National News

Allexer Namundjembo The minister of works and transport Veikko Nekundi says the government will no longer construct gravel roads, with all future projects to be built to tarred ( bitumen) standard. He made the announcement on Monday at the official launch of the 58-kilometre Omuthiya–Elambo road in the Oshikoto Region, which was initially planned as a gravel road.  The Omuthiya–Elambo road will now be upgraded to tarred standard. Nekundi said gravel roads will no longer form part of the ministry’s construction strategy. “From today on, there will be no road that will be constructed as a gravel road. Even this…

Allexer Namundjembo Walvis Bay residents have rejected claimsby the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) that their recent public meeting with national leaders was politically motivated. The residents, led by Kobus Van Schakwyk, said it is their constitutional right to engage national leaders on issues affecting the town.. In a statement on Monday they responded  to IPC’s criticism of Saturday’s engagement between Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa and the community. The meeting was initiated by concerned residents who invited Shaningwa and deputy minister of urban and rural development Evelyn Mwases-Taeyele to discuss the town’s growing infrastructure problems, including poor waste management,…

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The absence of a national artificial intelligence (AI) strategy or policy is limiting Namibia’s ability to coordinate and govern AI development in a holistic and forward-looking way. This was the message from minister of education, innovation, youth, sports, arts and culture Sanet Steenkamp during the launch of the Artificial Intelligence Assessment Methodology report on Monday. Her speech was delivered by deputy minister Dino Balloti. Steenkamp said the lack of a regulatory framework specific to AI increases the risk of unchecked technological experimentation, algorithmic bias, and harm to vulnerable populations. She highlighted digital divides in gender, geography, income, and…

Allexer Namundjembo A formal complaint has been lodged  against City of Windhoek mayor Ndeshihafela Larandja.  She is accused of persistent unethical and disruptive conduct that allegedly undermines council unity and service delivery. In a recent letter to the city's chief executive officer, Moses Matyayi, former mayor and councillor Sade Gawanas expressed “great concern regarding the continued unethical and disruptive conduct” of Larandja.  She warned that her [Larandja’s] behaviour “severely undermines not only the effectiveness and professionalism of council proceedings but also the integrity and public trust vested in this institution.” Gawanas alleged that while Larandja presents a professional image in…

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) has threatened legal action against Swapo, accusing the ruling party of dictatorship and a power grab in Walvis Bay. The threat follows a meeting of the Walvis Bay business community on Saturday, led by Cobus van Schalkwyk, which called on the urban and rural development ministry to take over the town’s municipality.  The group asked the urban and rural development ministry to take over the town, saying the municipality is failing to manage it. The meeting was attended by Swapo party secretary general Sophia Shaningwa, former fisheries minister Derek Klazen, and other…

Allexer Namundjembo Namibians on social media and residents of the Zambezi region have backed calls to include the San community in job opportunities at the Ndoro Memorial Combined School hostel.  The school is located in Omega Three, Kongola Constituency, Zambezi region. The protest began after no one from the San community was appointed to the 12 advertised hostel positions.  The hostel was scheduled to open two weeks, coinciding with the start of the school term, but following the recruitment results, parents withdrew their children from classes. Some pupils have not attended school for the past two days. Activist and Zambezi…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Namibian Police (Nampol) have confirmed that a South African delegation of police officials and public service employees began travelling through Namibia on 10 August 2025. Commissioner Johanna Ngondo told the Windhoek Observer yesterday her team is escorting the delegation from the Ariamsvlei border post to Windhoek.  From Windhoek, another police unit will take over the escort for the convoy’s onwards journey to Swakopmund. “The exact number of vehicles in the convoy has not been confirmed, but all vehicles will travel together,” Ngondo said. She added that no roads have been closed during the convoy’s passage, but motorists…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja  The cabinet has approved the application for Namibia to become a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). The decision was made at the 16th cabinet meeting held last week.  Minister of information and communication technology Emma Theofelus said the cabinet has directed the ministry of international relations and trade to coordinate technical updates to the application dossier. “To act as a focal point and to establish an Inter-Ministerial Committee tasked with implementing the NSG Guidelines,” said Theofelus. She added that the Cabinet further approved a ministerial-level delegation to lobby the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency…

Allexer Namundjembo Windhoek magistrate Monica Andjaba has questioned the strength of the state’s case against former minister of agriculture, fisheries, water and land reform Mac-Albert Hengari before granting him and his co-accused bail.  The duo were granted bail of N$15 000 each with conditions. The co-accused is the 31-year-old brother of the alleged rape complainant.  In her ruling, Andjaba noted the court had not seen evidence proving that Hengari paid a bribe to the complainant to withdraw rape charges. “The alleged N$220 000, which the state claims was paid to the complainant, was not found with her but rather on…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja  The executive director of the ministry of international relations and trade, Penda Naanda, has dismissed speculation that he is in line for a new diplomatic posting. Naanda has been mentioned in diplomatic circles as a potential candidate for redeployment. However, there has been no official announcement regarding this as of yet. “This is news to me. Diplomatic postings are strictly dealt with by the Presidency. If there is something like that, it has not reached my ears yet. The Office of the President would perhaps be the best to respond to this question,” Naanda told the Windhoek Observer.…