National News

Niél Terblanché Namibia is set to overcome its challenges and build a brighter, more prosperous future for all its citizens by providing access to safe, clean water. Calle Schlettwein, the Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform officiated the groundbreaking ceremony for the N$250 million Ohangwena II Wellfield Water Supply Scheme in Oshandi. He said the project aims to enhance water accessibility across the region, providing a vital resource to communities and supporting economic growth. The project includes the construction of 203 kilometres of pipelines, the installation of four boreholes, and the development of three concrete reservoirs in Omakango, Ondobe,…

Ester Mbathera Northern Namibia Abattoir (NNA) and Meatco are currently in negotiations to form a joint venture. Ben Shikongo, the chairperson of NNA, made this statement in an interview with the Windhoek Observer on Thursday. NNA operates two abattoirs, located in Eenhana and Outapi. Shikongo said this development follows a 2020 directive from the Cabinet aimed at addressing significant operational challenges faced by NNA. “The primary challenges cited by Shikongo include the lack of a market and financial constraints. We could not secure the financing because how are you going to return that financing when you have no capital? You…

Niël Terblanché The Ministry of Health and Social Services has urged Namibians to exercise caution following reports of an increase in the number of mpox cases in South Africa. Although Namibia has not recorded any cases, the health ministry’s Executive Director, Ben Nangombe, emphasised that the situation warrants concern. He added that the ministry is adhering to World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines, with healthcare workers advised to maintain a high level of suspicion for potential cases. Close contact with infected people or animals, as well as contaminated materials, can spread the viral infection known as mpox, formerly known as monkeypox.…

Martin Endjala The Electricity Control Board (ECB) has cautioned that utility companies that fail to apply for tariff adjustments stand to lose revenue. The board’s chief executive officer, Robert Kahimise, explained that failing to apply for tariff adjustment on time coincided with the implementation of the bulk tariff, which is effective 1 July. “As we cautioned last year during the tariff review period, all distribution utilities ought to apply for their annual tariff review immediately after the announcement of the NamPower bulk tariff. This is so because utilities that do not apply for tariff adjustments in time stand to lose…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Christian Coalition of Churches in Namibia requested that President Nangolo Mbumba sign a bill amending the Marriage Act, which prohibits the solemnisation and recognition of same-sex marriages in Namibia. In a letter addressed to Mbumba on 16 June, the coalition emphasised the importance of preserving Namibian society's moral and ethical fabric and called upon Mbumba to urgently sign the bill. "We therefore call upon you, Mr President, to urgently sign the Bill amending the Marriage Act and prohibiting the solemnisation and recognition of same-sex marriage in the Republic of Namibia." The letter expressed concern over the promotion…

Niël Terblanché Namibia's ongoing efforts to mitigate the effects of the severe drought conditions received a significant boost as India announced its commitment to assist with grain and other food items. The outgoing High Commissioner of India, Mandarapu Subbarayudu, announced the provision of drought aid during a farewell courtesy call on President Nangolo Mbumba at State House earlier this week. Subbarayudu indicated that India's assistance might also extend to training locals in drought-resilient agricultural practices, which could provide a sustainable solution to the recurrent issue of drought in Namibia. This pledge from India follows an appeal by the Namibian government…

Niël Terblanché Namibia's national security strategy has come under scrutiny for prioritising state security over the security of its people, a stance that has significant implications for human rights and privacy. Research associate with the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), Frederico Links, has voiced concerns about this approach, describing it as problematic and infringing on individual rights. During the launch of a report titled "Problematic Influences: African National Security Narratives in Namibian Cybersecurity and Cybercrime Law Framing and Enforcement" Links pointed out that this national security narrative forces individuals to surrender their rights for the sake of safety He…