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Allexer Namundjembo Drivers at Freshmark, a subsidiary of the Shoprite Group, have raised concerns over poor working conditions.  They point to high medical aid costs, food voucher deductions, slashed overtime, and delayed bonuses.  The workers also say the company refuses to recognise their union, the Namibian Revolutionary Transport Union (Naretu). Although many drivers are registered members of Naretu, they say the company continues to ignore the union.  The company only offers bonuses after seven years of service, and workers report not having representation during wage negotiations. “Not only are we not allowed to be with the union of our choice,…

Justicia Shipena  The election of Friedrich Merz as Germany's chancellor implies that there is no longer a straightforward declaration or commitment to confront the genocide deal, says political analyst Henning Melber. Melber cautions that even simple symbolic actions, such as the unified proclamation against genocide, may not be realised under Germany's new administration. Merz was voted as Germany's future chancellor on Tuesday after winning a second Bundestag vote. While the previous "Ampel" coalition, which included the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Green Party, and the Liberal Party, explicitly committed to completing the joint declaration on genocide committed during Germany's colonial…

Allexer Namundjembo The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development has paid N$237.3 million to settle water bills emanating from restrictive measures imposed by the Namibian government during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, the government launched an initiative to curb the spread of COVID-19 by providing people with unlimited and free access to clean water in informal settlements and rural areas. According to the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development’s executive director, Wilhelmina Shivute, the government has now settled payments covering over two years’ worth of water usage, from 19 March 2020 to July 2022. “Regional and Local Authority councils were…

Allexer Namundjembo Former Air Namibia employees are calling on the government to include them in the development and operation of the new national airline. The airline is expected to launch by December 2026. According to reports from last month, the government has allocated N$20 million for a feasibility study on the revival of Air Namibia. Member of Parliament and former Air Namibia employee Vaino Tuhafeni raised the issue in Parliament. He said many ex-workers remain unpaid and excluded years after the airline’s liquidation. “I spoke to a former colleague this morning, a single mother, who sounded hopeless and dejected. She…

Ester Mbathera When Lorain* joined her company as a divisional human resources manager four years ago, she arrived with energy, skills, and determination. Instead of support, she found isolation, intimidation, and emotional exhaustion. Today, Lorain is one of many workers battling depression caused by bullying at work. Ahead of International Workers’ Day on 1 May, she shared how her experience began. "When I came in, I came in very strongly. But some people felt threatened. They threw me to the shareholder side and made life impossible for me," she said. She said one colleague, closely connected to senior management, began…

Ester Mbathera  Transactional relationships where older men engage with underage girls, often called “blessers” or “sugar daddies”, remain widespread across the country. Wealthy and respected men are often involved, with girls as young as 13 drawn into these relationships. Ohangwena Governor and former police chief Sebastian Ndeitunga said the rise in these cases is partly due to the involvement of some parents. "Parents are to blame for this. Some parents know that their child is going out with an older person, but because they need the money the girl is bringing in, they support her and keep quiet. Some are…

Allexer Namundjembo Political analysts say the arrest of former agriculture minister Mac-Albert Hengari has exposed weaknesses early on in President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s leadership. Political analyst Henning Melber said the situation reflects poor judgement in Cabinet appointments. “This is a bad omen for NNN’s first weeks in office. It indicates that there was no proper vetting process done for the Cabinet appointments. Given the evidence already existing, Hengari should never have become a minister,” he said. Melber added that "innocent until proven guilty has a different meaning". He said Nandi-Ndaitwah’s image of moral leadership had been damaged and questioned how her…

Allexer Namundjembo  From 2026, students enrolling at public universities and technical and vocational education centres will no longer have to pay tuition or registration fees. This was announced by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah on Thursday when she delivered her maiden state of the nation address (SONA) in the National Assembly. “We have heard your cries, ‘the fees have fallen’,” she said. She said this will be a gradual, phased-in approach and added that students’ contributions will be towards accommodation and other related costs only.  This move, Nandi-Ndaitwah said, is a “specific message to our youth”.  “That is the golden opportunity accorded…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja  The death of Founding President Sam Nujoma has sparked renewed questions over the long-term use of state-funded offices allocated to former heads of state. The Popular Democratic Movement’s (PDM) leader, McHenry Venaani, on Wednesday submitted a series of questions to Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare, seeking clarification on the future use and policy governing these facilities. The office used by Nujoma since his retirement in 2005 is located in Klein Windhoek suburb at the corner of  Schweringsburg Street and Robert Mugabe Avenue.  With both Nujoma and Geingob now deceased, Venaani questioned whether the government plans to revisit policies on…