Kastyle Ndonga Boy shares life lessons in new album

Kastyle Ndonga Boy shares life lessons in new album

Allexer Namundjembo Ananias Paulus, known as Kastyle Ndonga Boy, has released his sixth album, titled “The Message from an Underrated Man”. Born and raised in Oshigambo in the Oshikoto region, Paulus began his music journey in 2021 and has since become one of the country’s rising artists. He discovered his passion for music after realising he had a gift that could heal and share wisdom through songs. Since then, music has become his way of inspiring and teaching life lessons. Speaking to the Windhoek Observer in a telephonic interview, Paulus said his biggest inspiration came from the Namibian artist and…
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Diamond of the Month: October 2025

Diamond of the Month: October 2025

Celebrating Namibian Excellence DTI proudly honours Johanna Kamati as the Diamond of the Month for October 2025, celebrating her remarkable achievement as the first San learner from Hainyeko Combined School in the Ohangwena Region to graduate from a tertiary institution. Her story is one of resilience, courage, and the power of education to transform lives. Johanna, now a graduate of the International University of Management (IUM) in Nkurenkuru, recently obtained her Diploma in Junior Primary Education, marking a historic milestone not only for herself but also for her community. Coming from a remote San settlement, she defied the odds stacked…
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Henties Bay council in hot water over N$200k Lüderitz trip

Henties Bay council in hot water over N$200k Lüderitz trip

Renthia Kaimbi A trip undertaken by Henties Bay municipal officials to Lüderitz cost the council N$200 000.  Documents obtained by the Windhoek Observer show that the delegation was made up of eleven officials, including seven councillors, the acting chief executive officer Ignasia Neis, strategic executive for technical services Emely Tjombumbi, council administrator Erenstine Seibes and property officer Erich Gaoseb.  The group travelled to Lüderitz from 28 October to 1 November 2025.  The stated purpose of the trip was to meet with the Lüderitz Waterfront Development Company and Hyphen Hydrogen Energy.  Community members discovered the trip after visiting the council offices…
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Govt to screen students for extra tertiary education financial support

Govt to screen students for extra tertiary education financial support

Justicia Shipena President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah says the government will be strict in identifying students who qualify for financial support beyond tuition and registration fees under the free tertiary education programme. Speaking during an engagement with youth in Ondangwa over the weekend, Nandi-Ndaitwah clarified that the state will only cover tuition and registration costs for students entering universities and vocational training centres. Earlier this year, during her inaugural State of the Nation Address, she announced that the country will introduce free tertiary education at public institutions starting in the 2026 academic year. “Anyone who qualifies to go to vocational training or…
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NSX to operate as a profit-making public company

NSX to operate as a profit-making public company

Allexer Namundjembo  The government has approved a regulatory framework that allows the Namibia Stock Exchange (NSX) to change its structure and become a for-profit, publicly owned company. The amendment, published in the government gazette dated 31 October 2025, marks the end of years of discussion and sets the stage for the local bourse to become more competitive and growth-driven. The process, known as demutualisation, will see the NSX move from being a non-proprietary voluntary association or member-owned entity to a public company with share capital under the Companies Act of 2004.  “This strategic shift is a well-trodden path for major…
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Windhoek municipality mum on Kelly Khumalo’s performance payment

Windhoek municipality mum on Kelly Khumalo’s performance payment

Allexer Namundjembo  The City of Windhoek has denied claims that it paid South African artist Kelly Khumalo N$650,000 to perform at the Windhoek Jazz Festival.  However, it did not reveal how much was paid to the artist.  Khumalo has been accused in connection with the murder of her former boyfriend, football star Senzo Meyiwa. Testimonies presented in a South African court last year alleged that she ordered Meyiwa’s killing. The Windhoek Jazz Festival took place this weekend.  In an official statement, through the office of the executive officer Moses Matyayi, the municipality said the total budget for all performers at…
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UN pushes Namibia to link every policy to job creation

UN pushes Namibia to link every policy to job creation

Justicia Shipena United Nations resident coordinator to Namibia, Hopolang Phororo, says institutionalising employment impact assessments will help policymakers measure how public spending influences job creation.  She said the process will help them prioritise sectors with the highest potential to create jobs. Phororo was speaking at the awareness-raising event on the employment impact assessment (EmpIA) held at the Hilton Hotel in Windhoek on Friday.  The event brought together government officials, development partners, and experts to discuss ways to integrate employment impact studies into national policymaking. She commended Namibia for taking steps to include employment assessments in planning and budgeting processes.  Phororo…
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OBSERVER DAILY | It’s time for an honest conversation about black business

For far too long, Namibia has danced around the issue of black economic empowerment, turning what should have been a sober national conversation into a shallow talking point. Government after government has touted policies, programmes, and slogans meant to uplift black entrepreneurs, but when you strip away the rhetoric, what’s left is a system that continues to strangle black business while protecting entrenched privilege. You cannot claim to be pro-development while simultaneously being anti–black business.  The two positions are fundamentally incompatible. Yet that is exactly where Namibia finds itself today, where black entrepreneurs are publicly vilified as “tenderpreneurs”, where every…
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Supporting mental health in the mining industry 

Supporting mental health in the mining industry 

Jeane Namhadi  September and October are dedicated to wellness, with a focus on mental health, cancer awareness, and community care. In the 2024/2025 financial year, the Ministry of Health and Social Services reported over 100,000 mental health cases, a number that continues to grow. This rising figure calls for compassion, open dialogue, and the courage to care.  Mental health in the workplace is a vital aspect of creating a supportive and inclusive environment, particularly in industries like mining, where unique working conditions such as shift rotations and extended periods away from family are part of the job. In the mining…
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Foreign reserves drop to N$54.7 billion in September

Foreign reserves drop to N$54.7 billion in September

Chamwe Kaira  Namibia’s stock of international reserves fell to N$54.7 billion in September as government foreign payments reduced the country’s foreign assets, data from the Bank of Namibia shows.  The figure represents a 4.1% month-on-month decline, translating into 3.6 months of import cover.  When oil exploration and appraisal activities are excluded, import cover improved slightly to four months, the central bank said. The banking industry’s overall cash position also weakened to N$7.3 billion in September, down from an average of N$8.1 billion in August, mainly due to cross-border payments. Mortgage credit contracted by 0.3% in September after a marginal growth…
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