National News

Martin Endjala Karibib’s deputy mayor, Mechelle Swartz has resigned from her position to take up a permanent cashier role within the council. Swartz represented the Landless People’s Party (LPM) on the council. Karibib’s mayor, Davey Van Wyk confirmed Swartz's resignation to the Windhoek Observer on Thursday. “She resigned recently after she was appointed as the new cashier after emerging as the successful candidate,” he said. The cashier position became vacant in 2023 after the previous cashier resigned amid allegations of embezzlement of council funds. The former cashier, Ndatoolewe Mwahafa, and the council's accountant, Ann-Mary Mutilifa, were arrested for allegedly defrauding…

Allexer Namundjembo The Bukalo Village Council CEO, Ntwala Lyamine-Sazita, has denied allegations of delayed salary payments, asserting that staff members have been receiving their salaries on time. This response comes after complaints shared with the Windhoek Observer accused the council of failing to pay salaries on time since March 2024. The complaints included claims that the council had not paid third-party contributions for nine consecutive months since March 2024. “Money is deducted from employees’ salaries but is never paid over to the third parties. The message states that non-payments led to the suspension of medical aid. Lyamine-Sazita, who joined the…

Allexer Namundjembo While the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) and the Landless People’s Movement (LPM) challenge the outcomes of the recent elections, businessman and former Tsumeb regional councillor Nico Kaiyamo has called for the resignation of the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) leadership. Kaiyamo said this on his social media platform, where he urged the nation to demand the resignation of what he called “incompetent” ECN commissioners and management. “Let us stop this opportunistic attitude of trying to privatise Namibia, as the Namibian Constitution guarantees rights and freedoms for all Namibians, not just some. Let us demand the resignation of…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Farmers are calling on the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) and other stakeholders to fast-track the approval of Starlink services in the country to address the country’s persistent internet challenges, particularly in rural areas. Farmer Peet van Staden started an online petition for rural communities between Karasburg and Aroab, out on the D612, requesting that the process to approve Starlink be conducted transparently and equitably to ensure timely implementation. “Reliable, high-speed internet is no longer a luxury—it is a necessity for education, healthcare, business, and overall social development,” reads the petition. The farmers also makes the case…

Niël Terblanché Oil giant, Shell has dealt a severe blow to Namibia’s aspirations of becoming a crude oil producer by announcing plans to write off approximately US$400 million tied to its offshore oil discovery in block PEL39. According to a statement published on the website of the African Emergency Council, the international oil company cited technical and geological challenges that rendered the resources commercially unviable for development. “The discovered oil and gas resources in offshore block PEL39 in Namibia cannot currently be confirmed for commercial development,” the company said in its statement. In the meantime, Shell’s partner in the venture,…

Niël Terblanché Namibia and Ghana have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral relations and strengthening cooperation across various sectors following talks between Namibian President Nangolo Mbumba and Ghanaian President John Mahama. The discussions between the two heads of state took place on the sidelines of President Mahama’s inauguration in Accra, where he was sworn in as Ghana’s leader. During the meeting, President Mbumba congratulated President Mahama on his election victory, describing it as a milestone for democracy in Ghana. He also commended the historic election of Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, Ghana’s first female Vice President, and lauded Ghana’s long-standing…

Allexer Namundjembo The Ongwediva Town Council has called on residents to refrain from occupying land illegally. In an interview with the Windhoek Observer, town spokesperson Otilie Shingenge revealed that the local authority has identified several illegal shacks in the Omatando area. She cautioned residents against unlawful land occupation to avoid penalties or the risk of losing their properties. "The Council's process involves notifying the owner through markings on the shack, giving them seven days to remove it. If the owner fails to do so, the Council, empowered by the Town Planning Scheme, is authorized to remove the shack. I don't…

Martin Endjala A community leader from the Ndongo village, Martin Maghano has criticised the Divundu Village Council for failing to bring essential services closer to the people. He expressed disappointment over the lack of notable progress since the establishment of Divundu's village council seven years ago. “There is only one road and a mini-mall with a few shops,” he said. Divundu has a mall owned by Chinese businesswoman Stina Wu, which houses a supermarket, a furniture store, a stationery shop, and several clothing shops. The village also has a Metro wholesaler, a building warehouse, and a Shoprite that is expected…

Niël Terblanché By adopting sustainable methods, Uganda hopes to learn from Namibia to balance the demand for charcoal with the imperative of environmental conservation, ensuring that the sector contributes to the country's economic development without compromising its natural resources. In a bid to address the environmental challenges posed by traditional charcoal production, the Ugandan government, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), has initiated the "Forest Management and Sustainable Charcoal Value Chain in Uganda" project. As part of this endeavour, FAO Uganda and FAO Namibia have organised a five-day study visit to Namibia. According…

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The current rate of rainfall across Namibia will continue at the same pace until March according to a forecast by the Namibia Meteorological Service. Beata Iipinge, a meteorological technician at the service, told the Windhoek Observer on Wednesday that their weather forecast conducted in late December indicates normal rainfall throughout January, February, and March. “The prediction shows normal rainfall for the entire country throughout those months, but things can still change depending on various factors affecting the weather,” said Iipinge. Namwater spokesperson Lot Ndamanomhata said that the water level in major dams across the country keeps rising. This,…