Page 191 – Windhoek Observer

25 Jun

Region 5 Games preparations are on track

Sports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Namibia is ready to host the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 Youth Games, scheduled for 4 July 2025 in Windhoek and Swakopmund. This was confirmed by Ndeulipula Hamutumwa, chairperson of the local organising committee. Speaking on Wednesday, Hamutumwa said Namibia accepted the task on short notice after Mozambique withdrew. He said preparations are going well and the country is on track to deliver a successful event. He said major upgrades have been made to the Hage Geingob Rugby Stadium and the University of Namibia (Unam) in Windhoek, as well as the Vineta Stadium in Swakopmund. These…

24 Jun

NIPDB supports shift to new ministry

Main

Allexer Namundjembo The chief executive officer of the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), Nangula Nelulu Uaandja, has welcomed the decision to move the board under the newly restructured Ministry of International Relations and Trade (MIRT). The announcement was made by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah during the Invest in Namibia session in Luanda, Angola, on Tuesday. Speaking in a statement, Uaandja said the NIPDB supports the realignment, describing it as a strategic step to improve coordination between government bodies responsible for investment, trade, and inclusive growth. “The NIPDB welcomes this strategic alignment, which is part of a broader effort to…

24 Jun

Man arrested for allowing a minor to smoke hookah

National News

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The 28-year-old Doctor Mbeheva was arrested on Tuesday for giving his minor daughter a hookah pipe, also known as a hubbly bubbly, to smoke. The incident took place on Saturday, 14 June 2025, at an unknown time at a residence in Otjomuise’s 8ste de Laan, Windhoek. The Namibian Police’s spokesperson, Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi, confirmed the arrest and said Mbeheva unlawfully and intentionally induced the child to use a tobacco product or another harmful substance. He was arrested for violating Section 230(1)(b) of the Child Care and Protection Act, 2015 (Act No. 3 of 2015), and Section 18(1)…

24 Jun

Audit finds gold mines in breach of license rules

National News

Justicia Shipena Six exclusive prospecting licences (EPLs) held by gold mining companies exceeded the legal seven-year renewal limit without ministerial approval. This is one of several violations uncovered by a government audit released by the Office of the Auditor General. The audit reviewed the licenses and operations of QKR Namibia, Navachab Gold Mine, B2Gold Namibia, and Osino Gold Exploration and Mining. It assessed their compliance with mineral licensing laws between the 2020/2021 and 2022/2023 financial years. Auditor general Junias Kandjeke said some companies failed to reduce their exploration areas during renewal as required. The audit also found weak enforcement of…

24 Jun

Skrywer accuses Sankwasa of bullying opposition-led councils

National News

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Landless People’s Movement (LPM) councillor Ivan Skrywer says opposition-led councils will not be forced to implement Swapo’s manifesto or its ideologies. Skrywer, who serves on the City of Windhoek council, was addressing the media on Tuesday when he made this remark. He was responding to a meeting held last week by urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa, which the LPM described as intimidation under the guise of consultation. During that meeting, Sankwasa criticised opposition councillors for taking key decisions without ministry approval. He warned them against working independently, saying he would enforce the law if necessary. Sankwasa…

24 Jun

Cholera response intensifies as new case emerges in Opuwo

National News

Niël Terblanché The ministry of health and social services has confirmed a new suspected cholera case in Opuwo’s Orokapare location. The patient, a 13-year-old boy, was admitted on 20 June with acute watery diarrhoea and severe abdominal pain. According to the ministry, he had no known contact with previous cholera cases and was discharged on Sunday in stable condition. Health officials visited his household on Monday and found all family members in good health. The ongoing recording of new cases has renewed focus on the outbreak in the Kunene region, which has already claimed one life and infected several others.…

24 Jun

MoHSS charts new course to strengthen medicine supply

National News

Niël Terblanché The ministry of health and social services convened its annual National Pharmaceutical Services Forum for 2025, focusing on better governance at regional levels and improving procurement systems to increase access to essential medicines across Namibia. The forum, hosted by the directorate of pharmaceutical services and the national medicines policy coordination division, was officially opened by the ministry’s executive director, Penda Ithindi, on behalf of health minister Esperance Luvindao. Ithindi said the forum comes at a time when there is renewed pressure to deliver the ministry’s core mandate more visibly. He said the pharmaceutical sector and its value chains…

24 Jun

PhD-level graduates forced to guard prisoners

National News

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Landless People’s Movement (LPM) leader Bernadus Swartbooi says unemployed graduates with master’s and PhD qualifications are now forced to apply for jobs in the police force, correctional service, and defence force. Swartbooi made these remarks on Tuesday during a press conference, where he addressed what he called poor decisions by the current administration over the past few months. He criticised prime minister Elijah Ngurare for saying the government is addressing youth unemployment by recruiting young people for law enforcement agencies. A few weeks ago, Ngurare announced that 4,310 young people were being recruited across all 14 regions for…

24 Jun

Japan donates 131 books to the Unam library

National News

Lydia Sageus The University of Namibia (Unam) library has received 131 books through the Read Japan Project, an initiative of the Nippon Foundation facilitated by the Embassy of Japan in Namibia. The official handover ceremony took place recently at Unam in Windhoek. Speaking at the event, the Unam pro-vice chancellor for academic affairs, Frednard Gideon, described libraries as “fundamental to human development and the advancement of society.” He thanked the Japanese delegation and Ambassador Shinichi Asazuma for their continued support of Namibian education. “Your presence here reflects the enduring partnership and mutual respect between our two nations. This event celebrates…

24 Jun

High travel costs cut DACH tourist arrivals

Observer Money

Justicia Shipena The Hospitality Association of Namibia (HAN) attributes the decline in tourist arrivals from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland to increased travel costs. This includes airfare and visa fees, which discourage long-haul travel. The DACH region, which is made up of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, traditionally represents Namibia’s largest middle-market segment. HAN also pointed to global political uncertainty and geopolitical tensions as key factors weighing on international travel sentiment, particularly from European markets. This comes as the latest hospitality report by Simonis Storm shows that the country's national occupancy rate slightly decreased from 54.94% in April to 54.90% in May. …