Main – Windhoek Observer

10 Jan

NYC ‘headless’ after interim board chair resigns

Main, National News

Renthia Kaimbi The National Youth Council (NYC) is without leadership after interim board chairperson Kennedy Kariseb resigned, just a week after the contract of its director, Calista Schwartz-Gowases, ended. The Windhoek Observer understands that the council currently has no interim chairperson or director in place. Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture Sanet Steenkamp confirmed that she received Kariseb’s resignation letter in December 2025. “I do confirm that, indeed, I did receive the resignation letter from Dr Kennedy and we will always remain indebted and grateful for the time that he worked with us,” Steenkamp said. She confirmed…

08 Jan

Education ministry warns against school placement bribery

Main, National News

Renthia Kaimbi The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture has warned teachers and school administrators against asking for or accepting bribes for school placements as schools prepare to reopen on Monday. The ministry also urged parents and guardians to follow official admission procedures and to act with patience and honesty during the placement process. The warning comes at a time when schools often face pressure from parents seeking last-minute placements, sometimes leading to reports of scams and illegal payments. Education executive director Erastus Haitengela instructed all school and office staff not to solicit or accept any bribe,…

07 Jan

New Omuthiya open market still incomplete …as vendors reject to move to incomplete market

Main, National News

Allexer Namundjembo More than three years after the Omuthiya Town Council began construction of a new open market in the 2022/23 financial year, the facility remains incomplete. This has led to frustration among vendors and community leaders who expected improved trading conditions in the regional capital. The modern open market was meant to provide a hygienic and formal space for informal traders who have long operated along the busy B1 road and other central areas of Omuthiya. The council said the market would accommodate about 500 vendors and serve residents and travellers once operational. Despite early assurances that the project…

06 Jan

Tunacor replaces MD with former CEO …Hitula denies being fired or demoted over fishrot claims

Main, National News

Renthia Kaimbi Tunacor Fisheries Limited, a Walvis Bay-based fishing company, has replaced its managing director with the company’s former chief executive officer, Gerrie Hough. Outgoing MD Peya Hitula confirmed to the Windhoek Observer that Hough had taken his place. However, Hitula refuted allegations of his firing or demotion. He said he has moved into a more senior governance role within the company. This comes as talks that started circulating in mid-December suggested that Hitula was dismissed over alleged links to the fishrot scandal or had stepped down under pressure. “It is true that I am no longer the managing director…

05 Jan

‘Land board failures behind Ondonga shooting’ – Sankwasa

Main, National News

Renthia Kaimbi Minister of urban and rural development James Sankwasa says the fatal shooting of headmen in the Ondonga Traditional Authority happened because of systemic failures in the Communal Land Board. He warns that weaknesses in land dispute resolution structures continue to fuel violence. This comes as a land dispute within the Ondonga Traditional Authority turned deadly on Friday during an attempt to resolve a conflict over communal land. A suspect opened fire, resulting in the death of Onelago village headman Sam Nepando and injuring Iikokola village headman I-Ben Nashandi. Nashandi is also the National Planning Commission (NPC) executive director.…

19 Dec

Sankwasa’s adviser accused of corruption

Main

Renthia Kaimbi Residents of Keetmanshoop have accused a recently appointed adviser to the minister of urban and rural development, James Sankwasa, of benefiting from an alleged irregular municipal contract. This is part of claims of governance failure at the Keetmanshoop Municipality. The allegations are contained in a formal petition submitted by the Concerned Residents of Keetmanshoop and addressed to newly elected mayor Melody Swartbooi. The petition, dated 9 December 2025 and seen by the Windhoek Observer, calls for urgent intervention into what residents describe as deep-rooted problems within the municipality. The petition has also been copied to Sankwasa, //Kharas Regional…

18 Dec

Fishrot fugitive lawyer to testify virtually

Main

Renthia Kaimbi The Supreme Court has authorised fugitive lawyer Marén de Klerk to testify via video link in the National Fishing Corporation of Namibia (Fishcor) and Sea Flower Pelagic matter. This would enable the hearing of his testimony regarding an allegedly corrupt 50 000 metric-tonne fishing quota. The ruling overturns a 2022 High Court decision that refused the request and settles a dispute over the use of courtroom technology. It allows testimony that Fishcor says is critical to its case against Seaflower Pelagic Processing and others. The case centres on a commercial arrangement in which Fishcor, a state-owned enterprise, agreed…

17 Dec

Civil servants to pay 2% less on loan deductions

Main

Renthia Kaimbi The Ministry of Finance will reduce loan repayment deductions from civil servants’ salaries by 2%, with the change taking effect this Friday for teachers and police officers. Windhoek Observer understands that the adjustment follows a new government position that the 2% surcharge previously deducted from employees’ salaries should not have been carried by workers. The ministry now intends to recover the charge directly from deduction code holders, such as microlenders. The development comes as the High Court on Monday dismissed an urgent application to hold finance minister Ericah Shafudah in contempt of court. High Court judge Lotta Ambunda…

16 Dec

Grootfontein teacher resigns amid sexual assault allegations

Main

Renthia Kaimbi A teacher accused of sexually assaulting boys at Wilhelm Nortier Primary School in Grootfontein has resigned while in police custody, the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture has confirmed. In a statement released yesterday, the ministry condemned the alleged sexual assault and said it wo uld cooperatefully with law enforcement while providing support to the affected learners. Education executive director Erastus Haitengela said the ministry will work with authorities to ensure those responsible are held accountable. He said the case is now before the courts, but stressed that the ministry is treating the matter with…

15 Dec

Shafudah says payroll court order is unclear

Main

Renthia Kaimbi Finance minister Ericah Shafudah has denied being in contempt of court, saying the High Court order on the government’s payroll deduction system is unclear and difficult to implement. She also argues that serious data problems from a microlender have delayed the system’s transition. Shafudah filed her defence last Thursday in a case brought by Entrepo Finance (Pty) Ltd, which centres on the Payroll Deduction Management System (PDMS). The system allows civil servants to repay loans directly from their salaries. The Ministry of Finance decided to take over management of the PDMS after its contract with private service provider…