National News

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.…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…