National News

 Donor preference for NGOs raises accountability concerns – Speaker

 Donor preference for NGOs raises accountability concerns – Speaker

Hertta-Maria Amutenja  The speaker of the National Assembly, Sara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, has warned that international donors who opt to work exclusively with civil society organisations rather than elected governments risk undermining state-led development.  She said this approach could also weaken democratic accountability. She made the remarks during an interactive debate at the United Nations in Geneva under the theme “Networked Global Governance for More Effective Multilateralism: Does it Work?” Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said civil society organisations and other non-state actors contribute to national development, but they do not carry the same democratic mandates as elected governments. “We note that there are some limitations.…
Read More
MTC Maris customers to borrow N$1 500 in a minute 

MTC Maris customers to borrow N$1 500 in a minute 

Justicia Shipena  MTC Maris customers can borrow up to N$1,500 in 60 seconds through a new service launched in partnership with Letshego Micro Financial Services Namibia (LMFSN).  The instant loan product, called Taamba Maris, allows eligible users to access loans ranging from N$100 to N$1,500 through their Maris mobile financial services wallets. The service went live on Thursday. It runs over USSD, making it available even in areas with limited internet access, and takes about a minute with funds disbursed instantly. To qualify, applicants must be Namibian citizens aged 18 to 60, have been active on the MTC network for…
Read More
NAC to build third Hosea Kutako terminal

NAC to build third Hosea Kutako terminal

Allexer Namundjembo The Namibia Airports Company (NAC) is set to build a third terminal at Hosea Kutako International Airport as part of a broader infrastructure expansion plan.  The announcement was made on Thursday during a briefing on the state of air transport infrastructure. The NAC also confirmed that upgrades are planned at Walvis Bay and Lüderitz airports to support the country’s oil and gas sector. In addition, Katima Mulilo Airport will be further developed to accommodate the rise in tourism, which the NAC says is outpacing international passenger growth. The new projects come after more than N$350 million was invested…
Read More
Usakos signs agreement for affordable housing

Usakos signs agreement for affordable housing

Allexer Namundjembo  The Usakos Town Council has signed agreement  with the National Housing Enterprise (NHE) to formalise informal settlements and provide affordable housing to low-income residents The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed this week at the Usakos Town Council chambers, is part of the National Informal Settlement Upgrading Project (ISUP). The signing ceremony was attended by NHE chief executive officer Gisbertus Mukulu, local councillors, technical staff, and community representatives from the Saamstaan and Ongulumbashe areas. Usakos mayor Irene Simeon said the partnership is a step towards addressing inequality and housing insecurity in the town. “Together, we are choosing to say,…
Read More
Fuelgate: Austin’s five-month bribe spree at Namcor

Fuelgate: Austin’s five-month bribe spree at Namcor

Justicia Shipena The seventeenth accused in the Namcor fuel corruption case, Austin Elindi is alleged to have paid over N$2.36 million in bribes to former Namcor employees in five months.  The bribes were paid between July and December 2022. Court documents show the payments were channelled through Namcor Petroleum Trading and Distribution (Pty) Ltd, the state-owned company responsible for fuel trading and distribution.  The company also operates the National Oil Storage Facility in Walvis Bay and supplies fuel to sectors such as mining, construction, and public enterprises. The state alleges the payments  included N$500,000 to Jennifer Hamukwaya, N$350,000 to Cornelius…
Read More
Six Namibians trafficked to Asia

Six Namibians trafficked to Asia

Hertta-Maria Amutenja  Six Namibian nationals were repatriated from Southeast Asia after being trafficked between June 2024 and June 2025. The victims, five from Myanmar and one from Laos, were returned to Namibia through coordination between Namibian authorities and international partners. The minister of international relations and trade Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, shared this on Wednesday during the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons commemoration held in Rundu, Kavango East region. “These are not just statistics. Each represents a case in which a person’s rights and dignity were violated. Our collective response must be rooted in justice,” she said. Ashipala-Musavyi also confirmed that…
Read More
Eco Fuel fights Engen over summons delivery

Eco Fuel fights Engen over summons delivery

Justicia Shipena Eco Fuel Investment CC has asked the High Court to set aside a N$5.46 million default judgment granted in favour of Engen Namibia (Pty) Ltd, arguing that the summons was not properly served. The company, co-owned by Namcor corruption accused Austin Elindi and fugitive Victor Malima, filed an urgent rescission application on Wednesday. Eco Fuel claims that Engen delivered the combined summons to an outdated address, Buffalo Signs on Werner List Street, despite having been notified on 16 April 2024 that the company’s new address was on Julius Nyerere Street in Windhoek. In court  documents seen by the…
Read More
Presidency, defence warned to reconsider  U.S. jihadists military help

Presidency, defence warned to reconsider  U.S. jihadists military help

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The office of the President and the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs have been warned  against accepting military assistance from the United States to counter alleged jihadist groups near Namibia’s border with Angola. Social commentator Ben Mulongeni  urged President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and defence minister Frans Kapofi to be cautious, arguing that U.S. involvement often leads to destabilisation rather than peace.  Muloheni  claimed that the U.S. has a track record of creating or supporting rebel groups in countries with valuable resources to secure access for its own interests. His comments follow reports that Minister Kapofi recently met with…
Read More
NHE rejects ceremony cost claims

NHE rejects ceremony cost claims

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The National Housing Enterprise (NHE) has dismissed reports that it spends up to N$500,000 on site and house handover ceremonies, following the circulation of an internal memo that raised concerns about expenditure and financial management. In a media statement issued on 30 July 2025, NHE stated that, “no site handover has ever cost the enormous figures quoted in the memo and sensationally reported by the media.” This follows media reports based on an internal memo that raised concerns about high expenditure and financial management. In a statement issued on Thursday, NHE said, “No site handover has ever cost…
Read More
Job hunt frustrates 85% of youth in the southern regions 

Job hunt frustrates 85% of youth in the southern regions 

Justicia Shipena A recent survey by the #BeFree Movement shows that youth unemployment, limited access to education, and lack of resources are among the main challenges facing young people in southern Namibia. Of the 51 participants, 85% listed unemployment as their main concern, followed by 72% who cited education and 68% who pointed to resource constraints. The findings informed the launch of the #BeFree Big Talk: Solutions Now initiative in the ||Karas region. The movement, in partnership with Active Youth Organisation Namibia (AYO), is running a three-day programme aimed at amplifying youth voices and driving community-led solutions. The programme, which…
Read More
No widgets found. Go to Widget page and add the widget in Offcanvas Sidebar Widget Area.