Windhoek Observer

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The United People's Movement (UPM) has been struggling to attract the youth to take up positions within the party structures due to a lack of interest in politics. UPM president, Jan van Wyk revealed this during an interview with the Windhoek Observer while outlining the party’s plans for the November elections. He said that even though there has been a slight change in the number of young people joining the party, they are still behind when compared to other political parties. “Until recently, the UPM had a problem getting the youth into its ranks. We see a change…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The construction of the Otjiwarongo referral hospital planned seven years ago with a budget of N$720 million, remains stalled, causing challenges for healthcare access in the region. In an interview with the Windhoek Observer on Thursday, Otjozondjupa Governor James Uerikua said that decentralisation of procurement functions to local governments could expedite the process. “As the regional government, we do not have much control over what happens in procurement, and it is hampering progress because it is at the central government. If this element could be decentralised, it could speed up the process,” said Uerikua. Despite allocating an erf,…

Ester Mbathera In an effort to invalidate a crucial decision the party's central committee made to postpone the extraordinary congress to 19 April 2025, five members of the SWAPO have filed a lawsuit against their own party. The applicants, Joshua Vaino Martins, Petrus Ndeshipanda Shituula, Aina Kalimba Angula, Reinhold Nghihepavali Shipwikineni, and Erich Chrismann Shivute, filed a Notice of Motion with the High Court of Namibia on Thursday. The five have been insisting on the party holding an extraordinary congress in order to elect a party president before the November elections. Swapo currently has no president, just Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as…

Martin Endjala Several communities across the country have proposed the creation of their own constituencies for better service delivery. This trend emerged during ongoing consultation meetings with the Boundaries Delimitation and Demarcation Commission in the Khomas region. The residents of the informal settlements in Havana and Goreangab are the latest community to express a desire for representation. They are currently part of the Samora Machel Constituency. Affirmative Repositioning Movement (AR) Khomas region chairperson and youth community leader Sem David of the Samora Machel Community Development Committee (CDC) and community members rejected the border demarcation commission's decision to split the Samora…