National News

Niël Terblanché The newly inaugurated DRC Police Station in Swakopmund’s DRC informal settlement is set to stand as a beacon of safety and justice, bringing essential law enforcement services closer to the people who reside in the sprawling informal settlement.  Officially opened on Thursday by Albert Kawana, Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, the facility will also increase security in the growing community. Kawana said that the new facility was constructed in just six months. “The state-of-the-art police station is a result of a public-private partnership, with Rössing Uranium Limited funding the project and the Swakopmund Municipality donating…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja  The country’s 50/50 gender policy has been praised as a model for representation in governance, but questions persist about its impact beyond numerical achievements. Speaking at the #GapZero Manifesto on Gender Equality in Public Leadership event in Monrovia on Saturday, former First Lady Monica Geingos acknowledged the policy’s success in placing women in leadership roles but highlighted the ongoing challenge of achieving real influence.  “When women break barriers to assume leadership roles, they often face a surprising challenge—a lack of support from their female counterparts,” Geingos said, underscoring the need for solidarity in the fight for gender parity.…

Allexer Namundjembo Walvis Bay residents and holidaymakers have expressed growing concerns over the neglect of Independence Beach, particularly the unusable toilets, which they say pose an environmental hazard. Simon Paulus, a resident, voiced his frustration, urging the Walvis Bay Municipality to take immediate action. “The existing toilets are extremely dirty and now completely unused. This was supposed to be one of the best leisure spots, but it's disgusting to use the facilities here. We've even had to drive to Swakopmund to find cleaner options," Paulus said. Paulus pointed out that Independence Beach is becoming a hotspot for criminal activity. “For…

Allexer Namundjembo Walvis Bay residents and holidaymakers have expressed growing concerns over the neglect of Independence Beach, particularly the unusable toilets, which they say pose an environmental hazard. Simon Paulus, a resident, voiced his frustration, urging the Walvis Bay Municipality to take immediate action. “The existing toilets are extremely dirty and now completely unused. This was supposed to be one of the best leisure spots, but it's disgusting to use the facilities here. We've even had to drive to Swakopmund to find cleaner options," Paulus said. Paulus pointed out that Independence Beach is becoming a hotspot for criminal activity. “For…

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The minister of agriculture, water, and land reform, Calle Schlettwein, inaugurated the Namibia Council for Property Valuers Profession on Thursday.  The new council will regulate property valuers and ensure registered practitioners adhere to high ethical standards.  Schlettwein highlighted the rise in malpractices within unregulated valuation services and emphasised the government’s commitment to protecting the public and restoring the profession’s reputation. This was achieved by amending the Property Valuers Profession Act and establishing the council to oversee the regulation of valuers. ‘’There was a need to close some of the loopholes in the principal Act, and the required amendments…

Niël Terblanché Entrepreneurs and innovators face significant challenges in commercialising their ideas and expanding beyond local markets, with limited commercialisation platforms, restricted access to funding, and a lack of structured support for startups. Recognising these challenges, the National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST), the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), and other stakeholders have launched ScaleUp Namibia (SUN), an initiative designed to accelerate startup growth and establish the country as a leader in innovation. The initiative was officially launched in Windhoek last week. The initiative takes Namibia in the direction of a knowledge-based economy.  ScaleUp Namibia is…

Allexer Namundjembo The leader of the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), McHenry Venaani, accused the government of avoiding accountability in the Namdia diamond heist that took place on 18 January by hiding behind the fact that the matter is “sub judice”. During the parliament session on Tuesday, Venaani demanded answers from Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila on the matter. “Government must come forward and tell us what is happening with the case. The government must tell us how far along the case is because they cannot be hiding behind “sub judice" when the resources of our country are being stolen in broad…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Tsumeb Municipality announced the donation of 21 residential plots to selected individuals in the town through private transactions. This was revealed in a public notice issued under the Local Authorities Act. According to the notice placed in newspapers, the plots, each measuring 300 square meters, are located in Extension 8 and Extension 10 of Tsumeb. The properties are zoned for residential use and remain unimproved. The town’s mayor, Mathew Hangula, explained that the recipients of the houses are members of the Build Together Programme who had houses built at the old municipal dump site.  “It seems that…