Youth forum launches energy awards

Youth forum launches energy awards

Staff Writer The Namibia Youth Energy Forum (NYEF) will host the Namibia Energy Connect and Energy Trailblazer Awards 2025 from 4 to 5 November at Droombos in Windhoek. NYEF said the initiative is not a conventional energy summit but a national platform designed to bring together Namibia’s energy leaders for reflection, collaboration, and celebration.  "It is the first of its kind, uniting stakeholders from oil and gas, renewable energy, green hydrogen, and energy services to shape the country’s energy future." the forum stated  The event is expected to attract over 1,000 participants, including energy companies, service providers, government leaders, youth,…
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Love, hustles, and household budgets

Love, hustles, and household budgets

Hileni Amadhila We often think love lives in flowers, laughter, and late-night chats, but in real life, it also lives in the rent, the groceries, the school fees, and the “Can we help at home this month?” calls. And in Namibia today, the financial side of love can be just as intense as the romantic side. The 2024 Old Mutual Namibia Financial Services Monitor shows that over half of working Namibians feel financially stressed, with rising costs and slow income growth piling on the pressure. At the same time, almost a third of working adults have more than one income…
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Sports ministry evaluates sites for new sports facilities

Sports ministry evaluates sites for new sports facilities

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The ministry of sports is conducting site inspections  in various regions for the development of basic sports infrastructure. Head of delegation Flora Yambwa said on Tuesday that the visits form part of the ministry’s plan to evaluate identified locations in 121 constituencies. On 12 August 2025, the team met with the Otjinene Councillor and his leadership to review a proposed development site.  The delegation then proceeded to Okandjira–Ovitoto in the Omatako Constituency of the Otjozondjupa region, where they were received by deputy directors from the Regional Council and officers from the Village Council. “In the Erongo Region, the…
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Sankwasa pulls plug on Katima Council

Sankwasa pulls plug on Katima Council

Allexer Namundjebo Zambezi regional leadership says they are unaware of the directive by urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa dissolving the Katima Mulilo Town Council. Katima Mulilo Town Council chief executive officer Raphael Liswaniso said he had not received any official communication.  “As far as I am concerned, I did not receive anything. No official communication to that effect,” he told Windhoek Observer. Liswaniso explained that Sankwasa had invited councillors and staff to meetings this week, including one with the community on Thursday.  “He sent us invitations to several meetings. There is also an invitation to meet staff management,…
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AG told defence ministry to pay Enercon forex fees 

AG told defence ministry to pay Enercon forex fees 

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The ministry of defence and veteran affairs (MoDVA) is legally obliged to pay Enercon Namibia PTY Ltd monthly service bureau charges dating back to 2016, a legal opinion has found. The opinion, dated 19 December 2024 and addressed to minister Frans Kapofi by attorney general Festus Mbandeka, states that the charges are contractually owed regardless of whether Enercon rendered services during the period. “Service bureau charges are a fixed amount which becomes owing at the completion of each contractually stipulated time. A service bureau company, Enercon in this instance, agrees to provide services during that period, each month…
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Procurement code risks to favour politically connected – Expert

Procurement code risks to favour politically connected – Expert

Justicia Shipena Procurement expert Mirjam Bauleth-Nashima has warned that without strong checks and balances, politically connected individuals could exploit the new code of good practices under the Public Procurement Act of 2015. The government recently announced amendments to the act to introduce guidelines that will give preferential treatment to SMEs, women-owned businesses, youth-owned enterprises, and previously disadvantaged individuals. The announcement was made by minister of international relations and trade Selma Ashipala-Musavyi during the third ministerial regional business engagement in the Zambezi Region. Bauleth-Nashima said the code aims to promote fairness but warned against sacrificing quality and cost. “The government’s intention…
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Is it lost keys or lost leadership? A credulous excuse of a failed councillor.

Is it lost keys or lost leadership? A credulous excuse of a failed councillor.

Sem Billy David I  On 5 August, the Samora Machel Constituency Regional Councillor, Hon. Nestor Kalola, offered one of the most incredulous reasons for being absent from his office: “the office key was lost.” This reasoning is both reckless and an insult to the intelligence of the very people he was elected to serve. A difficult question arises: what if his cellphone had been locked inside that same office – would he not have urgently found a way to retrieve it? The excuse is nothing more than a fabrication to cover up poor leadership and failure in office. As an…
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TransNamib pleas rejected in land dispute

TransNamib pleas rejected in land dispute

Allexer Namundjebo The High Court has dismissed three special pleas raised by TransNamib Holdings Limited in its long-running dispute with Marmorwerke Karibib (Pty) Ltd over the transfer of land dating back more than 30 years. The dispute stems from a written agreement in 1992/1993 for the sale of immovable property owned by TransNamib.  The purchase price was N$3 000, with Marmorwerke covering the costs of subdivision, surveying, and registration.  Marmorwerke took possession of the land on 1 April 1993, pending transfer and said it fulfilled its obligations. TransNamib, however, according to court documents, failed to complete the transfer despite repeated…
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AR demands investigation into buried drought food at Otavi 

AR demands investigation into buried drought food at Otavi 

Allexer Namundjebo The Affirmative Repositioning (AR) Movement in Otjozondjupa region has condemned what it calls a systemic failure in the distribution of drought relief food in the Otavi Constituency after buried cans of suspected drought relief fish were discovered near Gabus Lodge on Friday. According to the police, an unspecified quantity of canned fish was uncovered along a gravel road by residents, who alerted law enforcement and the Otjozondjupa Regional Council. AR said the incident reflects a recurring crisis where expired food aid is wasted instead of reaching those in need.  In a statement on Monday, the movement described the…
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Proposed offshore regulator seeks authority to penalise oil firms

Proposed offshore regulator seeks authority to penalise oil firms

Chamwe Kaira  A proposed offshore petroleum safety regulator wants to have the power to impose fines and penalties and shut down operations when necessary in the oil and gas sector.  The regulator would go beyond compliance and safety audits by enforcing strict measures to ensure accountability in the sector. “The Offshore Petroleum Safety Regulatory body will not just oversee compliance and conduct safety audits but will have the authority to impose penalties, fines and shutdown operations when necessary,” said the founder of the Erongo Offshore Safety Conference, Knowledge Ipinge, who recently spoke at the Namibia Oil and Gas Conference in…
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