National News

Justicia Shipena  The ministry of agriculture, fisheries, water and land reform (MAFWLR) says auctioning the precautionary pilchard quota would have taken too long and put Namibian jobs at risk, defending its choice to award Eco Fish Farms (Pty) Ltd the right to harvest 10 000 metric tonnes. The decision follows backlash over the quota, valued at about N$180 million, which was awarded to a company led by fishing businessman Ivo de Gouveia.  Reports in The Namibian cited claims that the allocation contradicted a cabinet directive to create jobs, with fisheries executive director Theo Nghitila accused of favouring a middleman operator.…

Justicia Shipena Erongo Petroleum CC risks losing its assets through a public auction.  This follows a High Court order directing the company to pay more than N$86 000 owed to Seaside Hotel and Spa (Pty) Ltd. The case stems from services provided between August 2022 and November 2024.  The hotel said it offered accommodation, spa treatments and restaurant services to company owner Austin Elindi at Erongo Petroleum’s request, but invoices and statements went unpaid. A summons was served in July 2025, giving the fuel supplier ten days to respond.  Court records show no defence was filed.  On 15 August 2025,…

Justicia Shipena  No progress has been reported on the independent water flow study recommended by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the Orange-Senqu River Commission (ORASECOM) for the Leonardville area, the Stampriet Aquifer Uranium Mining Association (Sauma) said. The group renewed its call for government transparency and stronger protection of underground drinking water against the risks posed by  uranium mining. Sauma's statement follows a recent meeting between Headspring Investments, Omaheke governor Pijoo Nganate, and the chair of parliament’s standing committee on natural resources, Tobie Aupindi.  At the meeting, Aupindi argued that opposition to the project lacked…

Renthia Kaimbi Chief Sakarias Seibeb of the Daure Daman Traditional Authority has accused  tourism operator Ultimate Safaris of charging “illegal” fees and interfering in conservancy governance by erecting two toll gates at the entrance to the Goantagab mining area in the Sorris Sorris conservancy.  The company charges  foreign tourists N$100, Namibians N$50, and N$150 per vehicle entering the Joint Management Area (JMA) as a “conservation fee”. Ultimate Safaris operates the Onduli Ridge lodge in the Uibasen Twyfelfontein conservancy.  Seibeb said he is considering withdrawing the Sorris Sorris conservancy from the JMA, which borders the Uibasen Twyfelfontein and Doro !Nawas conservancies.…

Justicia Shipena  The Presidency, through its Upstream Petroleum Unit, has launched public consultations on the draft National Upstream Local Content Policy in Lüderitz.  The first session was held on Monday.  The consultations, which will run until 17 September, will cover all 14 regions.  The Presidency has urged the public, including  business represented, youth, and local authorities, to participate in shaping the policy. The next meeting is scheduled for Mariental on Friday. In 2022, Cabinet approved the drafting of the policy to increase local participation in the oil and gas sector.  The following year, the ministry of mines and energy announced…

Allexer Namundjembo Student leaders have demanded the immediate provision of classrooms for more than 550 learners at Ndama East Primary School in Rundu.  The learners are being taught under trees by only 14 teachers. The Student Union of Namibia (SUN) national secretary for information and publicity, Johannes Malapi, said the lack of classrooms is a blatant violation of Article 20 of the Namibian Constitution.  "It also amounts to discrimination under Article 10, as rural learners are denied the same quality education afforded to their urban peers," Malapi told the  Windhoek Observer on Tuesday. He accused teachers’ unions for failing to…

Justicia Shipena The Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco) shareholders have seconded Ambassador Albertus !Aochamub to serve as interim chief executive officer. On Tuesday, Meatco confirmed the start of his six-month term, as endorsed by the board of directors.Meatco is yet to appoint a substantive CEO after the contract of former chief executive Mwilima Mushokabanji was not renewed. In July, acting CEO Patrick Liebenberg was suspended pending an investigation, weeks before his term was due to end.Last month, the board endorsed !Aochamub as interim CEO.At the time, Meatco board’s deputy chairperson Stephanie de Klerk said the board was seeking someone with…

Allexer Namundjembo Twenty two  learners from Maria Mwengere Secondary School in Rundu were discharged from hospital after suspected food poisoning at the school’s hostel.  11 others remain in Rundu Hospital, receiving fluids and medical support. The ministry of education said in a press statement on Tuesday.  “Among them, 22 of them were discharged after receiving treatment, while 11 remains under the medical care receiving necessary fluids and support," the executive director in the ministry of education Erastus Haitengela said,  Haitengela noted that early feedback from learners pointed to several food items served at the hostel as possible causes.  He said…

Justicia Shipena A total of 6 000 condoms were distributed during a recent sexual and reproductive health outreach in the Oshana region.  The initiative reached close to 950 students and community members. The outreach was organised by the #BeFree Cares Clinic in partnership with the ministry of health and social services, Ongwediva MediPark Hospital, Walvis Bay Corridor Group, the University of Namibia (Unam), the International University of Management (IUM), Valombola Vocational Training Centre, and the Society for Family Health.  Services were offered at five tertiary institutions, including Unam Oshakati, Hifikepunye Pohamba, Jose Eduardo Dos Santos campuses, IUM Ongwediva, and Valombola…