Windhoek Observer

Niël Terblanché The Namibian Revolutionary Transport Union (Naretu) has issued a stern warning to truck drivers, advising them to avoid crossing into Mozambique due to escalating post-election violence currently underway in the East African country. Naretu’s president, Petersen Kambinda reported that on Wednesday at least one Namibian truck was torched at the Lebombo border crossing by looters targeting cargo vehicles entering and exiting Mozambique. "One of our drivers was forced out of his truck during the early hours of this morning and was only allowed to remove his personal documents and belongings before the looters set the vehicle on fire,"…

Martin Endjala On Wednesday, the Office of the President announced the postponement of the Chief Hosea Kutako Memorial Shrine's inauguration in Toasis, Aminius Constituency to 10 December. According to the Office of the President’s statement issued on Wednesday, President Nangolo Mbumba was set to unveil the shrine at the inauguration ceremony on Friday. The Presidency stated that the postponement is because President Mbumba will be visiting Botswana to attend the swearing-in ceremony of that country’s president-elect, Duma Boko on Friday, 8 November. “The Presidency wishes to apologise for any inconvenience the change of dates for the inauguration of the Chief…

Martin Endjala The diamond mining company Namdeb has put its private hospital in Oranjemund up for sale or is seeking to outsource its operations to service providers. The company recently issued an Expression of Interest (EOI) notice to registered authorities, who will evaluate it and shortlist those who meet the criteria. “Namdeb is seeking experienced and reputable healthcare service providers to express their interest in the sale or outsourcing of the Namdeb Private Hospital in Oranjemund,” read the notice seen by the Windhoek Observer. Compulsory virtual information sessions were held on 12 November, with the submission deadline set for 20…

Martin Endjala The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) chief communications officer, Josefina Nghituwamata, has announced that former police reservist Sakaria Kokule has been sentenced to three years in prison. Kokule was convicted following his attempt to bribe an ACC official to remove ATM cards from evidence obtained by the ACC in connection with the Fishrot investigation. According to Nghituwamata, Kokule was sentenced on 5 November after being found guilty by the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court on 2 October. Nghituwamata stated that Kokule was arrested in January 2020, and during the trial, the ACC provided evidence showing that a N$250 000 bribe was offered…

Niël Terblanché The Port of Walvis Bay is set to undergo a transformation with the commencement of a six-month-long capital dredging project aimed at widening and deepening its main navigation channel. The Namibian Ports Authority’s (Namport)Chief Port Captain, Lukas Kafuna has outlined the operational details of the dredging project, which will involve three dredger vessels, each measuring 140 metres in length, supported by a 24-metre Multi Cat and a survey vessel. To ensure maritime safety during the dredging operations, Namport has issued a notice to all marine stakeholders detailing the movement schedules of each dredger over the six months, as…

Niël Terblanché Namibia is moving towards bridging the knowledge and resource gaps that many Namibian Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) face, particularly aimed at youth-owned businesses that play an essential role in job creation and poverty alleviation. In this regard, the Economic Association of Namibia (EAN) hosted a landmark discussion on addressing the funding challenges faced by Namibian startups and SMEs in Windhoek on Monday. The event brought together key players from government, financial institutions, and business associations to explore practical solutions for creating a more supportive financial ecosystem for Namibia’s growing entrepreneurial sector. The Deputy Minister of Sport, Youth,…

Niël Terblanché Namibia has embarked on a transformative journey for its agricultural sector with the launch of the Strategy for the Transformation of the Agri-Food Sector (STAS) and the signing of the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) Compact. With this launch, the country has set a transformative agenda to empower its agricultural sector, ensuring it contributes robustly to the nation’s economic future and the prosperity of its people. The Compact signed in Windhoek on Wednesday marks a new era in Namibia’s agricultural development, with the aim of improving food security, creating job opportunities, and enhancing resilience against climate challenges.…

Allexer Namundjembo The Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) inaugurated a new state-of-the-art artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics laboratory. This cutting-edge facility was made possible by a strategic partnership between the university and the Bank of Namibia (BoN), representing a major milestone in the advancement of AI and robotics in the country. BoN's investment in this project highlights its dedication to modernising Namibia’s financial and technological landscape. Naufiku Hamunime, a technical expert in international relations and sustainability at BoN, noted that this investment aligns with the bank’s broader transformation strategy, which prioritises equipping Namibians with future-orientated technical skills to…