National News

Justicia Shipena The High Court has cancelled a petroleum retail fuel licence for Kamanjab after finding that the minister of mines and energy failed to follow the law and did not give reasons for key decisions. High Court judge Tommasi Masuku ruled recently that a petroleum retail fuel license issued in 2012 to T&A Group Holdings and Investment CC was unlawful and invalid after multiple legal breaches.  The court held that the licence violated the Petroleum Products and Energy Act and its regulations, as well as the Environmental Management Act. The case was brought by Mattys Johannes du Plessis and…

Allexer Namundjembo Renewed calls for the former Caprivi Region to break away from Namibia reflect the revival of an old issue that was never fully addressed through sustained and inclusive dialogue, political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah says. Kamwanyah made the remarks as demonstrations linked to the United Democratic Party’s (UDP) secession agenda, alongside counter-protests by residents, continued in Katima Mulilo. Similar demands surfaced in the late 1990s and were firmly rejected by the government.  “Similar demands were made in the late 1990s and were firmly rejected by the state,” Kamwanyah said.  The Constitution defines Namibia as a unitary, sovereign and indivisible…

Renthia Kaimbi Cholera cases in Grootfontein have more than tripled in three weeks as suspected infections rise to 50. The outbreak was first flagged on 18 November with one suspected case.  By 24 November, health authorities were investigating six cases, three of which were confirmed by the Namibia Institute of Pathology (NIP). As of yesterday, the Ministry of Health and Social Services is tracking 50 suspected cases in the Grootfontein district.  Laboratory testing by the NIP has confirmed 10 positive cases. Twenty-eight suspected cases tested negative.  Four samples have not yet been tested, one result is pending, and two patients…

Allexer Namundjembo The Home-Schooling Association of Namibia (HSAN) says it has never presented itself as a regulatory body or a registering or approving authority. It also says it does not act as an oversight or inspection body, nor is it a school or private education institution. Responding to questions sent by the Windhoek Observer on Monday, HSAN said it has also never presented itself as a substitute for the Ministry of Education or as a school in any way, type or form. “The media release correctly states that only the Ministry has the legal mandate to regulate, approve, and oversee…

Justicia Shipena  Local authorities and state-owned enterprises (SOEs) owe NamPower N$557 million after failing to meet repayment arrangements.  The Electricity Control Board (ECB) disclosed the figures following its board meeting on 9 December 2025.  The Mariental municipality owes the largest amount at N$233.29 million.  Meanwhile, Gobabis Municipality owes N$70.2 million, followed by Karasburg Municipality with N$59 million, Aranos Town Council with N$58 million, Maltahöhe Village Council with N$34 million, Gibeon Village Council with N$24 million and Bethanie Village Council with N$21 million. Local authorities on bulk prepayment arrangements owe a further N$210 million.  Rehoboth Town Council, which has been on…

Justicia Shipena  Election results remain binding even when they contain errors, unless a court sets them aside, the High Court has ruled in a case that corrected a mistake in the allocation of a council seat in the Rundu local authority election. In a ruling delivered on 9 December 2025, High Court judge Thomas Masuku said administrative decisions, including election outcomes, remain valid and effective until set aside by a competent court. He stressed that this principle underscores the central role of legality in the electoral process. “It is now firmly settled that administrative decision-making remains valid and binding, however…

Allexer Namundjembo The High Court has granted a preservation order freezing funds in the accounts of two individuals linked to a suspected corruption scheme involving the ||Karas Regional Council. High Court acting judge Eileen Rakow issued the order after an application by the office of the prosecutor general.  The order bars the account holders from accessing or moving the funds while investigations continue.  It also opens the way for possible forfeiture to the state under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA). The case follows allegations raised in Parliament in April by Affirmative Repositioning leader Job Amupanda. Amupanda accused August…

Renthia Kaimbi Prime minister Elijah Ngurare says the new Kaisosi Medical Centre must serve all Namibians and not only those with medical aid.  He stressed that health care must remain a right and not a privilege. “Health is a human right, not a luxury commodity… I challenge you to structure your services to assist the wider access and delivery of primary health services to all people… not just those with medical aid cards,” Ngurare said at the official opening of the facility on Friday in Rundu. Ngurare officially opened the Kaisosi Medical Centre, describing it as a key milestone in…

Allexer Namundjebo The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism says the Sossusvlei shuttle concession only restricts access for certain vehicles and unregistered operators and does not block self-drive visitors or Namibia Tourism Board (NTB)-registered tour operators and lodges from entering Sossusvlei at no cost. The ministry issued the clarification on Saturday following growing concern from tourism operators and the public about how the concession works and whether it limits access to the iconic site. According to the ministry, the restrictions apply only to unregistered operators, environmentally risky vehicles such as buses and trucks, and unsuitable 2×4 vehicles, especially on the…

Renthia Kaimbi Novo Security Services has started approaching companies that lost the N$40 million Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust) security tender, asking them to help provide and manage the required services.  This comes after Novo told the review panel it had the capacity to carry out the contract on its own. On 2 December 2025, Herman Nekomba contacted Namibia Protection Services (NPS) chief executive officer Fanie Horn with a request for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to manage security services at Nust for three years.  He wrote that the anticipated start date was 1 January 2026 and asked…