National News

Allexer Namundjebo Psychologist Shaun Wittker says gender-based violence (GBV) awareness efforts should not be occasional but ongoing to change deep-rooted patriarchal mindsets. “The campaigns are done mainly to change the mindset, especially of patriarchal men, and I think the campaigns are very important,” Wittker said.  He urged that these efforts become a regular part of national conversations, not just short bursts of activism. Wittker also called for early education by targeting high schools.  “We should make efforts to focus on high schools. Let us have our young men and women start debating and discussing these issues in their debate societies,”…

Niël Terblanché The Municipality of Walvis Bay has ramped up repairs to the port town’s road infrastructure, with an in-house team currently addressing potholes and clearing debris across various parts of the town. The latest initiative runs in parallel with a larger, multi-year road rehabilitation project backed by the Roads Authority (RA) and the Roads Fund Administration (RFA). In a statement issued by the port town’s municipality, residents were advised to exercise caution around construction areas, follow signage, and cooperate with flagmen stationed on affected roads. According to the statement, updates on road closures and progress will be communicated through…

Allexer Namundjebo San people have been sidelined in the country’s genocide remembrance, says Tsumkwe-based community activist Calvin Kazibe.  He argues that the national narrative focuses mainly on the Ovaherero and Nama experiences, ignoring the colonial suffering of the Bushmen (San people).  Kazibe pointed to the inaugural Genocide Remembrance Day on 28 May as an example.  On Wednesday, the country marked its first Genocide Remembrance Day at the Parliament Gardens in Windhoek.  He said the official programme largely excluded the Bushmen’s history while highlighting the Nama and Herero experiences. “This selective remembrance can stem from various factors, including political agendas, the…

Niël Terblanché A collaborative training session focusing on the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) was held on Tuesday at the Osire Refugee Settlement in Otjozondjupa region. The event brought together officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, alongside representatives from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), and other key stakeholders operating within the settlement. According to the ministry, the primary objective of the training was to deepen understanding of the distinctions between sexual exploitation, sexual harassment, and sexual abuse, particularly within professional settings and…

Niël Terblanché Chief Justice Peter Shivute has paid tribute to the late Lady Justice Mavis Gibson, who passed away on 21 May 2025 after a period of illness. In a statement issued on behalf of the Judicial Service Commission and the Office of the Judiciary, Chief Justice Shivute conveyed his condolences to Justice Gibson’s family, the judiciary of Zimbabwe, and the people of Zimbabwe, calling her a trailblazer and judicial icon of both Zimbabwe and Namibia. Justice Gibson, a Zimbabwean national, holds the distinction of having been the first black woman appointed to the High Court of Zimbabwe. Her legal…

Niël Terblanché President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah joined Namibians and Christians worldwide in observing Ascension Day, offering a message of reflection and encouragement rooted in the Christian faith. In her special message, the President said: “On this sacred and holy day, I extended my heartfelt greetings to all Christians in Namibia and across the world as we commemorate the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ into Heaven.” She added that the day serves as a reminder of Jesus’s victory over death and His return to God in Heaven. “Now He has sent us the Holy Spirit to dwell within us and empower…

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Political leaders have expressed dissatisfaction with the Genocide Remembrance Day programme. Today marks the first commemoration of the day after the Cabinet declared 28 May as Genocide Remembrance Day last year.  The event will take place this morning at Parliament Gardens in Windhoek. Joseph Kauandenge, leader of the Association for Localised Interest (ASOLI), expressed disappointment that traditional chiefs from genocide-descended communities would not speak at the event.  The official programme shows that President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Vice President Lucia Witbooi, and Council of Traditional Leaders Chairperson Gaob Immanuel Gaseb will be the main speakers. Kauandenge said the government failed…

Allexer Namundjebo The Outapi Town Council has taken Tobias Haimbodi, a resident of Omukoko village near Outapi, to court over a building he constructed on what the council says is municipal land.  Haimbodi says the council has not compensated his family for the land, which is part of the town’s expansion plan. “In normal circumstances, when a town expands, the residents living on that land are compensated.  In this case, that has never happened,” Haimbodi told Observer. He also accused the council of changing the location’s name to gain a legal advantage.  “They’re now calling our place Oukwa-wananyanga Extension 11.…

Niël Terblanché Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare called for renewed focus on local economic empowerment through value addition in the mining, green hydrogen, oil and gas sectors. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 12th edition of the Opuwo Annual Trade Fair on Monday, Ngurare said the event’s theme, “Empowering the Local Economy through Sustainable Innovation in Green Hydrogen, Oil & Gas, Tourism, and Mining”, aligns with the country’s broader goals for an industrialised, energy-secure, and inclusive economy. “Events such as this are instrumental in achieving the Government of the Republic of Namibia’s developmental objectives under Vision 2030, the Harambee Prosperity…

Niël Terblanché The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security has rejected recent claims circulating on social media that the recently introduced Visa on Arrival (VoA) system is causing delays and damaging Namibia’s reputation as a tourist destination. Etienne Maritz, the executive director of the home affairs ministry, responded to an article published by Spotlighting Namibia under the headline “Visa on Arrival: Travel Industry Fears Damage to Namibia's Image. He described the assertions in the article as misleading, irresponsible, and alarmist. Maritz maintained that the piece contains “factually incorrect” information and appears to be “a deliberate attempt to distort…