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Hertta-Maria Amutenja The High Court has ordered the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs, the Namibian Police (NAMPOL), and the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security to pay N$1.3 million in settlements to the family of Joseph Kautjingu Ndondji. This follows a civil claim instituted after Ndondji (34) was shot and killed during a joint operation in Rundu on 3 March 2023. He was thought to be in possession of a pangolin skin. The settlement was finalised on 4 December 2024 and addresses the loss of support and emotional suffering endured by Ndondji’s parents and seven minor children.…

Allexer Namundjembo and Ester Mbathera Some parts of the country received good rains over the past few days, bringing much-needed relief but also posing challenges for communities. Some of the challenges include property damage and the disruption of people’s daily lives. Despite these short-term difficulties, experts and advocates have said this is an opportunity for the people to harness the water from rain for sustainable growth and development. Wayambekange Hamufenhu, a Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) advocate, explained the dual impact of the rain. “Water is one of the most precious natural resources, and despite the short-term destruction, it brings life,…

Ester Mbathera The process of doing cross-border payments across the Common Monetary Area (CMA) of South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, and Eswatini has been described as cumbersome. The new cross-border payments came into effect in September last year, and all payment flows between these countries will be done via foreign exchange and will no longer be processed via electronic funds transfer rails. This is despite these countries’ currencies being pegged to the South African rand. Financial sector expert Adrianus Vugs argued sending money to the CMA has proven to be almost impossible since. “If we have a CMA, why are we…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) has raised concerns about misleading advertisements for health products, including aloe vera juice, that claim to cure ailments such as ulcers, gastritis, and acidity. However, the lack of specific regulations governing such advertisements in Namibia has left a gap in consumer protection. The health ministry’s executive director, Ben Nangombe expressed alarm over the unverified claims made by health product advertisers. "If consumers are not well-informed, such claims can mislead them and potentially harm public health," he said. He acknowledged that Namibia currently lacks regulations specifically addressing the advertising of health…

Allexer Namundjembo The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development has adjusted the boundaries of Rehoboth’s local authority area, incorporating several portions of land from the Khomas Region. Minister Erastus Uutoni announced the when it was published in a government gazette No. 8520. “I give notice that I have altered the boundaries of the local authority area of Rehoboth by adding—(a) Portion 14, a portion of Portion 2 of Portion A, of the Farm Dordabis No. 98 situated in Registration Division 'K', Khomas Region, represented by the Cadastral Diagram No. A252/67," said Uutoni. The minister also listed more parts that are…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja A forensic report into the fatal accident that led to the death of Romario Tony Pienaar, which involved a Sea Pride Foods truck, has revealed issues with the heavy vehicle’s braking system. The incident, which occurred on 14 November 2024 at the intersection of Robert Mugabe Avenue and Andimba Toivo Ya Toivo Street in Windhoek, resulted in the death of the motorcyclist. According to the report, the truck’s service braking system was found to be inefficient, requiring multiple pumps on the brake pedal to stop the moving vehicle. The investigation also found that previous maintenance checks had overlooked…

Niël Terblanché The Namibian police in the Erongo region are investigating a case of the illegal discharge of a firearm in a municipal area. A video clip scene by the Windhoek Observer shows two men fighting outside the Salt nightclub in Swakopmund over the weekend where one of the participants fired several shots with a handgun, revealing the seedy underbelly of Swakopmund at night. According to the police report, three unknown German-speaking men approached the woman and began assaulting her, with fists and kicking her until she collapsed. “When her husband and a friend attempted to intervene, the assailants turned…