Page 8 – News Stand

14 Jul

Kantema unveils tools to fight child marriage

Allexer Namundjembo The ministry of gender equality and child welfare has launched a national campaign to address child marriage. The campaign includes child-friendly materials based on the child care and protection act of 2015. The materials aim to help children, parents, and communities understand the law, especially the provision that prohibits marriage under the age of 18. The campaign was officially launched on 12 June during the Day of the African Child. Minister Emma Kantema announced the initiative in the National Assembly last week. She said the campaign includes posters, pamphlets, videos, social media graphics, booklets, and radio dramas. “Child…

14 Jul

No civilian has right to disarm police – Shikwambi

info_e12wt4csNational NewsNo civilian has right to disarm police – Shikwambi

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Deputy commissioner Kauna Shikwambi, national spokesperson of the Namibian Police Force, said allowing civilians to disarm police officers undermines the law and compromises the officer’s ability to carry out their duties. Shikwambi shared this in an interview with the Windhoek Observer in response to an incident at Sinomine Tsumeb Smelter, where the company reportedly demanded that bodyguards of minister of justice and labour relations, Fillemon Immanuel, surrender their firearms to company security before being allowed entry. The incident occurred last week, during the minister's visit to the Chinese-owned company to inspect a labour dispute. Media reports indicate the…

14 Jul

Windhoek hauls away 1 877 waste loads in clean-up effort

info_e12wt4csFeaturedMayoral Clean‑Up Campaign

Allexer Namundjembo The City of Windhoek has launched its 2025 Mayoral Clean‑Up Campaign under the theme “My Waste, My Responsibility”, calling on residents, businesses, and institutions to help restore Windhoek’s status as Africa’s cleanest capital. Speaking at the launch, Windhoek mayor Ndeshihafela Larandja said the campaign is not just a one-day event but a citywide effort running until October 2025. It focuses on community-driven waste management and environmental care. She said the initiative aligns with the city’s strategic plan 2022–2027, which promotes collective responsibility for urban cleanliness and public health. Since April 2025, the City has emptied over 5,100 skip…

14 Jul

MIRT denies excluding IPC during Modi visit

info_e12wt4csNational NewsNarendra Modi, Panduleni Itula

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The ministry of international relations and trade (MIRT) has dismissed claims by the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) that the party’s leader, Panduleni Itula, was excluded from official events during the recent visit of Indian prime minister Narendra Modi. In a statement issued on Thursday, MIRT said Itula was formally invited to attend a state luncheon hosted in Modi’s honour. The ministry called the IPC's accusations “false” and “misleading”. “The Leader of the Opposition Party was invited to the luncheon hosted in honour of His Excellency Narendra Modi. The invitations to both the Leader of the Official Opposition…

13 Jul

Windhoek shoppers pay more for white bread flour

info_e12wt4csObserver Money

Justicia Shipena Residents in the Khomas region paid the highest price for white bread flour in June 2025, according to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) bulletin released by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA). A 2.5kg bag of white flour costs N$53.21 in Khomas, compared to N$51.99 in southern and eastern regions and N$49.66 in the north. For white cake flour (2.5 kg), the highest price was N$59.19 in the southern and Eastern regions followed by Khomas at N$57.55, while the north recorded the lowest price at N$52.64. This comes as the country's annual inflation rate stood at 3.7% in…

13 Jul

Rundu chiefs unveils new management

info_e12wt4csFeatured, SportsAgrippa Haindondo, Galil Palvin, Namibia Premier League, Rusten Director, Tomas Matias

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Rundu Chiefs Football Club has appointed a new management and technical team following its promotion to the Namibia Premier League for the 2025/26 season. Club chairman Agrippa Haindondo said the new contracts will take effect on 1 September, when preparations for the upcoming top-flight season begin. The appointments follow the club’s registration as a close corporation and an internal restructuring process. “These strategic hires underscore the club's commitment to professional excellence and sustainable growth as it prepares to compete in the Namibia Premier League, following its recent registration as a Close Corporation and a comprehensive internal restructuring. This…

13 Jul

T20 league to shape next cricket stars

info_e12wt4csSportsAndrew Hall, Cricket Namibia CEO Johan Muller, Jean Basson, Riaan Grobler

Justicia Shipena The 2025 T20 Franchise Competition is set to identify future talent for the country's high-performance squad and national cricket team. As the country’s top cricket league for clubs, it offers top players a competitive platform to showcase their skills and earn national selection. Cricket Namibia launched the tournament last week, introducing four franchise teams and their sponsors. The matches will be played over the first two weekends of August at the FNB Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek. Cricket Namibia CEO Johan Muller welcomed the sponsors and praised their investment in the sport. “We are excited and privileged to…

13 Jul

Open water team set for Singapore

info_e12wt4csSportsMadison Bergh, Nico Esslinger, Reza Westerduin, Riaan Steyn, Tristan Nell, World Aquatic Open Water Championships

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Namibian Open Water Swimming team will compete at the World Aquatic Open Water Championships in Singapore, taking place from 15 to 20 July 2025. Namibia Aquatic Sports Federation president Riaan Steyn announced over the weekend that four athletes will represent Namibia. They are Madison Bergh, Reza Westerduin, Tristan Nell, and Nico Esslinger. The team will be accompanied by coach Jörn Diekmann and team manager Angelika Diekmann. Nico Esslinger joined the team in Singapore after arriving from Antibes, France, where he is on a scholarship. He will compete in the 10 km, 5 km, 3 km knockout, and…

11 Jul

Health ministry blames tender delays on emergency tenders

info_e12wt4csNational NewsCentral Procurement Board of Namibia (CPBN)

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Ministry of Health and Social Services says it was forced to spend over N$54.8 million through emergency and direct procurement due to delays by the Central Procurement Board of Namibia (CPBN) in awarding tenders. Health executive director Penda Ithindi told the Windhoek Observer that legal challenges and slow tender processes forced the ministry to use emergency, direct, and restricted procurement methods. He said these steps, including requests for quotations, were necessary to prevent service interruptions. The auditor general’s 2022/2023 report revealed that the ministry used emergency procurement worth N$19.2 million and direct procurement worth N$35.6 million. The…

11 Jul

IPC cries foul over exclusion from state functions during Modi visit

info_e12wt4csNational NewsIndependent Patriots for Change (IPC)

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) has accused the Namibian government of excluding the party from official events during Indian prime minister Narendra Modi’s visit, calling it an insult to democracy and the voters who supported them. IPC leader Panduleni Itula said the government continues to sideline the opposition, despite the IPC being the second-largest party in Parliament. He said the situation was especially disappointing during Modi’s visit, given that the Indian leader represents the world’s largest democracy. “While India’s prime minister, representing 1.4 billion people, who exercise their democratic rights, stands on Namibian soil, our own government…