National News

Niël Terblanché Namibia’s fishing industry is again under siege by foreign-flagged fishing vessels from China and Angola that are mercilessly pillaging the country’s northern waters. Several persons, who witnessed the flagrant acts of piracy last week and who wished to remain anonymous, said these fishing trawlers are plundering irreplaceable fish stocks in critical breeding and spawning zones immediately south of the Kunene River mouth. “For at least a month, these criminal vessels have operated openly, dragging the seabed with massive, weighted dragnets that obliterate everything in their path,” one witness who visits the area regularly said. According to the witness,…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja A political analyst has expressed concerns about the effectiveness of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in combating corruption. Ndumba Kamwanyah made these remarks following the arrest of six public officials, including three senior police officers, a school administrator, a former school principal, and a government handyman, over the past two months in connection with corruption charges.  Kamwanyah believes these arrests highlight the persistent problem of corruption in the public sector. “While it’s good to see action being taken, the real question is whether these arrests will lead to convictions and real consequences, or if they will just be for…

Niël Terblanché The municipality of Walvis Bay has apologised to its former chief executive officer, Muronga Haingura, bringing an end to a N$1.5 million civil lawsuit he had lodged against the local authority over allegations linking him to financial mismanagement. Haingura, who was accused of involvement in a scandal surrounding the Mass Land Servicing Project, agreed to withdraw his case at the Windhoek High Court last Tuesday, on condition that the municipality formally issue a formal public apology clearing his name. The allegations, which emerged in 2020, suggest that N$24 million from the housing scheme was either missing or misappropriated.…

Ester Mbathera  An official from the policy, planning, and economic department in the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources appeared in the Walvis Bay Magistrate’s Court on Monday for allegedly defrauding a company named Razorbill Investment (PTY) of N$29.9 million. Cecilia Nakale (52) appeared alongside Victoria George (34), Abisai Ndeuyema (34), and Elizabeth Shikongo (30) before Magistrate Vicky Nicolaides.  A fifth suspect in the matter appeared in the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court. Nakale works in the directorate responsible for managing fishing rights, allocating fishing quotas, issuing vessel licenses, and in coordinating the overall planning for the ministry.  Questions sent to the…

Niël Terblanché Residents of Windhoek will have to look for alternative routes to avoid getting stuck in traffic during the street procession of official vehicles while the memorial and funeral services for Founding President Sam Nujoma, Friday and Saturday, are in progress. In this regard, the Namibian Police (NamPol) issued a public notice on Thursday detailing road closures and designated parking areas ahead of the memorial and funeral proceedings for Nujoma. Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi, head of NamPol’s Public Relations Division, confirmed that temporary road closures and traffic diversions will be in place from Thursday to Saturday to ensure a…

Free public transport will be available in Windhoek for people who want to attend the memorial and burial services of the late Founding President, Dr Sam Nujoma. The memorial service will be held at Independence Stadium, with gates opening at 07h30. Public transport will commence from 05h00, with municipal buses ferrying attendees from various pick-up points across the city. The Funeral at Heroes Acre will take place on Saturday and members of the public can again make use of the same pick-up points where buses will collect them from 05h00. The pick-up points will be located at the following venues:…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja  The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology has been directed to conduct a forensic audit of the operations and financial affairs of the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) following allegations of financial mismanagement and non-compliance with labour laws. According to a parliamentary report seen by the Windhoek Observer, the audit will specifically examine the N$5.4 million in performance bonuses paid to NBC executives and the N$1.9 million spent on a vehicle for the director general. “The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology and NBC were reluctant to find a lasting and amicable solution to the strike. NBC Management paid…

Ester Mbathera  The Namibia Film Commission (NFC) has registered a case of theft with the Namibian Police after executive producer Sonnyboy Amutenya failed to return equipment he borrowed from the commission.  The NFC has stated that it cannot provide details about the type of equipment or its value at this time. NFC executive secretary Florence Haifene confirmed that a case had been opened after repeated attempts to contact Amutenya proved unsuccessful. "He borrowed the equipment but did not return it on time. We tried to contact him and have not received any response. As per procedure, we have to open…

Allexer Namundjembo The Namibia Local Business Association, Naloba (NALOBA) cautioned local authorities to thoroughly evaluate the consequences of outsourcing debt collection services. The association’s president, Erastus Shapumba said in a statement released on Wednesday,  following Redforce Debt Management CC's court victory against the Henties Bay Municipality. “It is imperative that town councils and chief executive officers critically assess the implications of these investments,” Shapumba said.  He condemned the action of debt collection by local authorities through third parties, describing it as resembling "a new form of colonialism." "We, as an organization, refuse to allow such practices to take root in…

Niël Terblanché The body of the 63-year-old Simson Hishekwa, who was a member of the crew of the fishing vessel Therona, was discovered floating in the water next to the boat on Tuesday morning. At the time of the incident, the vessel was moored in the small craft harbour in the port of Walvis Bay.  According to Judith Shomongula, spokesperson for the Namibian Police in the Erongo region, the fisherman told his crewmates that he was going to his home in the Kuisebmond residential area late on Monday afternoon. “It is suspected that he fell overboard upon his return to…