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Insurance sector rebounds on long-term premiums

Insurance sector rebounds on long-term premiums

Justicia Shipena  The growth of the insurance sector in the first quarter of 2025 was driven by an increase in long-term gross premiums. The Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA), in its report on the country’s gross domestic product, said the insurance sector recorded an 8.1% growth in real value added, recovering from zero growth in the same quarter last year. This comes as the financial services sector grew by 6.0% in real value added, up from 4.7% during the same period in 2024.  The growth was supported by both the banking and insurance subsectors. The banking sector posted a 3.4% increase,…
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Namibia bags three medals at World Youth Games

Namibia bags three medals at World Youth Games

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Three young Namibian athletes won medals at the World Youth Games held from 26 to 29 June 2025 in Gothenburg, Sweden. Mathew Coetzee took gold in the boys’ under-14 80-metre race with a time of 9.07 seconds, one of the fastest times recorded by a Namibian at that age.  Speaking after the race, Coetzee said the event was a great experience for him, especially since it was his first time competing internationally. “It was a great experience running on an international stage. I enjoyed the race because I didn’t feel challenged by the other athletes. But I didn’t…
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SKW retains U21 title after penalty shootout

SKW retains U21 title after penalty shootout

Staff Writer  Sport Klub Windhoek (SKW) successfully defended its title at the Bank Windhoek Ramblers Under-21 Football Tournament after beating Swallows in a penalty shootout in Windhoek.  The final ended 2-2 in regular time, with both teams reduced to 10 players following red cards. The match was tightly contested and kept fans engaged until the final whistle.  After the win, SKW coach Lucky Kakuva thanked the organisers and sponsors for a well-run tournament.  “We are honoured to partake in this tournament and cannot wait for the 2026 edition. Thanks to the Bank Windhoek and Ramblers partnership,” he said.  Supporters erupted…
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Gobabis hosts fierce grand prix chess battle

Gobabis hosts fierce grand prix chess battle

Justicia Shipena  Fifty-five players recently battled it out in a chess match in Gobabis during the eighth leg of the Bank Windhoek Grand Prix series.  The event recently took place at the Omaheke Regional Library with a few titled participants, drawing interest from both experienced and young chess talents.  President of the Namibia Chess Federation, Berdian Beukes, said the event gave players a chance to earn Grand Prix points and improve their national rankings.  He said the Gobabis Open was a successful leg in the Grand Prix circuit and a positive milestone for the sport in the Omaheke region.  "The…
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Govt spends over N$3m on red line battle

Govt spends over N$3m on red line battle

Justicia Shipena The government has paid approximately N$3.1 million in legal fees for its defence in the veterinary cordon fence case, also known as the red line case.  The payments were made to advocates Raymond Heathcote SC, Marius Boonzaaier, and Hermann Steyn. A document dated 16 April 2025, seen by the Windhoek Observer, shows that the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises authorised the payments as part of outstanding civil litigation costs owed to various legal service providers.  The total amount approved for settlement of all civil litigation costs was over N$24 million. Heathcote submitted an invoice of N$1.1 million…
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Nampol confiscates drugs worth N$106 million

Nampol confiscates drugs worth N$106 million

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Namibian Police (Nampol) confiscated illegal drugs worth over N$106 million and arrested 3,264 suspects between January 2023 and December 2024. The figures were released as the country marked the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on Thursday. In 2023, police recorded drug seizures valued at N$49.3 million.  This amount increased to N$56.6 million in 2024. The seized substances included cannabis, mandrax, cocaine, crack cocaine, MDMA, LSD, methcathinone, ecstasy, and crystal meth. Cannabis made up most of the confiscations. In 2023, police seized cannabis worth over N$40.3 million (4,031,556.87 kg), and in 2024, cannabis worth N$44.2…
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Court orders yaShiindi to compensate NDF chief for legal fees

Court orders yaShiindi to compensate NDF chief for legal fees

Allexer Namundjembo The High Court has ordered Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) member Petrina Nghipudilo yaShiindi to pay N$10,000 towards the legal costs of air marshal Martin Pinehas, within 24 months. The payment forms part of a settlement agreement in a defamation lawsuit filed by Pinehas after yaShiindi claimed on social media that he was plotting to assassinate IPC leader Panduleni Itula.  The allegations were made in a TikTok video posted on 27 November 2024, during the presidential and National Assembly elections. Pinehas denied the claims, calling them false, dangerous, and damaging to his reputation as a senior military officer. …
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TransNamib ordered to pay dismissed employees until retirement

TransNamib ordered to pay dismissed employees until retirement

Hertta-Maria Amutenja TransNamib has been ordered by the Labour Commissioner to pay full salary and benefits to one of two employees dismissed after the 2018 illegal strike.  The payment will cover the period from the date of dismissal until his retirement in October 2019. The ruling follows a lengthy arbitration process that found the dismissals of Johannes Uwanga and Asser Birisamub to be substantively and procedurally unfair.  Arbitrator Matheo Rudath delivered the award this week, declaring that their dismissal violated the Labour Act. Uwanga, a senior train operator, was awarded compensation from the dismissal date until his retirement on 30…
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US-funded equipment donation strengthens patient care

US-funded equipment donation strengthens patient care

Niël Terblanché The country's public health system has received a boost with the delivery of new medical equipment funded by the United States government. The ministry of health and social services accepted the consignment on Thursday in Windhoek.  Executive director Penda Ithindi said the donation reflects the ministry’s commitment to evidence-based planning and collaboration. “The equipment being handed over today is the tangible outcome of such collaborative mechanisms,” Ithindi said during the handover ceremony attended by officials from the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and other partners. He said the…
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20 died on Windhoek roads since January

20 died on Windhoek roads since January

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Windhoek City Police say 20 people have died in road accidents around the capital since January 2025, with reckless driving named as the main cause. According to statistics released this week, the number of deaths has increased from 11 during the same period last year.  The police reported a total of 131 head-on collisions since the start of the year, and 335 drivers were fined for violating traffic laws.  The police expressed concern over a growing trend of drivers deliberately ignoring red lights across the city.  “The City Police has seen a gradual increase in the number…
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