Blog – Page 26 – Windhoek Observer

27 Nov

Human rights lawyer says Coleman unfit for public office

National News

Renthia Kaimbi Human rights lawyer Norman Tjombe says the assault on Landless People’s Movement (LPM) leader Bernadus Swartbooi amounts to criminal self-help and has no place in a constitutional democracy. Tjombe was reacting to an incident in Keetmanshoop on Monday in which independent candidate Vernon Coleman confronted and assaulted Swartbooi. Tjombe said the act shows Coleman is unfit for public office. “Criminal self-help is impermissible in a constitutional democracy and blatantly unacceptable as a means to drive home your political message. He must have a serious and honest self-introspection if he is fit for public office as an important councillor,…

27 Nov

‘I was not paid to join Swapo’ — Benson

National News

Allexer Namundjembo Former Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) Walvis Bay Rural councillor Deriou Benson says he did not receive money to leave IPC, insisting his departure was driven by frustration and lack of support. In an interview with the Windhoek Observer on Monday, Benson said his resignation was “a sober choice” and dismissed claims that Swapo paid him to leave the IPC. “I was 100% not paid. That I can swear on the Lord’s name. It was a sober choice,” Benson said. He explained that over time, his disengagement from IPC activities grew because his local government duties often clashed…

27 Nov

Disability advocate challenges climate bill

Africa / World

Moses Magadza The sun is blazing mercilessly over Mbire, one of the hottest corners of Zimbabwe, but Mamera Kadzingatsayi is already at the venue, seated quietly with a notebook and pen in hand. The Parliament of Zimbabwe, with support from Sweden under the SRHR, HIV and AIDS Governance project of the SADC Parliamentary Forum, has gone to the people. Kadzingatsayi is among the first to arrive for one of the last public hearings on the proposed Climate Change Management Bill. The heat is unforgiving, yet he is undeterred. He wants to understand every word. Every clause. Every intention of this…

27 Nov

OBSERVER COASTAL | Swakopmund sets aside N$127k for police meals and lodging for December

National News

Renthia Kaimbi The Swakopmund Town Council has approved N$127 261 to cover accommodation and meals for a special contingent of the Namibian Police during the 2025/2026 festive season. The decision was taken at an ordinary council meeting on Monday. The funds will support 20 officers from the Namibian Police Special Reserve Force, who will be deployed in the town from 14 December 2025 to 6 January 2026. Of the approved amount, N$101 752 is allocated for accommodation and N$25 508 for meals. A condition of the sponsorship is that the unit must operate only within Swakopmund’s jurisdiction throughout the deployment…

27 Nov

OBSERVER COASTAL | Council renames facility after Putuse Appolus

Observer Money

Renthia Kaimbi The Emergency Shelter and Matutura Community Hall will be renamed in honour of the late liberation struggle icon, Putuse Appolus. The decision was approved during this week’s Ordinary Council Meeting, following a recommendation first made by the Swakopmund naming advisory committee in September 2020. According to council documents, the recommendation was mistakenly omitted from a group of items submitted to the council in November 2020. The omission occurred during a period of meeting disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. This week’s decision corrects that oversight. The facility will now be called the Putuse Appolus Emergency Shelter. In the…

27 Nov

OBSERVER COASTAL | Swakop Uranium wins 2025 Inter-Mines Games

National News

Swakop Uranium has been crowned the overall winner of the 2025 Chamber of Mines Inter-Mines Sports Games. The Husab team secured the championship after strong performances across several sporting codes. The team claimed first place in the mixed, female and male relay races, netball, pool teams, darts doubles, chess teams and both the team and individual golf categories. They also won the Soccer Veterans division. These victories, supported by consistent high placements in other events, secured Swakop Uranium the top position in the competition.

27 Nov

Young voters shy away from the polls

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

Allexer Namundjembo Youth participation in the regional and local authority elections remained low, with many young voters not visible in the queues at the polls on Wednesday. This is despite more than 643 000 youth registered to vote, making up about 42% of the 1.49 million voters on the final voters register released by the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN). The regional and local authority elections took place on 26 November 2025. Landless People’s Movement (LPM) Youth leader Duminga Ndala says the low youth turnout in yesterday’s Regional and Local Authority elections signals a serious disconnect between young people and…

27 Nov

The Johannesburg G20 Leaders’ Summit: Africa’s achievement and Africa’s test

Featured, Opinions

PAUL T. SHIPALE (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar) The 2025 G20 Leaders’ Summit, the first ever held on African soil, was widely celebrated as a milestone for African agency. For two days, Johannesburg stood at the center of global governance under the theme “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability.” It was a moment when Africa did not simply participate in the global conversation but also directed it. The continent placed issues such as climate justice, multilateral reform, debt restructuring, and sustainable development at the forefront of the global agenda. But as history often reminds us, progress reveals both power and fragility.…

27 Nov

Namibia shines in Zeda’s sub-Saharan Africa performance

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Zeda Limited says Namibia, Zambia and Ghana recorded stronger economic performances during the financial year, giving its Sub-Saharan operations a more supportive environment. This comes as the automotive services company posted improved earnings and higher operating profit for the year ended 30 September 2025. Zeda holds the licence to the Avis brand in South Africa and 10 other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. It operates the Avis and Budget brands under a long-term agreement with Avis Budget Group. The company manages more than 20 000 vehicles across several rental categories and offers a range of value-added products. The group…

27 Nov

Report reveals mismatch between workforce and labour market

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira A new report on the state of skills supply and demand in Namibia in 2025 has found a persistent mismatch between the skills held by the workforce and those required by the labour market. The gap, driven by weaknesses in the education system and fast-changing global trends, continues to limit economic growth, diversification, productivity and competitiveness. The report was compiled by the Namibia Investment Promotion & Development Board (NIPDB) and its partners. It assesses the alignment between skill supply and labour market demand, identifies gaps, evaluates education and training outcomes, supports job creation efforts, and highlights priority areas…