National News

Justicia Shipena  The Puros Solar Mini-Grid project has reached a total investment of N$14 million.  This follows a recent N$8 million contribution from the ministry of industry, mines and energy.  The latest funding forms part of a service-level agreement between the Ministry and the Environmental Investment Fund (EIF) of Namibia. EIF spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said the new investment marks a major step in expanding access to sustainable and affordable energy in the Kunene Region. Launched in 2024, the Puros project is a joint effort between the EIF and the Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (NORED).  It is co-financed by the Ministry…

Allexer Namundjebo At the age of 23, Marshall Aibeb from the Hai//om San community has built a mahangu threshing machine to help farmers during harvest season.  The machine simplifies the difficult and time-consuming process of threshing mahangu, also known as pearl millet. Aibeb is a level 2 metal fabrication student at the Community Skills Development Foundation (COSDEF) in Ondangwa.  He received a scholarship from the Palms for Life Fund, which supports youth in marginalised communities. “I enrolled at COSDEF the year before last through the Palms for Life Scholarship, and I started my internship this March. I’ll finish in August,”…

Allexer Namundjebo The former mayor of Omuthiya, Johannes Ndeutapo, says he is still a duly elected councillor.  This comes despite reports claiming he has been dismissed by Urban and Rural Development Minister James Sankwasa. Speaking to the Windhoek Observer on Sunday, Ndeutapo said he had not received any official communication regarding his removal from office.  “I am an elected councillor, and I am still a councillor until those who elected me decide otherwise,” he said. “I don’t report to the minister. There are procedures that the minister ought to follow. I also just saw the media reporting on the matter.…

Allexer Namundjebo Since 2020, the ministry of agriculture, water and land reform has built 42 earth dams.  These include 16 in Oshana, 10 in Ohangwena, three in Oshikoto, two each in Hardap, Karas, and Omusati, three in Kunene, and four in Kavango West. Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare revealed this statistic to Parliament on Thursday, while responding to questions by PDM leader McHenry Venaani.  Ngurare said that while progress has been made in assessing the feasibility of floodwater harvesting, dam construction must be strictly monitored.  “Significant efforts have been made to assess and address the feasibility of floodwater harvesting in flood-prone…

Niël Terblanché The ministry of home affairs, immigration, safety and security has announced the launch of the country's first electronic identity card (e-ID), with the official roll-out event set for 26 June 2025 in Windhoek. The project, implemented in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), marks a step toward the country’s digital transformation. The roll-out follows an August 2023 Cabinet decision which approved the introduction of contactless chip IDs, similar to bank cards with an electronic chip embedded.  "Since then, the government has been engaged with putting the required infrastructure in place and engaging the relevant stakeholders for…

Niël Terblanché The Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) has partnered with the Namibian National Association of the Deaf (NNAD) to support the creation of a locally designed mobile application for sign language. Through its Namport Social Investment Fund (NSIF), the state-owned enterprise donated an iMac and a MacBook worth N$100,000 to strengthen the NNAD’s technical capacity.  The handover took place last week at Namport’s head office in Walvis Bay. Namport’s manager of marketing and stakeholder engagement, Cliff Shikuambi, said the donation is part of a broader commitment to inclusive socio-economic development.  “Through NSIF, we aim to support interventions that make a…

Niël Terblanché Defence and veterans affairs minister Frans Kapofi has dismissed claims of corruption in the ministry’s procurement processes, stating that all acquisitions follow legal procedures and are subject to oversight. Kapofi was responding to a question in Parliament from Affirmative Repositioning (AR) leader Job Amupanda.  Amupanda had raised concerns about the awarding of tenders and whether proper procedures had been followed in the procurement of surveillance equipment and related goods. “There is no corruption in the procurement of surveillance equipment or any other procurement that is done through the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs,” said Kapofi.  He said…

Niël Terblanché President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah will lead Namibia’s delegation to the 2025 U.S.–Africa Business Summit in Luanda, Angola, this week. The summit is hosted by the Corporate Council on Africa and the Angolan government. It will bring together African heads of state, ministers, senior U.S. officials, and business leaders from both continents. Under the theme, "Pathways to Prosperity: A Shared Vision for the U.S.-Africa Partnership," the summit aims to strengthen economic ties and explore new trade and investment opportunities. Namibia’s participation is aimed at advancing partnerships and attracting investment in key sectors such as agriculture, energy, mining, oil and gas,…

Justicia Shipena Old Mutual Namibia, through the Old Mutual Investment Group (OMIGNAM), currently manages over N$60 billion in assets across a broad range of strategies.  On 19 June 2025, the group launched the World Wide Equity Fund, offering Namibian investors a new entry point into global markets. The fund gives investors access to leading companies across developed and emerging markets. It focuses on sectors such as innovation, digital transformation, renewable energy, healthcare, and technology. Rex Mutelo, head of business development at OMIGNAM, said the fund is designed to provide broad global exposure.  “In today’s rapidly evolving economy, companies that lead…

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Affirmative Repositioning (AR) member of parliament Fredrick Shitana has proposed that commercial banks be required to provide public ablution facilities or risk losing their fitness certificates. Speaking during a parliament session on Wednesday, Shitana questioned why some businesses that serve the public for long hours are required to have public toilets to obtain a fitness certificate.  He asked why commercial banks seem to be exempt from this requirement. “To obtain a fitness certificate is to ensure that those institutions meet the acceptable standards of health and safety. In order to allow them to conduct business, certain categories of…