National News

Renthia Kaimbi An 81-year-old pensioner was arrested on Monday after police in the Erongo region found illicit tobacco products worth nearly N$100 000 during a routine traffic stop near Usakos. Senior inspector Judith Shomungula of the Erongo Police said officers searched a white Toyota Quantum with Swakopmund registration plates travelling from Oshakati towards Henties Bay.  They discovered 2 495 packets of “Yes” brand cigarettes. The driver, Namibian pensioner Rusia Ugwanga, was arrested for contravening Sections 16 and 17 of the Tobacco Products Control Act of 2010, which regulates the possession of illicit tobacco products. Ugwanga appeared before the Usakos Magistrate’s…

Justicia Shipena  The Namibian Inside Kids Association (NIKA) has asked parliament’s standing committee on constitutional and legal affairs to stop amendments to the Veterans Act of 2008 that would extend benefits to all children born in exile. In a letter dated 17 September 2025, NIKA said such changes would worsen the exclusion of Namibians born inside the country during and after the liberation struggle.  The association defines “inside kids” as all Namibians born within the borders of the Republic before and after independence, regardless of region or ethnicity.  It said these citizens have long faced economic hardship despite living through…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The ministry of health and social services (MoHSS) has declared a measles outbreak in Opuwo District, Kunene Region. As of 12 September 2025, 20 suspected cases were reported, with 10 confirmed positive.  All patients are in stable condition, and no deaths have been recorded. Under national guidelines, two confirmed cases out of five suspected cases are enough to declare an outbreak. “Measles is a highly contagious disease that primarily affects children, but unvaccinated teenagers and adults are also at risk. The outbreak in Opuwo highlights the need for vaccination,” said health minister Esperance Luvindao. Measles symptoms usually appear…

Allexer Namundjembo A 33-year-old man accused of killing his two children in Onkani village, Omuntele constituency, was denied bail during his first court appearance in Ondangwa on Tuesday. The accused, Thomas Sheya, faces two counts of murder after allegedly twisting the necks of his children, four-year-old Ruusa Sheya and two-year-old Andreas Sheya, on Sunday night.  Magistrate Nelao ya France  refused granting bail citing the seriousness of the case, public interest, and the early stage of investigations.  The case was postponed to 23 March 2026 as police await postmortem results and continue with investigations. Sheya has opted for a state-funded lawyer.…

Renthia Kaimbi Tsumeb residents want acting chief executive officer Frans Enkali removed, saying his extended tenure is draining municipal resources. Enkali, a retired chief regional officer of the Oshikoto region, was appointed more than a year ago on what was meant to be a three-month contract to oversee the recruitment of a permanent CEO.  Despite interviews having been conducted before his appointment, the position remains vacant. The Tsumeb Concerned Residents Association, led by Lisken Claasen, is calling for his replacement by either a permanent CEO or an existing head of department. “We are tired of engaging a CEO that is…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) vice president and Walvis Bay mayor Trevino Forbes will contest the Walvis Bay Urban Constituency seat in the upcoming Regional Council elections. The confirmation follows the party’s announcement of vetted candidates for both regional council and local authority elections. The announcement was made in a notice issued on 12 September 2025 by IPC national general secretary Christine Aochamus to all Regional Executive Committees. The notice confirmed that the vetting process for candidates had been completed. According to Aochamus, “All approved candidates shall proceed with elections in their respective Local Authorities. In constituencies where…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Roads Contractor Company (RCC) has stressed that affordable housing in Namibia will not be possible without serviced land. This follows the signing of a five-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National Housing Enterprise (NHE) on Monday. The agreement between the two state-owned enterprises aims to speed up land servicing and housing delivery under the government’s sixth National Development Plan. RCC interim chief executive officer Dasius Nelumbu said the company’s role in road construction, water and sewer reticulation, stormwater drainage, and electrification is central to housing projects.  “Affordable housing is not possible without proper infrastructure. RCC’s role…

Renthia Kaimbi A project meant to preserve one of Tsumeb’s oldest landmarks and boost tourism has turned into a dispute over alleged misuse of funds and poor workmanship. The rehabilitation of the historic De Wet mining shaft, funded by a €100,000 (about N$2 million) donation from the German government, was completed only months ago.  Local residents have already raised concerns after rust began to appear on the structure five months after it was sandblasted, coated, and welded. The project was intended to make the shaft safe for visitors, but accusations now suggest that the work left the structure more vulnerable. …

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Four local associations in Namibia have applied for registration with the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), signalling a growing mobilisation ahead of the next local authority elections. A government gazette published on September 11, 2025, lists the Association for Localised Interest—Swakopmund (ASOLI-Swakopmund), Walvis Bay Community Association (WBCA), Outjo Residents Association (ORA), and Grootfontein Rates and Taxpayers Association (GRTPA) as applicants under Section 148 of the Electoral Act, 2014.  The notices were signed by ECN chief electoral officer Peter Shaama on 5 September and published six days later. The gazette includes details of each association’s office-bearers, addresses, membership numbers,…

Allexer Namundjembo The Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs (MoDVA) is accused of failing to pay soldiers’ subsistence and travel allowance, with some members deployed to Katima Mulilo for the 26 Heroes' August Day parade allegedly receiving nothing. Sources within the ministry, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said ceremonial defence members often go without allowances, especially when deployed outside their duty stations.  “Only top military officials are receiving S&T, and if you’re not close to a senior officer, you won’t receive anything,” they said.  They also claimed that ceremonial soldiers sent to Katima Mulilo did not recieve allowances and…