National News

Nekundi calls for disability access in public infrastructure Patience Makwele Works and transport minister Veikko Nekundi has called for disability accessibility to be incorporated into public infrastructure planning, budgets, procurement and construction. He warned that buildings designed without considering different needs can deny people access to essential services. Nekundi, whose remarks were delivered by Jaffet Nelongo, deputy executive director in the ministry of works and transport, said infrastructure development must consider the people who will use it, including persons with disabilities. “A technically impressive design is meaningless if it fails the end users,” he said. He said accessibility must go…

Sostenus Wilherm Justice and labour relations minister Fillemon Wise Immanuel says resolving the employment contract issues of 2 700 employees is among his priorities, citing the matter as an example of the difficult decisions leaders must make when balancing competing responsibilities. He was referring to employees currently placed at RANI Traders CC through Employees Placement Services Namibia CC (EPSN) as previously reported by the Windhoek Observer. Immanuel made the remarks on Thursday while officially opening the ministry of justice and labour relations’ four-day senior management retreat at Gobabis in the Omaheke Region. He revealed that he recently declined a request…

Sostenus Wilherm Oshikoto governor Sacky Kathindi says Tsumeb’s mining wealth must translate into jobs, skills development and business opportunities for local people. He warned that economic growth should not be measured by production figures and investment announcements alone. Kathindi made the remarks on Thursday while officially opening the 2026 Tsumeb Copper Festival, where he challenged mining companies, businesses and government institutions to ensure local communities benefit meaningfully from economic activities in the town. “Mining and industry remain important pillars of Tsumeb’s economic identity. However, the benefits of these sectors must extend beyond production figures and investment announcements,” Kathindi said. He…

Patience Makwele Katima Mulilo Town Council (KMTC)'s engagements with the central government on revitalising the Zambezi Waterfront and Tourism Park have reached an advanced stage, mayor Kabende Kabende told the Windhoek Observer on Thursday. Kabende said the council wanted to unlock the town’s tourism potential and make it more attractive to tourists and investors, while ensuring local businesses and residents benefit from the sector. “We are engaging with the central government on revitalising the Zambezi Waterfront and Tourism Park, and these engagements are at an advanced stage,” he said. The renewed push to revive the facility follows a meeting between…

Patience Makwele Republican Party member of parliament (MP) Mathias Mbundu has proposed a N$10 million relief fund for kapana vendors and informal meat traders whose livelihoods have been affected by the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak. Mbundu made the proposal in the National Assembly on Wednesday during debate on the 2026/27 mid-year budget review, asking finance minister Ericah Shafudah to consider a once-off fund to help traders struggling with meat supply disruptions and the cost of obtaining alternative supplies. He said the restrictions needed to contain the disease were affecting more than livestock farmers and commercial abattoirs, with small-scale traders also…

Sostenus Wilherm The ministry of finance will introduce monthly social grant payments from November 2026, ending the practice of paying some beneficiaries two months’ grants at once in November or January. The decision has drawn mixed reactions from pensioners, with one in Windhoek welcoming the change as a way to help elderly people manage their money, while another from northern Namibia raised concerns about its impact on farming activities and children’s school preparations. The 64-year-old pensioner from Windhoek said the previous arrangement often left elderly people struggling to afford food during the long gap between payments, particularly those who depend…

Patience Makwele First Gentleman Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah has challenged Russia and African countries to turn their longstanding relations into practical opportunities for young people, warning that many have qualifications but no jobs, ideas but no capital, and talent but no networks. Speaking at the opening of the Russia-Africa Youth Forum at MGIMO University in Moscow on Wednesday, Ndaitwah said young people should be treated as partners in current development efforts rather than leaders of the future. “This week, leaders meet in Moscow for the Third Russia-Africa Summit, under the theme For Peace, Security and Development. They will sign agreements. But…

Sostenus Wilherm A Namibia-China agricultural cooperation project has reached 2 351 beneficiaries through 79 training events, with women accounting for more than half of those trained, as the government seeks to strengthen farming skills and rural livelihoods. Deputy minister of agriculture, fisheries, water and land reform Ruthy Masake announced the figures on Wednesday during the official closure of Phase II of the China–FAO–Namibia South-South Cooperation Project in Windhoek. Implemented from September 2024 to December 2026 with support from China through the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the project deployed Chinese experts and technicians to work alongside…