Windhoek Observer

Ester Mbathera President-elect Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah says she is widening the door for women to follow in her footsteps. She said she was not elected into the country’s highest office because she is a woman. “I am elected as a Namibian citizen with the quality and capability to lead this nation,” she said. Nandi-Ndaitwah made the remarks at her first media conference on Thursday in Windhoek after winning the presidential race early this week. According to her, her ascendance to the highest office affirms that equal responsibility for women and men in society is a reality. “As women activists, we don't…

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Namibian women journalists are disproportionately targeted by online attacks, particularly during politically charged periods such as the recently concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections, according to Namibia Media Trust director, Zoe Titus Speaking during a panel discussion on Thursday titled “Safety Online for Journalists During Elections,” Titus highlighted the prevalence of cyberattacks aimed at female journalists, with many of these attacks being defamatory in nature. She noted the inadequacies in Namibia's cyber laws, which currently do not provide clear protections against such attacks. “There are a lot of attacks directed at journalists every day, and I consider some…

Allexer Namundjembo The Rally for Democracy and Progress’s (RDP) president, Mike Kavekotora has accused the Swapo party of using its influence to undermine political parties established by its former members. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Kavekotora claimed that seat allocations in the recently concluded elections were influenced by Swapo and Zimbabwe’s Zanu-PF, with the aim of eliminating opposition parties formed by former Swapo members. “They want parties formed by former Swapo members to vanish from the political sphere. They made sure that we are not allocated any seat, hoping that the party dies,” Kavekotora said. He also claimed…

Martin Endjala  The Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform (MAWLR) has refuted allegations suggesting it blocked a fertiliser shipment heading to Zambia at the Walvis Bay port out of malice. This comes after Buks Jansen van Rensburg, chief executive officer of Buks Haulage Limited (BHL) Group, took to his social media page this week and accused the ministry of blocking fertiliser in transit to Zambia. He questioned the ministry's rationale for continuing to adhere to a 1947 law, which he referred to as regulations created by the old South African apartheid regime. “Namibia is a net importer of food.…

Allexer Namundjembo Vendors at the Omuthiya Open Market have raised concerns about the newly constructed market, citing its distance from the main road and lack of accessibility as potential threats to their businesses. The open market along the main road has long been a central part of Omuthiya’s economy, providing a platform for trading activities in a town where jobs are scarce. For years, vendors have been trading in open spaces due to the limited capacity of the existing market. Speaking to the Windhoek Observer, Selma Titus, a vendor at the current open market, acknowledged that relocating aligns with the…

Niël Terblanché The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), with a contribution of N$9 million from the Government of Japan, has launched a commodity voucher programme to tackle the worsening hunger crisis caused by the ongoing drought in Namibia. The programme was inaugurated at Okauva Village in the Ohangwena region, aiming to support 27 000 vulnerable people across the Ohangwena and Kunene regions on Thursday. Ericah Shafudah, WFP Deputy Country Director, while speaking at the launch, highlighted the critical nature of the partnership. "The partnership with Japan is critical in preventing the escalation of malnutrition and ensuring that families do…

Niël Terblanché Namibia is set to take centre stage in global biodiversity conservation by hosting the 11 Session of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). The event will take place in Windhoek from 10 to 16 December, gathering approximately 750 delegates from more than 150 countries. According to Romeo Muyunda, the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism’s spokesperson, leading scientists, policymakers, and international experts will be among the participants, who will discuss critical issues related to biodiversity, ecosystem services, and their integral role in human well-being. “The event will further contribute to Namibia’s growing prominence in…

Niël Terblanché Sam Shivute, the Commissioner of the Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA), has been elected as the Vice Chairperson of the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) which represents a giant leap forward for the country’s tax administration structures. According to NamRA's spokesperson, Yarukeekuro Ndorokaze, the election took place during ATAF's General Meetings held in Kigali, Rwanda, on Wednesday. “Shivute, the founding Commissioner of NamRA, will serve as the deputy to Professor Edward Kieswetter, the Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service,” Ndorokaze said. ATAF serves as a platform for intra-African collaboration and peer learning among tax administrations. Its mission is…

Niël Terblanché The deputy prime minister, John Mutorwa unveiled Namibia’s National Risk Profile of Natural Hazards and Selected Diseases in Windhoek on Wednesday. This comprehensive document represents a fundamental step in shifting the country's disaster management approach from reactive to proactive. Mutorwa said the risk profile, commissioned by the Office of the Prime Minister, provides a detailed analysis of the country's exposure to various natural hazards, including droughts, floods, heatwaves, windstorms, lightning, and earthquakes. “The essence of managing disaster risks lies in the proactive, strategic, and sustainable approach to reducing vulnerabilities and enhancing resilience,” he said. Mutorwa reiterated that the…

Stefanus Nashama The Khomas Regional Council has allocated N$3 million to install five overhead lights at the Goreangab informal settlement in Windhoek. This was confirmed on Thursday by Samora Machel Constituency Councillor Nestor Kalola. Kalola explained that the program to provide lighting for residents in the area was proposed last year, but it could not be implemented due to a lack of funds. “I have submitted a proposal for the project at the Windhoek Municipality since last year, but there was no money available. Fortunately, the Khomas Regional Council made the N$3 million available for the project,” he said. Currently,…