National News

Allexer Namundjembo “Okahandja, once known as Namibia’s Garden Town, has now become a place where people live in fear,” said Reinold #Goseb, capturing the growing anxiety of residents after a spate of brutal murders targeting young girls. Community members are calling for urgent action: military patrols, curfews, and enhanced school security. One resident, Richwell Tjitenda, whose children attend school in Okahandja, said he now fears every school pickup. “When you don’t find your child at school, your first thought is that they’ve become a victim,” Tjitenda said. Tjitenda also pointed to drug abuse as a contributing factor and urged the…

Allexer Namundjembo The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) has accused the ruling party of undermining parliamentary oversight by monopolising leadership positions in National Assembly committees. The IPC is calling the move a threat to democracy and a “deepening constitutional crisis.” The IPC’s Chief Whip, Imms Nashinge, said the current setup undermines Parliament’s oversight role. “Let’s call it what it is: Committee capture. When the referee wears the same jersey as the player, the game is rigged,” he said. The accusations come after parliament confirmed appointments to its standing committees. Swapo secured chairmanship over eight out of nine committees.  Only the…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Eight months after the Windhoek City Police pledged to trace the new owner of the abandoned Pamodzi building and to increase patrols, residents say criminal activity at the site remains a concern. The building, located in Rykmans Dorp, has been a hotspot for criminal activity since its closure in 2015.  Last year, a woman and her two sons were robbed at knifepoint in front of the structure, prompting fresh calls from the community and leaders for urgent action. Residents of the nearby Pamodzi Village flats continue to express concern. “Nothing has changed. We still hear people screaming at…

Niël Terblanché The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) says its vice president, Trevino Forbes, is recovering well after being involved in a car accident on Wednesday evening.   Christine !Auchamus, the IPC’s National General Secretary, confirmed to the Windhoek Observer that Forbes, who also serves as the mayor of Walvis Bay, sustained a broken collarbone in the incident. She added that the news sent shockwaves through the party’s membership. “News about any motor vehicle accident is always shocking. It is so much worse when people know the person or persons involved,” she said. She added that the incident, which took place…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja  Since the beginning of its yearly duty penalty waiver program in November 2023, the Business and Intellectual Property Authority (BIPA) has forgiven fines totalling N$219 million for 28 203 businesses. This follows the extension of the waiver deadline to 30 September 2025, aimed at helping thousands of non-compliant businesses avoid deregistration and regain good standing. The waiver applies to all registered entities with outstanding annual duty payments and late fees from 2012 to 2022. BIPA confirmed that, as of 31 March this year, around 177 000 entities had not yet participated in the campaign. According to BIPA’s spokesperson,…

Niël Terblanché As part of a regional school outreach effort, the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) this week visited several schools in the Oshikoto and Ohangwena regions, introducing learners to the various career paths available within the military. The visits form part of the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs’ participation in a broader series of career fairs aimed at inspiring young people to consider defence service roles. Schools visited included Onankali South Combined School, Oshilungi Combined School, and Odjadjaxwi Combined School. At Onankali South, Principal Ruusa Simson welcomed the initiative, saying the decision to host a career fair on the…

Niël Terblanché A proactive approach, particularly in regions susceptible to climate-induced adversities, has once again pointed out the importance of coordinated efforts in addressing both human and animal health challenges. In this regard, Governor Sacky Kathindi, accompanied by a multidisciplinary team of medical, veterinary, and security personnel, embarked on an aerial survey across the Oshikoto Region this week. The mission aimed to assess the impact of recent flooding and to address ongoing health and livestock concerns in the area. Utilising a Namibian Police helicopter, the delegation conducted flyovers of flood-affected communities within the Cuvelai Basin catchment area. On the ground,…

Niël Terblanché The Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security, Lucia Iipumbu, met with the Department of Immigration Control and Citizenship on Wednesday as part of her ongoing series of familiarisation visits aimed at aligning government departments with national development goals. During the engagement, Iipumbu placed emphasis on modernising immigration operations and enhancing service delivery. She praised the continued rollout of the Namibia-Botswana bilateral agreement, which enables citizens of both countries to travel using national identity cards. “This arrangement has facilitated easier movement of people and goods, particularly at 24-hour border posts, thereby strengthening trade and regional cooperation,” she…