Blog – Page 30 – Windhoek Observer

07 Nov

PM and 10 others to state position in WHS case next month

National News

Justicia Shipena Prime minister Elijah Ngurare and ten others must next month state whether they will oppose the lawsuit filed by the school board of Windhoek High School (WHS) against the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture. On Thursday, during a status hearing, High Court judge Thomas Masuku allowed the school board to add eleven more respondents to the case. The board had applied in June to include them in the ongoing dispute over the appointment of a new principal for WHS. The new respondents are the prime minister, the chairperson of the Public Service Commission, the chairperson of the…

07 Nov

Nujoma’s Etunda school and clinic to be handed over to Govt

National News

Renthia Kaimbi The Etunda Farm Primary School and clinic, built through the vision of the late founding president Sam Nujoma, will be officially handed over to the Namibian government later today. The school, constructed on Nujoma’s private farm is adjacent to the operational clinic on Nujoma’s private land, situated 30 km south of Otavi. The project is seen as a lasting effort to improve education and healthcare for farmworkers’ children in the Otavi area. Nujoma’s family and the Sam Nujoma Foundation will lead the handover ceremony. Family members described the event as the fulfillment of Nujoma’s lifelong belief that education…

07 Nov

Ex-Nust spokesperson makes peace with legal adviser Kaumbi

National News

Allexer Namundjembo Former Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust) spokesperson John Haufiku has apologised to the university’s former chief legal adviser, Joshua Kaumbi. The apology follows a statement Haufiku made in July 2023 that resulted in a defamation case. Kaumbi filed a N$500 000 lawsuit against Haufiku in July 2023 for alleging in a Namibia Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) interview that the university had suspended Kaumbi for leaking information to the media. The remarks were made shortly after Kaumbi’s suspension by Nust management. According to court documents seen by the Windhoek Observer, during the interview, Haufiku said, “We have suspended…

07 Nov

YOUNG OBSERVER | #UNMUTED

Featured, Opinions

It has been a week that reminded us how much can happen in a small country with a big heart. Namibia repaid its US$750 eurobond, which is the largest loan payment in our history, and the whole world took notice. Two learners painted their faces black on Halloween and used a word that should have been buried long ago, and the whole country felt the sting of our unfinished conversations about race. According to a report, the number of independent candidates in this year's regional and local authority elections has decreased by 26% since 2020, prompting young voters to question…

07 Nov

YOUNG OBSERVER | When ignorance dresses up as a joke

National News

“It was supposed to be harmless fun.” The above statement were the sentiments of some when two white learners painted their faces black during a Halloween celebration and referred to themselves using a derogatory term that carries the weight of centuries of humiliation. They laughed, others laughed, and photos found their way onto social media. Within hours, and inevitably so, outrage followed. What many called a joke quickly revealed how fragile our peace still is and how easily the past can walk into the present dressed as a costume. For a country that prides itself on reconciliation and unity, this…

07 Nov

The rise and decline of independent candidates and what it teaches young Namibians about democracy

National News

In 2020, Namibia witnessed a political moment that felt electric. For the first time in decades, independent candidates flooded the political space with confidence and colour. They came armed not with party slogans but with promises of massive transformation and country-first politics. They stood as symbols of change, challenging the old ways and calling for a new kind of leadership. Many young Namibians were inspired. Social media buzzed with support, rallies felt fresh and free, and politics suddenly looked exciting again. Five years later, as the country prepares for the next round of regional and local authority elections, that energy…

07 Nov

YOUNG OBSERVER |The repayment of the eurobond and Namibian youth

National News

There are moments in a country’s story that remind its people of what is possible. This week, Namibia confirmed that it has fully repaid its seven hundred and fifty million United States dollar Eurobond — the largest single debt repayment in the nation’s history. It is a headline that sounds technical; however, it represents something deeply emotional for a generation that has grown up in the language of debt, deficit and development promises. Under the stewardship of President Netumbo Nandi Ndaitwah, this repayment has become more than an economic milestone. It is a statement about discipline, credibility and the quiet…

07 Nov

YOUNG OBSERVER | Law and livelihood: Finding balance in our city

National News

The recent altercation outside Windhoek Central Hospital between City Police officers and a street vendor has once again placed the spotlight on the growing tension between economic survival and the rule of law in our capital. The video circulating on social media shows several officers struggling with a woman, eventually pulling her to the ground, while a female officer is seen yanking the wig off her head. The footage has provoked widespread anger, raising serious questions about police professionalism, the limits of enforcement, and the dignity with which citizens are treated. Scenes such as these are deeply disturbing. They damage…

06 Nov

Khomas residents pay N$15 more for tomatoes

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira In October, many Namibians felt their wallets tighten as the cost of living continued to climb, pushing everyday expenses even higher. Residents of the Khomas region paid about N$15 more per kilogram for tomatoes. In total, they paid N$44.95 per kilogram. This was despite the region recording the lowest inflation in the month under review. This was far higher than in the northern regions, where consumers in Zone 1 (Kavango East, Kavango West, Kunene, Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, and Zambezi) paid N$29.35 and those in Zone 3 (//Kharas, Erongo, Hardap, and Omaheke) paid N$28.76. According to the…

06 Nov

Limited local beneficiation restricts industrial growth

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Namibia’s September trade data shows a slight improvement in external balances but highlights the country’s continued dependence on imported energy and machinery against a narrow, mineral-based export sector, economist Almandro Jansen has said. He noted that uranium and diamond exports remain Namibia’s main foreign exchange earners but said limited local beneficiation is holding back industrial development. Jansen said diversifying exports through value addition in mining, manufacturing, and agro-processing, together with deeper integration into regional and global supply chains, is essential for building a stronger and more competitive trade sector. Trade data from the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) shows…