National News – Page 98 – Windhoek Observer

09 Jul

Namibia leads Africa group in call for IP reforms

National NewsJulia Imene-Chanduru, World Intellectual Property Organisation

Justicia Shipena Namibia has called for the adoption of an international legal instrument on limitations and exceptions for libraries, research, museums, educational institutions, and archives described the issue as critically important to Africa. Speaking in Geneva at the 66th Session of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) General Assemblies, Namibian Ambassador to Switzerland Julia Imene-Chanduru said such an instrument would improve access to knowledge. She added that it would support education and research and promote innovation, competition, and economic development in Africa and beyond. Namibia is currently serving as the coordinator of the Africa Group for the first time, leading…

09 Jul

San community centres grow their own food

National News

Allexer Namundjembo Palms for Life (Namibia) is addressing food insecurity in marginalised communities by establishing vegetable gardens at six of its ten Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres serving San communities. “These gardens are not just about food; they are a local solution to a local challenge. They help us feed the children while teaching communities about sustainable farming,” said a representative from Palms for Life. Each morning, local support staff harvest available produce to prepare meals for the children. The gardens supply vegetables such as green peppers, cabbages, watermelons, tomatoes, maize meal, beetroots, carrots, and spinach. “These vegetables add great…

08 Jul

NFA mum on Botswana Hosting Costs

National NewsDino Ballotti, Obed Itani Chilume Stadium

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Namibia Football Association (NFA) says the NFA will not reveal how much it will pay Botswana to host Namibia’s international home matches. When approached by the Windhoek Observer, NFA interim secretary general Cassius Moetie said the payment details are protected by confidentiality agreements. On Monday, during a joint announcement with Deputy Minister of Sport Dino Ballotti, NFA confirmed that the Brave Warriors will play their home games at the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium in Francistown, Botswana. Namibia remains banned from using its stadiums, which failed to meet international standards. Moetie noted that the cost of playing home matches…

08 Jul

14-year Bondelswarts dispute deepens as funds vanish

National News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Bondelswarts Heritage Foundation has called for an urgent investigation into the Bondelswarts Chief Council, citing financial irregularities, a disputed leadership, and the neglect of key communal assets in Warmbad. The Foundation said in a recent statement that internal leadership disputes have paralysed the community since the death of Captain Anna Katriena Christiaan in 2011. “The continued secrecy, disputes, and neglect cannot be tolerated any longer,” said Foundation founder Mathew Veldskoen. The Foundation alleges that the Chief Council, led by Senior Traditional Councillor Hans Jossob, operates without transparency and excludes the Christiaan Royal House from community decisions. It…

08 Jul

Police uncertain of suspect count in Lafrenz robbery

National News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Namibian Police say they are still uncertain how many suspects were involved in the armed robbery at the Lafrenz TotalEnergies service station, where over N$560,000 was stolen last week. “There is a bit of a contradiction. Some witnesses say there were three suspects, others say four or even five. Until we get them all, we won’t know how many people were involved,” deputy commissioner Chrispin Mubebo told the Windhoek Observer. The robbery happened on Wednesday at around 11h00, when armed suspects confronted Southern Cross security officers who were offloading cash for a Standard Bank ATM. The suspects…

08 Jul

MPs challenge NamPower over electricity tariffs

National News

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Swapo member of parliament and chairperson of the parliamentary standing committee on natural resources, Tobie Aupindi, has questioned NamPower’s strategy of raising electricity tariffs every year. He urged the utility's management to prioritise the well-being of Namibians over profit. Aupindi made the remarks during a consultative meeting held on Tuesday between the parliamentary standing committees on economy and industry, public administration and planning, and the productivity task force on energy in Namibia. He said electricity in the country has become too expensive and is hurting ordinary people who are already struggling to afford basic needs. He linked the…

08 Jul

Ombudsman asked to probe police conduct in Hengari case

National NewsMac-Albert Hengari, Simon Hanga.

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Office of the Ombudsman has been asked to investigate alleged misconduct by police officers in the criminal case involving former minister Mac-Albert Hengari and his co-accused Simon Hanga. In a sworn statement dated 2 July, Hanga claimed he was unlawfully arrested and detained after arriving in Namibia from Germany in April. He said police pressured him to falsely implicate Hengari in exchange for his release. Hanga submitted the complaint to Ombudsman Basilius Dyakugha and also sent copies to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), the prosecutor general, and the inspector general of the Namibian Police. “I am being unlawfully…

08 Jul

NNN had the power to grant Amweelo a state funeral but did not – Mulongeni

National NewsMoses Amweelo

Justicia Shipena Political analyst Ben Mulongeni says the late Moses Amweelo, a former minister and liberation struggle veteran, deserved a state funeral. He questioned why President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah did not use her constitutional powers to grant him the honour. Amweelo died at the age of 73 in June at Lady Pohamba Private Hospital in Windhoek after battle with cancer. He was buried over the weekend, shortly after Cabinet announced a moratorium on official funerals until March 2026 to allow for a review of the criteria used to grant such honours. While Cabinet clarified that the President retains the constitutional power…

08 Jul

Legal missteps sink Kavango concession challenge

National NewsKavango concession

Justicia Shipena The Windhoek High Court has struck an urgent application by tourism operators in the Kavango region who tried to stop a government-approved safari lodge project. The court cited their inordinate delay in bringing the challenge as the reason for dismissal. High Court acting judge Gerson |Narib ruled on 3 July 2025 that the application, brought by Shamvura Camp CC and six other tourism lodges, lacked urgency. The applicants had attempted to interdict the implementation of a concession awarded by the minister of environment, forestry and tourism to Nyime Safari Lodges CC for the development of a lodge in…

08 Jul

Sankwasa blames Windhoek residents of delaying road upgrades

National News, UncategorisedJames Sankwasa

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Urban and Rural Development Minister James Sankwasa says some Windhoek residents are delaying road construction projects due to a lack of patriotism. Sankwasa made the remarks on Monday during the groundbreaking ceremony of Winnie Mandela Avenue in Windhoek. He said some individuals are refusing to relocate to allow construction to proceed, not because they have nowhere to go, but because they want to continue running businesses from their informal structures. In May, the Windhoek Observer reported that business owners along Peter Nanyemba Road, formerly Monte Christo Road, urged the City of Windhoek to revise parts of the ongoing…