National News

Niël Terblanché The ministry of health and social services (MoHSS) is investigating a suspected cholera outbreak in the Opuwo District of the Kunene region after several individuals from the same household fell ill and one child died. According to the ministry, two four-year-old children were taken to Opuwo District Hospital on 9 June 2025.  Both showed signs of acute, watery diarrhoea and severe dehydration. One of the children died shortly after arrival.  The other child remains in the hospital’s isolation ward and is recovering. Preliminary lab tests conducted on 11 and 12 June detected Vibrio cholerae, the bacteria that cause…

Allexer Namundjembo President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has signed the 2025 appropriation act into law, authorising a national budget of N$89.4 billion for the financial year ending 31 March 2026.  The budget details appear in the Government Gazette No. 8657 dated 6 June, following approval by parliament. The ministry of education received the largest allocation at N$24.8 billion.  The ministry of finance follows with N$14.6 billion, and the ministry of health and social services with N$12.2 billion.  The ministry of home affairs, immigration, safety, and security will receive N$7.8 billion, while defence will receive N$7.4 billion. Opposition parties raised concerns about the…

Allexer Namundjebo International relations and trade minister Selma Ashipala-Musavyi has called on international investors to explore and invest in Namibia's agricultural sector.  Ashipala-Musavyi made the call at the Investing in Africa and China Agriculture Production and Trade Cooperation Conference in Changsha, China. She described agriculture as central to the country’s development strategy. “Agriculture holds immense potential to deliver food security, generate sustainable employment, especially for our youth, and drive economic diversification and rural transformation,” Ashipala-Musavyi said. The conference, under the theme "Investment Environments and Cooperation in Agriculture," brought together investors, policymakers, and development partners to explore opportunities in agriculture, particularly…

Justicia Shipena The adoption of the Convention and Recommendations on Biological Hazards will contribute to strengthening Namibia’s legal framework on workplace safety.  This is according to minister of justice and labour relations, Fillemon Wise Immanuel, who delivered the country’s position during the 113th International Labour Conference held in Geneva, Switzerland. The two-week conference, which ran from 2 to 13 June 2025, ended on Friday. He commended the committee on Biological Hazards for successfully concluding the second round of standard-setting discussions. “The successful conclusion of the work of this committee exemplifies the principles of tripartism and social dialogue. It demonstrates that…

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Namibia Nurses Union (NANU) Secretary General, Junias Shilunga, says the growing number of private health training institutions contributes to poorly trained healthcare workers and compromises the quality of healthcare in the country. Shilunga made these remarks in an interview with Windhoek Observer, responding to criticisms of private nursing schools from members of parliament.  These institutions, he said, are more focused on profit-making than improving Namibia’s healthcare system. The National Assembly is preparing to debate a motion on the regulation of the increasing number of nursing schools and other health training institutions.  This comes as last week, Popular…

Niël Terblanché The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), in partnership with the Cancer Association of Namibia (CAN) and Langer Heinrich Uranium Mine (LHU), officially opened the Swakopmund Breast Clinic at the Swakopmund State Hospital last Tuesday. The facility is part of a wider initiative to decentralise cancer screening and care services in Namibia.  It operates every Tuesday from 08h00 to 13h00 and is one of two such clinics established in the Erongo Region, the second located at Walvis Bay State Hospital.  The Walvis Bay clinic is expected to be inaugurated soon. Sanet de Waal, Head of the CAN…

Niël Terblanché The minister of health and social services, Dr Esperance Luvindao, has called on all citizens to help protect the country's youth from the tobacco and nicotine industries. Speaking at the national commemoration of World No Tobacco Day in Outjo on Thursday. Luvindao warned that the global tobacco epidemic continues to claim over 8 million lives every year and remains one of the most serious public health challenges worldwide. “This day aims to raise awareness about the health hazards associated with tobacco use and to promote the implementation of effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption,” Luvindao said.  She also…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja A women-led transport service is expanding in Swakopmund as the municipality remains in early talks about introducing a public bus system for low-income residents and schoolchildren. Go Girl Transfers, a private business offering rides by women for women and children, is operating in the town with eight female drivers.  The company has not yet received formal recognition from the municipality. Swakopmund municipal spokesperson Linda Mupupa said the council supports private businesses registered with the Business and Intellectual Property Authority (BIPA) and the municipality’s health department, as long as they hold a valid fitness certificate. “We will have to…

Staff Writer  The 2025 Bank Windhoek Choral Celebration ended with standing ovations and a shared sense of unity in the packed Windhoek High School hall.  The event brought together choirs and conductors from across Namibia for a weekend of music, workshops, and cultural exchange. This year’s programme focused on capacity-building and featured a mix of performances and learning activities.  Choir clinics and a conductor’s workshop created space for growth among participants, with three selected choirs showcasing their talents at the event’s final performance. On Friday, 6 June 2025, the conductor’s workshop drew 62 participants from nine regions: ǁKharas, Erongo, Hardap,…

Allexer Namundjebo The Public Service Union of Namibia (PSUN) and the Namibia Security Labour Forum (NSLF) have called on the Central Procurement Board of Namibia (CPBN) and other public entities to stop awarding tenders to security companies that violate the newly gazetted wage laws. Their call was made during the official launch of the collective agreement for the security industry, now law under government gazette 8562.  The agreement sets a phased national minimum wage for security guards starting at N$13.50 per hour from 15 January 2025, increasing to N$16.00 in 2026 and N$18.00 in 2027. “We are here to officially…