National News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Youth entrepreneurs can now access government loans through the newly approved National Youth Fund (NYF). The loans range from N$60,000 to N$200,000. Cabinet last week endorsed the fund’s operational framework and allocated an initial N$257 million. The ministry of information and communication technology said the NYF will use structured lending channels, including market linkage systems, targeted lending, public grants, and policy-based options.  The fund will follow a project-based entrepreneurship model, supporting businesses to grow beyond the start-up phase. “The Cabinet approved the common guidelines for the operationalisation of the National Youth Fund, including a fund philosophy and lending…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The education ministry paid N$1.68 million to a supplier for emergency procurement of tents without following the required procedures, the auditor general’s 2022/2023 report shows. The audit found that the Procurement Management Unit (PMU) and the procurement committee were not involved in the process. “The procurement process did not involve the Procurement Management Unit or the Procurement Committee. The planner of the directorate did the sourcing of the quotation at the regional level,” Auditor General Junias Kandjeke stated in the report. The payment, flagged during an audit of general expenses in the Otjozondjupa region, was not authorised by…

Niël Terblanché A fresh wave of copper cable theft has disrupted water supply to several Erongo towns in the space of one week.  Utilities were forced to ration limited water reserves while technicians rushed to restore power to affected boreholes. The latest theft occurred just before midnight on Saturday, 21 June, when thieves cut the Ruby Main overhead power line supplying the Swartbank and Rooibank boreholes, which feed Walvis Bay.  The Namibia Water Corporation (NamWater) said the attack immediately cut off 650 cubic metres of water per hour to the port town. NamWater’s spokesperson, Lot Ndamanomhata, said engineers had to…

Allexer Namundjebo Walvis Bay Rural Constituency councillor Donatus Tegako has denied claims that he used his position to award a study grant to his alleged cousin, Patrik Naftal.  Tegako says the accusations are false and politically driven. The allegations involve a N$10 000 grant reportedly awarded to Naftal through the Constituency Development Committee.  Critics claim the amount exceeded the maximum N$5 000 usually granted per student and suggest Naftal received special treatment due to family ties with Tegako. Responding to Windhoek Observer, Tegako said he does not manage or approve financial decisions at the regional council. “I want to make…

Niël Terblanché NamWater has introduced temporary measures to support the water supply to Walvis Bay, following ongoing shortages caused by damaged power infrastructure. Most of the damage comes from copper wire theft, affecting electricity transmission to boreholes in the Kuiseb River Delta.  NamWater spokesperson Lot Ndamanomhata said the utility began using generator sets on 16 June 2025 to power selected boreholes in the Kuiseb New Delta Scheme. He said the shortages are also due to failing overhead power lines that have deteriorated from age, corrosion, and repeated exposure to harsh weather, which has limited borehole performance. “This interim solution aims…

Justicia Shipena  The Puros Solar Mini-Grid project has reached a total investment of N$14 million.  This follows a recent N$8 million contribution from the ministry of industry, mines and energy.  The latest funding forms part of a service-level agreement between the Ministry and the Environmental Investment Fund (EIF) of Namibia. EIF spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said the new investment marks a major step in expanding access to sustainable and affordable energy in the Kunene Region. Launched in 2024, the Puros project is a joint effort between the EIF and the Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (NORED).  It is co-financed by the Ministry…

Allexer Namundjebo At the age of 23, Marshall Aibeb from the Hai//om San community has built a mahangu threshing machine to help farmers during harvest season.  The machine simplifies the difficult and time-consuming process of threshing mahangu, also known as pearl millet. Aibeb is a level 2 metal fabrication student at the Community Skills Development Foundation (COSDEF) in Ondangwa.  He received a scholarship from the Palms for Life Fund, which supports youth in marginalised communities. “I enrolled at COSDEF the year before last through the Palms for Life Scholarship, and I started my internship this March. I’ll finish in August,”…

Allexer Namundjebo The former mayor of Omuthiya, Johannes Ndeutapo, says he is still a duly elected councillor.  This comes despite reports claiming he has been dismissed by Urban and Rural Development Minister James Sankwasa. Speaking to the Windhoek Observer on Sunday, Ndeutapo said he had not received any official communication regarding his removal from office.  “I am an elected councillor, and I am still a councillor until those who elected me decide otherwise,” he said. “I don’t report to the minister. There are procedures that the minister ought to follow. I also just saw the media reporting on the matter.…

Allexer Namundjebo Since 2020, the ministry of agriculture, water and land reform has built 42 earth dams.  These include 16 in Oshana, 10 in Ohangwena, three in Oshikoto, two each in Hardap, Karas, and Omusati, three in Kunene, and four in Kavango West. Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare revealed this statistic to Parliament on Thursday, while responding to questions by PDM leader McHenry Venaani.  Ngurare said that while progress has been made in assessing the feasibility of floodwater harvesting, dam construction must be strictly monitored.  “Significant efforts have been made to assess and address the feasibility of floodwater harvesting in flood-prone…

Niël Terblanché The ministry of home affairs, immigration, safety and security has announced the launch of the country's first electronic identity card (e-ID), with the official roll-out event set for 26 June 2025 in Windhoek. The project, implemented in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), marks a step toward the country’s digital transformation. The roll-out follows an August 2023 Cabinet decision which approved the introduction of contactless chip IDs, similar to bank cards with an electronic chip embedded.  "Since then, the government has been engaged with putting the required infrastructure in place and engaging the relevant stakeholders for…