National News

Allexer Namundjembo Welwitchia University capped 1 500 graduates during its eighth graduation ceremony on Friday at the Mercure Hotel in Windhoek.  Welwitchia University chancellor and co-founder Scholastika Iipinge said the ceremony reflected the university’s growth and its role in developing Namibia’s workforce.  “It is with immense pride and profound joy that we celebrate the achievements of 1 500 graduates. Your training has equipped you to drive purposeful and sustainable transformation in your fields and communities,” she said. The 2025 cohort included students from the faculty of health sciences and the faculty of law, commerce and education, as well as the…

Justicia Shipena President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has warned that global economic recovery will remain uneven if international governance systems do not become more inclusive and responsive to the needs of developing countries.  She made the remarks during the G20 Leaders’ Summit on Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Growth in Johannesburg, South Africa over the weekend. Nandi-Ndaitwah emphasised the recognition of Africa's role in the global economy and the need to approach development priorities from an African perspective.  “We cannot emphasise enough the growing recognition of Africa’s role in the global economy and the importance of addressing development priorities from an African perspective,”…

Justicia Shipena  The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has endorsed major general Anne-Marie Nainda of Namibia as its candidate for president of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol). The endorsement was delivered on Friday through Kula Theletsane, the director of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Affairs. Theletane expressed SADC's honour by endorsing Nainda, hailing her as a respected law enforcement leader with decades of service, integrity, and professionalism. He said her [Nainda's] background in policing, security cooperation, and combating transnational crime makes her well suited to lead the world's largest police body. The election will take place…

Justicia Shipena  Namibia and Angola will jointly recover unlawfully acquired assets worth about N$3.3 million. The two governments will share the assets under a newly signed asset-sharing agreement. The agreement was formally signed on Thursday by Namibia’s minister of justice and labour relations, Filemon Wise Immanuel, and Angola’s auditor general, Hélder Fernando Pitta Grós. The recovered assets will be handled under chapter V of the UN Convention Against Corruption.This chapter focuses entirely on asset recovery and helps countries address the damage caused by corruption, while making it clear that officials cannot hide stolen assets anywhere. Namibia signed the convention on…

Justicia Shipena The Namibian delegation to the 30th Conference of Parties (COP30) escaped unharmed after a fire broke out at the conference venue on Thursday afternoon.  Environmental Investment Fund (EIF) spokesperson Romeo Muyunda confirmed to the Windhoek Observer that all Namibian delegates were safely evacuated and accounted for.  “No one from the Namibian team was affected by the fire. We all came out in time and unharmed,” he said.  The climate conference organisers halted all pavilion activities, including Namibia’s, while emergency teams responded.  COP30, which is taking place in Belém, Brazil, enters its final day today.  Muyunda said the Namibian…

Renthia Kaimbi The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has arrested a repeat corruption suspect and a government hydrologist for their roles in an alleged scheme that cost the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform N$387 397. ACC interim spokesperson Marina Matundu confirmed the arrests, saying the commission views the matter as a serious breach of public trust.  She said the case involves clear allegations of fraudulent payments for goods that were never delivered. The suspects, Liam Mbako (40), a hydrologist technician, and Godfried Uiseb (35), owner of MacGodmen Trading CC, were taken into custody on 18 November.  They appeared in…

Allexer Namundjembo Empowering citizens with skills to participate in the digital economy is central to the government’s plan to close the digital divide, minister of information and communication technology Emma Theofelus said on Thursday. Speaking at the high-level ICT stakeholders’ engagement in Eenhana, she said improved digital access must go hand in hand with digital literacy.  “We must empower citizens with the skills needed to thrive in the digital economy,” she said.  She added that connectivity without capability is not progress. Theofelus said the country is entering a new phase of its mission to expand digital inclusion, with rural communities…

Renthia Kaimbi The deputy minister of urban and rural development Evelyn Nawases-Taeyele says government efforts to build affordable homes are being slowed by bureaucratic delays in land delivery.  She said housing projects cannot move at the required pace if government entities block each other.  “It won't make sense when a housing entity of government like National Housing Enterprise (NHE) struggles to acquire land from another government entity such as the local authorities due to affordability,” she said at the handover of 34 new houses in Mariental by NHE on Thursday.  She called the situation “uncalled for” and undermined the public.…

Allexer Namundjembo Laughter, small gowns, and proud parents filled ten early childhood development centres this week, as 231 children graduated on World Children’s Day.  Of the group, 121 were boys and just over 110 were girls. For many families, the day marked a rare milestone for children who come from communities where early education is not always guaranteed. Palms for Life spokesperson Gabriel Tomas said the graduation speaks to what is possible when support reaches children early.  “It is wonderful to witness children from vulnerable communities reach such a milestone,” he said.  He explained that placing kindergartens next to primary…