National News

Justicia Shipena Self-employed plumber and accused number nine in the high-profile Namcor fuel corruption and bribery case, Leo Nandago Stefanus (36), says he was approached by Austin Elindi, son of businessman Peter Elindi, to start a petroleum company in which he would hold shares. Stefanus said Austin came to him towards the end of 2019 or early 2020 with the idea of establishing Erongo Petroleum CC. He made this statement in an affidavit submitted as part of his formal bail application at the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court. “Sometime towards the end of the year 2019 or at the beginning of the…

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Namibia Water Corporation (NamWater) chief executive officer Abraham Nehemia says the company is reviewing its procurement system to create more opportunities for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) operating in the sector. He made the remarks during an engagement with northern-based SME owners.  The discussions aimed to build a shared understanding of NamWater’s procurement processes while aligning with the public procurement act and the country's socio-economic goals, including SME empowerment, job creation, and infrastructure development. Nehemia said procurement is not just about transactions but plays a key role in service delivery, institutional trust, and national progress.  He said…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja  The High Court in Windhoek has set aside two criminal convictions in an old fraud case, saying they were wrongly added on top of other similar charges.  At the same time, the court also rejected the appeal attempt because it was filed more than seven years late. The judgement was delivered on 1 August 2025 by judges Dinah Usiku and Herman Christiaan. Fransisca Rongipo Petrus was convicted in 2015 in the Keetmanshoop Regional Court on four charges: fraud, forgery, uttering a forged instrument, and theft by false pretences.  The case stemmed from an incident in August 2009 in…

Allexer Namundjembo The Pupkewitz Foundation has pledged N$10 million for national development and community upliftment across the country. Pupkewitz Foundation chief executive officer Meryl Barry announced the commitment during a press conference held in Windhoek on Thursday.  The pledge marks a tribute to the foundation’s 100-year legacy and a promise to Namibia’s future. “Signifying N$100,000 for each of the 100 years of being in business, the Foundation reinforces its commitment to national development and community upliftment,” said Barry. She said the money would be directed to six focus areas: education, health, community care, environment, sports, and arts and culture. “These…

Justicia Shipena The new N$1 coin, which has not yet entered public circulation, is already facing criticism over its informal reference as the ‘Outere Dollar.’  The backlash stems from a Facebook post by the Bank of Namibia (BoN), which acknowledged the public’s nickname for the coin and referenced the word “Outere”, a Khoekhoegowab term loosely translated as “give me.” Some argue the word carries derogatory connotations The central bank on Friday had shared a Facebook post that read, “So they're calling it the ‘Outere Dollar?’ We see you, Namibia! Yes, that new N$1 coin with the two hands might look…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The City of Windhoek has rejected demands for an unconditional write-off of debts owed by pensioners, citing financial risks and current council policy. This follows a petition from the Khomas Ratepayers and Residents Association, which called on the municipality to cancel all pensioner debts and address ongoing concerns about land servicing and water access. City spokesperson Lydia Amutenya said debt cancellations must follow the framework approved by the council in 2023.  “Granting an unconditional write-off of pensioner debt is not permissible under current council resolutions. It would compromise our ability to honour payments to critical service providers such…

Allexer Namundjembo Political leaders have expressed mixed reactions to the government’s decision to appoint Namibia Post Limited (NamPost) as the official distributor of social grants. Last week, the ministry of finance announced that NamPost would take over the distribution of all social grants across Namibia, replacing private contractors as part of efforts to centralise public service delivery through state-owned entities. The Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement welcomed the appointment.  AR spokesperson George Kambala called it a progressive and strategic move that aligns with the movement’s goal of returning control of essential services to public institutions.  “This shift provides an opportunity to…

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) has accused the United States of fabricating a jihadist threat along the Namibian-Angolan border to justify foreign military involvement and destabilise the country. The party claims the alleged threat serves U.S. interests under the guise of providing security support. IPC member of parliament and shadow minister of defence and veteran affairs, Aloisius Kangulu, dismissed the claims of a jihadist threat as false.  “The narrative of a ‘Jihadist’ threat between Namibia and Angola is a dangerous and fabricated lie. America cannot be allowed to play cowboy policeman of the world when there are…

Justicia Shipena The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) today begins supplementary voter registration ahead of the regional council and local authority elections set for 26 November. The registration period will run from 4 to 19 August in all regions.  Over the weekend, the ECN announced it had deployed voter registration teams across the country in preparation for the 2025 elections.  According to a media release issued on Saturday, registration will take place from Monday to Saturday, between 08h00 and 19h00. The ECN has established 4 233 registration points across all constituencies and local authorities.  These include schools, community centres, and…