National News

Allexer Namundjebo The Landless People’s Movement has demanded the urgent finalisation and publication of the reviewed informal trading bylaws with the clear engagement of vendor associations, trade unions, and social movements.  The party made the call in a statement issued by its acting deputy spokesperson, William Minnie, following an incident between Windhoek City Police and street vendors last week along Werner List Street. “We call for the immediate suspension and disciplinary action against the officers involved in the act. We further demand a transparent and time-bound investigation into ongoing police misconduct against vendors,” Minnie said.  He described the police’s actions…

Allexer Namundjebo Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) and the United Nations have signed a five-year partnership to support Namibia’s development through digital innovation. The agreement was signed in Windhoek on Friday by MTC’s financial director, Thinus Smit and UN resident coordinator for Namibia, Hopolang Phororo. The partnership aims to boost economic recovery, promote digital transformation, and support inclusive growth. It aligns with Vision 2030, NDP6, Agenda 2063, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. It will focus on four areas: governance and public service delivery, economic recovery and resilience, sustainable development, and human development. “As a digital enabler, it is our duty…

Justicia Shipena  More than 280 Namibians received free cancer screening on Thursday, the Cancer Association of Namibia (CAN). The screening was done through an ongoing partnership between Annabelle Sparkling Wine and CAN. Of the 280 screened, a total of 109 women were screened for breast and cervical cancers, while 45 men underwent prostate cancer screening using the PSA test.  This follows an earlier campaign in May that screened 100 women and 27 men. According to CAN, together, the two clinics have provided cancer screenings to over 280 people at no cost. “This community clinic once again illustrates the importance of…

Staff Writer  Members of the National Council passed four bills during the 16th session, which ran from 12 to 22 May 2025.  The council announced on Friday that all bills had passed without any amendments.  The bills included the appropriation bill, the roads bill, the judiciary amendment bill and the public procurement amendment bill, which were referred to the Council by the National Assembly.  The Council also adopted several reports during the session. The Standing Committee on Education, Science, ICT and Youth Development presented a report on youth empowerment programmes implemented by the Ministry of Youth, Sport and National Service.…

Justicia Shipena The National Council Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Housing has recommended that all land developed under Namibia’s Flexible Land Tenure Act remain state-owned.  It stated that occupants would be given rights of use rather than ownership through purchase. The committee's recommendation is part of a report presented to the National Council this week.  The report follows a visit to Rwanda in September 2024 to study urban land delivery and housing for poor and landless citizens. “All land developed under the Flexi Land Tenure Act should remain state-owned, with occupants granted rights of use rather than ownership through…

Niël Terblanché Namibia joined the global community in commemorating the International Day for Biological Diversity under the theme “Harmony with Nature and Sustainable Development.” The commemorative event was held in Otjiwarongo on Thursday, where the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Indileni Daniel, called for urgent and collective action to preserve biodiversity as a cornerstone of sustainable development. Daniel described biodiversity as essential to human well-being and environmental balance. “Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth, which supports ecosystems and provides essential services for human well-being, including food, medicine, clean water, and a healthy environment for all species,” she…

Justicia Shipena  Namibia has made progress in developing its laws and aligning with international agreements on the protection of minority groups, but struggles with enforcement.  This is according to European Union Ambassador to Namibia, Ana Beatriz Martins, who spoke at a conference hosted by the NMT Media Foundation in Windhoek this week. The conference, held under the theme ‘Amplifying San Voices in Policy Discourse’, is part of the New Narratives, New Voices project.  The three-year EU-funded initiative aims to amplify unheard voices and influence policy through community dialogue. “Namibia has made progress, but what is missing is enforcement. The San…

Niël Terblanché The Municipality of Swakopmund and Erongo RED have formalised a development agreement to co-fund infrastructure in Extension 32, Kramersdorf. The agreement, signed on Thursday, aims to support the growing demand for serviced residential land in the coastal town. According to the municipality, the development will unlock 70 single residential erven, eight general residential erven, one institutional erf, and two public open spaces. Planned infrastructure includes water and sewerage systems, stormwater drainage, semi-purified water, electricity, telecommunications, and upgraded roads with bitumen surfacing and paved sidewalks. The municipality said that the town council had initially earmarked three Kramersdorf extensions for…

Niël Terblanché The Namibian Government, in partnership with NamWater and the German Development Bank (KfW), has entered into a N$1.5 billion concessional loan agreement aimed at upgrading the country’s ageing bulk water supply infrastructure. The agreement was signed in Windhoek by finance minister Ericah Shafudah, NamWater’s chief executive officer, Abraham Nehemia, and a KfW representative The German ambassador to Namibia, Thorsten Hutter, was also present at the ceremony. Shafudah described the loan as a crucial addition to national budget efforts to secure the country’s water supply. “This agreement will complement our budgetary resources in ensuring the rehabilitation and expansion of…