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Renthia Kaimbi The National Youth Council (NYC) is facing a deep crisis with affiliates.  The council describes it as dysfunctional and inward-looking.  The council, which was created to unite and empower young people, is now widely seen as having been consumed by internal disputes, financial mismanagement, and a failure to carry out its mandate. These concerns are echoed by youth structures and lawmakers. Former member of parliament and Popular Democratic Movement's (PDM) secretary for legal affairs, Maximilliant Katjimune, tabled a motion in June 2024 calling for the NYC to be dissolved and absorbed into the National Youth Service.  He said…

Justicia Shipena Rukonga Vision School principal Peter Kudumo says the school is not satisfied with its performance in the 2025 national examination results.  The school ranked first nationally among public schools at the Namibia Advanced Subsidiary (NSSCAS) level and second nationally among public schools at the Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate Ordinary (NSSCO) level. At ordinary level, the school placed five learners in the national top 20.  Marian Kweyo ranked first overall, followed by Dacrus Manuel in second place. Panduleni Kamati placed 12th, Ananias Angula 13th and Hilia Ileka 18th.  This gave Rukonga Vision School one of the highest representations in…

Justicia  The Ministry of International Relations and Trade (MIRT) is monitoring 24 Namibian nationals identified as being caught up in scam-related activities in Myanmar and Thailand. The development follows revelations made on Monday by member of parliament and Affirmative Repositioning movement leader Job Amupanda, who said six young Namibians were trafficked out of the country and are being held in Myanmar. Amupanda said the six were taken to Asia and trafficked to Myanmar, where they are held by the Myanmar military near Shwe Kokko Park, close to the Thailand border. The area is known as a hub for organised crime.…

Allexer Namundjembo A mental health–driven entrepreneurship programme is changing the lives of young people in Otavi by linking emotional support with practical business skills to address unemployment and poverty. The initiative was led by National Mental Health Care Namibia in partnership with Royalty Empire Investment CC and Unmatched Potential, with funding from B2Gold Namibia and Ohorongo Cement. The programme combines mental health care with business training to help young entrepreneurs rebuild confidence, earn income and regain hope. The concept was developed by Cathy Kambanda, founder of National Mental Health Care Namibia, after years of providing frontline mental health services, including…

Renthia Kaimbi The German Embassy in Windhoek has announced changes to its process for applying for a Schengen visa.  The change is aimed at simplifying travel procedures for Namibian residents. From 19 January 2026, all applications for short-stay Schengen visas to Germany and several other European countries will be handled exclusively through the external service provider TLS Contact. The embassy stated that the partnership aims to provide applicants with a more efficient and convenient application process for travel to Germany and Europe. Under the new system, applicants can expect reduced waiting times and a quicker, simpler appointment booking process. TLS…

Windhoek has gone cricket-mad. For the next few weeks the Namibia Cricket Ground and the adjacent high-performance oval are hosting 16 matches as part of the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup (co-hosted with Zimbabwe), a global showcase of rising talent running from 15 January to early February 2026. These fixtures bring international teams, visiting supporters and media to our capital, and they arrive at a moment when sport-as-development is no longer a nice-to-have but a national priority. That matters for three reasons. First, hosting international fixtures demonstrates that Namibia’s venues and administrators can run big events, a credibility boost…

Renthia Kaimbi Desert Foxes Football Club, Erongo region’s newly promoted and only representative in the FNB Women’s Super League, has appealed for financial and material support ahead of its top-flight debut on 24 January 2026. The teenage squad from Walvis Bay faces major logistical and financial demands as it prepares for competition at the elite level. The club is calling on corporations, community leaders, and residents to support the campaign. Club chairman Paulus Shipanga said travel expenses are the greatest challenge.  “Our main challenges are accommodation, transport, and meals, which will cost us about N$35,000 per travelling weekend,” Shipanga told…

Allexer Namundjembo The United Democratic Front (UDF) Youth League has asked the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport and Arts and Culture to explain a policy that allows learners to complete Grade 11 without guaranteed funding or clear pathways into further education or training. In a letter dated 13 January addressed to education minister Sanet Steenkamp, UDF Youth League secretary general Rudolf Goseb questioned how the policy affects young Namibians who complete Grade 11 but cannot progress due to lack of financial support. “It is troubling that Grade 11 learners are encouraged to complete their schooling while, in practice, many…

In the earlier part of this decade, the pinnacle of professional success was often signalled by the "grand escape". Young professionals would hoard their leave days for an entire year, sacrificing their weekends and pushing through burnout, all for the promise of a frantic, two-week international odyssey. We travel halfway across the globe to "relax", yet we spend those days navigating airport logistics, managing currency exchanges, and sticking to rigid sightseeing itineraries. By the time we returned to our desks, we often felt more exhausted than when we left, needing a "vacation from our vacation". As we close out 2025,…