National News

Allexer Namundjebo The Namibian Competition Commission (NaCC) has approved the merger between Ongava Game Reserve (Pty) Ltd and Epacha Nature Estate (Pty) Ltd.  The approval was published in the government gazette of 20 January 2026. The commission received notification of the proposed transaction on 22 October 2025 and approved it without conditions. The NaCC found that the merger is unlikely to reduce or harm competition in Namibia. The commission noted, however, that it retains the power under section 48(1) of the Act to revoke its approval if it later emerges that the decision was based on materially incorrect or misleading…

Renthia Kaimbi Gendev Fishing Group board chairperson Paulina Haindongo has denied claims that the company is using its workers to pressure the government for a larger fishing quota. Her response comes as Gendev considers retrenching 489 employees, a move that could raise job losses in Namibia’s wetland pelagic sector to about 1 100 since December. Haindongo challenged critics to produce proof. “It is not true that the company is using employees to force the government to give the company more quotas. Kindly provide us with the evidence where the company instructed the employees to pressure the government on quotas,” she…

Justicia Shipena The laundry unit at Okakarara District Hospital remains non-operational despite undergoing renovations. This was revealed on Tuesday during an oversight visit by the parliamentary standing committee on gender equality, health and social services. A total of N$15 million was allocated for the renovation of the hospital’s kitchen and laundry facilities. The funding was provided under the 2021/22 to 2023/24 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework. Construction work on both facilities has been completed. However, the laundry unit has not started operating due to unresolved problems with the sewage system. In April 2024, then health minister Kalumbi Shangula said during the groundbreaking…

Justicia Shipena Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Sanet Steenkamp has warned officials in her ministry that if they get involved in corruption, they will be dismissed and may face criminal charges. Steenkamp delivered the warning during the ministry’s annual staff address on Wednesday.  She said corruption, especially in teacher appointments and the handling of public funds, will not be tolerated. “Any official involved in the solicitation or acceptance of money, favours or influence in appointments is committing serious misconduct and a criminal act,” she said.  “These practices, if proven, will result in disciplinary action, dismissal, and referral…

Justicia Shipena  Former National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) executive Jennifer Hamukwaya has told the High Court that fuel supplier Enercon did not receive special treatment during her time at the company. She made the statement this week in her heads of argument as she and her co-accused appeal a magistrate’s decision to deny her bail. She was denied bail in September last year. The magistrate cited the seriousness of the case, the strength of the state's evidence and the risk of interfering with witnesses.  Hamukwaya said Enercon was treated like any other customer and that the company made payments…

Renthia Kaimbi The Namibia International Energy Conference (NIEC) has secured sponsorship from Rhino Resources for its 2026 event.  Rhino Resources has signed on as an emerald sponsor for the conference.  The eighth edition of the conference will take place from 14 to 16 April 2026 in Windhoek.  It will bring together government officials, international energy companies, investors and service providers to discuss the future of the country’s energy sector. Rhino Resources holds Petroleum Exploration Licence 85 (PEL85) in the Orange Basin. The company has recorded a series of exploration successes that have helped position the basin as an emerging offshore…

Allexer Namundjembo Nomad Aviation (Pty) Ltd, trading as Bay Air and based in Walvis Bay, has applied for amendments to its aerial works, non-scheduled and scheduled air services licences.  The applications were published in a government gazette dated 16 January 2026. They show that the company is seeking approval to add two AW139 aircraft to its fleet under all three licence categories and to operate passenger and cargo services. The applications are motivated by the company’s plans to expand its services and operate these types of aircraft. For its aerial works and non-scheduled air services licences, Nomad Aviation proposes hourly…

Renthia Kaimbi Fisheries authorities across Africa are strengthening cooperation to block ports from receiving illegally caught fish. The push focuses on implementing the Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA), an international treaty aimed at stopping illegal seafood from entering local markets and global trade. The approach was discussed this week at a regional meeting in Ghana involving the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC). The meeting highlighted a two-track strategy. One track strengthens regional coordination bodies. The other equips port inspectors with intelligence and technology to enforce controls. The chairperson…

Renthia Kaimbi Former Walvis Bay local authority councillor Ryan Gordon has taken it upon himself to organise pothole repairs in Narraville.  Gordon, who lives in Narraville, told Observer Coastal that he started the initiative after seeing no response from pothole repair teams contracted by the Walvis Bay Municipality. He also criticised the quality and durability of repair work done in other parts of town. “It’s a lot of money that they got paid, and you’ll see that they are busy in the street, then off to another, but within a month, you’ll see potholes pop up again where they already…

Renthia Kaimbi Blue Girls Netball Club of Swakopmund has lodged a formal protest over its exclusion from the 2026 MTC Namibia Netball Premier League playoffs.  The club is accusing Netball Namibia of unfair procedures and inconsistent application of its rules. The dispute follows a communication issued by Netball Namibia on 24 October 2025 confirming the teams that qualified for the playoffs.  The list did not include the Erongo Region champions. Netball Namibia president Juanita Witbeen told Observer Coastal that regions which failed to meet administrative deadlines were excluded from the process. In a detailed letter addressed to Witbeen, Blue Girls…