National News

Hamutumwa scammed by fake student plea

Hamutumwa scammed by fake student plea

Allexer Namundjembo The Ohangwena regional governor Kadiva Hamutumwa has revealed that she was recently defrauded through an eWallet scam. Speaking during a community engagement at Endola on Thursday, Hamutumwa said she was contacted by someone claiming to be a student stranded in Namibia after attending their father’s funeral. The individual said they were studying at Cavendish University in Zambia and needed money to return.  “The person texted me saying they came to Namibia for the father’s funeral, and the family was not willing to assist with funds for going back,” Hamutumwa said.  “At first, I ignored the messages, but the…
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Education ministry confirms site for Ndama East school

Education ministry confirms site for Ndama East school

Allexer Namundjembo The ministry of education  has confirmed that land has been allocated for the construction of a new school for learners of Ndama East Primary School in Rundu. In a press release issued on Tuesday, the education executive director, Erastus Haitengela, said consultations were held with the community before the Ndama South site was legally allocated by the Rundu Town Council.  The site measures 75 000 square metres.  “In contrast, the currently occupied ground is not legally registered. The two sites are 900 metres apart, which falls within the accepted planning standards for school establishment,” Haitengela said. The announcement…
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City warns against disruptions at public meetings

City warns against disruptions at public meetings

Hertta-Maria Amutenja  The City of Windhoek has warned against disruptions at its 2025/2026 public meetings, saying the gatherings are meant for dialogue on service delivery and development, not political lobbying. The first meeting was held on 3 September at the Rocky Crest Multi-Purpose Centre for the Windhoek West Constituency.  According to the municipality, most residents engaged constructively, but “a few individuals deliberately attempted to disrupt the proceedings.” “These meetings are convened to provide a platform for open engagement between the council and the community on developmental and service delivery matters, not as an avenue for lobbying or political campaigning,” the…
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Swedish envoy visits SADC Parliamentary Forum

Swedish envoy visits SADC Parliamentary Forum

Moses Magadza  The newly appointed minister counsellor and deputy head of mission at the Embassy of Sweden in Pretoria, Kristian Olsson Selerud, has hailed parliaments in the SADC region as the “beating hearts of democracy”.  He spoke on Tuesday during his first official visit to the secretariat of the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) in Windhoek, Namibia. “If our parliaments don’t function, neither the executive nor the judiciary can do their work. Parliamentarians are there to represent and serve the people, and their role is indispensable,” Selerud told SADC PF staff at the Forum’s Secretariat and project…
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Sewage woes frustrate Walvis Bay vendors

Sewage woes frustrate Walvis Bay vendors

Allexer Namundjembo Vendors at Ekutu Market in Walvis Bay expressed frustration over the municipality’s slow response to a sewage overflow that flooded the market earlier this week.  The incident was caused by a power outage at the Kuisebmond Sewer Pump Station, which led to raw sewage spilling into the trading area. The vendors later stepped in to clean up the area.  “The dirt had been here for days, so we decided to clean up. I thank my fellow vendors for taking this initiative. Now our place is clean," vendor Moses Shadjanale told the Windhoek Observer.  He urged others to join…
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Kuugongelwa-Amadhila abandons power instrument

Kuugongelwa-Amadhila abandons power instrument

Allexer Namundjembo The speaker of the National Assembly, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, walked out of the chamber yesterday after a dispute over a motion, leaving behind the mace, the symbol of the house’s authority. Affirmative Repositioning (AR) chief whip Vaino Hangula had tabled a motion for parliament to continue with the order of the day without interruption.  Swapo member of parliament Paula Kooper objected, prompting Kuugongelwa-Amadhila to call for a vote on whether the motion should be considered. Speaking after the session, Hangula said the motion aimed to keep business flowing.  “We basically just wanted the House business to continue without any…
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Ministry cites job risks in pilchard quota decision

Ministry cites job risks in pilchard quota decision

Justicia Shipena  The ministry of agriculture, fisheries, water and land reform (MAFWLR) says auctioning the precautionary pilchard quota would have taken too long and put Namibian jobs at risk, defending its choice to award Eco Fish Farms (Pty) Ltd the right to harvest 10 000 metric tonnes. The decision follows backlash over the quota, valued at about N$180 million, which was awarded to a company led by fishing businessman Ivo de Gouveia.  Reports in The Namibian cited claims that the allocation contradicted a cabinet directive to create jobs, with fisheries executive director Theo Nghitila accused of favouring a middleman operator.…
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Erongo Petroleum faces asset seizure over hotel debt

Erongo Petroleum faces asset seizure over hotel debt

Justicia Shipena Erongo Petroleum CC risks losing its assets through a public auction.  This follows a High Court order directing the company to pay more than N$86 000 owed to Seaside Hotel and Spa (Pty) Ltd. The case stems from services provided between August 2022 and November 2024.  The hotel said it offered accommodation, spa treatments and restaurant services to company owner Austin Elindi at Erongo Petroleum’s request, but invoices and statements went unpaid. A summons was served in July 2025, giving the fuel supplier ten days to respond.  Court records show no defence was filed.  On 15 August 2025,…
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Stampriet water safety study stuck in Govt silence – Sauma 

Stampriet water safety study stuck in Govt silence – Sauma 

Justicia Shipena  No progress has been reported on the independent water flow study recommended by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the Orange-Senqu River Commission (ORASECOM) for the Leonardville area, the Stampriet Aquifer Uranium Mining Association (Sauma) said. The group renewed its call for government transparency and stronger protection of underground drinking water against the risks posed by  uranium mining. Sauma's statement follows a recent meeting between Headspring Investments, Omaheke governor Pijoo Nganate, and the chair of parliament’s standing committee on natural resources, Tobie Aupindi.  At the meeting, Aupindi argued that opposition to the project lacked…
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Daure Daman Authority threatens JMA exit over toll gates

Daure Daman Authority threatens JMA exit over toll gates

Renthia Kaimbi Chief Sakarias Seibeb of the Daure Daman Traditional Authority has accused  tourism operator Ultimate Safaris of charging “illegal” fees and interfering in conservancy governance by erecting two toll gates at the entrance to the Goantagab mining area in the Sorris Sorris conservancy.  The company charges  foreign tourists N$100, Namibians N$50, and N$150 per vehicle entering the Joint Management Area (JMA) as a “conservation fee”. Ultimate Safaris operates the Onduli Ridge lodge in the Uibasen Twyfelfontein conservancy.  Seibeb said he is considering withdrawing the Sorris Sorris conservancy from the JMA, which borders the Uibasen Twyfelfontein and Doro !Nawas conservancies.…
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