Blog – Page 20 – Windhoek Observer

15 Jan

Steenkamp warns part-time centres against exploiting learners

National News

Justicia Shipena Education minister Sanet Steenkamp has warned part-time tuition and examination centres against exploiting learners, saying the ministry will not tolerate practices that put profit ahead of academic support. Steenkamp made the remarks on Tuesday during the release of the 2025 national examination results. She said part-time centres play an important role in giving learners a second chance to improve their results or return to formal education but said this responsibility must be handled with integrity. “These centres exist to serve candidates, many of whom are vulnerable but highly motivated to change their life’s journey through education,” Steenkamp said. …

15 Jan

Hamukwaya disputes claim she lied during bail hearing

National News

Justicia Shipena Former National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) executive Jennifer Hamukwaya says a magistrate wrongly concluded that she contradicted herself during testimony. She stated that the magistrate's finding is a key element of her appeal against the decision that denied her bail. Magistrate Linus Samunzala denied bail to Hamukwaya 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. Samunzala said this finding was one of the reasons he refused to grant bail to the six accused.…

15 Jan

Governor denies keeping borehole project money at home

National News

Allexer Namundjembo The Kavango West governor's office has refuted claims of money theft during a break-in at the governor's home. The response follows a report by the Namibia Press Agency (Nampa) on Tuesday that a 22-year-old man, Andreas Muyongo, was denied bail in Rundu after allegedly breaking into the home of governor Verna Sinimbo and stealing perfumes and funds meant for a borehole project. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the governor’s office said no funds were stolen. “It is correct that a criminal break-in occurred at the governor’s parents’ homestead, where the governor also resides when in the village.…

15 Jan

OBSERVER COASTAL | Mondesa youth get support to obtain driver’s licences

National News

Renthia Kaimbi Nash Serenity Foundation has partnered with a local driving school to help tackle youth unemployment by offering 20 regular soup kitchen attendees a fully funded opportunity to obtain their learner’s licences. The Mondesa Youth Licence Empowerment Programme will launch its first intake next weekend. The foundation is also calling on the community to support the initiative. Founder Patrick Nashandi said the idea followed research showing major challenges faced by young people trying to obtain licences. “A survey showed that 90% of youth fail their learner’s licence more than four times, and most never reach the driver’s licence stage.…

15 Jan

The value of the village

Featured, Opinions

John Mendelsohn I hope that 2026 will see a good deal of reasoned debate and discussion in parliament. Indeed, an abundance of sensible ideas and sound facts are needed if new legislation is to resolve the multiple messes in which so much Namibian land now finds itself. Some of the questions and uncertainties about the purpose and value of land emerged in an interesting opinion by Lazarus Jacobs in the Windhoek Observer on 15 December 2025. The article – entitled The village has died. Long live the village – described some of the changes and agonies that now surround rural…

15 Jan

Nekundi dismisses talk of rift with PM Ngurare

Main, National News

Renthia Kaimbi Transport and works minister Veikko Nekundi has dismissed social media claims alleging that he is betraying prime minister Elijah Ngurare and positioning himself to take over his job. He described the claims as an attempt to create division within Swapo ahead of its 2027 congress. The claims circulate on social media under headlines that suggest rivalry and betrayal between the two leaders. The posts refer to their time in the Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL), where Nekundi served as deputy secretary under Ngurare. More recently, speculation has surfaced that Nekundi is plotting to replace Ngurare as prime minister…

15 Jan

Trustco issues new warning on possible delisting

Observer Money

Staff Writer Trustco Group Holdings Limited has issued a further cautionary announcement on the possible delisting of its securities. In a statement released this week, the company referred shareholders to earlier notices published on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) News Service, including its most recent update dated 26 November 2025, which outlined the potential delisting of Trustco. The board said it is considering whether a delisting of the company’s securities would be appropriate. As part of this process, the board has taken note of the Simplified Listings Requirements, which are expected to come into effect on 16 February 2026. Trustco…

15 Jan

‘Critical minerals put Africa at centre of clean energy push

Observer Money

Staff Writer Africa is playing a crucial role in providing the necessary minerals for the global transition from fossil fuels to clean energy. The African Energy Chamber, in its State of African Energy 2026 Outlook, says Africa’s large reserves of cobalt, lithium, copper and platinum group metals place the continent at the core of global supply chains for renewable energy and electric vehicles. The move toward clean energy is driving sharp growth in demand for these minerals. Solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicle batteries and energy storage systems require far more mineral inputs than traditional energy systems. Forecasts show global…

15 Jan

JSE all share index rises over two days

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira The JSE All Share Index closed higher on Monday, gaining 2,038 points, or 1.73%, to end at 120,148.00 points from 118,110.00 the previous trading day. The index is up 3.73% since December 2025 and reached its highest level for 2026 during the session. The year’s low stands at 116,092.00 points. The Overall Index closed slightly lower on Monday, slipping by 3.95 points, or 0.18%, to 2 180.60 points. Despite the decline, the index remains up 1.83% since December 2025 and carries an actual dividend yield of 3.66%. Its 2026 high is 2 184.55, while the low is 2…

15 Jan

Namibia to host Canada–Africa business conference next month

Observer Money

Staff Writer Namibia will host the fifth Canada-Africa Business Conference on 5 February in Windhoek. The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business convenes the event, positioning Namibia at the forefront of trade and investment engagement between Canada and Africa. The conference will bring together senior executives, investors, policymakers, and institutional partners from Namibia, Canada, and across Africa. Discussions will focus on mining, energy, infrastructure, and sustainable economic development. Namibia’s stable regulatory environment and long-term policy approach have helped attract growing international interest and partnerships. The programme includes senior-level panels, sector discussions, and private roundtables aimed at boosting investment, supporting responsible project development,…