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Justicia Shipena  The High Court has dismissed an application by Seaflower Whitefish Corporation Ltd to force further disclosure of documents in its loan dispute with Spanish company Copemar. The court ruled that the documents sought are not relevant to the case before the court. Copemar is suing Seaflower for more than N$53.9 million under a written loan agreement signed in November 2019.  It claims it advanced N$51 million to Seaflower to help fund the construction of the fishing vessel MFV Olupale and that the amount, together with interest and currency compensation, became payable in July 2021. Seaflower denies liability. It…

Renthia Kaimbi Employees at the National Youth Council (NYC) are questioning why newly appointed interim executive chairperson Patience Masua ordered a personal selection of snacks worth more than N$4 000 as office refreshments during her second week in office. The issue comes amid criticism of Masua’s N$100 000 monthly salary for a three-month tenure. A detailed request seen by the Windhoek Observer lists liquifruit juices, romany creams and eet-sum-mor biscuits, barbecue-flavoured pringles, biltong including droëwors and sliced beef, dried fruits, granola bars, long-life milk, Douwe Egberts coffee, honey, mint sweets and Oasis still water. The items were submitted for procurement…

Justicia Shipena Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (Nored) has approached the Labour Court on an urgent basis to stop a planned strike by the Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN). Nored warns that the industrial action could disrupt electricity supply across large parts of northern Namibia. This move comes after Nored workers issued a notice of strike action last Friday, following the collapse of wage negotiations that had lasted for more than a year. MUN, which represents Nored employees, has accused management of intimidation aimed at preventing workers from exercising their right to strike. In its founding affidavit, deposed to by Nored’s…

Renthia Kaimbi Namibia is close to establishing its first Small Claims Court. The court aims to expedite justice and decrease the expenses associated with resolving minor civil disputes. The office of the judiciary has confirmed that justice minister Fillemon Wise Immanuel is finalising legislation to create the court, with the bill expected to be tabled in parliament later this year.  The cabinet gave the initiative urgent priority in late 2024. The proposed Small Claims Court is intended to address long-standing challenges linked to high legal costs and delays in the justice system.  It will deal with everyday disputes such as…

Renthia Kaimbi The Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) says the recovery of existing student loans will continue.  NSFAF said this would continue as a key measure to safeguard the sustainability of the scheme, even as the government rolls out fully subsidised tertiary education. NSFAF acting chief executive officer Kennedy Kandume on Monday said loan repayment remains a core mandate of the fund and will continue until further notice to ensure that future generations can also benefit from financial support. “The responsibility for the recovery of any student loan due to the fund will continue until further notice, safeguarding the…

Renthia Kaimbi Former Omuthiya councillor Nghipudilo ya Shiindi has said she will not repay her Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) loan until the government first recovers billions lost to corruption and mismanagement. She criticised the state’s renewed push to collect student loan repayments and condemned recent amendments to NSFAF, calling for a pause on repayments until what she described as equal justice is applied. Ya Shiindi said student loans should not be treated like commercial debt. “Student loans are policy instruments, not commercial products. They are issued for education, not for profit, and are intended to expand national human…

Allexer Namundjebo Landless People’s Movement (LPM) youth leader Duminga Ndala says youth-owned businesses must continue to honour their loan obligations where possible.  This comes as the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) announced it had written off about N$579 million in non-performing loans during the 2024/25 financial year as part of a balance sheet clean-up. Responding to questions from the Windhoek Observer on Thursday, Ndala said the loan write-off reflects the severe economic pressures facing borrowers across the economy but does not justify a blanket approach to debt relief for young people. “Young people who owe the bank should continue to…

Allexer Namundjembo Community and political leaders have questioned the appointment of the City of Windhoek chief executive officer Moses Matyayi to Swapo's Think Tank.  Matyayi has been appointed to serve in the housing, sanitation, and social development portfolio. Windhoek-based activist Shaun Gariseb said it is inappropriate for a senior municipal official to serve in a party structure.  He said residents expect the head of the municipality to be apolitical and politically neutral. “He is now actively getting involved. He must resign from the City of Windhoek because he is conflicted. There are reports demanded that will have major consequences, like…

Renthia Kaimbi Newly appointed National Youth Council interim executive chairperson Patience Masua will earn N$100 000 per month during her three-month tenure. This has sparked debate among youth affiliates and raised questions about ministerial influence over the youth body. The Windhoek Observer has learnt that Masua’s predecessor, Kennedy Kariseb, earned the same monthly amount during his short tenure, from October until his resignation in December 2025. The disclosure has angered some NYC affiliates, who question why N$300 000 is being spent on an interim position instead of funding a General Assembly to elect a full-term board. Sources told the Windhoek…

Allexer Namundjembo Minister of urban and rural development James Sankwasa has called for a “Namibia First” approach to government procurement, urging regional and local authority councillors to prioritise national interests. He also warned against the abuse of land allocation processes, procurement systems and public trust. “If Trump can stand and say ‘America first', we must also stand and say ‘Namibia first' and not second,” Sankwasa said. He was speaking at the opening of a five-day induction workshop for regional and local authority councillors, chief regional officers, chief executive officers and administrators in Rundu on Monday.  Sankwasa said that procurement practices…