National News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja  A Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) parliamentarian will ask the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts, and Culture in the National Assembly next week about the closure of 221 literacy centres.  Rosa Mbinge-Tjeundo filed a notice of questions scheduled for 9 October 2025, targeted to education minister Sanet Steenkamp.  She wants to know how the closures have affected communities, literacy promoters, and marginalised groups. The ministry said last year the move saved N$6 million. Mbinge-Tjeundo argues the savings came at the expense of vulnerable groups. “Instead of strengthening education, the government has chosen to balance its books on…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja  The speaker of the National Assembly, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, says Namibia has failed to fully implement gender-responsive budgeting, with only 1.5% of the national budget confirmed as gender-specific.  She was speaking at the 11th G20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit during a meeting of the P20 second meeting of women parliamentarians in Kleinmond, South Africa, on Tuesday.  She said the gender-responsive budgeting guidelines, approved by the cabinet in 2014, remain largely unimplemented.  Over 95% of the budget is still allocated through mainstream categories that do not specify gender impacts. Kuugongelwa-Amadhila noted that Namibia’s experience shows specific allocations to women can deliver…

Allexer Namundjembo  Ekango Lyomongwa in the Oshikoto region has been formally declared a conservancy under the Nature Conservation Ordinance of 1975.  The declaration was published in Government Gazette No. 8744 on 17 September 2025. The conservancy, located in the Omuntele Constituency, covers 132 651.94 hectares and will be divided into management zones. Its boundaries start at the Etosha National Park fence and extend through Okalonga, Othadhambuku, Etopelyombidhi, Etambo, Oshalongo, Onkani, Epumbu, Omutomboli, and Iitota, before returning to the starting point. The minister of environment, forestry, and tourism, Indileni Daniel, said the declaration of Ekango Lyomongwa is a milestone for community-based…

Renthia Kaimbi The African Network for Animal Welfare (ANAW), in partnership with the Open Wing Alliance held a workshop with media practitioners in Windhoek yesterday to highlight their campaign against caged chicken farming in Africa.  They described the practice as cruel and a threat to sustainable agriculture. The groups aim to educate policymakers, farmers, and consumers about the welfare compromises of housing egg-laying hens and broilers in battery cages.  They say these systems are inappropriate from an animal welfare perspective.  The workshop also sought to equip journalists with knowledge to spread informed messages on the issue. ANAW chief executive officer…

Renthia Kaimbi Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security, Lucia Iipumbu, says Namibia is building a national security framework that uses responsible innovation and international cooperation to protect its sovereignty and citizens.She made the remarks at the 2025 Conference of the Global Security Cooperation Forum recently held in Lianyungang, China.Iipumbu said Namibia’s vision is to create a public security system that is citizen-centered, data-driven, collaborative, and accountable.“Security must safeguard rights while calling all of us – institutions and citizens – to shared responsibilities,” she said.She pointed to measures already underway, including a training module on freedom of expression and…

Moses Magadza in Johannesburg A call has been made for parliamentarians to strategically leverage their oversight powers to demand transparency and ensure that governments address the interconnected challenges of climate change, health, and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).  The programme manager for climate change, environment, health and SRHR at the SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF), Munashe Tofa, made the call during a workshop on strengthening evidence-based policymaking this week. “Parliament embodies the sovereign will of the people. Its power to call the government to explain and justify its actions is the foundation of democratic accountability,” Tofa told participants…

Justicia Shipena Prime minister Elijah Ngurare says youth-owned businesses financed under the newly launched National Youth Development Fund (NYDF) will be given up to 12 months before repayment begins. The fund offers startups between N$60 000 and N$200 000 at 2% interest, growth-phase enterprises between N$200 000 and N$1 million at 3% interest, and expansion enterprises above N$1 million at 4% interest.  “A grace period of up to 12 months will allow businesses to grow before repayment begins. There are no collateral requirements. Let this be clear. The criteria is that the youth fund must be clear and must be…

Justicia Shipena The Secretary General of the Namibia National Teachers’ Union (Nantu), Loide Shaanika, has told teachers to stop teaching subjects outside their field of expertise. Shaanika said teaching outside one’s training not only violates professional standards but also deprives learners of proper skills. “To stop teaching subjects you are not qualified to teach. It is not only to obey the instruction from your supervisor, but it’s equally disservicing the Namibian child in providing skills that you are not qualified or trained to provide,” she said on Monday during consultations on the Teaching Profession Bill and its regulations in Eenhana.…

Allexer Namundjembo The newly formed Lüderitz Ratepayers Association (LRA), led by former Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) member and former Lüderitz mayor Phillipus Balhao, will not contest this year’s regional and local authority elections.  This comes after the  association missed the Electoral Commission of Namibia’s (ECN) registration deadline. Balhao confirmed the setback and ruled out standing as an independent candidate in the regional elections.  “I don’t have any plans to contest as an independent candidate for the regional constituency council. I felt my efforts would be more impactful at the town council,” he told the Windhoek Observer on Monday.  Balhao…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Katutura Intermediate Hospital has received its first low-dosage lodox full-body X-ray machine, with calls for citizens to take ownership of the facility and protect it as a national health lifeline.  The N$13.2 million machine was donated by the Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund to the Ministry of Health and Social Services during an official handover in Windhoek yesterday. MVA Fund chief executive officer Rosalia Martins-Hausiku said the installation strengthens trauma care and urged communities to treat Katutura Hospital as a shared responsibility.  “Katutura State Hospital is more than a building – it is a lifeline. Citizens of Windhoek,…