National News

Erasmus Shalihaxwe While much of Namibia is celebrating the recent good rains, the southern regions remain dry, with minimal downpours recorded in key areas. In Mariental, local authority council member Billy Mensah said the town received only 50 to 60 millimetres of rain last Thursday afternoon. He expressed concern over the Hardap Dam’s water level, which has dropped to a record low of 5.5 percent. “I was born and bred here in Mariental, and have never seen water in this dam come to that level. I am now in my 50s, so you can imagine how long that is. We…

Mallex Shipanga The Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) will host ConGen Global 2025 at its research centre in Otjiwarongo from 5 to 15 January. The nine-day conference centres around the most recent advances in conservation genetics, particularly the use of genomic technologies to conserve biodiversity. Participants of the conference will learn the latest applications, interpretations, and methods of molecular genetic analyses for the conservation of endangered species. According to the organisers, the course will host 25 to 30 students, with emphasis on students from African countries as well as 15 to 20 faculty from around the world. Lessons will be learnt…

Martin Endjala The Divundu Village Council is planning to establish a corridor truck port to serve as a key terminal for the Kavango West, Kavango East, and Zambezi regions. The facility is expected to cater to trucks transporting goods to countries such as Zambia, Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Speaking to the Windhoek Observer, Divundu Village Council Chairperson Katoyima Kupembona outlined the council’s vision for this ambitious project. “Divundu is well-positioned to have such a state-of-the-art port. But to pull this off, we as a council are engaging various stakeholders to come on board to look at ways…

Martin Endjala National Council member, Paulus Mbangu has called on investors in the table grape industry to ensure their workers are provided with decent accommodation, emphasising the potential reputational risks of poor labour practices. Speaking to the Windhoek Observer over the weekend, Mbangu raised concerns about the living conditions of workers living in the informal settlement at Aussenkehr. He highlighted last year’s devastating fire which destroyed 72 reed houses, as an example of the dangers posed by inadequate housing. “No customer wants to associate themselves with a business with bad news or bad labour practices,” he said. Mbangu’s comments follow…

Niël Terblanché The fallout from Namibia’s 2024 Presidential and National Assembly elections continues to deepen, with legal battles underway to contest or defend the integrity of the process. At the centre of the controversy are challenges led by the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) and the Landless People’s Movement (LPM). LPM President Bernadus Swartbooi has filed a notice of motion to the Electoral Court in which he requests to join the IPC’s leader, Panduleni Itula’s legal challenge to the election results. Swartbooi is alleging that the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) and President Nangolo Mbumba acted unlawfully in extending the…

Niël Terblanché Learners, teachers, and families across Namibia waiting for the results of the Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate Ordinary (NSSCO) and Advanced Subsidiary (NSSCAS) Levels will be able to access it next Tuesday (14 January). The executive director of the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture, Sanet Steenkamp, last week said the announcement is the conclusion of the examination cycle. Steenkamp also expressed satisfaction over the good progress made with marking and data processing. According to Steenkamp, the results will be accessible through multiple platforms, including the ministry’s website, SMS services, and print media. She urged candidates to have their…

Allexer Namundjembo In a proclamation issued in the Government Gazette dated October 15, President Nangolo Mbumba exercised his powers to recognise the removal of the Uukwangali traditional leader, or "Hompa." “Under the powers vested in me by section 8 (4) of the traditional Authoritative Act, 2000 (Act. No. 25 of 2000), I recognised the removal from office of the person in respect of whom the particulars are set out in the schedule, as chief of the traditional community as per the High Court judgement” the proclamation reads. Hompa Eugen Siwombe Kudumo, who served the Uukwangali Traditional Authority (UTA), was removed…

Ester Mbathera Namibia’s marine resources face increasing challenges, as the 2024 Horse Mackerel and Small Pelagic Survey revealed an 8% decline in horse mackerel biomass, a fragile recovery for sardines, and operational setbacks worsened by environmental anomalies. The survey, conducted between 25 March and 22 April along the northern Benguela ecosystem, assessed species abundance, biomass, and distribution to guide sustainable fishing practices for the 2025 season. The findings were presented last Wednesday during the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy (Ocean Panel) held in Walvis Bay. The Ocean Panel brought together representatives from 19 nations as a coalition of…

Stefanus Nashama The Namibian Police confirmed that a list of arrest warrants and traffic ticket fines, which recently circulated on social media, was shared maliciously by officials in the Oshikoto Region. Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi addressed the matter on Wednesday. She clarified the police were aware of the circulating report and assured the public that it was not an official release. “Certainly, the Namibian Police is aware of the circulating report through social media platforms which was unfortunately maliciously shared and circulated by officials from the Oshikoto Region,” Shikwambi stated. She said the list was not the intended course of…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Namibian service station owners have expressed concerns about the financial strain posed by the new minimum wage legislation, set to take effect on 1 January 2025, warning that widespread retrenchments are imminent unless urgent action is taken. Fuel and Franchise Association of Namibia (FAFA) chairperson Deklen Viviers said service station owners have approached the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) to review the profit margin structure. "We had two meetings with the ministry on this matter, and we provided them with data from the service stations we represent," Viviers said. "The feedback was that they will not be…