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Allexer Namundjembo Namibia does not need the International Criminal Court (ICC), political analyst Sackaria Johannes has said in support of a motion for the country to withdraw from the court. Johannes’ comments came after Affirmative Repositioning (AR) leader and member of parliament Job Amupanda tabled a motion in the National Assembly on Tuesday calling for Namibia’s withdrawal from the ICC. “Bearing in mind that, for me, the ICC is a biased institution. If you look at history, most of the people who were prosecuted there and found guilty are Africans. But we have some world leaders who have committed war…

Shelleygan Petersen Eight City of Windhoek councillors were blocked from attending the Southern African Inter Municipality Sports Association (SAIMA) games in Lesotho after minister of urban and rural development James Sankwasa disapproved their travel. The councillors had already departed when the message arrived, costing the municipality N$80 000 for the trip.  They were invited to the games in Maseru from 21 to 26 September 2025 under the Lesotho Local Authorities Sports Association. Sankwasa sent a circular on Friday to all mayors, local authority councils, and chief executive officers.  It stated that requests to attend the SAIMA games were disapproved.  “Your…

Justicia Shipena  The resignation of James Mnyupe from the Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme (NGH2) has reignited doubts about the future of the ambitious project.  On Wednesday, reports by The Namibian said Mnyupe stepped down because of a lack of political support. Mnyupe was appointed by former president Hage Geingob as the country’s first green hydrogen commissioner in August 2021.  He later became head of the Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme.  The green hydrogen project was the brainchild of Geingob. Geingob first announced the project during the high-level segment of COP26 in Glasgow in 2021. Corporate governance expert Johan Coetzee told the…

Renthia Kaimbi The government has begun the process to remove Chief Zacharias Seibeb as leader of the Dâure Daman Traditional Authority after years of internal dispute. Urban and Rural Development minister James Sankwasa informed Seibeb of the decision in a letter dated 22 September 2025.  The correspondence, seen by the Windhoek Observer, states that the ministry has “commenced with the degazetting process” against the chief.  The move, authorised under section 8(1) of the Traditional Authorities Act of 2000, would strip Seibeb of official state recognition. The letter referred to a consultative meeting held on 5 June 2025 to address the…

Allexer Namundjembo and Renthia Kaimbi Suspended Walvis Bay rural councillor Florian Donatus was arrested on Monday morning in Swakopmund and formally charged with fraud, alternatively theft and money laundering. The police confirmed and noted that Donatus is expected to appear in the Swakopmund Magistrate’s Court today.  His arrest follows weeks of controversy surrounding his suspension from the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC).  He was suspended on 5 September over allegations of corruption and financial misconduct. The claims include misuse of the Erongo Regional Council’s credit facility to procure goods valued at more than N$116 000 and authorising a N$10 000…

Renthia Kaimbi Welwitchia University nursing student Karien Kaunapawa Nikanor died in an apparent suicide last week after allegedly failing the Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE).  Nikanor was a second-year, trimester student in the Bachelor of Nursing and Midwifery Science programme.  The director of corporate engagement and international relations at Welwitchia University, Christel Nassauw, confirmed the tragedy but said that no suicide note was found.  She added that no direct link between Nikanor’s academic performance and her death can be established. "Yes, I confirm it to be true. The reasons behind the student's death are not confirmed and cannot be tied…

Allexer Namundjembo Education, health, and technology have emerged as top priorities for returning appointed ambassadors. On Thursday, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah announced a recycle of diplomats who will head missions around the world. The appointments include Tonata Gebhard to China, Monica Nashandi to Russia, Wilbard Hellao to the United States of America, Sophia Nangula to Sweden, Jerobeam Shaanika to Germany, Benjamin Kandanga to Finland, and Sabine Böhlke-Möller to France. Lebbius Tobias was assigned to Cuba, and Sipapela Cletius Sipapela returns to the Democratic Republic of Congo, while Elvis Shiweda will represent Namibia in Switzerland. Nandi-Ndaitwah clarified that only retained ambassadors have…

Justicia Shipena  The ministry of finance has instructed Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) commissioner Sam Shivute to investigate allegations of nepotism and favouritism lodged against him. On 6 May 2025, finance ministry executive director Michael Humavindu told Shivute in a letter that the seriousness of the complaint required a “prompt and thorough investigation”.  He requested a formal report with findings and corrective actions by 30 June 2025 and emphasised confidentiality and urgency. The complaint was filed on 22 April 2025 by NamRA's human resource officer, Ndamononghenda Nampweya, who was suspended in October 2023.  In a letter addressed to finance minister Erich…

Allexer Namundjembo Industrial action broke out on Tuesday outside Plastic Packaging (Pty) Ltd in Windhoek after wage negotiations with the Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union (MANWU) collapsed.  Workers began picketing at the company’s premises, demanding higher salary increases than those offered by management. Negotiations, which began in January 2025  have yet to yield an agreement.  The company confirmed the deadlock, saying it had tabled an above-inflation increase for employees but could not meet the union’s latest demands. Plastic Packaging’s managing director, Nico Du Plessis, said the company remains open to dialogue but must consider wider financial realities.  “We have…

Justicia Shipena National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) corruption and bribery accused Kornelius “Cedric” Willemse served as a middleman between Namcor  and Enercon Namibia before being appointed as Namcor’s supply and logistics manager, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has told the court. ACC chief investigator Oberty Inambao testified during Willemse’s bail application on Monday.  He said Willemse acted as a consultant to Namcor when Enercon signed a fuel supply agreement with the company in 2021.  Willemse was later appointed permanently in June 2022 as supply and logistics manager. “From the evidence we obtained, Mr Willemse was an employee of Namcor throughout…