Windhoek Observer

Allexer Namundjembo Drivers and vehicle owners help the National Traffic Information System (NaTIS) generate nearly N$87 million in monthly revenue, works and transport minister Veikko Nekundi told Parliament on Wednesday. Nekundi said that as of September, the country's vehicle population stood at 419,716, while the number of licensed drivers was 379,023.  “Approximately 140,000 NaTIS transactions are conducted monthly, generating a revenue of about N$87 million,” he said during his ministerial statement. Despite the strong revenue, Nekundi acknowledged that clients still face major challenges such as long queues, long waiting periods, unnecessary travel costs, corruption, and scams.  “Therefore, the ministry and…

Justicia Shipena  The minister of industries, mines and energy, Natangue Ithete, has urged Karibib residents to live within town planning boundaries to benefit from electrification projects. This comes as 47% of households are currently connected to the national grid, while 12% rely on solar energy. “The government cannot electrify unserviced areas; therefore, the community is encouraged to ensure that they reside according to the town plan,” Ithete said during the inauguration of electrification projects in Usab, Karibib, on Thursday. The inauguration brought electricity to 257 houses in the area.  Of these, 133 households were connected under the first service level…

Renthia Kaimbi  Former Grootfontein councillor Etnee Tsanigab has lost a court case against the Grootfontein municipality after the High Court dismissed his company’s N$770 000 claim related to a disputed jackhammer rental deal. Court documents obtained by the Windhoek Observer show that High Court judge Thomas Masuku ruled against Elseldra & Etnee Trading CC, a company owned by Tsanigab.  The firm had sued the municipality for N$771 008, claiming it rented out a heavy-duty jackhammer in November 2020 at a daily rate of N$2 450. The municipality denied the claim, saying no agreement existed.  It argued that such an arrangement…

Justicia Shipena The Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) chief executive officer Martin Inkumbi says a past internal fraud case at the fund served as a painful reminder that ethical lapses can undo years of progress and damage institutional credibility. In 2023, GIPF suspended an employee for suspected benefits payment fraud amounting to N$124,000.  A year earlier, the Fund had launched an internal investigation after detecting possible fraudulent activities related to beneficiary payments. Another N$17 million fraud case involving former employees is before the court. Speaking during the Global Ethics Day 2025 commemoration in Windhoek this week, Inkumbi said the case,…

Allexer Namundjembo The newly elected Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) Divundu Branch committee will focus on assisting informal traders to improve their operations. “Divundu has a large number of informal traders and vendors and assisting them to improve their operations will be one of the key priorities on our agenda,” said the new chairperson, Mario Sawahenga. He said the committee would also prioritise unity and collaboration among local entrepreneurs.  “Teamwork and proactive engagement are essential if we want to see tangible results. We must work together and include all partners in advancing the branch’s objectives,” he added. The…

Gondwana’s Desert Grace  Gondwana has fortunately been running splash sales since the beginning of the year 2025, which has afforded Gondwana card-holding members such as myself to experience some of Namibia’s hidden gems but on a budget. I made the impulsive decision to visit The Desert Grace on a Tuesday afternoon after seeing an advert for the flash sale on Instagram and decided to eat air for the rest of the month and purchase my vouchers.  Due to the fact that my decision was last minute, I could only leave for the desert after work on Friday, which meant that…