National News

Allexer Namundjembo Martin Lukato formed the National Democratic Party (NDP) in 2003 and fully registered it with the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) in 2004.  After 20 years in politics without securing a seat in parliament, Lukato’s party won a single seat in the National Assembly following last year’s elections.  Now, the NDP leader has expressed his readiness to challenge colonial-era laws that he believes do not benefit the nation. “I want to ensure that laws enacted during colonial times, which are still in place and do not help the Namibian people, are challenged. Every law proposed and accepted before…

Niël Terblanché Residents of Impalila Island in the Zambezi region are finally able to access reliable radio services following the installation of a new FM transmission tower. Speaking at the event, Minister of Information and Communication Technology Emma Theofelus described the construction of the tower by the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) as a development that has been long-overdue, a step towards ensuring that all Namibians, regardless of location, have access to information. “For far too long, the people of Impalila Island and surrounding areas have faced challenges in receiving consistent radio signals. Due to its remote location, access to timely…

Allexer Namundjembo Some people who were allocated houses at the Twaloloka residential area in Walvis Bay following the 2020 fire, are facing eviction.  This comes amid ongoing allegations of corruption and mismanagement of the project. A letter served to some residents, authored by Wilhelm Amukoto on behalf of the government attorney and seen by the Windhoek Observer, demands that the occupants vacate the houses within hours. “We herein demand that you and anyone else unlawfully occupying the property vacate the property within seven (7) working hours,” the eviction letter reads. The eviction has sparked outrage, with many questioning how the…

Ester Mbathera  President Nangolo Mbumba held a farewell lunch with State House staff on Thursday, to mark the end of his tenure as he prepares to hand over the presidency to President-elect Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah on 21 March. Mbumba, who became the first Namibian president to complete the term of a predecessor who passed away while in office, reflected on his time in office during the event. The farewell program was officiated by Inge Zaamwani, Presidential Advisor on Constitutional Matters and Private Sector Interface, and featured musical performances by Kalux and King Tee Dee. Attendees included Khomas Regional Governor, Laura McLeod-Katjirua…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja  Teachers across the country are raising concerns about the lack of sanitary pads for schoolgirls, saying period poverty continues to affect the children’s attendance, academic performance, and participation in school activities. Christof Ngavetene, principal of Tsumkwe Secondary School, said menstrual hygiene products should be made available to all learners to ensure that no girl misses school due to her period. "Sanitary pads should be distributed freely to all schools. The Ministry of Gender and Social Welfare should make budgetary allocations for every child in school. Companies providing catering services to hostels should also be obligated to include sanitary…

Niël Terblanché The foundation has been laid for a new state-of-the-art health centre in Karibib, a project made possible through a partnership between the Ministry of Health and Social Services and QKR Navachab Gold Mine.  The minister of health and social services, Dr Kalumbi Shangula, said at the official launch of the project that once completed, the facility will improve healthcare access for the town’s growing population and surrounding areas. “The existing health facility, inaugurated in 2004, has served the needs of Karibib residents well. However, demographic changes and increased demand for healthcare services make it necessary to expand our…

Niël Terblanché The Namibian Police has identified the elderly man from Switzerland that went missing from the Desert Hills Lodge in the Sesriem area as the 83-year-old Alois Ottiger. Ottiger was reported missing on Sunday, 9 March, at about 17:00 after he left his room at the lodge. People from the Sesriem area said that before he went missing, he told workers at the lodge that Sunday was the first anniversary of his wife’s death. According to the description provided by the Namibian police, Ottiger is approximately 1.73m tall and was last seen wearing white clothes. It was also reported…

In her new book, The Modern Man’s Guide: Cracking the Code on Women and Relationships, Marbeline Sabatha shares the inspiration behind the book, the common relationship pitfalls men encounter, and why fostering mutual understanding is key to building lasting, fulfilling partnerships. WO: What inspired you to write this book, and what personal experiences or observations influenced its content? MS: My deep-seated desire to see couples thrive in happy, fulfilling relationships initially inspired me to write this book. Over the years, I witnessed the damage and turmoil caused by miscommunication and misunderstandings between partners. It was perplexing to observe how arguments…

Niël Terblanché The residents of Otjimbingwe will no longer have to travel long distances to access mortuary services following the inauguration of the first mortuary at the Otjimbingwe Clinic on Wednesday. The facility, made possible through a partnership between the Ministry of Health and Social Services and QKR Namibia Navachab Gold Mine, was officially opened by Health Minister Dr. Kalumbi Shangula. During the inauguration, Shangula acknowledged the challenges the community has faced due to the absence of local mortuary services. “The nearest mortuary services were only available at Usakos and Karibib, forcing families to travel long distances in times of…