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A new chapter of dispossession? The Khoi-San question in post-colonial Namibia

Niklaas Jacobus Dawson Thirty-four years after independence, Namibia continues to speak of liberation, decolonisation, and the unfinished business of land reform. Yet for many indigenous Khoi-San descendants, the earliest inhabitants of the country—the promise of inclusion remains elusive.  A community once displaced under German colonialism and South African apartheid now faces a quieter and less acknowledged form of exclusion within the post-colonial republic. While the liberation struggle narrative rightly condemns the injustices of foreign rule, it has unintentionally obscured a parallel Indigenous history. This history did not begin in 1884, nor in 1960, nor even in 1990.  It begins centuries…
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Liberation struggle veteran Kanana Hishoono’s passing: Remembering his humility, service and the continuing legacy of Africa’s liberation veterans

Liberation struggle veteran Kanana Hishoono’s passing: Remembering his humility, service and the continuing legacy of Africa’s liberation veterans

PAUL T. SHIPALE (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara) The passing of liberation struggle veteran Kanana Hishoono is a moment of deep reflection and collective remembrance as the nation prepares to bid him farewell at his second memorial service that will be held on Friday the 23rd of January, ahead of his burial on Saturday the 24th at the Eenhana Memorial Shrine. This solemn period is not only about mourning a respected elder of the struggle but also about reflecting on the values that defined his life and the broader meaning of liberation itself. Indeed, Africa’s liberation veterans occupy a…
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Windhoek CEO faces pressure over Swapo Think Tank role

Windhoek CEO faces pressure over Swapo Think Tank role

Allexer Namundjembo Community and political leaders have questioned the appointment of the City of Windhoek chief executive officer Moses Matyayi to Swapo's Think Tank.  Matyayi has been appointed to serve in the housing, sanitation, and social development portfolio. Windhoek-based activist Shaun Gariseb said it is inappropriate for a senior municipal official to serve in a party structure.  He said residents expect the head of the municipality to be apolitical and politically neutral. “He is now actively getting involved. He must resign from the City of Windhoek because he is conflicted. There are reports demanded that will have major consequences, like…
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NaCC overstepped its powers in medicine pricing investigation

NaCC overstepped its powers in medicine pricing investigation

Justicia Shipena The Supreme Court has ruled that the Namibian Competition Commission (NaCC) acted outside the law when it allowed its secretary to start and run an investigation into alleged price-fixing in the pharmaceutical sector. On Wednesday, the court dismissed NaCC’s appeal against an earlier High Court decision and found that the commission unlawfully delegated its investigative powers when it launched a probe into a long-standing 50% medicine mark-up applied by pharmacies linked to the Pharmaceutical Society of Namibia (PSN). Deputy chief justice Petrus Damaseb said the Competition Act makes it clear that only the commission itself has the authority…
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Court finds Northcote School and ex-board chair defamed each other

Court finds Northcote School and ex-board chair defamed each other

Justicia Shipena The High Court has ordered Northcote Private School and its former board chairperson, Benedict Mulife, to each pay N$10 000 in damages after finding that they defamed each other. The judgement was delivered on Monday by High Court judge David Munsu in a defamation case that arose from disputes at the Ondangwa-based private school in mid-2022. Northcote Private School filed the lawsuit in May 2023, accusing Mulife of damaging its reputation through false allegations contained in a petition and through claims allegedly shared with the media and on WhatsApp.  Mulife denied the allegations and filed a counterclaim, arguing…
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Over 50 Japanese companies invest in Namibia

Over 50 Japanese companies invest in Namibia

Renthia Kaimbi Namibia is now home to about 54 Japanese companies. Minister of international relations and trade Selma Ashipala-Musavyi revealed this during high-level talks in Tokyo, Japan.  She said their presence reflects the growing economic ties between Namibia and Japan.  Ashipala-Musavyi met Japan’s foreign minister, Toshimitsu Motegi, on Wednesday. The two discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations, deepen economic cooperation, and support Namibia’s industrialisation drive.  The talks focused on aligning Japanese investment with Namibia’s current national priorities under the leadership of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. "The presence of around 54 Japanese companies in Namibia is a clear testament to the country’s…
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Hardap to get more school hostels

Hardap to get more school hostels

Justicia Shipena The government plans to build more school hostels in the Hardap region to improve access to education for learners from remote communities.  Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture minister Sanet Steenkamp said hostel development is a priority to address long distances to schools, learner dropouts and growing pressure on rural education systems. She spoke on Tuesday at the inauguration of the Namaqua Kalahari Children’s Hope Hostel in Gochas. She described the facility as a model for future education infrastructure in sparsely populated regions. “The vastness of the region and the spreading of communities into small villages place…
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OBSERVER COASTAL | Erongo governor urges councillors to focus on service delivery

OBSERVER COASTAL | Erongo governor urges councillors to focus on service delivery

Renthia Kaimbi Erongo governor Natalia |Goagoses has urged regional councillors in Erongo to place the improvement of basic services at the centre of their work. Goagoses made the call on Wednesday during the opening of the Internal Induction Workshop for regional councillors, hosted by the Erongo Regional Council at the Seaside Hotel in Swakopmund. The workshop brought together newly elected councillors and senior officials to align political leadership with the council’s administrative work. She said regional councillors carry heavy responsibility as the level of government closest to communities. “Regional councils are not abstract institutions. When communities experience progress, stability, and…
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OBSERVER COASTAL | Special needs school opens new campus in Swakopmund

OBSERVER COASTAL | Special needs school opens new campus in Swakopmund

Renthia Kaimbi Stepping Stone Special Education School has opened its new campus in Ocean View, Swakopmund.  The school, the country’s first registered private institution for neurodivergent and visually impaired children, has moved into a purpose-built facility designed to support learners with specialised needs.  The relocation allows the school to expand its services and respond to a growing waiting list. Founded in 2015 by Almarie Mostert, the school has grown steadily from a small initiative into a key learning space for children who require specialised support.  The new campus creates room for this growth and improves access to tailored education. A…
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A new chapter in Namibia–Cuba solidarity: from liberation to life-saving medicines

When Namibia and Cuba announced that they are exploring the establishment of a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in Namibia, the news was more than a routine bilateral development. It was a powerful reminder that some friendships in international relations are not transactional but historic, principled and enduring. From the battlefields of southern Angola to today’s boardrooms and policy tables, the relationship between Namibia and Cuba has been forged in solidarity, sacrifice and shared purpose. This latest initiative is not merely about producing medicines; it is about continuing a legacy of cooperation that has helped shape Namibia’s very existence. Namibians do not…
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