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NAM-CSIRT launched to enhance National Cybersecurity Response

NAM-CSIRT launched to enhance National Cybersecurity Response

Niël Terblanché Namibia has officially launched its national Cyber Security Incident Response Team (NAM-CSIRT), a dedicated unit aimed at bolstering the country’s digital defences amid a rising tide of cyber threats. The minister of information and communication technology, Emma Theofelus, officiated at the launch in Windhoek on Monday. Theofelus described the launch of NAM-CSIRT as not just a unit, but as national defence against cyber threats. She added that the initiative embodies our commitment to safeguarding Namibia’s critical information infrastructure and ensuring the protection of our citizens' personal data, businesses’ intellectual property, and the integrity of our public and private…
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Outjo councillor urges football coaches to dream bigger

Outjo councillor urges football coaches to dream bigger

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Outjo Constituency councillor Johnny Asino has urged local football coaches to aim high and pursue opportunities beyond Namibia’s borders, encouraging them to dream of leading major international clubs. Asino delivered his message on Monday during the opening of the Namibia Football Association (NFA) Introductory Coaching Course currently taking place in Outjo.  The week-long course has attracted 25 aspiring coaches. He said football is a global sport that connects people across continents and cultures, with players and coaches moving between clubs around the world. He encouraged Namibian coaches to adopt the same global mindset. “You don’t have to confine…
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NFA mourns referees killed in car crash

NFA mourns referees killed in car crash

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Namibia Football Association (NFA) is mourning the death of two match officials, Helmut Andreas and Hans Petrus, who died in a car accident on Friday while en route to Windhoek to officiate at Premier League matches. NFA Director of Marketing and Communications, Isack Hamata, confirmed the tragic loss and described it as a significant blow to refereeing development in Namibia. Andreas, aged 55 and widely known in football circles as "Germany", was a seasoned referee with a long-standing commitment to the game. He held former FIFA accreditation and served as a local referee instructor, assessor, and chairperson…
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Lüderitz port dispute sparks heritage concerns

Lüderitz port dispute sparks heritage concerns

Allexer Namundjembo  The proposed expansion of the Lüderitz port has reignited deep-rooted tensions over Namibia’s colonial past, with traditional leaders raising concerns about potential disruption to sacred heritage sites around Shark Island. Shark Island, located near the port, was used as a concentration camp during the 1904–1908 genocide under German colonial rule.  Thousands of Nama and Ovaherero people were imprisoned and died there under brutal conditions. Today, the site is seen by many as a national symbol of trauma and remembrance. Some traditional leaders from the affected communities have warned that the planned construction could desecrate unmarked graves and disturb…
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Universities await NSFAF payment before releasing degrees

Universities await NSFAF payment before releasing degrees

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The University of Namibia (UNAM) and the Namibian University of Science and Technology (NUST) have dismissed claims that they are holding back the qualifications of graduates with outstanding tuition fees, despite a Cabinet directive that it should be released. Last year, the Cabinet directed these universities to release degrees, diplomas, and transcripts of students who graduated in April 2024 to help them find jobs. This was meant to ease unemployment among graduates. The directive stated that once graduates signed repayment agreements with the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF), the universities must release their qualifications. NSFAF would then…
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NamWater maintains tariffs despite full dams

NamWater maintains tariffs despite full dams

Allexer Namundjembo Despite several major dams under its management reaching full capacity following recent rains, NamWater has kept water tariffs for consumers unchanged. NamWater’s spokesperson Lot Ndamanhomata confirmed the news in response to questions from the Windhoek Observer.  He said the company has not increased tariffs for about five years, despite rising input costs, particularly electricity used for pumping and the chemicals required for water treatment. “Given these rising operational costs, there are currently no plans to reduce water tariffs,” he said. NamWater maintains that current rates are necessary to sustain operations, maintain infrastructure, and ensure long-term water security, regardless…
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NNN urges investors to follow HyIron’s trailblazing example

NNN urges investors to follow HyIron’s trailblazing example

Allexer Namundjembo President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has urged investors to follow the example set by the HyIron Oshivela Plant, which was officially inaugurated in Arandis on Saturday.  The plant, one of the world’s first industrial facilities dedicated to zero-emission iron production, represents a major step in the country’s commitment to sustainable industrialisation and economic transformation. The construction of the facility began in April 2024 through a collaboration between international partners and local expertise. The President said the project aligns with national development goals focused on value addition and resource beneficiation. With an investment of approximately N$600 million, the plant has created…
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New allegations surface against Auas, Groot Aub school principals

New allegations surface against Auas, Groot Aub school principals

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Fresh allegations have surfaced against Auas Primary School principal Toini Nauyoma and Groot Aub Junior Primary School principal Natangwe Shingenge, with community members accusing them of cultural insensitivity, unfair recruitment, and administrative misconduct. The complaints were submitted in a formal letter dated 10 April, addressed to the education minister, Sanet Steenkamp, Public Service Commission (PSC) Commissioner Habate Doeses, and Ombudsman Basilius Dyakugha. All three offices acknowledged receipt, with stamped copies seen by the Windhoek Observer. This publication saw an email from the PSC confirming that Paulus Nghikembua, the regional education director, had received the letter.  Community activist Shaun…
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School athletes set for European tour

School athletes set for European tour

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Namibian Private Schools Organisation (NAPSO) is organising a European athletics tour scheduled to take place in June for young Namibian athletes.  The touring team comprises 10 girls and 10 boys, most of whom are high school learners. The team will depart from Windhoek to Tallinn, Estonia, on 14 June.  They will participate in their first competition from 17 to 18 June, followed by a second competition in Estonia from 19 to 20 June. NAPSO Head of Athletics, Marnarie Gouws, said the team will then travel to Hanover, Germany, on 21 June for training before heading to Sweden…
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NDF choppers deliver relief to flood-stricken communities

NDF choppers deliver relief to flood-stricken communities

Niël Terblanché The Namibian Defence Force (NDF) has launched a coordinated humanitarian relief operation to assist communities affected by severe flooding across the northern regions of the country. The operation, which began on 31 March, covers the Ohangwena, Oshana, Omusati and Kunene regions, where torrential rains have left several areas inaccessible by road. The campaign involves the deployment of NDF helicopters, vehicles and personnel to transport healthcare workers, distribute food parcels, and relocate flood victims to higher ground. Wing Commander Eliaser Ambambi, who heads the operation, said that providing such support to civil authorities and communities falls within the NDF’s…
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