National News

Justicia Shipena The Damara King’s Council Youth Group has written to Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare and ICT Minister Emma Theofelus opposing any move to rename the Dâures/Brandberg Omukuruvaro National Monument Area. In a letter dated 7 October 2025, the group said renaming the site would erase Damara cultural memory and amount to a symbolic act of dispossession.  “There must be absolute clarity; the name Dâures cannot and will not be replaced, diluted, or shared,” the statement read. This follows Namibia’s recent approval of the nomination of the Dâures/Brandberg National Monument Area for inscription on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and…

Justicia Shipena The minister of industries, mines and energy, Natangue Ithete, says his ministry will no longer tolerate non-performance at the Namibia Industrial Development Agency (Nida). Speaking in Parliament on Thursday in response to questions from opposition leader McHenry Venaani, Ithete said both the government and the public have been disappointed by the agency's failure to deliver on its industrialisation mandate.  Earlier this year, Nida, a commercial state-owned enterprise, released its first financial report in six years, covering the financial years 2018/2019 to 2023/2024. The report showed a loss of N$102 million. It also revealed that Nida was owed N$89…

Justicia Shipena Former National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) executive Cornelius “Cedric” Willemse will know on October 28 whether he will be released on bail. Magistrate Olga Muharukua will deliver the judgement.  Willemse (52) is facing charges of fraud, corruption, theft under false pretences, money laundering, and tax evasion in the alleged Namcor corruption scandal involving Enercon Namibia, Erongo Petroleum, and other entities.  He was arrested on 8 July and has remained in custody since. Through his lawyer, Willemse told the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court that the state’s fears that he will flee or interfere with investigations are unfounded.  He argued…

Staff Writer Medical Rescue Africa (MRA), a subsidiary of Westair Aviation, has launched its new air ambulance, the Beechcraft King Air 350i.  The aircraft is equipped with advanced medical evacuation facilities, marking a major step forward in Namibia’s emergency response capability. The launch event brought together industry stakeholders, partners, and representatives from organisations that have supported the development of Namibia’s medical evacuation infrastructure. “A service like this is never needed until it is needed – and then it must be available, safe, and reliable,” said Westair Aviation CEO Henri van Schalkwyk. “The King Air 350 provides the highest standards of…

Justicia Shipena Environmental commissioner Timoteus Mufeti says the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism is looking into expanding charcoal production into communal areas.  He said this will be done while maintaining strict environmental and safety standards. Mufeti explained that the ministry is conducting studies and assessments to develop a framework that will allow communal farmers to join the growing charcoal industry.  “We are not yet giving permits there, but we want to. Studies and assessments are being done to see how we can allow communal farmers to be involved in charcoal production,” he said at a recent press conference in…

Justicia Shipena The senior officials meeting of the second session of the Namibia–Botswana Bi-National Commission (BNC) began in Windhoek on Monday, with officials expressing optimism that it will strengthen cooperation between the two countries. Namibia's executive director at the Ministry of International Relations and Trade, Ndiitah Nghipondoka-Robiati, said the meeting would build on existing ties and deliver outcomes that improve the lives of citizens.  “As we begin this session of the Senior Officials meeting, I am convinced that our deliberations will lead to the enhancement of bilateral cooperation between our two countries,” she said. She welcomed the Botswana delegation led…

Renthia Kaimbi  Seventy-five percent of fires recorded in Windhoek last year occurred in informal settlements, the City of Windhoek has revealed.  Windhoek mayor Ndeshihafela Larandja shared the figures during the official opening of International Fire Safety Week 2025 at the City’s Head Quarter Fire Station yesterday. Larandja said that in 2024, the city’s fire brigade responded to more than 2,000 fire-related incidents, of which nearly 200 were dwelling fires.  “These fires claimed lives, destroyed homes, and wiped away the belongings of families who already had very little,” she said. The mayor described fires as one of the biggest threats to…

Allexer Namundjembo Walvis Bay residents will now pay N$235.32 per household each month for refuse collection. The new rate follows tariff corrections announced by the municipality for the 2025/2026 financial year. The change, effective from 1 July, was gazetted under government notice No. 729 and signed by the town's mayor, Trevino Forbes.  It was published in the government gazette No. 8753 dated 1 October 2025. Under the revised tariff schedule, residents in Tutaleni and Farm 37 will continue to pay subsidised rates of N$80.70, while pensioners will be charged N$71.95.  Businesses will pay N$429.16 for standard bin removals per week…

Allexer Namundjembo The Namibian Competition Commission (NaCC) has approved the merger between Achill Island Investments (Pty) Ltd and Silverlands Vineyards (Pty) Ltd under strict employment conditions.  The decision, published in a recent government gazette, requires the merged entity to protect jobs and maintain employee benefits for at least three years after the merger takes effect. The approval was granted in terms of section 47(2)(e) of the Competition Act, 2003, which allows NaCC to consider employment stability when reviewing mergers.  The ruling prohibits merger-specific retrenchments and voluntary separation schemes intended to reduce staff numbers.  Employees must also remain on terms that…

Moses Magadza The Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) on Monday opened a two-day consultation in Johannesburg focusing on health in prisons and the draft SADC model law on prison oversight.  The consultation brings together health professionals working in prison settings, ministries of health and correctional services, civil society organisations, and development partners to contribute technical and professional input to the draft law, which aims to strengthen parliamentary oversight and improve prison conditions across the region. Delivering the keynote address, Victor Mhango, vice chairperson of the technical working group (TWG) on prison oversight, described the initiative as “a…