Page 59 – Windhoek Observer

17 Jul

Porridge donation aims to tackle child stunting

National News

Allexer Namundjembo The ministries of education, arts and culture and of gender equality and child welfare have received 2 500 bags of instant porridge to support early childhood development feeding in the Erongo Region. The donation forms part of a N$29 million initiative funded by the European Union (EU), with technical support from the United Nations World Food Programme and implementation by local company WECCA Investments CC. Speaking at the handover ceremony in Swakopmund on Thursday, education minister Sanet Steenkamp said early childhood nutrition is essential for development and education. “Nutrition is education, and no child must be left behind…

17 Jul

Mountain bikers face off in high-stakes XCO battle

Sports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The 2025 Nedbank Namibian Mountain Bike XCC, XCO, and Cross-Country Championships will take place this weekend at Towerbos Trails. The event, hosted by the Namibia Cycling Federation (NCF) and sponsored by Nedbank Namibia, will feature the Cross-Country Olympic (XCO) race on Saturday. On Sunday, cyclists will compete in the Cross-Country Short Track (XCC) and Electric Cross-Country (E-XC) events. Nedbank Namibia Communication Manager Selma Kaulinge said the event will showcase Namibia’s cycling talent, from seasoned professionals to future stars. She said the national championships form a key part of the cycling calendar and provide opportunities for local cyclists to…

17 Jul

Nedbank T20 challenge reaches final stage

Sports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The 2025 Nedbank Desert Ice Challenge T20 League will conclude this weekend with the finals scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at the Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek. The league, organised by Impact Cricket Namibia, is supported by Nedbank Namibia through its Beyond Banking Division, which provided a N$150 000 sponsorship for the season. Twelve teams participated in the season including, the UNAM Zebras Legends, Gobabis Bulls, CCD Tigers, Cricket Generation Academy, Okahandja Cricket Club, Windhoek Afrikaans High School, UNAM Zebras Strikers, Cricket Club, Run Whisperers Academy, Over 40s Veterans, Green Mambas, and Tsumeb Old Boys Cricket Club. Nine…

17 Jul

Mbumba backs Spain-Africa strategy

National News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Former president Nangolo Mbumba has called for stronger ties between Africa and Spain, saying both sides can benefit from closer cooperation in economic development, migration, and security. Mbumba spoke on Thursday in Madrid at the official launch of the High-Level Advisory Council on the Spain-Africa Strategy 2025–2028. The council is a platform aimed at strengthening diplomatic, trade, and cultural relations between Spain and African nations. Mbumba attended the launch as a member of the newly formed council. “Spain and Africa share a long history dating back centuries. Given its geographical proximity to Africa, it is not surprising that…

17 Jul

SADC PF urges Namibia to set up national Women’s Parliamentary Caucus

National News

Moses Magadza The Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) has called on Namibia to establish a National Women’s Parliamentary Caucus to accelerate gender-responsive governance and amplify women’s voices in decision-making. Speaking at a high-level roundtable on women in politics and leadership in Swakopmund, SADC PF Secretary General Boemo Sekgoma cautioned that the journey towards gender parity in politics requires both institutional muscle and sustained commitment. She applauded Namibia’s gender milestones, including the recent election of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as the country’s first female President, but stressed that political progress must be impactful. “Women make up only 40% of…

17 Jul

Global democracy body urges action on women’s political inclusion

Africa / World

Moses Magadza An intergovernmental organisation that supports sustainable democracy globally has called for sustained action to dismantle systemic barriers impeding women's full participation in political life. Gram Matenga, the regional head of programmes for Africa and West Asia at the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), made the call on Wednesday at the official opening of a high-level roundtable on women in politics and decision-making roles in Namibia. Matenga commended Namibia for electing its first female president earlier this year, calling it “an extraordinary achievement that resonates across the African continent and globally.” He also paid tribute…

17 Jul

Namibia’s re-classification meaningless to workers in the context of Capitalism

Featured, Opinions

Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro At last Namibia has been reclassified as a lower-middle-income economy from an upper-middle one. A reclassification that the country, especially its late third president, Dr Hage Geingob, hardly missed any international financial and economic platform to plead with players on this platform, especially the World Bank, that the country has wrongly been classified as an upper-middle economy. Late President Geingob may have had his reasons why he very much and untiringly pleaded for a re-classification. Which no doubt had anything to do with what he thought the country at large could benefit from such a re-classification. Foremost, the…

17 Jul

Fighting corruption through a transformative leadership: A new political paradigm

Opinions

PAUL T. SHIPALE (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar) INTRODUCTION Chinua Achebe's poignant observation from 1983, "The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership," resonates with disquieting accuracy within the contemporary Namibian landscape. This enduring warning compels a critical introspection: for how long shall we, as a nation, tacitly endorse the insidious erosion of ethical standards and the systemic decay of institutions, as if such maladies were an ineluctable destiny? How long will the proverb "the goat eats where it’s tied" serve as a convenient justification for pervasive malfeasance, rather than a stark indictment of…

17 Jul

TransNamib revises locomotive procurement strategy

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira TransNamib says it is working closely with stakeholders, funders, and technical advisors to review and update its procurement strategy after the cancellation of its earlier locomotive tender. The updated approach aims to ensure compliance, value for money, and alignment with operational needs. The company has been instructed by the government to diversify its locomotive fleet. To support this, TransNamib is sourcing a rail consultant to help guide the process. A new procurement approach for acquiring 23 locomotives is currently being developed. The process is expected to be relaunched in the coming months, pending approval from financiers and governance…

17 Jul

Nasria targets growth in 2025/2026 financial year

Observer Money

The Namibia Special Risks Insurance Association (Nasria) has disclosed that during the 2024 financial year, its total assets increased to N$869 million, and its net profit exceeded N$100 million for the first In 2024, Nasria restructured its investment portfolio and appointed six new investment managers to lead a sustainable growth strategy. As a result, insurance revenue increased by 6%, rising from N$79 million in 2023 to N$84 million in 2024. The growth was driven mainly by policy renewals and new business. Nasria’s executive of marketing, Ndapona Schleberger, spoke to Observer Money about the association’s evolving role in the insurance industry.…