capacity challenge. “We are facing space constraints for admitting patients due to the large number of cases,” Nangombe said.  He added that the ministry engaged the Disaster Risk Management Committee in the Office of the Prime Minister about a week ago to mobilise additional support from other ministries, agencies,…

Ester Mbathera  The Affirmative Repositioning (AR) party has called on the government to declare a public health emergency in Tsumeb following a recent study by the University of Bern, Switzerland, which revealed alarming levels of arsenic contamination in the town’s soil, plants, and residents. John Johannes, an AR activist for the Oshikoto Region, urged the government to prioritise the medical needs of affected residents in a statement on Monday. This, he said, should include comprehensive health screenings and necessary medical treatment.  “The extent of this contamination needs to be qualified so that our people know what precaution to take,” he…