National News

Amupanda flags secret hearings, judicial interference, drafting flaws in proposed tax legislation Desmarius Hansen Affirmative Repositioning (AR) leader Job Amupanda has warned that Namibia's proposed Income Tax Amendment Bill could face another constitutional challenge if passed in its current form, accusing its drafters of introducing provisions that undermine judicial transparency and conflict with existing legislation. Contributing to debate on the bill in the National Assembly on Wednesday, Amupanda said legislation intended to correct unconstitutional provisions in the country's 45-year-old Income Tax Act could itself create fresh constitutional vulnerabilities. The Income Tax Amendment Bill, tabled by financeinister Ericah Shafudah, seeks to…

Granite-and-wood pencil and locally bottled water highlight opportunities to convert Namibian resources and creative talent into commercial manufacturing, import substitution and new business opportunities. Elvis Mboya Namibia's ambition to retain more economic value from its natural resources is finding expression in two locally developed products: a pencil made from granite and wood sourced from Otjiwarongo and locally purified bottled water. Commissioned by Ignite Namibia, the products were launched at a breakfast event at the NUST Hotel School in Windhoek on Wednesday, placing local innovation and creative entrepreneurship within the wider debate about manufacturing, import substitution and domestic value addition. The…

Desmarius Hansen Human remains believed to be those of a missing Ovitoto man have been discovered in an area previously searched by police, raising fresh questions about the disappearance of 36-year-old Siegfried Muyanga. The discovery was reported on Wednesday afternoon by Frieda Kaugo and Shaun-Gariseb, who were among those who initiated the search for Muyanga after he disappeared during a hunting trip in April. According to information shared by Gariseb, a cattle herder stumbled upon the remains, alongside clothing, in the Ovitoto area. Police reportedly attended the scene, with Kaugo accompanying officers on Wednesday as investigations into the discovery continued.…

…as minister demands answers and players threaten boycott in Cameroon Patience Makwele The Namibia Football Association (NFA) says the N$7.5 million which was released by the government was insufficient to cover its national team expenses, after revealing that it had initially submitted a funding request of N$18 million. The association said it had already used N$4.3 million of its own funds towards the expenses, leaving an outstanding requirement of approximately N$14 million before the government released the latest allocation. The disclosure was made by the NFA Secretary General, Mabos Vries during a media briefing on Thursday, where the association also…

Renthia Kaimbi Former justice minister and Fishrot accused, Sackey Shanghala, has challenged the continued involvement of acting Prosecutor-General Martha Imalwa and deputy Prosecutor-General Edmund Marondedze in his prosecution, following an audio recording allegedly suggesting that the decision to prosecute him had been discussed before the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) submitted its investigation dockets. In a letter dated 9 November 2026, addressed to Imalwa, Shanghala demands clarity on whether the State accepts that the principal voice in the widely circulated recording belongs to Marondedze, who is leading the prosecution against him, and whether the two officials intend to remain involved in the…

Desmarius Hansen  The Namibia Nurses Union (NANU) has challenged health minister Dr Esperance Luvindao to turn her attention to what it describes as ‘deeper failures’ in the public healthcare system, arguing that medicine shortages, staff shortages and deteriorating infrastructure demand greater urgency. The union's Secretary-General, Junias Shilunga, was responding to a video showing Luvindao reprimanding a regional health director over a ‘leaking toilet’ at Katjinakatji Clinic during her recent regional visits. While acknowledging that sanitation is important, Shilunga questioned the minister's decision to publicly scold a senior health official, saying the ministry should be confronting problems that directly affect vulnerable…

Patience Makwele The continued struggles of Namibian businesses seeking to export goods to other African countries have prompted the government to introduce a guide aimed at helping them navigate cross-border trade. The struggles include facing a maze of permits, customs procedures and regulatory requirements, The Namibia Step-by-Step Guide to Trading Goods under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) was launched at the Hilton Hotel in Windhoek early this week. Speaking at the launch, executive director of the ministry of international relations and trade, Ambassador Jerobeam Shaanika, said the guide was developed after businesses encountered difficulties accessing import and export…

Opposition says ‘This is not your mother’s house’ remark remains unresolved Desmarius Hansen Opposition members of parliament (MP) have accused the National Assembly of applying disciplinary rules selectively, questioning why a ruling-party MP has not faced similar scrutiny while the Powers and Privileges Committee pushes for disciplinary action against National Unity Democratic Organisation (NUDO) MP Vetaruhe Kandorozu. Affirmative Repositioning (AR) MP Esther Haikola-Sakaria on Tuesday challenged the credibility of the committee’s report, arguing that parliament risks creating a double standard in which opposition members face disciplinary proceedings while alleged misconduct involving ruling-party MPs goes unaddressed. Her challenge comes as parliament…