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Allexer Namundjembo Taxi drivers in Windhoek say pothole-riddled streets are wearing down their tyres, and they are calling on the City of Windhoek’s traffic law enforcement division to stop issuing fines for tyre conditions they believe are caused by poor infrastructure. Heavy rains have damaged many roads across the city, making driving conditions difficult and expensive for public transport operators. Frans Natangwe, a taxi driver, said he has replaced his tyres five times since the rainy season began. “To be honest, we want the roads fixed, but we understand that it’s difficult to repair them right now due to the…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Senior citizens across the country have not received their pension grants as expected on 1 April, raising concern over delays in the disbursement of monthly social support. The Ministry of Finance and Social Grants Management says payments were processed on time, but the reason the funds have not reached recipients remains unclear. The finance ministry’s spokesperson, Wilson Shikoto, said the government had fulfilled its payment responsibilities. “The payment was done. So, whatever happened between us and NamPost, we cannot explain. But all we can say is that the payment is done. We are sure that the payment is…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja  Former Hartlief Corporation Ltd employees who were dismissed in December 2022 say they are frustrated by delays in receiving an arbitration ruling from the Office of the Labour Commissioner, more than two years after their case was heard. The case was heard in February 2024 by arbitrator Louise Likando, and closing arguments were submitted in April. Since then, the workers say they have made repeated follow-ups but have not received a clear explanation for the delay. They were initially promised a ruling in February, then again in early March, and now by 31 March, but none of these…

Ester Mbathera  NamWater has been dealing with multiple water supply disruptions across the country due to technical difficulties affecting its infrastructure in recent days. A pipe break on the evening of 29 March on the Ondangwa-Omutsegwonime pipeline near Oniipa has affected water supply to Ondangwa, Oniipa, Omuthiya Town Councils, and nearby constituencies.  NamWater spokesperson Lot Ndamanomhata confirmed that its maintenance team is on-site conducting repairs. “Our maintenance team is on-site conducting repairs, and water supply will resume as soon as the repair work is completed,” the utility said. Essential service institutions such as hospitals, schools, police stations, and clinics in…

Niël Terblanché The media's role in covering gender-based violence (GBV), sexual and reproductive health (SRH), and mental health issues was interrogated during the second media summit and awards in Windhoek last week. The event hosted by the One Economy Foundation brought together journalists, editors, social workers, and subject experts to interrogate and was held under the banner of encouraging more responsible, ethical, and trauma-informed reporting. The event included panel discussions, speeches, and workshops designed to promote dialogue, reflection and the sharing of practical strategies. Josina Ziyaya Machel, a survivor of GBV and founder of the Kuhluka Movement, offered a harrowing…

Niël Terblanché The collapse of a bridge between Windhoek and Rehoboth almost two weeks ago forced NamPower to reroute the transport of its latest mobile substations, named Rhino and Buffalo. The rerouting of the very heavy equipment affected its scheduled deployment.  The national power utility said in a statement on Monday that the original route to Windhoek for the substations, which departed from Benoni, South Africa, on 25 March, had to be changed to ensure that the substations could arrive safely in Namibia. The two 20 MVA substations, which are designed with voltage ratios of 132/66kV to 33/11kV and 132/66kV…