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Allexer Namundjembo The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), which last year praised former Namcor managing director Immanuel ‘Imms’ Mulunga for saving the company and the country, has now arrested him on potential corruption-related charges.  His arrest, according to sources, stems from a 2023 oil transaction involving N$100 million, which led to his suspension and eventual dismissal. Mulunga was arrested on Tuesday afternoon at his home in Klein Windhoek.  ACC director general Paulus Noa confirmed the arrest and said further arrests are expected.  “He is yet to be charged. Mind you, he is not the only one; there are others. There could be…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) remains in financial trouble despite receiving a N$1.2 billion government bailout in April 2024.  The company confirmed that liquidity problems persist and more support may be needed to settle outstanding debts. Namcor’s board and management said the bailout was used to access commercial loans, which were mostly used to pay off overdue creditors.  “Liquidity challenges remain persistent, and support may be required to clear the remaining long outstanding creditors balances,” the company stated. By March 2024, Namcor’s total debt stood at N$3.3 billion.  The bailout helped reduce this to N$1.6 billion.…

Justicia Shipena The Cabinet has placed a moratorium on official funerals from 16 June 2025 to 31 March 2026.  The move allows the government to review the current criteria and processes for granting such honours. Minister of information and communication technology Emma Theofelus announced the decision on Thursday, following the 11th Cabinet meeting.  “This moratorium will remain in place while a detailed review is conducted on how official funerals are awarded,” she said. Theofelus said the suspension does not affect the President’s constitutional powers to confer national honours.  “The moratorium does not infringe on Article 32(3)(h) of the Namibian Constitution,…

Allexer Namundjembo The plan to introduce toll gates on major roads across the country remains stalled, with no significant progress reported.  The Road Fund Administration (RFA) has confirmed that the project is still undergoing internal approvals and has not moved to the public rollout stage. “There is no progress on tolling yet. The matter is still receiving internal process approvals first. An update will be provided to the public in time,” said RFA chief executive officer Ali Ipinge in response to an inquiry by the Windhoek Observer. The toll gate proposal was first introduced in 2021 and aimed to install…

Niël Terblanché For the first time since Namibia ratified the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement, a locally produced consignment of salt left the port of Walvis Bay on Monday. The cargo symbolised the country’s entry into a single African market with approximately 1.4 billion consumers. The minister of international relations and trade, Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, said the milestone represented the start of Namibia’s practical participation in intra-African trade under the AfCFTA framework.  She linked the project to the vision of the Organisation of African Unity’s founders in 1963, saying their dream of economic emancipation began to materialise through Agenda…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Businessman José Luis Bastos and Emeritus Fishing (Pty) Ltd have denied that any fishing dividends were ever paid to the late founding president, Sam Nujoma, in his personal capacity. Bastos’ lawyer, Richard Metcalfe, said the Sam Nujoma Foundation, not Nujoma himself, holds a 20% share in Emeritus Fishing.  He said the company distributes audited dividends annually to shareholders in line with corporate governance procedures. “The skewered and false article pertaining to fishing dividends allegedly paid to the deceased Founding President is fake and false,” said Metcalfe. He further stated that the Foundation appointed John Nauta as the nominee…

Justicia Shipena The government has paid approximately N$3.1 million in legal fees for its defence in the veterinary cordon fence case, also known as the red line case.  The payments were made to advocates Raymond Heathcote SC, Marius Boonzaaier, and Hermann Steyn. A document dated 16 April 2025, seen by the Windhoek Observer, shows that the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises authorised the payments as part of outstanding civil litigation costs owed to various legal service providers.  The total amount approved for settlement of all civil litigation costs was over N$24 million. Heathcote submitted an invoice of N$1.1 million…