Windhoek Observer

13465 Posts

Homes under the hammer: When the law protects property but fails people

A troubling pattern is emerging across Windhoek: families are losing their homes through property auctions under circumstances that raise serious questions about fairness, transparency and basic human decency. What should be a carefully regulated, last-resort legal process has, in too many instances, become a mechanical exercise that disregards the lived realities of those affected. No one disputes that debt obligations must be honoured. Financial systems rely on enforcement. Courts exist to uphold contracts. But there is a fundamental difference between enforcing the law and exploiting its rigidity. Increasingly, residents are not challenging the existence of debt; they are challenging the…
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Outrage grows over home repossessions in Windhoek

Outrage grows over home repossessions in Windhoek

Patience Makwele Outrage is growing among Windhoek residents as families facing home repossessions question the fairness of the process.  One of those people is 70-year-old Friedrich Willy Schroeder, who has spent more than a decade challenging the sale of his Hochland Park home.  He says it was sold based on what he calls a “null and void” court judgement. His dispute dates back to April 2013, when his property was sold after legal action linked to a loan with FNB Namibia Holdings now known as FirstRand Namibia.  “They auctioned a non-existent property,” Schroeder said, pointing to differences between Erf 1520…
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Outjo CEO demands apology over corruption claims

Outjo CEO demands apology over corruption claims

Allexer Namundjembo Outjo chief executive officer Tiofilia Jentzsch is demanding an apology over what she says are false corruption claims linked to the Outjo Fire Station tender. According to a letter of demand dated 20 April, Sisa Namandje & Co. Incorporated, acting on her behalf, instructed Outjo-based activist McKay Oswald Losper to retract statements made on social media. The letter states that Losper published claims accusing Jentzsch of being “implicated in the corruption of the Outjo Fire Station", which the firm says are false and defamatory. The letter asserts that Jentzsch has not faced any charges related to corruption and…
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Local firms urged to prepare now or lose out on oil billions

Local firms urged to prepare now or lose out on oil billions

Patience Makwele  Industries, mines and energy minister Modestus Amutse has warned that Namibian businesses risk missing out on oil and gas opportunities if they do not prepare. He spoke at the upstream oil and gas local suppliers’ workshop in Windhoek on Tuesday, held by Petrofund.  Amutse said Namibia is nearing a final investment decision on offshore discoveries, and local firms must be ready. “Namibia is building this industry from the ground up. But participation will not happen by default. Our businesses must understand tendering processes, compliance requirements and operational standards if they are to compete," he said.  The workshop comes…
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Over 140 companies show interest in GH2 projects

Over 140 companies show interest in GH2 projects

Justicia Shipena  More than 140 Namibian companies have submitted proposals for green industrialisation projects.  Green Hydrogen Programme interim head Joseph Mukendwa said the submissions followed a national call for proposals issued last year and closed earlier this year. “These proposals extend far beyond hydrogen production,” he said during the Climate Investment Funds Industry Decarbonisation Programme engagement in Walvis Bay on Tuesday.  Mukendwa said there were plans to decarbonise transport, produce green chemicals and fertilisers and support local manufacturing of renewable energy components. The call for proposals under the African Development Bank’s Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa Green Hydrogen Programme closed…
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Nust, RFA partner to tackle road funding gap

Nust, RFA partner to tackle road funding gap

Allexer Namundjembo The Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust) and the Road Fund Administration (RFA) have signed a research collaboration agreement to address funding and sustainability challenges in Namibia’s road sector. The agreement was signed on Monday in Windhoek. RFA chief executive officer Ali Ipinge said the road sector faces a funding gap of about N$3.7 billion for the 2025/26 financial year. “While this reflects an improvement from the previous year, it remains at a level that we must consider alarming,” Ipinge said. He said a temporary 50% fuel levy reduction will reduce RFA revenue by about N$300 million…
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Vehicle sales hit highest level in years

Vehicle sales hit highest level in years

Chamwe Kaira  Vehicle sales rose to 1 662 units in March, up 43% from 1 162 units in February and 25.3% higher than the 1,326 units recorded in March 2025. This is the strongest March performance since 2015 and lifts first-quarter sales to 3 835 units, compared to 3 412 units in the same period last year, according to Simonis Storm Securities. The report said the recovery follows a slow start to the year and is supported by fleet replacements, rental purchases ahead of the tourism season and lower interest rates. Passenger vehicle sales reached 746 units in March, up…
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Namibia commits N$4bn to power link with Angola

Namibia commits N$4bn to power link with Angola

Chamwe Kaira  Minister of industries, mines and energy, Modestus Amutse has reaffirmed Namibia’s commitment to regional energy cooperation following the signing of agreements for the Angola–Namibia interconnector transmission line. Speaking in Luanda, Amutse said Cabinet approved about N$4 billion in funding on 10 February. The funds will support NamPower’s share in building transmission infrastructure from Cahama in Angola to Kunene in Namibia, including network development within Namibia. The agreements include a power purchase agreement and a joint development agreement.  These mark progress on the project. The development follows engagements between Namibia and Angola, including a ministerial visit on 9 March…
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Windhoek hosts continental aviation gathering 

Windhoek hosts continental aviation gathering 

Staff Writer Windhoek is hosting a continental aviation gathering this week as Aviation Week Africa gets underway under the theme “Linking Africa: Partners for Growth". The four-day event runs from 21 to 24 April at the Windhoek International Convention Centre, with related activities at the Mövenpick Hotel Windhoek. The programme started on 21 April with arrivals, registration and accreditation. The official opening on 22 April includes remarks from industry and government leaders such as Aaron Munetsi, Indileni Daniel and Teofilus Shaende.  Other speakers include Namibia Airports Company (NAC) chief executive officer Bisey Uirab and representatives from Zambia. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah…
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Nedbank says Namibia market still promising

Nedbank says Namibia market still promising

Staff Writer Nedbank Group says Namibia’s operating environment presents structural challenges, including exposure to climate risks such as drought. In its 2025 integrated report, the group said these risks increase the need for monitoring, especially in agriculture, water-intensive sectors, and rural areas.  It said it is focusing on sustainable finance and long-term planning in its regional operations, including Namibia. Nedbank operates in five countries outside South Africa, including Namibia, Lesotho, Mozambique, Eswatini and Zimbabwe. South Africa remains its main market, accounting for about 91% of total assets. The group said regional operations are becoming more important for growth and diversification.…
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