NamWater to reserve more tenders for local SMEs

NamWater to reserve more tenders for local SMEs

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Namibia Water Corporation (NamWater) chief executive officer Abraham Nehemia says the company is reviewing its procurement system to create more opportunities for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) operating in the sector. He made the remarks during an engagement with northern-based SME owners.  The discussions aimed to build a shared understanding of NamWater’s procurement processes while aligning with the public procurement act and the country's socio-economic goals, including SME empowerment, job creation, and infrastructure development. Nehemia said procurement is not just about transactions but plays a key role in service delivery, institutional trust, and national progress.  He said…
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High Court throws out forgery convictions in 2015 fraud case

High Court throws out forgery convictions in 2015 fraud case

Hertta-Maria Amutenja  The High Court in Windhoek has set aside two criminal convictions in an old fraud case, saying they were wrongly added on top of other similar charges.  At the same time, the court also rejected the appeal attempt because it was filed more than seven years late. The judgement was delivered on 1 August 2025 by judges Dinah Usiku and Herman Christiaan. Fransisca Rongipo Petrus was convicted in 2015 in the Keetmanshoop Regional Court on four charges: fraud, forgery, uttering a forged instrument, and theft by false pretences.  The case stemmed from an incident in August 2009 in…
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Pupkewitz backs national growth with N$10m

Pupkewitz backs national growth with N$10m

Allexer Namundjembo The Pupkewitz Foundation has pledged N$10 million for national development and community upliftment across the country. Pupkewitz Foundation chief executive officer Meryl Barry announced the commitment during a press conference held in Windhoek on Thursday.  The pledge marks a tribute to the foundation’s 100-year legacy and a promise to Namibia’s future. “Signifying N$100,000 for each of the 100 years of being in business, the Foundation reinforces its commitment to national development and community upliftment,” said Barry. She said the money would be directed to six focus areas: education, health, community care, environment, sports, and arts and culture. “These…
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Resettled farmers receive commercial land in Omaheke 

Resettled farmers receive commercial land in Omaheke 

Allexer Namundjembo Twenty-two commercial farmers received their farming units during a handover ceremony held last week in the Omaheke Region.  The event marked the 12th induction ceremony for resettled farmers under the national resettlement programme. Minister of agriculture, fisheries, water, and land reform, Inge Zaamwani, said the farmers had undergone training before taking ownership of the units.  She explained that the 22 units were advertised during three periods: March to May 2023, July 2023, and October to December 2024. “The ministry has planned to provide a platform for the newly resettled commercial farmers, who have been allocated land on 13…
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Wantenaar sets new national swimming record

Wantenaar sets new national swimming record

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Namibian swimmer Ronan Wantenaar has set a new national record in the 50 m breaststroke, clocking 26.85 seconds at the ongoing 2025 World Aquatic Championship in Singapore.  He broke his previous national record of 27.05 seconds. Namibia Aquatic Sports Federation president Riaan Steyn congratulated Wantenaar, saying his performance put Namibia on the international swimming map. “Ronan Wantenaar has made a major splash in the world of competitive swimming by setting a new national record in the 50 m breaststroke at the 2025 World Aquatic Championships in Singapore. Currently ranked 10th in the world for the 50m breaststroke, Wantenaar’s…
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Almost a decade later: Genocide deal talks not yet finalised 

Almost a decade later: Genocide deal talks not yet finalised 

Hertta-Maria Amutenja President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah says Namibia and Germany have not yet reached a final agreement on genocide reparations, nearly ten years after formal negotiations began. She made the remarks on Friday during the 63rd anniversary of Pan African Women’s Day at the Independence Arena in Windhoek.  Nandi-Ndaitwah said talks with Germany are ongoing with the aim of reaching common ground. In April, during her State of the Nation Address (Sona), Nandi-Ndaitwah said progress had been made in discussions over the 1904–1908 genocide committed against the Nama and Ovaherero communities.  That same month, in an interview with Al Jazeera, she…
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New N$1 coin reference stirs outrage

New N$1 coin reference stirs outrage

Justicia Shipena The new N$1 coin, which has not yet entered public circulation, is already facing criticism over its informal reference as the ‘Outere Dollar.’  The backlash stems from a Facebook post by the Bank of Namibia (BoN), which acknowledged the public’s nickname for the coin and referenced the word “Outere”, a Khoekhoegowab term loosely translated as “give me.” Some argue the word carries derogatory connotations The central bank on Friday had shared a Facebook post that read, “So they're calling it the ‘Outere Dollar?’ We see you, Namibia! Yes, that new N$1 coin with the two hands might look…
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City rejects debt write-off for pensioners

City rejects debt write-off for pensioners

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The City of Windhoek has rejected demands for an unconditional write-off of debts owed by pensioners, citing financial risks and current council policy. This follows a petition from the Khomas Ratepayers and Residents Association, which called on the municipality to cancel all pensioner debts and address ongoing concerns about land servicing and water access. City spokesperson Lydia Amutenya said debt cancellations must follow the framework approved by the council in 2023.  “Granting an unconditional write-off of pensioner debt is not permissible under current council resolutions. It would compromise our ability to honour payments to critical service providers such…
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Central valley to undergo GH2 impact assessment in September

Central valley to undergo GH2 impact assessment in September

Justicia Shipena The strategic environmental and social assessment (SESA) for green hydrogen production in the country’s central valley is set to begin in September. The contracting for SESA is expected to be finalised this month.  “We are at the end of the procurement process. Hopefully this week we are going to open some financial envelopes and see what that looks like, and we hope to be contracting in August so that it can start in September,” said Eline van der Linden, head of impact and ESG at the Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme (NGH2P), during a press briefing on Friday. The…
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Leaders worry over NamPost grant deal

Leaders worry over NamPost grant deal

Allexer Namundjembo Political leaders have expressed mixed reactions to the government’s decision to appoint Namibia Post Limited (NamPost) as the official distributor of social grants. Last week, the ministry of finance announced that NamPost would take over the distribution of all social grants across Namibia, replacing private contractors as part of efforts to centralise public service delivery through state-owned entities. The Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement welcomed the appointment.  AR spokesperson George Kambala called it a progressive and strategic move that aligns with the movement’s goal of returning control of essential services to public institutions.  “This shift provides an opportunity to…
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