Page 2 – Windhoek Observer

16 Dec

Westair celebrates locally qualified maintenance engineers

Observer Money

Staff Writer Westair Aviation, together with its aviation training subsidiary Signa Aviation, celebrated a historic milestone recently with the graduation of Namibia’s first group of Aviation Maintenance Engineers (AMEs) to complete both their trade test preparation and final assessments entirely within Namibia. The ceremony recognized 20 apprentices who completed 18 theory modules, and nine graduates who successfully completed the full skills test process and are now officially qualified AMEs. This marked the first time a Namibian Aviation Training Organisation (ATO) has delivered a complete trade test pathway locally. It is a breakthrough for the country’s aviation training landscape and an…

16 Dec

AISOD sets out vision for Namibia’s AI future

Observer Money

Staff Writer Artificial Intelligence Service Optimisation for Development (AISOD), a Namibian-registered artificial intelligence innovation and training organisation, has outlined its plans to position Namibia and Africa as leaders in ethical and locally developed AI systems. AISOD was founded in 2023 by Namibian technologist Joel Tiago. The organisation focuses on using artificial intelligence to improve service delivery, develop digital systems, and equip Namibians with technological skills suited to a changing economy. Its work aligns with Namibia’s National AI and Digital Strategies and responds to the need for African-driven AI solutions. “Artificial intelligence must not be something Africa merely consumes,” said Tiago. …

15 Dec

Shafudah says payroll court order is unclear

Main

Renthia Kaimbi Finance minister Ericah Shafudah has denied being in contempt of court, saying the High Court order on the government’s payroll deduction system is unclear and difficult to implement. She also argues that serious data problems from a microlender have delayed the system’s transition. Shafudah filed her defence last Thursday in a case brought by Entrepo Finance (Pty) Ltd, which centres on the Payroll Deduction Management System (PDMS). The system allows civil servants to repay loans directly from their salaries. The Ministry of Finance decided to take over management of the PDMS after its contract with private service provider…

15 Dec

High Court freezes funds in ||Karas corruption case

National News

Allexer Namundjembo The High Court has granted a preservation order freezing funds in the accounts of two individuals linked to a suspected corruption scheme involving the ||Karas Regional Council. High Court acting judge Eileen Rakow issued the order after an application by the office of the prosecutor general. The order bars the account holders from accessing or moving the funds while investigations continue. It also opens the way for possible forfeiture to the state under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA). The case follows allegations raised in Parliament in April by Affirmative Repositioning leader Job Amupanda. Amupanda accused August…

15 Dec

Ngurare calls for equal care at Kaisosi Medical Centre

National News

Renthia Kaimbi Prime minister Elijah Ngurare says the new Kaisosi Medical Centre must serve all Namibians and not only those with medical aid. He stressed that health care must remain a right and not a privilege. “Health is a human right, not a luxury commodity… I challenge you to structure your services to assist the wider access and delivery of primary health services to all people… not just those with medical aid cards,” Ngurare said at the official opening of the facility on Friday in Rundu. Ngurare officially opened the Kaisosi Medical Centre, describing it as a key milestone in…

15 Dec

Only unsafe and unregistered vehicles restricted at Sossusvlei

National News

Allexer Namundjebo The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism says the Sossusvlei shuttle concession only restricts access for certain vehicles and unregistered operators and does not block self-drive visitors or Namibia Tourism Board (NTB)-registered tour operators and lodges from entering Sossusvlei at no cost. The ministry issued the clarification on Saturday following growing concern from tourism operators and the public about how the concession works and whether it limits access to the iconic site. According to the ministry, the restrictions apply only to unregistered operators, environmentally risky vehicles such as buses and trucks, and unsuitable 2×4 vehicles, especially on the…

15 Dec

The village has died. Long live the village

Featured, Opinions

Not long ago, a friend and I found ourselves locked in a heated debate about our traditional villages, what many of us still affectionately call “back home". What began as a casual conversation quickly turned into a fundamental disagreement about the future of these places. His position was blunt: our villages are dying and not worth investing in. Mine was equally firm: if villages are dying, then it is precisely our generation, the one with education, mobility, and relative means, that must step in to ensure they do not disappear. That debate forced me to confront a broader national question:…

15 Dec

A milestone worth noting, not a moment for complacency

Editorial, Featured, Observer Money

Namibia’s ranking as the fifth safest country in Africa for money laundering and financial crime risk is, by any reasonable measure, good news. According to the 2025 Basel Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Financial Crime Risk Index, the country continues on a positive trajectory, recording steady improvements over the past three years. With a score declining from 5.09 in 2023 to 4.78 in 2025 on a scale where lower scores indicate lower risk, Namibia now stands among the continent’s stronger performers in safeguarding its financial system. This achievement deserves recognition. At a time when illicit financial flows, corruption, and transnational crime…

15 Dec

When unity becomes a performance, the centre no longer holds and the nation falls apart: The selective accountability dilemma

Featured, Opinions

PAUL T. SHIPALE (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara) Namibia is widely praised for its stability, democratic institutions, and robust legal frameworks. Yet beneath this reputation, a troubling pattern has emerged: accountability is increasingly inconsistent, seemingly influenced more by political proximity than principle. From diplomatic postings to internal reshuffles, some officials face swift public censure, while others with comparable controversies are quietly elevated. This uneven application of rules raises concerns that Namibia may be drifting toward selective governance, a phenomenon observable in other African democracies under political strain. Let us unpack these contradictions, trace their origins, and examine what they…

15 Dec

Oceana plans talks with regulators on horse mackerel industry

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira The Oceana Group, which harvests horse mackerel in Namibian waters, says it plans to engage Namibian regulators to establish a sustainable industry framework. The group says concerns persist about the sustainability of the horse mackerel industry framework in Namibia. Oceana noted that the South African industry recorded good landings in the first half of the year against an interim total allowable catch (TAC) allocation of 35 000 tonnes. The final TAC increased to 44 000 tonnes in November. In Namibia, the government issued a TAC of 10 000 tonnes as part of its policy objectives. This marked the…