National News

Hair, in Namibia as elsewhere, is never just hair. It is a language of belonging, respectability, rebellion, faith, profession, and class. For black women in particular, hair carries a freight of history: colonial gaze, missionary discipline, workplace codes, school rules, salon economies, and intimate self-storytelling. For men, hair choices from clean fades to locs to dyed twists signal tribe and taste, sometimes risk. In recent years, several high schools, employers, and even sports associations have faced public scrutiny over hair policies that felt outdated or discriminatory.  The debates were about rules on paper, but underneath they were about power: who…

STAFF WRITER The Namibia Public Private Forum is not just another dialogue forum but is the institutionalising of a partnership of purpose, a bridge between government and business, united by the shared dream of building a prosperous Namibia. This was said by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said on Thursday when she opened the  inaugural session of the Namibia Public-Private Forum and organised by Namibian Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB). “This gathering is a tangible demonstration of our collective resolve to strengthen collaboration, inclusivity and trust between the public and private sectors,” she said. The inaugural session of the Namibia Public-Private…

Justicia Shipena Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) parliamentarian Rosa Mbinge-Tjeundo has raised concern over teachers recording and posting videos of learners on social media during school hours without consent from parents. She said the practice violates the Child Care and Protection Act of 2015 and the constitutional rights of children to privacy and dignity.  Mbinge-Tjeundo warned that exposing learners on platforms like TikTok and Facebook puts them at risk of cyberbullying, exploitation, and permanent digital footprints that could affect their future. “Such practices not only violate the rights of children but also divert attention from the primary mandate of schools, which…

Allexer Namundjembo A Usakos resident, Melvin Areseb, is suing the Namibian Police, including the inspector general Joseph Shikongo and the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, along with three police officers, for more than N$2.9 million following his alleged unlawful arrest and assault in August this year. Court documents seen by the Windhoek Observer show that Areseb is claiming N$2 million for disability, loss of amenities of life and insult to dignity.  He is also seeking N$500 000 for shock and trauma, N$300 000 for future medical expenses, and N$10 000 for destruction of property. Through his lawyer,…

Allexer Namundjembo As local authority elections draw near, new discussions about the long-delayed Omuthiya Vocational Training Centre (VTC) have caused mixed feelings among residents. This follows a post by the Omuthiya Town Council on its official Facebook page announcing that a team from the Namibia Training Authority (NTA) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) visited the site earmarked for the project. The council stated that construction of the centre is expected to begin soon to help reduce the strain on vocational training opportunities in the Oshikoto region.  During the visit, Omuthiya Town Council chief executive officer Petrus Shuuya noted that…

Justicia Shipena The Central Procurement Board of Namibia (CPBN) has awarded 39 security service contracts worth N$535 million over the past three years. The contracts, CPBN said, aimed to promote local empowerment, job creation, and SME development. CPBN chairperson Mary Shiimi revealed these facts during her presentation on “The Bidding Process of the CPBN” at the first Namibia Private Security Conference and 33rd annual general meeting held this week at the Mövenpick Hotel in Windhoek. According to Shiimi, the board prioritised Namibian products, workers, and services by awarding the contracts under the Public Procurement Act of 2015. She emphasised fairness…

Justicia Shipena The ||Kharas and Hardap regional councils have directed all municipalities under their control to cancel outstanding debts owed by pensioners before the end of the year.  The move aims to promote social justice and protect the dignity of elderly citizens. In a circular dated 16 October 2025, ||Kharas Regional Council chairperson Joseph Isaack instructed local authorities to write off water debts accumulated by pensioners, both living and deceased.  He said the decision aligns with the constitutional principles of social welfare and compassion. Isaack explained that the directive is based on the Local Authorities Act of 1992, which allows…

Renthia Kaimbi The Wet Landed Small Pelagic Association (WLSPA) met with President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah at State House on Monday to discuss the sustainability and economic transformation of Namibia’s horse mackerel sub-sector. WLSPA chairman Johny Johnson Doëseb said the meeting discussed key issues affecting the horse mackerel subsector within the fisheries industry. The association, representing companies involved in onshore fish landing and processing, used the four-hour closed-door meeting to call for policies that promote value addition, protect existing jobs, and create new employment opportunities, especially for youth and women. “Our discussions focused on value addition, safeguarding existing jobs, and creating sustainable…

Renthia Kaimbi As the Walvis Bay community laid businessman John Savva to rest on Saturday, stories of his quiet generosity revealed the deep personal impact he had on the lives of many. Among them is the Namhadi family, who say Savva gave their son not only life but the chance to live it fully. A decade ago, Martha Namhadi, a camera operator at the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), faced a desperate situation when her three-month-old son, Paulus Shilongo Justice Haidula, was diagnosed with a hole in his heart. “My son was at the brink of losing his life, and each…