National News

In a world where our days begin and end with a glowing screen, digital detox has become more than a trendy buzzword and evolved into a survival strategy. We live in an age where our phones tell us when to wake up, social media tells us what to feel, and algorithms decide what we see, buy, or even believe. Technology connects us in ways once unimaginable; however, it’s also quietly rewiring how we think, relate and rest. The truth is, we are the most connected generation in history, yet at the same time, one of the most distracted and emotionally…

Renthia Kaimbi The Green Valley housing development project in Katima Mulilo is under investigation following claims that 76 hectares of land were acquired for free. The investigation also involves allegations of unpaid water use and unauthorised sand mining during construction. Sources within the Katima Mulilo Town Council allege that the developer, Kayunyi Investment CC, received the land at no cost and used town water worth about N$500 000 without payment.  They also claimed that the company mined sand valued between N$2 000 and N$10 000 per house during the construction of more than 100 homes without proper authorisation. These allegations…

Justicia Shipena Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) member of parliament Inna Hengari says the proposed Land Bill fails to address the deep-rooted bias that favours male heirs in communal land allocations and inheritance. She said current laws and traditional practices continue to disadvantage women in land ownership.  Hengari was contributing to the general debate on the land bill in Parliament on Tuesday. The bill was reintroduced in the National Assembly last week by minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Management, Inge Zaamwani-Kamwi. The bill aims to establish a comprehensive legal framework that will facilitate equitable land reform in Namibia. “Women,…

Allexer Namundjembo Finance minister Ericah Shafudah says there will come a time when her ministry, in collaboration with the Bank of Namibia (BoN), will seek public inputs on the newly launched coins and banknotes. The upgraded notes and redesigned coin series went into circulation at the end of September.  Shafudah responded to questions in parliament on Tuesday from Fredrick Shitana, a member of the Affirmative Repositioning (AR), by stating that the new currency is “safe and secure” for use. Shitana had questioned the removal of the third springbok from the new N$10 note, saying it symbolised the younger generation in…

Allexer Namundjembo Okahandja community activist Shatyohamba Haihambo has accused Rural and Urban Development Minister James Sankwasa of being politically biased and selectively critical.  He said Sankwasa ignored the town’s worsening sanitation problems during his recent visit. Haihambo said that while he appreciates Sankwasa’s “radical approach,” his comments often appear politically motivated and inconsistent.  According to him, Sankwasa met privately with the Okahandja Town Council before addressing a community meeting but made no mention of the town’s deteriorating conditions. “Okahandja is currently the dirtiest town in Namibia, under a Swapo mayor. Yet the same Sankwasa who never misses a chance to…

Justicia Shipena The City of Windhoek (CoW) has confirmed it will not hire replacement workers to perform the duties of striking solid waste management employees. The fixed-term workers are set to begin a protected strike today. City spokesperson Lydia Amutenya stated that the municipality respects the workers’ constitutional right to strike, but it will not deploy substitutes unless work is necessary to prevent danger to life, health, or personal safety. The strike follows a dispute over pay and benefits. The employees involved handle litter picking, street sweeping, and general cleaning in residential and business areas across Windhoek. “The City shall…

Allexer Namundjembo The Namibian Police (Nampol) arrested 211 people on drug-related charges in September. Nampol spokesperson deputy commissioner Kauna Shikwambi said on Wednesday that 202 of the suspects are Namibians, while the others include two Angolans, one Burundian, one Tanzanian, and five Zambian nationals. Shikwambi said cannabis topped the list of seized substances between 1 and 30 September. Police confiscated 1.08 tonnes of cannabis, 1 037 Mandrax tablets, 33 grams of cocaine powder, and 186.5 units of crack cocaine. She said the arrests and seizures demonstrate intensified police operations against illicit drug networks operating within and across Namibia’s borders.  “Our…

Justicia Shipena The Namibian government has argued that Germany can only be sued in its own courts. It said the country’s High Court has no jurisdiction over Germany in the ongoing genocide case. In its heads of argument, government lawyers representing the speaker of the National Assembly, the National Assembly, the President, the cabinet and the attorney general said Germany enjoys sovereign immunity under international law and cannot be brought before Namibian courts. The state's legal team, which includes Raymond Heathcote, Sakeus Akweenda, Sisa Namandje, and Eliaser Nekwaya, argued that the rule of state immunity, accepted by international law and…

Renthia Kaimbi Minister of Justice and Labour Relations Fillemon Wise Immanuel will meet with leaders of the Okapare fishermen next week to address their ongoing grievances. He confirmed the meeting to the Windhoek Observer. The meeting comes days after Immanuel accompanied the fishermen into a packed Kuisebmond Stadium, where they were special guests of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah during the launch of the Swapo party’s regional and local authority election campaign in Walvis Bay on Saturday. On that day, the fishermen had rejoined Swapo.  The fishermen have been in conflict with the government since 2015, when mass layoffs left hundreds unemployed…