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Allexer Namundjembo Minister of education, innovation, youth, sport, arts and culture Sanet Steenkamp says the provision of water to schools is primarily a rural development responsibility that should be addressed through regional councils, although her ministry continues to intervene where possible. Speaking to the Windhoek Observer on Monday, Steenkamp said the ministry has assumed part of the responsibility because schools fall under its mandate, but stressed that rural water supply should ultimately be responsible for ensuring schools have access to water. “The provision of water is, in essence, a rural development issue and must be discussed under the regional council.…

Patience Makwele Young entrepreneurs and small businesses across Namibia will have access to an N$18 million grant fund aimed at helping them formalise, expand and create jobs, with the first application round closing on 24 July. The funding forms part of the Pro-SME Project, a joint initiative between the Namibian and German governments implemented through the National Planning Commission, the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). Speaking during an information-sharing session on access to finance for youth in Windhoek on Tuesday, Khomas Governor Sam Nujoma urged young entrepreneurs to take advantage…

Patience Makwele Misconceptions that vitiligo is caused by witchcraft, is contagious or linked to HIV continue to isolate people living with the skin condition, prompting health experts to announce plans for Namibia’s first research into the disease and the establishment of a national patient support group. The initiatives were announced during a World Vitiligo Day awareness session in Windhoek, where medical specialists said the country currently lacks national data on the condition despite growing concern over the stigma faced by patients. Speaking to the Windhoek Observer, Claudia Masiliso Lutombi, a 38-year-old teacher and entrepreneur from the Zambezi region who has…

Allexer Namundjembo Residents and community activists say the City of Windhoek’s failure to provide adequate electricity in informal settlements has contributed to widespread illegal electricity connections, arguing that access to affordable and legal electricity would significantly reduce the practice. Their remarks come after the municipality announced that it will begin removing illegal electricity connections in several informal settlements from September. Havana resident Marcus Hailonga said the debate over illegal connections would not exist if residents had been provided with electricity. “This whole discussion would not take place if the residents had electricity. The directive issued by the municipality has already…

Renthia Kaimbi Namibia has launched an urgent voluntary repatriation programme for its nationals residing in South Africa, with approximately one thousand citizens expected to return home and require temporary accommodation. The government has authorized the initiative and is now scrambling to identify reception sites across all regions, including community halls and other suitable facilities, as officials brace for the arrival of returnees amid growing safety concerns in South Africa. The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development has formally requested all chief regional officers to coordinate with local authority chief executives to prepare these sites immediately, with feedback due by Friday,…