Windhoek Observer

Justicia Shipena The Namibian government is sitting on billions in unpaid loans from municipalities, towns, villages, and public enterprises.  An auditor general’s latest report shows that local authorities and state entities continue to default on loans, deepening the country’s financial strain.  By March 2024, municipalities alone owed the government N$34.3 million in loan capital and a staggering N$46.3 million in interest arrears.  Tsumeb municipality  had the highest debt, with N$10 million in unpaid capital and N$29.8 million in arrears. Mariental followed with N$3.5 million in capital and N$2.7 million in arrears.  Keetmanshoop owed N$2.5 million in capital and N$2.1 million…

Renthia Kaimbi The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) has recalled its councillor for the Walvis Bay Rural constituency, Florian Donatus.  Donatus, who has been serving as council chairperson, was directed to step down through a letter dated 5 September 2025.  The letter ordered him to “immediately cease representing and acting in any capacity on behalf of the IPC on the Erongo Regional Council” and announced a formal investigation into allegations of mismanagement and maladministration of council resources. Allegations surfaced in July that during his four-month tenure as chairperson, unidentified people used the council’s credit facility at a Swakopmund supermarket to…

Allexer Namundjembo The late former Namibia Defence Force (NDF) chief Solomon ‘Jesus’ Hawala wanted to be buried next to his parents. His wish was fulfilled when he was laid to rest in his home village in the Oshana Region this weekend. Hawala was born on 17 August 1935 and died on 11 August 2025 in a local hospital at the age of 89. He was buried in Ongwediva on Saturday. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said the government respected his request. “It was his expressed wish that his remains should be buried here, where his parents were laid to rest. As we…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja  The auditor general, Junias Kandjeke, has reported that the Tsandi Village Council breached the Public Procurement Act when it paid a consulting engineer more than N$1.49 million for services on a project initially awarded at N$326 176. In the report of the auditor general on the accounts of Tsandi Village Council for the financial years ended 30 June 2021 and 30 June 2022, the payments were found to have exceeded the 15% adjustment limit set by the Public Procurement Amendment Act of 2022. “On 09 July 2019, Tsandi Village Council awarded a contract with the cost value of…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja  The son of the late liberation struggle musician Jackson Kaujeua, Jackson Kaujeua Junior, died in Norway on Sunday morning after a period of ill health, a close family member confirmed. Kaujeua followed in his father’s footsteps as a musician, carving out his own space in folk and traditional music. He was known for composing and performing songs that carried forward his father’s legacy while shaping his own style. Local artist Elomotho paid tribute to him, recalling their time in studio together.  “He was vibrant, had a beautiful voice, loved a party and was a people’s person. We had…

The government unveiled a national agricultural support programme for the 2025/26 financial year, allocating over N$28 million to strengthen food security, increase production and productivity, and build climate resilience among small-scale producers.  The programme covers horticulture, poultry, dairy, and small stock development across all 14 regions. The Horticulture Support and Value Chain Development Programme will assist about 1 000 small-scale producers through subsidies on inputs.  Farmers can receive a 50% subsidy on seeds, 60% on fertilizers, 50% on pesticides and herbicides, and 65% on irrigation materials and shade nets. Subsidized tillage services are also available at N$500 per hectare.  To…