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Namibia-Zambia passport-free travel plan still awaiting approval

Namibia-Zambia passport-free travel plan still awaiting approval

Renthia Kaimbi There is no official agreement that has been signed between Namibia and Zambia on passport-free travel, the ministry of home affairs, immigration, safety and security has said.  The ministry's executive director, Nghidinua Daniel, told the Windhoek Observer that reports claiming the arrangement is in place are premature.  “The use of national ID documents as travel documents between Namibia and Zambia is not yet operational, although discussions are underway,” he said. The plan would allow citizens to cross borders using only national identity cards, but it remains under discussion with no implementation timeline.  The speculation stemmed from remarks made…
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Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar: Omukwanilwa Nakale Nomwenyo

Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar: Omukwanilwa Nakale Nomwenyo

Lazarus Kwedhi  Many still vividly remember the funeral of Her Majesty, the late Queen Elizabeth II, where African presidents were transported in buses while other world leaders, particularly from the USA and Europe, travelled in the comfort of their presidential fleets. These arrangements angered many Africans back home, who felt their leaders were disrespected and made to appear like schoolchildren on a tour bus. The privacy and security of African leaders seemed far less important than those of their Western counterparts. If that happened in public, one wonders what treatment they received behind closed doors. Were African presidents also placed…
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Mining for tomorrow: building a legacy between mining, people and planet 

Mining for tomorrow: building a legacy between mining, people and planet 

Nandeshasho Nickanor The extractive industries stand at a critical crossroads, because while the world demands resources, there are also calls for urgent action to protect our natural environment. Mining, often perceived solely as extractive, holds a powerful opportunity to contribute meaningfully to global biodiversity goals. By embedding biodiversity and community well-being into operational DNA, the sector can demonstrate that development and conservation are not opposing forces but complementary pillars of sustainable progress.  Biodiversity as an operational priority This goes beyond compliance but is a conscious integration guided by a company’s environmental policy. Through efforts such as habitat restoration, biodiversity monitoring,…
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The crucial role of student leadership in education: beyond politics 

The crucial role of student leadership in education: beyond politics 

Taapopi Naftali  As a student leader, I have seen firsthand how student representative bodies like NANSO, NASA, SUN, and others are constantly contradicted and undermined, often for the wrong reasons. These organisations are essential because they are the voice of the learners; they identify challenges, propose solutions, and implement programmes that improve the educational experience for everyone. Yet, instead of being supported, we face unnecessary resistance from directors, principals, and institutional authorities.  Student leaders are often blocked from carrying out their programmes; mentorship initiatives, awareness campaigns, peer-support sessions, and skill-building workshops are delayed or cancelled due to bureaucracy and unnecessary…
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Germany blacklists SA MP over Namibia genocide confrontation 

Germany blacklists SA MP over Namibia genocide confrontation 

Renthia Kaimbi South African MP Khanyisile Litchfield-Tshabalala has been branded an anti-Semite in Germany after questioning the country’s stance on reparations for the Namibian genocide. The incident followed her keynote address in January 2025 at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt (HKW) museum in Berlin, where she was invited in her capacity (before becoming an MP in June 2025) as a Decoloniality and African Spirituality scholar to speak on “Rematriation as Reparation in Afrikan Spirituality”. Litchfield-Tshabalala told the Windhoek Observer that her lecture began with themes of justice and balance in Nguni culture. “When they invited me, we agreed that…
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Bannerman signs offtake agreements in America 

Bannerman signs offtake agreements in America 

Chamwe Kaira  Bannerman Energy Ltd, developer of the Etango uranium project, has signed two binding contracts to sell one million pounds of uranium oxide over five years from 2029 to 2033.  The offtake agreements were concluded with two tier-1 North American power generation companies. The company said the agreements provide delivery flexibility, allowing it to preserve capacity ahead of a final investment decision at Etango.  It added that the contracts include market-related pricing components designed to capture higher forecast uranium prices. Each agreement also allows the utilities to flex volumes up or down by 10% annually. Bannerman stated that the…
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De Beers pushes for renewable energy 

De Beers pushes for renewable energy 

Chamwe Kaira  De Beers’ Namibian operations recorded major milestones in 2024, including strong mining achievements and progress on a landmark renewable energy project, according to the company’s 2024 Sustainable Report. Namdeb engineering manager, Pankratius Kondjamba, said renewable energy is becoming a driver of socio-economic growth in Namibia.  “Our efforts to build a wind farm to serve Namdeb’s land-based mining operation hold promise for Oranjemund and neighbouring communities as well as our carbon reduction journey,” he said.  Kondjamba added that the project would create opportunities for local businesses and promote skills development in the renewable energy sector. Namibia has been central…
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Koryx to move corporate domicile to Luxembourg 

Koryx to move corporate domicile to Luxembourg 

Chamwe Kaira  Koryx Copper Incorporated has announced plans to shift its corporate domicile from the Province of British Columbia, Canada, to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, where it will operate under the new name Koryx Copper S.A.  The move is expected to take effect on 16 October, subject to shareholder and stock exchange approval. The company said its common shares will continue trading on the TSX Venture Exchange and the Namibian Securities Exchange under their current symbols.  This will avoid disruptions to existing listings. Koryx will remain a Canadian reporting issuer and continue to comply with Namibian securities laws. The…
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Beverage imports averaged N$325m in a year

Beverage imports averaged N$325m in a year

Chamwe Kaira  Beverage imports averaged N$325 million between July 2024 and July 2025, with November 2024 recording the highest value at N$489 million, the Namibia Statistics Agency has reported.  During the same period, exports averaged N$111 million. July 2024 registered the highest export value at N$189 million, while April 2025 recorded the lowest at N$62 million. The agency said that in July, Namibia exported blankets worth N$398 104, mostly as re-exports, primarily to Angola. Imports of blankets in the same month amounted to N$8.1 million, mainly from South Africa, China, and Pakistan. Blanket imports over the year averaged N$6.8 million,…
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OBSERVER DAILY | Bantustan ghosts in a unitary state

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s address to the 26th Annual Meeting of the Council of Traditional Leaders should send shivers down the spine of anyone who cares about Namibia’s unity. On the surface, her speech was respectful and conciliatory, an olive branch to chiefs, hompas, and traditional authorities across the land. But between the lines lay a sobering warning: our country risks sliding back into a Bantustan mentality, the very disease our liberation struggle sought to cure. The illusion of tradition Let us be brutally honest. Traditional authorities play a role in our cultural identity. They preside over rituals, settle minor disputes,…
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