Blog – Page 12 – Windhoek Observer

07 Dec

Minister silences health director for exposing cholera outbreak

Uncategorised

Renthia Kaimbi Otjozondjupa regional health director Timotheus Gerbardo is facing possible removal from his position after confirming cholera cases in Grootfontein to the media without first informing health minister Dr Esperance Luvindao. Sources in the health ministry said disciplinary steps were set in motion after executive director Penda Ithindi allegedly wrote to the human resources department (HR), reportedly on the minister’s instruction. The HR department then provided two formal options for Gerbardo’s removal. When contacted, Ithindi confirmed that disciplinary action took place but denied that Luvindao ordered Gerbardo’s removal. He said the director shared information with the public “without prior…

05 Dec

From councils of elders to committees of convenience: Namibia’s task force dilemma

Featured, Opinions

PAUL T. SHIPALE (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar) In traditional African communities, pressing challenges were addressed by councils of elders – small groups of trusted, wise individuals who diagnosed problems and proposed solutions. Modern African governments have mirrored this model through task forces: ad hoc committees created to tackle crises in health, economics, corruption, energy, and national security. Typically appointed by presidents, cabinets, or ministers, these bodies are meant to act faster than bureaucracy, mobilise expertise, and recommend actionable reforms. Task forces in theory and reality At their best, task forces are problem-solving engines that: • Gather high-level…

05 Dec

Guided democracy and Swapo’s attempt at self-correction: A necessary consolidation or a democratic setback?

Editorial, Featured

The recent revelation that the Swapo Party politburo has taken the bold step of directly deciding who should serve as mayors and members of management committees in towns under its control has sparked inevitable debate across the political landscape. Critics are already denouncing the move as heavy-handed centralisation, a retreat from democratic norms, and an overreach that sidelines elected councillors. Yet others, including this newspaper, see a more complex picture, one that reflects a maturing understanding within Swapo of its vulnerabilities, shortcomings, and the need to adapt to a political environment far less forgiving than the one it dominated for…

05 Dec

Young artist from Omuthiya steps into music scene

National News

Allexer Namundjembo At 24, Ipinge Martin, known as D son TSO, is stepping into the music scene with his first album. He hopes this project marks the start of a long and meaningful journey in the industry. He grew up in Omuthiya, where his interest in music began with simple sounds around him. He still remembers the hum of his parents’ old radio, the rhythm of daily life and the songs that played during family road trips. “These moments shaped me deeply. To me music was never just noise. It felt like a language, a way to express emotions too…

05 Dec

YOUNG OBSERVER | Youth Spotlight: William Minnie

Featured, Opinions

Young Observer caught up with the youngest and newly elected local authority councillor, William Minnie, of the Mariental Constituency. You have just become one of the youngest councillors in the country. What was the decisive moment that pushed you from being an engaged young person to actually contesting for office? My journey into leadership began long before I ever imagined myself in public office. I was raised in Mariental since birth by my late father, my grandparents and my two aunts, who created a home filled with discipline, compassion, and a deep sense of responsibility to others. My late father…

05 Dec

YOUNG OBSERVER | Holiday hustle showdown: Quick cash ideas for the break

Featured, National News

The festive season is officially here and so is the urge to spend. Whether you are saving up for next year’s tuition, need cash for a new phone or just want to stop asking your parents for airtime, December is the perfect time to activate your inner entrepreneur. Forget the myth that you need massive capital or a degree to earn money. In the spirit of the #KeDezemba hustle, your best assets are your skills, your network, and your smartphone. The Young Observer breaks down the best ways for students and young Namibians to secure that holiday cash, categorized by…

05 Dec

YOUNG OBSERVER | Navigating the festive pressure cooker and protecting your mental health

Featured, National News

The final bell rings, the classrooms are empty, and the long-awaited December holiday is officially here. We are immediately bombarded with images across social media of perfect family reunions, elaborate travel plans, and endless joy. The social script for December is clear: “Be happy. Be busy. Be perfect.” This commercialised pressure is the origin of the Festive Pressure Cooker. Here is the honest truth, though, that needs you to embrace: The festive season is not always the happiest time for everyone. For many, the high expectations, the disruption of routine, the financial strain, complicated family conflicts, or overwhelming grief can…

05 Dec

YOUNG OBSERVER | #Unmuted

Featured, Opinions

December has arrived with the familiar brightness of warm weather, crowded calendars and a soft expectation that the mood of the country should somehow lift. The festive season in Namibia always brings its own rhythm: towns get louder, families gather, travel plans fill group chats, and everyone turns their attention toward rest, celebration, or escape. Yet as we step into this first edition of the month, it is important to acknowledge that the start of December does not magically reset what young people have been carrying throughout the year. If anything, it brings those realities into sharper focus. This week’s…

05 Dec

Late swearing-in may invalidate council actions… magistrates set to swear in councillors today

National News

Justicia Shipena //Kharas Regional Council chairperson Joseph Isaacks says the government’s plan to swear in newly elected regional councillors today risks rendering council decisions invalid and raises legal concerns. He argues that the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development (MURD) set a date that falls outside the timeframe required by law. This follows a circular issued by minister of urban and rural development James Sankwasa on 28 November 2025, which informed outgoing political office bearers that their terms ended on 25 November. He instructed them not to introduce new legislation, policies or resolutions after that date, because such actions would…

05 Dec

High Court throws out Hardap inmate’s N$700k strip-search lawsuit

National News

Justicia Shipena The High Court has dismissed a N$700 000 damages lawsuit by Norman Kavara, an inmate at the Hardap Correctional Facility, who claimed correctional officers humiliated him during a strip-search in August 2021. The judgement delivered on Thursday found that Kavara did not prove that officers unlawfully stripped him, handcuffed him or forced him to perform degrading frog jumps while naked. Kavara is serving a twelve-and-a-half-year sentence for murder. He sued the minister of home affairs, safety and security, the head of the Namibia Correctional Service (NSC), Raphael Hamunyela and three senior officials from Hardap. He claimed they violated…