National News – Page 51 – Windhoek Observer

16 Jul

Namibia builds capacity for cleaner aviation

National News

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Namibia has made progress in aviation decarbonisation through national capacity building, regulatory development, and policy improvement. This is according to Namibia Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) executive director Toska Sem. Sem was speaking on Wednesday at a regional workshop on sustainable aviation fuel and emissions reduction underway in Windhoek. The three-day event, which ends Friday, is organised by the NCAA in collaboration with the European Union (EU) and the EU Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The workshop focuses on the carbon offsetting and reduction scheme for international aviation (CORSIA), sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), and CORSIA Eligible Fuels (CEF). It forms…

16 Jul

Job seekers forge grade 12 certificates

National News

Allexer Namundjembo Several individuals have submitted forged Namibia Senior Secondary Certificates (NSSC) when applying for jobs, the ministry of education has said. The directorate of national examinations and assessment (DNEA), according to education executive director Mbumba Haitengela, discovered the discrepancies during the verification process. “Upon further review against the official national examinations database, discrepancies were found between the submitted documents and the original examination records,” Haitengela said. The DNEA flagged multiple cases of forgery during the authentication of academic documents submitted to both public and private institutions. It expressed concern about the growing number of forged qualifications submitted for verification.…

16 Jul

Women leaders urged to influence policy

National News

Allexer Namundjembo Women in politics were urged to move beyond representation and focus on creating meaningful impact. This call was made during a national roundtable on women in politics and decision-making held on Wednesday at Seaside Hotel in Swakopmund. Speaker of the National Assembly, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, opened the event by emphasising the importance of inclusive leadership. “Appointing women is not a favour but a recognition of the value they bring to society,” she said. She raised concern over the drop in women’s representation in Parliament. “During the 7th Parliament, we achieved 50%. Today, we stand at 38%. This decline must…

16 Jul

Fuelgate: Malima’s getaway leaves a N$9.5m question mark

National NewsFuelgate

: Justicia Shipena Fugitive Victor Malima’s name surfaced in court on Tuesday during the bail testimony of businessman Peter Elindi, one of the accused in the Namcor corruption case. According to documents presented to court, a N$9.5 million payment made to Eco Trading CC in July 2022 formed part of the proceeds of unlawful activity. Malima, listed as the sole owner of the company, reportedly fled the country through the Wenela border post at Katima Mulilo on Friday, just moments before a nationwide alert to stop him was issued. Malima is also the founder and owner of Ecofuels and formerly…

16 Jul

Nored clears N$341m debt to NamPower

Featured, National NewsNored

Allexer Namundjebo The Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (Nored) says that it has fully settled its debt of N$341 million with NamPower. Nored acting chief executive officer Toivo Shovaleka said this week the debt, which had strained relations between the two entities, was cleared on 9 June 2025. He described the amount as a historic debt that had built up over several years. NamPower had previously suspended electricity supply to Nored due to the unpaid amount. To resolve the crisis, Nored entered into a repayment agreement with NamPower in June 2023, which allowed it to gradually settle the debt. “We are…

16 Jul

Ministry warns of risks to gender policy implementation

National Newsgender policy

Hertta-Maria Amutenja As the country prepares to implement its third National Gender Equality and Equity Policy (NGEEP) for 2025 to 2035, the ministry of gender equality and child welfare has flagged several risks that could undermine progress. Speaking at the Women in Politics and Decision Making roundtable held from 15 to 18 July in Swakopmund, executive director Lydia Indombo highlighted several threats to gender equality efforts. These include an unfavourable economic climate, limited budget allocations, staff turnover, a lack of stakeholder cooperation, and the withdrawal of development partners. She also cited the rise in gender-based violence, lack of shelters for…

16 Jul

State pressed to drop charge against Elindi over wrong account

National NewsMalakia Elindi

Justicia Shipena Businessman Peter Elindi’s legal team has threatened to approach the High Court if the state does not withdraw a charge related to alleged proceeds of unlawful activity by today. Peter is one of the accused in the ongoing N$480 million Namcor corruption case. While testifying during his bail application at the Windhoek Magistrates Court on Tuesday, Peter told the court that the charge is based on mistaken identity. The state alleges that on 19 July 2020, near Windhoek, Peter knew or ought to have known that N$1.5 million paid into a Bank Windhoek account from Onyeka Clearing and…

16 Jul

PSC dreams a unified desk for SADC

National NewsSalmaan Jacobs

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Public Service Commission chairperson Salmaan Jacobs has proposed that Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states formalise cooperation in staff exchange and secondment programmes. Jacobs made the proposal during the annual general meeting of the SADC Public Service Commissions (PSCs) Forum, currently underway in Windhoek. He stated that the regional body could support and implement these programmes using collective bargaining standards. He stated that formal agreements between public service commissions were necessary to transform regional commitments into practical actions and protocols for public administration. Jacobs also highlighted the importance of digital platforms for regular engagement. He said digital…

16 Jul

Youth celebrate skills progress

National NewsWorld Youth Skills Day

Allexer Namundjebo Young people across Namibia marked World Youth Skills Day on Tuesday, celebrating ten years since the global initiative was launched to promote skills development for employment, entrepreneurship, and decent work. This year’s theme, “Youth Empowerment Through AI and Digital Skills”, focused on preparing the next generation for a world shaped by artificial intelligence and digital transformation. Palms For Life Fund, a key player in skills development for marginalised communities, used the occasion to highlight its work with San youth. Over the past four years, the organisation has helped train more than 1,300 young people through community-based centres and…

14 Jul

Weddings off limit in pension purse

National News

Justicia Shipena Members of the Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) will not be allowed to use their pension savings to pay for weddings. GIPF chief executive officer Martin Inkumbi confirmed this during a press conference on the pension-backed home loan scheme (PBHLS), held on Monday. He said pension savings may also not be used for business ventures or any other non-housing-related expenses. “A member can access that money to finance their wedding; it is not allowed, and we unfortunately will not be able to allow the member to access money for that purpose, nor for other purposes, even including businesses,…