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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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Renthia Kaimbi A male teacher at Wilhelm Nortier Primary School in Grootfontein was arrested last month after being accused of sexually molesting boys in the school’s hostel.  The arrest of Alexis Awaseb came only after he attempted suicide, amid a case that has exposed serious concerns about child safety and institutional accountability. According to sources familiar with the incident, the alleged assault occurred on the night of 14 November 2025, during a widespread power outage in Grootfontein that lasted until after the learners' bedtime. It is alleged that Awaseb sneaked into the bed of a 13-year-old Grade 7 learner and…