Windhoek Observer – Page 11 – Windhoek Observer

20 Jan

Petra unearths 42ct, blue diamond from Cullinan Mine

Observer Money

Petra Diamonds has recovered a blue diamond weighing 41.82 carats from its Cullinan mine in South Africa. The stone, a type IIb of “exceptional quality”, is the first of its colour and magnitude the deposit has yielded in the past five years, Petra said Tuesday. The previous one was a 39.34-carat diamond it found at the site in April 2021. The company sold that gem for US$40.2 million. The miner is in the process of analysing the stone and deciding the best method of sale. The Cullinan mine is known for the recovery of rare, high-value blue diamonds. The stone…

19 Jan

Itula, Nashinge allegedly clash over ‘opposition leader’ title

National News

Renthia Kaimbi Tensions have reportedly emerged within the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) over the use of the title “leader of the official opposition”. The disagreement is between party president Panduleni Itula and IPC’s parliamentary leader Immanuel Nashinge. Sources told the Windhoek Observer that Itula allegedly warned Nashinge in December 2025 against responding to the title outside parliament. Itula is also said to have insisted that all state invitations meant for the opposition leader be forwarded directly to him. Nashinge dismissed the allegations as a “boring joke” and said the IPC’s leadership structure is clear. “(The) leader of the official…

19 Jan

Public offices still lack sign language services

National News

Allexer Namundjembo Sign language interpretation services in Namibia remain inadequate despite recent progress, the National Association of Deaf Adults (NNAD) has said. Responding to questions on the status of sign language integration last week, NNAD said initiatives such as the Namibian Sign Language App (NAMSLAP) have improved access, especially in schools. It said many deaf Namibians still face barriers when accessing public services. “The landscape of sign language interpretation in Namibia presents both progress and persistent challenges,” the association said, noting that NAMSLAP was rolled out with support from the UN Democracy Fund and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS). NNAD…

19 Jan

Admission to university does not guarantee funding – Steenkamp

National News

Staff Writer The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture says admission into a tertiary institution does not automatically guarantee government funding. Education minister Sanet Steenkamp on Friday clarified how the subsidised tertiary funding model will apply for the 2026 academic year. Steenkamp said funding decisions under the subsidised tertiary funding model will continue to follow the existing eligibility rules used by the Namibia Student Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF), despite the expansion of subsidised education. “Being admitted into a tertiary institution does not automatically guarantee funding, but funding decisions will be guided by the existing, transparent requirements,” Steenkamp…

19 Jan

Gazza eyes job creation through local business ventures

National News

Renthia Kaimbi Kwaito artist Lazarus "Gazza" Shiimi has ended a brief venture related to the international defence sector and is now refocusing on music and local business projects in Namibia. Shiimi said the separation from a UAE-based manufacturer of armoured vehicles and security equipment was amicable and followed limited support from local stakeholders. He said the decision allows him to focus on areas where he can have a direct impact on youth development and economic growth at home. “When an opportunity arises that could potentially build skills and industry for our people, I believe in exploring it fully. The aim…

19 Jan

TURNING POINT | Which Namibia are we? A nation at war with its own imagination

Featured

“The younger cousin declared that one day he will own his own airline with five planes. The older cousin laughed uncontrollably and said, ‘Look at you and where you are. Just an hour ago you were asking for taxi money, and now you’re making embarrassing exclamations about your life.’ Clearly deflated, the younger cousin fell silent. I then asked the elder cousin, still living in his parents’ house in the village, holding a tertiary qualification, but moving from one drinking hole to another, what his plans were. Without hesitation he said, ‘Well, I tell you, cousin, one day when I…

19 Jan

No more hostage politics: Namibia must close the liberation claims era

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

The latest declaration by the Former Refugees Repatriation Association of Namibia (FRRAN) that it will escalate its demands to President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah should concern every Namibian who cares about the country’s future governance. Former refugees, camping at Swapo headquarters since October last year, insist that United Nations funds meant for their resettlement in 1989 were handed to Swapo and never paid to them. The United Nations denies this. Swapo’s records deny this. Yet the protest continues, and a new political audience is now being sought. At the same time, liberation struggle veterans, despite decades of gratuities, pensions, land allocations, business…

19 Jan

Swapo asks exile protesters to leave its HQ

Main, National News

Renthia Kaimbi Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa has asked protesters camping outside the party’s national headquarters in Windhoek to vacate the premises by Tuesday morning. This follows talks involving senior officials from the United Nations (UN) regarding funds for the repatriation process from exile. In a notice to vacate issued on Sunday, which states that all tents and belongings must be removed from the premises by 10h00 on Tuesday. The demonstrators, led by Joseph Amutenya, are Namibians who returned from exile under UN supervision in 1989. They have been camping at the headquarters since 22 October 2025. They demand clarity…

19 Jan

Farmers unhappy over wage rules on fringe benefits

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira The Agricultural Employers’ Association (AEA) has expressed dissatisfaction with the Ministry of Labour’s stance on in-kind fringe benefits for farm workers, which must be provided in addition to the new National Minimum Wage (NMW). The association says it will continue discussions with the ministry and has called for proper consultation to avoid further job losses. From this month, the minimum cash wage for farm workers has increased from N$10 to N$14 per hour. However, existing in-kind benefits remain compulsory. These include housing with water and sanitation, as well as one of three food or land options. The options…

19 Jan

Construction recovery remains uneven

Observer Money, Uncategorised

Chamwe Kaira Namibia’s construction sector remains on a cautious but uneven path, shaped by improving financial conditions and ongoing structural constraints, according to Simonis Storm’s Namibia Building Statistics for December. Lower inflation and a gradually easing interest-rate environment are providing some relief. However, weak investment pipelines, policy uncertainty and capacity constraints continue to limit a broad-based recovery. Municipal building plan data shows a mixed regional picture. In Windhoek, approved building plans rose by 13% year-on-year in December 2025 to 169 approvals. Month-on-month approvals fell by 4%. On a quarterly basis, Windhoek recorded 543 approved plans in the fourth quarter of…