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Germany simplifies Schengen visa process for Namibians

Germany simplifies Schengen visa process for Namibians

Renthia Kaimbi The German Embassy in Windhoek has announced changes to its process for applying for a Schengen visa.  The change is aimed at simplifying travel procedures for Namibian residents. From 19 January 2026, all applications for short-stay Schengen visas to Germany and several other European countries will be handled exclusively through the external service provider TLS Contact. The embassy stated that the partnership aims to provide applicants with a more efficient and convenient application process for travel to Germany and Europe. Under the new system, applicants can expect reduced waiting times and a quicker, simpler appointment booking process. TLS…
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NCS defends hiring of police chief’s daughter

NCS defends hiring of police chief’s daughter

Renthia Kaimbi The Namibian Correctional Service (NSC) has defended the recruitment of Leefa Shikongo, the daughter of Namibian Police Inspector General Joseph Shikongo.  This comes in response to claims on social media that her hiring process was flawed. In a statement issued yesterday by NSC commissioner general Raphael Hamunyela, the NCS said allegations that Shikongo was recruited without the required qualifications, including claims that her highest grade was Grade 9, were “misleading”. Questions about whether she met the minimum requirements for her post sparked an online debate. The NCS said Leefa was recruited for a specific advertised position as a…
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Dunaiski describes bail refusal as “shocking”

Dunaiski describes bail refusal as “shocking”

Justicia Shipena Former National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) executive and fraud-corruption accused Olivia Dunaiski has described the judgement denying her bail as a “shocking” one.  Dunaiski is now appealing the decision and is asking the High Court to condone delays in her bail appeal and allow the matter to be heard on its merits. Magistrate Linus Samunzala denied bail to Dunaiski and her co-accused in September last year.  In his ruling, Samunzala said five of the six people accused in the N$480 million Namcor corruption and fraud case lied during their bail testimonies.  She said the ruling which denied…
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Education policy changes leave learners unsure about next step

Education policy changes leave learners unsure about next step

Allexer Namundjembo The Popular Democratic Movement Youth League (PDMYL) says recent changes to education policies have left many learners uncertain about their transition from secondary to tertiary education. PDMYL spokesperson Inajovandu Katjepunda stated that the changes have created confusion and could limit opportunities for further study, especially for learners from disadvantaged backgrounds. “The growing uncertainty is deeply concerning,” Katjepunda said, adding that policy shifts have directly affected access to higher education. The Ministry of Education this week released the 2025 national examination results.  According to data from the ministry, only about 36% of Grade 11 learners met the minimum requirements…
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Namdia mum on details of diamond heist recent arrest  

Namdia mum on details of diamond heist recent arrest  

Justicia Shipena Namib Desert Diamonds (Namdia) says it cannot comment beyond confirming the arrest of one of its employees in connection with the N$315 million diamond heist. The Windhoek Observer approached Namdia after the company confirmed on Thursday that an employee had been arrested.  The publication sought details, including the employee’s position, gender and identity, among others.  “Unfortunately, as it is an active criminal investigation, Namdia is not in a position to provide any further details of the arrest,” Namdia’s public relations and communications officer, Beverley Coussement, told the Windhoek Observer in response to questions. Coussement did however, confirm that…
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Nekundi cracks down on foreign-registered transport operations

Nekundi cracks down on foreign-registered transport operations

Renthia Kaimbi The minister of works and transport, Veikko Nekundi, has ordered immediate action against Bluu Car Rental Namibia (Pty) Limited for running unauthorised passenger transport services using foreign-registered vehicles in Namibia. The directive was issued yesterday as part of a clampdown on unlawful cabotage to protect the local transport sector. The violations were detected during preparations for the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup, which Namibia is set to host. The ministry said it found that Bluu Car Rental was operating South African-registered vehicles for domestic passenger transport without the required cross-border permit. Nekundi said the conduct would not be…
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Nyambe urges Africans to build skills in oil and gas negotiations

Nyambe urges Africans to build skills in oil and gas negotiations

Allexer Namundjembo The president of the Association of International Energy Negotiators (AIEN), Shakwa Nyambe, has urged Namibians and other African energy professionals to enrol in the upcoming AIEN international oil and gas contracts and negotiations course. The course will take place from 9 to 13 February 2026 in Cairo, Egypt. Nyambe said the training comes at a critical time as Namibia and other African countries position themselves as emerging oil and gas producers.  He said this shift requires strong local capacity to manage complex contracts, commercial terms and regulatory frameworks. “As Namibia moves from discovery to execution, professionals involved in…
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Youth spotlight: Nestor Nathingo 

Youth spotlight: Nestor Nathingo 

Nestor Nathingo belongs to a new generation of Namibian developers who are less interested in hype and more concerned with usefulness. Trained in software development and driven by a problem-solving instinct, his work sits at the intersection of technology, access, and everyday African realities. Rather than building for abstraction, Nathingo builds for context — creating digital solutions that respond to local needs, system gaps, and practical inefficiencies. His approach reflects a quiet but growing movement among young technologists who see code not as an end in itself but as a civic tool. In a country where digital infrastructure is uneven…
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YOUNG OBSERVER | When the world comes to bat: Cricket, youth opportunity and national development

YOUNG OBSERVER | When the world comes to bat: Cricket, youth opportunity and national development

Windhoek has gone cricket-mad. For the next few weeks the Namibia Cricket Ground and the adjacent high-performance oval are hosting 16 matches as part of the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup (co-hosted with Zimbabwe), a global showcase of rising talent running from 15 January to early February 2026. These fixtures bring international teams, visiting supporters and media to our capital, and they arrive at a moment when sport-as-development is no longer a nice-to-have but a national priority. That matters for three reasons. First, hosting international fixtures demonstrates that Namibia’s venues and administrators can run big events, a credibility boost…
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YOUNG OBSERVER | WW3 or nah? 

YOUNG OBSERVER | WW3 or nah? 

Just as young people were getting into the rhythm of adulthood, budgeting for brunch, arguing about whether soft life is a mindset or a scam, planning trips they may or may not afford, here come the headlines. War here. Tensions there. Missiles in one direction, sanctions in another. Suddenly the group chats have shifted from jokes about unemployment to anxious memes about conscription, nuclear bunkers, and whether learning a new language quickly might be “strategic”. It is a uniquely unfair moment to be young. After surviving a global pandemic, economic instability, and a job market that requires ten years’ experience…
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