Page 230 – Windhoek Observer

02 Sep

Analyst slams Sankwasa for belittling social work

National News

Allexer Namundjembo Urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa’s recent comment about “married people running to unmarried social workers” has been described as ignorant and misleading. Sankwasa made the remarks on Saturday during the official designation of chief Eugene Kudumo of the Uukwangali Traditional Authority in Nkurenkuru. He said the best social workers did not graduate from the University of Namibia (Unam). "Our best social workers in this world were our grandparents and uncles, and not graduates from Unam," he said. Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah criticised the statement, saying it undermined a profession central to Namibia’s social welfare system. “There…

02 Sep

EU–Namibia Business Forum set for 2026

National News

Justicia Shipena Preparations are underway for the next EU–Namibia Business Forum, scheduled for 24–25 March 2026. The announcement was made during the 2025 EU–Namibia Partnership Dialogue held in Windhoek on Monday. The dialogue was co-chaired by Namibia’s minister of international relations and trade, Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, and the European Union (EU) ambassador to Namibia, Ana Beatriz Martins. It brought together senior Namibian government officials, EU representatives, and member states, including France, Finland, Germany, Portugal, and Spain. Talks focused on strengthening economic and trade ties, with emphasis on the EU–SADC Economic Partnership Agreement and the African Continental Free Trade Area. The meeting…

02 Sep

Vakwangali people finally get designated chief

National News

Allexer Namundjembo After more than a decade of legal battles, Eugene Siwombe Kudumo has officially been designated as chief of the Vakwangali people, succeeding the late chief Sitentu Mpasi, who died 11 years ago. The ceremony drew traditional leaders from across the country and neighbouring Angola, including chief Sofia Mujembwe of Sambyu, chief Alfons Kaundu of Mbunza, and chief May Kasamane of Mangondo. The path to Kudumo’s recognition was long and contested. In February 2017, the Windhoek High Court set aside the minister of urban and rural development's decision to designate him, citing irregularities in the nomination process. The challenge…

02 Sep

US tariffs threaten Namibia’s international payments

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira The recent announcement of a 15 percent tariff on Namibian exports to the US and a 30% tariff on South African goods has implications that go beyond trade flows, analyst Almandro Jansen of Simonis Storm Securities has warned. Jansen said these measures will also affect how money moves across borders, particularly through the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) system, the backbone of international payments. SWIFT is used by over 11 000 financial institutions worldwide. It allows banks to send payment instructions, settle cross-border trade, and communicate in a standard format. Almost every Namibian dollar earned from…

02 Sep

Namibia exported over 300 000 tonnes of goods in June

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Walvis Bay exported goods worth nearly N$7 billion in June, according to the latest International Merchandise Trade Statistics Bulletin released by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA). Sea transport remained the top channel, moving exports valued at N$6.9 billion, equal to 56.7% of all exports. The shipments mainly included uranium, fish and copper products. Air was the second most used mode, carrying 23.6% of exports, mostly non-monetary gold and diamonds. Road transport followed with 19.7%, with fish, petroleum oils and sulphur among the main goods. In total, 312 464 tonnes of goods left the country in June. This was…

02 Sep

New appointment…

Observer Money

Capricorn Group has appointed Mariantha Fryer as group brand manager in its brand and corporate affairs department, effective 1 September.Fryer has close to 25 years of experience in strategic marketing, brand building and communications. She has worked in industries ranging from automotive and financial services to education and advertising.Her appointment strengthens Capricorn Group’s focus on building its brand and engaging stakeholders.Photo: Bank Windhoek

02 Sep

Swakopmund Mayoral Cup secures N$30 000 sponsorship

Featured, Sports

Hertta-Maia Amutenja Bornfree Fishing and RND Holdings have sponsored the 2025 Swakopmund Mayoral Cup with N$30 000. The sponsorship, which includes funding and trophies, was announced at the official launch of the tournament on 29 August in Swakopmund. This year’s Mayoral Cup will see 34 teams compete in soccer and netball. Prizes include cash and trophies for top performers, such as the fair play team (N$2 000) and the player, coach, goalkeeper, top scorer, referee, and assistant referee of the tournament (each N$1 000). The two companies also donated a soccer kit to the Swakopmund Municipality staff team, which will…

02 Sep

OBSERVER DAILY | 552 learners, 12 trees, 0 Classrooms: Minister Steenkamp, where is the plan?

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

This past week, Namibians were once again confronted with an image that should never have existed 35 years after independence: children sitting under trees, trying to learn. The scene was Ndama East Primary School in Kavango East, where 552 learners, yes, five hundred and fifty-two children, are being taught under the shade of trees. Each tree is a “classroom”. There are more than twelve such “classrooms”, manned by fourteen qualified teachers doing their utmost with nothing but chalk, voices, and hope. The man who brought this story to the national consciousness was not a government minister, not an education inspector,…

01 Sep

Lost records cloud N$65m grant funds

Main

Renthia Kaimbi Documents obtained by the Windhoek Observer reveal that cash-based payment data for 2013 and 2019 went missing from the USB drive Namibia Post Ltd (NamPost) provided to the government. On Friday it emerged that the ministry of gender equality and child welfare (MGECW) allegedly found that about N$65 million in cash-based grant funds handled by NamPost was unaccounted for and owed back to the state. The unreturned funds relate to the period from 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2019, excluding the missing data from 2013 and 2019. The documents indicate that payments were made “over the counter”…

01 Sep

Gun murders top 165 in four years

National News

Justicia Shipena Between 2021 and 2024, a total of 165 murders were committed with firearms in the country. In 2021, the Namibian police (Nampol) recorded 36 firearm-related murders, rising to 56 in 2022, which marked the highest annual total. In 2023, 38 cases were recorded, and 35 were recorded in 2024, bringing the total to 165. Nampol deputy inspector general Elias Mutota also highlighted attempted murder cases involving firearms. In 2021, police recorded 115 cases. In 2022, there were 132 cases, rising to 141 in 2023 and 150 in 2024. He said firearm-related crimes remain high, including robberies, attempted murders,…