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Renthia Kaimbi Minister of Justice and Labour Relations Fillemon Wise Immanuel will meet with leaders of the Okapare fishermen next week to address their ongoing grievances. He confirmed the meeting to the Windhoek Observer. The meeting comes days after Immanuel accompanied the fishermen into a packed Kuisebmond Stadium, where they were special guests of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah during the launch of the Swapo party’s regional and local authority election campaign in Walvis Bay on Saturday. On that day, the fishermen had rejoined Swapo.  The fishermen have been in conflict with the government since 2015, when mass layoffs left hundreds unemployed…

Staff Writer The Namibian Ports Authority (Namport), Nedbank Namibia, and the Powerhouse Cycling Club have confirmed the dates for the 2025 Walvis Bay Namport Nedbank Powerhouse Challenge. The multisport weekend will take place from 1 to 2 November 2025 in Walvis Bay. Following the success of the inaugural event held in March 2025 during the Lüderitz Crayfish Festival, the second edition promises to be bigger, drawing top Namibian cyclists, runners, and fitness enthusiasts for a weekend of competition and community spirit. The challenge will feature various races for both professional athletes and recreational participants. Running events include a 21 km…

Renthia Kaimbi The Namibia Ports Authority (Namport) has championed the well-being of Walvis Bay’s youngest and oldest residents through two recent community initiatives focused on wellness and support. The first event, the Namport Community Wellness Initiative, was launched on 27 September at Dunes Mall.  The launch drew a large turnout, including many senior citizens eager to participate.  The mall’s atrium was transformed into a wellness hub offering free health checks, screenings, and fitness sessions led by TBT, featuring Zumba, Tae-Bo, and aerobics. Attendees also received advice on nutrition and mental well-being. One of the most popular activities was the “Adopt-a-Seedling…

Chamwe Kaira The government must decide whether promoting foreign direct investment (FDI) is necessary to reverse the long-term decline in private sector investment, economist Robin Sherbourne has said. Sherbourne said the government should first focus on “improving the product” rather than selling something that “does not withstand scrutiny.”  He said this involves eliminating policy uncertainty and addressing issues that are crucial to investors. “These uncertainties include having an internationally competitive tax regime, clear property rights, and protection from arbitrary government nationalisation or the forced incorporation of local partners,” he said. He added that investors also need clear dispute resolution mechanisms,…

Allexer Namundjembo  The Landless People’s Movement (LPM) has accused the government of siding with Germany at the expense of justice for victims of the 1904–1908 Herero and Nama genocide.  The accusation comes as LPM, together with the Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA) and the Nama Traditional Leaders Association (NTLA), continues its legal challenge against the 2021 joint declaration between Namibia and Germany. On Monday, LPM described the government’s recent legal actions as a “betrayal” of genocide victims, saying it has chosen to protect Germany instead of pursuing accountability.  The party criticised the decision to hire advocate Raymond Heathcote to argue that…

Justicia Shipena The Damara King’s Council Youth Group has written to Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare and ICT Minister Emma Theofelus opposing any move to rename the Dâures/Brandberg Omukuruvaro National Monument Area. In a letter dated 7 October 2025, the group said renaming the site would erase Damara cultural memory and amount to a symbolic act of dispossession.  “There must be absolute clarity; the name Dâures cannot and will not be replaced, diluted, or shared,” the statement read. This follows Namibia’s recent approval of the nomination of the Dâures/Brandberg National Monument Area for inscription on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and…

Justicia Shipena The minister of industries, mines and energy, Natangue Ithete, says his ministry will no longer tolerate non-performance at the Namibia Industrial Development Agency (Nida). Speaking in Parliament on Thursday in response to questions from opposition leader McHenry Venaani, Ithete said both the government and the public have been disappointed by the agency's failure to deliver on its industrialisation mandate.  Earlier this year, Nida, a commercial state-owned enterprise, released its first financial report in six years, covering the financial years 2018/2019 to 2023/2024. The report showed a loss of N$102 million. It also revealed that Nida was owed N$89…