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Martin Endjala The First National Bank of Namibia (FNB) is tracing a 60-year-old pensioner who was defrauded of N$1.1 million last week by an unidentified suspect. According to police reports, the victim, a resident of Uukwamatsi village in the Okahao Constituency of the Omusati region, fell prey to an unknown method used by the suspect to gain access to her bank account.  Funds were then transferred to various FNB accounts without her consent. No money has been recovered yet, and investigations into the matter continue. FNB communications manager Kirsty Watermeyer said the bank is treating the case as a top…

Allexer Namundjembo Environment Minister and Swapo’s Secretary for Legal Affairs, Pohamba Shifeta, expressed hope that the recent Electoral Court decision to pause the LPM and IPC election court challenge until the Supreme Court’s ruling next month is not a delay tactic by the applicants. Speaking to the media outside the High Court on Monday, Shifeta said he finds the court's decision appropriate, given the circumstances that led to the suspension of the National Assembly election challenge proceedings. “As long as it is not just the applicants’ delay tactics because otherwise, it would result in a constitutional crisis. We need to…

Martin Endjala The Aranos Town Council has begun rolling out a prepaid water meter project to improve water service management, despite facing budget constraints. The council plans to install 1 000 prepaid electricity meters and 2 000 prepaid water meters by the end of 2025. The council’s chief executive officer, Gerson Tjitaura told the Windhoek Observer on Friday that the installation is intended for all residents of the town and is not targeting any specific section of the community. “The need for water and electricity connections is growing daily. This makes planning cumbersome even though we do it with budgetary…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja  The High Court has ruled that subpoenas issued by AR’s leader, Job Amupanda in the ongoing "Red Line" case are irregular and void, citing non-compliance with procedural deadlines set by the court. Vice-President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and former Justice Minister Sacky Shanghala were among those subpoenaed to testify in the constitutional challenge brought by Amupanda against the Veterinary Cordon Fence, known as the Red Line.  The subpoenas, issued on 16 January 2025, came over a month after the court-ordered deadline of 13 December 2024. “The subpoenas issued out of this court by the plaintiff are not in compliance with…

Stefanus Nashama The European Union (EU) delegation to Namibia, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Namibian government, has launched a good governance programme to tackle corruption and enhance transparency in the country.  On Monday, the EU allocated approximately N$19.5 million to support the UNDP-led initiative, which will run from 2025 to 2028. The initiative seeks to promote sustainable development, accountability, and effective governance practices.  It also seeks to foster multi-stakeholder collaboration and advance critical reforms within Namibia’s governance systems. UNDP country representative Alka Bhatia highlighted the detrimental effects of corruption, saying that it undermines democracy…

Mallex Shipanga At just 23 years old, Ryan De Wee is making waves in Namibia’s contemporary art world with his innovative and diverse artwork.  Born in Windhoek and raised in Tsumeb, De Wee grew up balancing academics and a passion for art, both of which have played a significant role in shaping his life. De Wee described his upbringing as a busy and creative time, surrounded by family and driven by his artistic pursuits.  “I am the middle child with an older sister and a younger brother. I remember always being surrounded by family and friends. I had a very…

Niël Terblanché In a major step towards modernising its operations, Namibia’s national rail transporter, TransNamib announced the acquisition of 23 new locomotives and the refurbishment of seven existing ones. This ambitious undertaking, announced last week, follows the successful securing of a N$2.6 billion loan from the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) and the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) in June last year. TransNamib’s chief executive officer, Desmond van Jaarsveld, during the announcement, described the initiative as essential for the state-owned company's future."We are going to procure 23 new locomotives and the rebuild of seven existing ones. When I say…

Stefanus Nashama Political analyst Sakaria Johannes has raised doubts about the transparency of the Namibian Police Force (NAMPOL) recruitment process. On Monday Johannes questioned whether the Inspector General of the Namibian Police, Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo can accurately assess the absence of backdoor recruitment practices. Shikongo, while addressing the 908 cadet constables undergoing training at the Ruben "Danger" Ashipala Police Training Centre in Ondangwa on Monday, reassured the public that the recruitment process had been conducted fairly and without favouritism. “The recruitment of police officers is done fairly without backdoor benefits,” Shikongo said. Johannes, however, expressed concerns about Shikongo’s ability…

Niël Terblanché Residents of Walvis Bay have expressed mounting frustration over delayed refuse removal services, citing broken refuse trucks as the root cause of the problem. Overflowing bins and litter scattered by animals and vagrants have become a regular sight, sparking complaints about the municipality’s slow response. “All the refuse removal trucks are broken. People are complaining about overflowing bins, and rubbish is being strewn all over by dogs and people. It feels like nothing is happening,” lamented a resident on a neighbourhood community social media group. To address the issue, the municipality resorted to using teams of workers equipped…