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Hertta-Maria Amutenja The /Gobanin and San traditional communities in the Omaheke Region have accused the Namibian government of marginalising them, dispossessing their land, and refusing to recognise their elected leader, Chief Frans Migub/Goagoseb. The communities say Chief Goagoseb was elected and crowned in October 2003 under their customary law.  However, for over 20 years, the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development (MURD) has not recognised him.  Instead, the ministry recognises Stephanus Gariseb, whom the communities say was imposed on them against their will. “The continued non-recognition of our democratically elected chief and the failure to address our historical land dispossession…

Allexer Namundjebo Swapo’s secretary general, Sophia Shaningwa, has dismissed Reinhold Shipwikineni’s resignation from the party, calling it meaningless and accusing him of trying to sabotage the party from within. Her comments came in a response letter after Shipwikineni submitted his resignation to the Swapo headquarters earlier this week. Shaningwa said the party had already distanced itself from Shipwikineni when he publicly supported Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) presidential candidate Panduleni Itula ahead of the 2024 national elections. “For that reason, the Swapo Party had already viewed you as no longer part of its membership,” said Shaningwa in a response letter. …

Justicia Shipena  The Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) will pay the Namibia Airports Company (NAC) just over N$7,000 a year for hosting its information desk at the Hosea Kutako International Airport. NTB confirmed to the Windhoek Observer that the board will pay a monthly fee of N$660 to the NAC. “As outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NTB and NAC, the NTB will indeed be required to pay a monthly fee of N$660.00 to NAC,” said Flora Quest, NTB’s corporate communication practitioner. She said the fee has been factored into NTB’s approved budget. “It’s a cost that has been…

Justicia Shipena  The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has warned all electoral officials against negligence or misconduct that could undermine the country’s electoral process. The warning comes as ECN prepares for the upcoming Regional Councils and Local Authorities elections set for later this year. Chairperson Elise Nghikembua issued the warning on Monday during a training session in Otjiwarongo.  The session is part of preparations for the Supplementary Registration of Voters (SRV) ahead of the 2025 regional council and local authority elections. The training brought together regional electoral officers, IT officers, logistics officers, and supervisors of registration from all 14 regions.…

Allexer Namundjebo The Ministry of Health and Social Services is under scrutiny after Member of Parliament Job Amupanda raised concerns about the procurement of malaria treatment tablets allegedly brought into the country through the Ngoma Border Post. Amupanda shared on his official social media platforms that his investigative platform, Eagle 25, obtained documents showing the government paid N$1,500 per pack of 100 malaria tablets.  He indicated that the purchase involved 300 packs, costing a total of N$450,000.  However, the original supplier charged only R580 (about N$696) per pack. “Assuming the transportation cost was N$50,000, a crazy figure, the middlemen still…

Niël Terblanché Namibia and Mozambique leaders have reaffirmed their strong political and diplomatic relations.  The heads of state mutually agreed on the urgency of turning these ties into solid economic partnerships to improve the livelihoods of their citizens. This comes as President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah took a one-day visit to Maputo on Monday focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation. Mozambique's Foreign Affairs Minister, Maria Manuela Lucas, received her. During the visit, President Nandi-Ndaitwah held bilateral talks with Mozambican President Daniel Chapo. The discussions focused on trade, education, youth development, and regional peace and security. The Namibian presidency said the visit aims to…

Niël Terblanché Reports of drone sightings in rural parts of the country are raising concern among farmers, who suspect the devices may be used for poaching and livestock theft. According to the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU), more farmers are reporting drones flying over farms and remote homesteads, especially at night.  The union said the sightings have sparked questions about possible links to recent criminal activity. In response, a group of concerned individuals has created a protocol to track drone sightings and compare them with reports of theft or poaching. “The Namibian Police and the Namibia Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) have…

Niël Terblanché The Namibian Defence Force (NDF) has accredited six foreign defence attachés and advisors to strengthen international military relations. Air Marshal Martin Pinehas, the chief of the NDF, presided over the accreditation ceremony on Friday. The newly accredited defence representatives are Captain (Navy) Marcelo De Abreu Souza from Brazil, Commodore Samuel Walker from Ghana, Colonel (Mar) Guntur Almasyil from Indonesia, Colonel Gerard Conor O’Hara OBE from the United Kingdom, Colonel Franco Linzalone from Italy, and Lieutenant Colonel Margot Cunningham from the United States of America. Pinehas said defence diplomacy plays an important role in a connected world. “Defence diplomacy…

Justicia Shipena  The ECOFISH Programme is now entering its final semester.  The programme will keep its focus on consolidating efforts, anchoring the initiative institutionally, and preparing for the strategic handover of its work plans to ensure their sustainability beyond the project’s end on 12 September 2025. This follows the 6th Steering Committee meeting in Gaborone, Botswana, which brought together representatives from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Delegation of the European Union to Botswana, the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), and several African Regional Economic Communities (RECs). Over three days, they reviewed the program's progress and outcomes. The first two…