National News

Justice minister yet to see Magistrates’ strike letter

Justice minister yet to see Magistrates’ strike letter

Renthia Kaimbi Minister of justice and labour relations Fillemon Wise Immanuel says he has not yet seen the letter of demand from Namibia’s magistrates threatening to strike over unpaid benefits. The magistrates, represented by Metcalfe Beukes Attorneys, have issued a final ultimatum to the ministry, demanding that it stop plans to gazette what they describe as an incorrect benefits schedule.  “I have not seen it yet because I’m travelling, but I will follow up and get back to you,” Immanuel told the Windhoek Observer. They are calling for the implementation of a fair proposal approved by the judiciary executive director…
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Goantagab mine snatched from the brink of auction

Goantagab mine snatched from the brink of auction

Renthia Kaimbi Mining claims holder Timoteus Mashuna has been spared from losing his Goantagab mining claims after the mine settled N$52 950 in legal costs sought by Ultimate Safaris.  The payment, which covered taxed costs and interest, stopped the deputy sheriff of Windhoek from auctioning off eight of Mashuna’s mining claims following a court-issued warrant. The warrant, dated 22 October 2025, had authorised the deputy sheriff to attach and auction the claims registered under Mashuna’s name.  The execution proceedings followed a recent legal defeat for Ultimate Safaris, which had been ordered to pay Mashuna’s legal costs after its failed attempt…
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Road safety expert calls for Christmas amnesty on traffic fines

Road safety expert calls for Christmas amnesty on traffic fines

Allexer Namundjembo Road safety expert Felix Tjozongoro has proposed a road safety Christmas amnesty. He said during this time, police should write off traffic fines older than three years to promote voluntary compliance and improve road discipline. “These are not ambitious or costly reforms; they are practical, evidence-based interventions that can be implemented immediately. If we start now, we can save hundreds of lives this festive season,” Tjozongoro said. He called on the Ministry of Works and Transport to strengthen the country's highway monitoring systems and make better use of the existing CCTV network along the Arandis.  Tjozongoro said the…
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South Africa reopens border to Namibian produce

South Africa reopens border to Namibian produce

Allexer Namundjembo South Africa has reopened its borders to Namibian fresh produce after a two-month suspension that disrupted exports and threatened thousands of jobs.  The move comes as the Zambezi Region battles a new outbreak of African migratory locusts, posing a fresh challenge to farmers. Agriculture, water and land reform minister Inge Zaamwani confirmed both developments in Parliament this week, describing them as a relief and a renewed challenge for Namibia’s farming community. South Africa halted imports of Namibian tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, watermelons and squash in August.  The suspension disrupted trade, caused financial strain, and endangered over 20 000 jobs.…
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Wilderness Air applies to renew operating licence

Wilderness Air applies to renew operating licence

Allexer Namundjembo Wilderness Air Namibia (Pty) Ltd has applied to amend and renew its non-scheduled air services licence, according to a notice published in the latest government gazette.  Wilderness' application includes updates to its aircraft fleet, tariff rates and services offered under its current licence, which was first issued in 1997 under the Air Services Act of 1949.  Wilderness Air Namibia is requesting that its licence reflect its current fleet of five Cessna 210 aircraft and four Cessna 208 aircraft. The company proposes new tariffs of N$13 413.60 per hour for the Cessna 210 and N$27 615.44 per hour for…
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YOUNG OBSERVER | The state of public healthcare through the eyes of the youth

YOUNG OBSERVER | The state of public healthcare through the eyes of the youth

Public healthcare is one of those topics that touches everyone at some point in life. Whether you have visited a clinic for a minor flu or accompanied a family member to a hospital, the experience stays with you. For many young Namibians, the state of public healthcare is a reflection of the broader challenges the nation faces — from inequality to resource shortages to the quiet heroism of health workers who keep showing up. It is a system filled with contradictions: frustration and hope, neglect and compassion, struggle and survival. Healthcare does not exist in isolation. It often mirrors the…
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YOUNG OBSERVER | How to manage debt without losing your sanity

YOUNG OBSERVER | How to manage debt without losing your sanity

Debt is the quiet shadow that follows so many of us through adulthood. It lurks behind paydays, hides in bank statements and sometimes finds its way into our conversations with the same unease as a confession. For young Namibians especially, debt has become a shared experience. Student loans, clothing accounts, microloans, car instalments or the quiet borrowing from a friend at month's end – it is woven into how we survive, build and sometimes struggle. Yet the real question is not whether we owe money, but how to manage debt without losing our sanity in the process. The hardest part…
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YOUNG OBSERVER | Internet access as a right and why data should be cheaper

YOUNG OBSERVER | Internet access as a right and why data should be cheaper

In today’s world, being connected to the internet is as essential as having electricity or water. It is how we work, study, communicate and even dream. For young Namibians, internet access is not a luxury anymore. It is a bridge to opportunity. Yet every month, the cost of data stands as a wall between that bridge and the people who need it most. This reality raises a question that is becoming louder across the world: should internet access be treated as a basic human right, and if so, why is it still so expensive for those who need it most?…
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YOUNG OBSERVER | Cancel culture or accountability and where we draw the line

YOUNG OBSERVER | Cancel culture or accountability and where we draw the line

Social media has become the loudest courtroom in the modern world. A single post can elevate a person to fame or tear their reputation apart. The youth of today live in a digital age where opinions travel faster than facts and where outrage often feels like justice. In Namibia, as in many other places, names have trended on social media for all the wrong reasons. Business owners, influencers and public figures have faced public backlash for bad service, dishonesty, or misconduct. Yet as the lines blur between accountability and destruction, we must ask: are we building a fair society or…
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YOUNG OBSERVER | Discovering Namibia’s hidden gems

YOUNG OBSERVER | Discovering Namibia’s hidden gems

Timbila glamping site There are places that feel like they were waiting for you to arrive. Places that slow your thoughts, steady your heartbeat and remind you that peace still exists beyond phone screens and deadlines. Timbila Glamping Site is one of those places. Tucked quietly in the folds of Namibia’s wild beauty, it offers a kind of escape that is not just physical but spiritual. For young travellers searching for meaning, rest and connection, this hidden gem feels like a rediscovery of what truly matters. Glamping, which is a combination of the words 'glamorous' and 'camping', is the bridge…
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