National News

Justicia Shipena  Cleanergy Solutions Namibia will establish an ammonia jetty and storage facility at Walvis Bay before scaling up hydrogen and ammonia production for export to South Africa and the European Union (EU), an investment estimated at €3 billion (approximately N$65 billion).  On Thursday Cleanergy opened the country's first large-scale solar-powered green hydrogen plant.  The project is a joint venture between Belgium’s CMB.Tech and Namibia’s Ohlthaver & List (O&L) Group.  It will begin by producing ammonia for maritime shipping and supplying a hydrogen refuelling station at Walvis Bay.  The station will serve trucks, port equipment, railway applications, and small vessels. …

Justicia Shipena  Companies will be monitored to ensure local content promises translate into real benefits, according to the Presidency’s Upstream Petroleum Unit.  The deputy head of the unit, Carlo McLeod, said all commitments must give Namibians a fair chance to participate. This commitment comes as the government concluded nationwide consultations on the draft National Upstream Petroleum Local Content Policy.  The consultations, held from 1 to 17 September, engaged leaders and communities across all 14 regions.  Governors, councillors, traditional leaders, entrepreneurs, elders, and youth shared views in meetings from Lüderitz to Katima Mulilo. Communities called for the petroleum industry to empower…

Justicia Shipena  Political analyst Henning Melber says Namibia has little to offer as a follow-up to the Pact for the Future in the wake of the post-government transition.  Last year, Namibia, together with Germany, co-hosted the United Nations (UN) Summit of the Future, which led to the adoption of the Pact for the Future during the 79th UN General Assembly.  The pact seeks to build a safer, more peaceful, and sustainable world. The summit also adopted the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations. Melber noted that Namibia’s focus at this year's assembly may shift toward its unique…

Allexer Namundjembo Two community representatives from South Africa, Jakob Makai of the !Kung people and Lukas Poemuru of the Khwe community, took part in the Indigenous People’s Knowledge Fair hosted by the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust).  Their participation was supported by the organisation Palms For Life. The fair ran from 5 to 18 September at Nhoma village, Epupa village and Khorixas.  It brought together 12 indigenous communities from different countries for 12 days of cultural exchange, dialogue and learning. Vice President Lucia Witbooi welcomed the participants at Naankuse on Thursday.  “Indigenous people bring ecological and economic contributions,…

Renthia Kaimbi Nearly five years after Walvis Bay became the epicentre of the country's Covid-19 pandemic, the Narraville cemetery is finally being secured.  The site holds the grave of the first Namibian to die from the virus and has long remained unprotected. The project, led by the Walvis Bay Municipality, includes building a perimeter wall and a formal gated entrance.  The grave of a 45-year-old man who died in July 2020, was buried under strict health protocols. Over the years, its exposed state caused distress for residents and the victim’s family. His sister, Suoma Kashava, told the Windhoek Observer that…

Renthia Kaimbi President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is expected to announce new ambassadorial appointments before Friday.  Presidential press secretary Jonas Mbambo confirmed the timeline to the Windhoek Observer.  “The news is coming out soon. Definitely before Friday,” he said.  Sources say as many as 23 new diplomatic appointments are planned.  The Windhoek Observer has also learnt that the ministry of international relations and trade has reportedly already sent 23 requests for agrément, the official approval from host countries, to those being considered.  The sources said so far, 15 have accepted the offers, while responses from the remaining eight are still pending.  The…

Justicia Shipena  Urban and rural development deputy minister Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyele has called for a new central bus station and discussions on commuter trains as part of efforts to ease Windhoek’s public transport challenges. !Nawases-Taeyele said the proposals are necessary to improve accessibility and reduce congestion.  She spoke after joining residents on Wednesday for a “Commuter Ride Experience”, where leaders spent the morning using public transport under the theme “Leadership in Motion”. “We woke up early, stood at the bus stop, felt the waiting times, experienced the pace of traffic, and shared a seat on the bus just as thousands of…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Khomas Residents and Ratepayers Association (KRRA) has challenged the National Housing Enterprise (NHE) over a verification deadline set for 18 September 2025, calling it unfair to applicants who have waited decades for housing. KRRA spokesperson Shaun Gariseb said the association wrote to NHE acting regional manager Veginia Tjitemisa after receiving complaints from Windhoek residents and applicants currently out of town.  “We have written to NHE acting regional manager Veginia Tjitemisa to explain to us what the logic is behind having a due date when people have waited for 30 years,” Gariseb said. The association said some applicants…

Renthia Kaimbi Suspended Walvis Bay Rural constituency councillor Florian Donatus faces  imminent arrest over a fraud and theft case involving the Erongo Regional Council. The case, registered in Swakopmund, alleges Donatus used a council credit facility to procure goods worth N$116 464.31 during his tenure. Initial reports in July suggested unidentified individuals had used the same facility to buy items worth N$32 000.  Investigators now indicate that Donatus acted alone. He is accused of taking items from Metro Walvis Bay and charging them to the council’s refreshment account without approval from the council administrator. Erongo regional commander commissioner Nikolaus Kupembona…