National News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Urban and Rural Development minister James Sankwasa has urged local authorities to fast-track land preparation and allocation to meet the government’s informal settlement upgrading targets. Speaking at a land handover ceremony in Outapi on Friday, his advisor Boniface Mutumba delivered the minister’s remarks, saying the ministry was financing land development but expected councils to align their execution plans with central government requirements. The ceremony marked the handover of Land Hold Titles to residents under the Flexible Land Tenure System (FLTS), aimed at providing secure tenure for urban residents living in informal settlements.  Sankwasa said the system was created…

Justicia Shipena  Hyphen Hydrogen Energy says no purchase agreement was ever signed with German energy company RWE Supply and Trading (RWEST) for the planned green hydrogen project at Lüderitz. This comes after the Nama Traditional Leaders Association (NTLA) on Sunday said RWE had withdrawn from a deal to purchase ammonia from the project.  The NTLA said the decision was confirmed in a response to an inquiry it made together with international partners, including the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP), the European Centre for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), Forensic Architecture (FA), and Minority Rights Group International (MRG). The NTLA and…

Justicia Shipena The Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority (Namfisa) says the rollout of the Financial Institutions and Markets Act (Fima) will not lead to changes in industry levies. Speaking at the launch of Namfisa's annual report on Thursday, Namfisa chief executive officer Kenneth Matomola said the current levy framework already accounts for the act.  “Our levy setting is fixed for five years in terms of our strategic period. So, we do not foresee any increase in levies. Even if Fima is implemented tomorrow, there will be no changes, because our strategy has already taken that into account,” Matomola said. Levies…

Allexer Namundjembo The Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund says it cannot increase the N$7 000 funeral payout to families of road accident victims. The fund explained that the amount is fixed by law. Speaking at a media conference in Windhoek on Friday, senior claims manager Helena Shilongo said the fund does not have the power to raise the payout.  “We can only make recommendations through our board. We can only make recommendations to the minister so that changes can be made,” she said. She explained that families are free to use the N$7 000 at their discretion. “We cannot demand…

Justicia Shipena  The Ondangwa Northern Tannery is set to produce 2 000 shoes per day once it becomes fully operational.  This follows a new agreement between the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy, the Namibia Industrial Development Agency (Nida), and Desert Planet Industries (DPI). DPI chief executive officer Doriano said the company will invest N$58 million for the 25-year lease and plans to employ about 1 000 people.  Doriano said the tannery has potential for revitalisation and growth.  "At Desert Planet Industry, we are fully dedicated to unlocking this potential to add value to Namibia’s economy,” Doriano said. The minister…

Justicia Shipena Environment, Forestry and Tourism minister Indileni Daniel says her ministry will assess whether preventative measures can be taken along the Chobe River following the death of 90 buffaloes in a stampede. The incident happened on 23 September when a herd of buffaloes, chased by lions in Botswana’s Chobe National Park, tried to cross into Namibia.  At the steep riverbank, the animals fell on each other and drowned. Fishermen discovered the carcasses in the early morning. Daniel said the assessment will focus on the riverside where the incident occurred but warned against altering the landscape.  “Our intention is not…

Justicia Shipena President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has called for the establishment of a sister city agreement between Philadelphia and a Namibian city or town to strengthen cooperation in education, trade, health, urban development, and cultural exchange. She made the call at Philadelphia City Hall on Thursday, where she was honoured citations from the City Council.  “It would allow our municipalities to learn from one another’s experiences, share innovative practices, and promote grassroots diplomacy that connects our citizens directly,” she said. Nandi-Ndaitwah highlighted opportunities for cooperation through maritime connectivity between the ports of Philadelphia and Walvis Bay, direct air links between the…

Allexer Namundjembo  The late liberation hero, Andimba Toivo ya Toivo, was honoured with a statue at Robben Island during the second reunion of political ex-prisoners on Saturday.  The event brought together former political prisoners from Namibia and South Africa and marked the unveiling of six statues, including Toivo ya Toivo's, as well as the awarding of commemorative medals to ex-Robben Island prisoners. Namibia’s delegation included speaker of the National Assembly Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture Sanet Steenkamp, and veteran politician Jerry Ekandjo. Delivering a message on behalf of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Steenkamp described the…

Justicia Shipena President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has called for the responsible use of nuclear energy. She urged that safeguards be implemented to ensure transparency and safety in the development of nuclear technology. Speaking on Friday in the United States at the United Nations high-level meeting to commemorate the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, Nandi-Ndaitwah said Namibia supports the peaceful use of atomic energy while strongly opposing nuclear weapons.  “Namibia calls for the accountable use of nuclear energy and ensures that comprehensive safeguards are in place to remove any limitations and restrictions on the use of nuclear material,…

Allexer Namundjembo The Otjozondjupa governor, John Khamuseb, has been accused of interfering in Okahandja Municipality’s land allocation activities.  The accusation was made by Okahandja deputy mayor Asser Aupindi in a letter to Khamuseb last week. In the letter seen by the Windhoek Observer, Aupindi alleged that Khamuseb personally contacted the municipality’s chief executive officer and instructed him to halt all land allocation activities within the town’s jurisdiction. “Such interference is not only unwarranted but also hampers the efforts to ensure service delivery to the residents,” the letter reads. “Taking into consideration that you were not elected.” The letter stressed that…