National News

Allexer Namundjembo After more than a decade of legal battles, Eugene Siwombe Kudumo has officially been designated as chief of the Vakwangali people, succeeding the late chief Sitentu Mpasi, who died 11 years ago. The ceremony drew traditional leaders from across the country and neighbouring Angola, including chief Sofia Mujembwe of Sambyu, chief Alfons Kaundu of Mbunza, and chief May Kasamane of Mangondo. The path to Kudumo’s recognition was long and contested. In February 2017, the Windhoek High Court set aside the minister of urban and rural development's decision to designate him, citing irregularities in the nomination process.  The challenge…

Justicia Shipena  Between 2021 and 2024, a total of 165 murders were committed with firearms in the country. In 2021, the Namibian police (Nampol) recorded 36 firearm-related murders, rising to 56 in 2022, which marked the highest annual total. In 2023, 38 cases were recorded, and 35 were recorded in 2024, bringing the total to 165. Nampol deputy inspector general Elias Mutota also highlighted attempted murder cases involving firearms. In 2021, police recorded 115 cases. In 2022, there were 132 cases, rising to 141 in 2023 and 150 in 2024. He said firearm-related crimes remain high, including robberies, attempted murders,…

Allexer Namundjembo The Association of Dependents of Veterans of Namibia (ADVN) is calling on the government to amend the Veterans Act of 2008 to include children of war veterans, including those born in exile, in state benefits. During a demonstration in Windhoek, ADVN secretary general Petrus Nedongo accused the government of discrimination, calling the group “the forgotten children of the liberation struggle.” “It is now 35 years of independence; we have endured hardships and torments from poverty. We now believe and understand that we have been discriminated against, ignored and forgotten as the dependents of the living and the late…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja  The parliamentary standing committee on gender equality, health and social welfare found serious gaps during its oversight visit to the region. At Kaenda Clinic, the committee learnt that the facility has no cleaners. The community rejected the recruited candidate, preferring to select one of its two volunteers. The clinic now operates without cleaning staff. Although it has a mortuary and an incinerator, both remain unused because there are no trained workers. Nurses at the clinic have housing and said they are satisfied with their living conditions. At Sachona, the situation is worse. The clinic has been operating from…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja  Nearly one in four children under the age of five in Namibia is stunted as malnutrition worsened due to drought.  The World Food Programme (WFP) Namibia Country Brief for July 2025 reported that 24% of children under five are stunted, 6% suffer from wasting and 13% are underweight.  It said 1 101 deaths due to malnutrition were recorded in all 14 regions during the reporting period. The WFP linked the crisis to prolonged dry spells and erratic rainfall, which disrupted crop and livestock production, increased food prices, and reduced food access.  “Namibia’s deteriorating food security is mainly driven…

Chamwe Kaira Windhoek and Swakopmund are expected to see a rise in high-net-worth residents over the next decade, alongside Mombasa in Kenya, according to Henley & Partners’ Africa Wealth Report 2025. The report highlighted Namibia’s lack of capital gains tax and estate duty, which makes it especially attractive to wealthy retirees. “Its capital gains exemption places it in an exclusive group alongside Mauritius, the UAE, Singapore, Bermuda, and the Cayman Islands. Namibia also has a well-developed banking system, low population density, and a comparatively high level of safety when compared to most other African countries. With over 40% of its…

Allexer Namundjembo The Ndoro Memorial Combined School hostel in Omega 3, Kongola Constituency, Zambezi region, has officially opened after nearly eight years of construction delays.  The school serves learners from pre-primary to Grade 11 from Omega 3 and nearby villages in Bwabwata National Park. Since 2016, learners, especially those in Grades 9 and 11, were forced to camp outdoors while preparing for exams because the hostel remained incomplete.  The school had no electricity, clean water, or fencing, leaving students exposed to wildlife such as lions and wild dogs. Students repeatedly raised safety concerns, saying, “We will not rest until our…

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The government has pledged to electrify every household in Kavango West within 14 years. This means by 2039 houses in the region would be connected to the grid.  Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industries, Mines, and Energy Natangue Ithete made the commitment on Thursday at Nkurenkuru during the commissioning of joint electrification projects in the region.  In April, the Ministry of Industries, Mines, and Energy announced plans to electrify more than 400,000 homes by 2040. For the 2025/26 financial year, the government allocated N$281 million to this goal, with N$251 million from the national treasury and N$30…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The World Food Programme (WFP) Namibia has announced a funding shortfall of USD 0.5 million (N$9.5 million) for the next six months, representing 19% of its requirements.  The gap could disrupt critical food assistance programmes across the country. According to the WFP Namibia Country Brief for July 2025, the organisation assisted 96 387 people in July through food vouchers, school feeding initiatives, and soup kitchens.  During that month, 58 764 people received food vouchers, 25 585 children were served meals at soup kitchens, and 12 038 schoolchildren benefited from the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (Tier 2). “USD 0.5…

Allexer Namundjembo The Supreme Court has overturned a High Court ruling that found a Windhoek law firm negligent in handling a municipal contract dispute involving Namibian Electrical Services CC (NES). The case stems from a contract awarded to NES in September 2013 by the City of Windhoek to carry out electrical works at Otjomuise Extension 10 under a FIDIC-based agreement.  The contract required completion within ten months but dragged on for 18 months.  NES blamed delays on the municipality's failure to approve drawings, while the municipality imposed penalties and deducted amounts from payments. Under financial pressure, NES turned to lawyer…