National News

Sostenus Wilherm The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has secured a legal costs award of more than N$17 000 following a High Court taxation hearing linked to a dispute over extensive damage allegedly caused to its Windhoek property by a logistics company’s vehicle. The taxation hearing, held on Friday before Taxation Master Tanita Van der Merwe at the High Court, resulted in fees and disbursements amounting to N$17 119.43 being allowed in favour of the United Nations Association of Namibia, trading as the UNDP. The costs were awarded against the first and second defendants, Mateas Godhard and Tokai Investments CC,…

Sostenus Wilherm The Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN) has been challenged to ensure its next four decades are defined not only by its historic role in advancing workers' rights but also by its ability to prepare employees for a rapidly changing world of work driven by automation, artificial intelligence and the global energy transition. As the union marks its 40th anniversary this year, acting president Poco-Key Mberiuana says MUN's greatest task is no longer simply defending workers against exploitation but ensuring they remain relevant and empowered in an economy undergoing profound transformation. Founded in 1986, four years before Namibia attained…

Patience Makwele The Hage Geingob Presidential Centre will launch the inaugural Hage Geingob Town Hall Conversation on Monday, creating what organisers hope will become an annual platform for dialogue between leaders, young people, academics and citizens on issues shaping Namibia’s future. The event, which coincides with what would have been the late former President Hage Geingob’s 85th birthday, seeks to preserve his legacy of consultation, inclusive governance and citizen participation through open public engagement. Speaking ahead of the event, the centre’s executive director, George Simataa, said the initiative builds on Geingob’s long-standing belief that meaningful development begins by listening to…

Allexer Namundjebo  The participation of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah at the official opening of the MTC Kasi Vibe Festival has sparked debate over whether the Head of State should be involved in community and fundraising events, with some questioning whether such engagements align with the priorities and stature of the presidency. NUDO member of parliament Vetahoruhe Kandorozu on Thursday said senior state officials, including the President, Prime Minister and Vice President, should avoid being drawn into officiating events that could instead be handled by ministers, deputy ministers or regional leaders. “We must avoid inviting and turning our President, Prime Minister or…

Sostenus Wilherm The suspension of Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) Eenhana Satellite Campus SRC vice president, Rebbeus Hashiyana has escalated into a dispute over student leadership, due process and the circumstances surrounding a media briefing at the campus. Hashiyana denied that he invited media houses and accused the SRC of suspending him before hearing his side of the story. Hashiyana, who is responsible for representing students at the NUST centres in the northern regions, told the Windhoek Observer that his suspension stems from what he described as a misunderstanding over the presence of media at the Eenhana campus…

Eugenia Moche The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) has called on the government and state-owned Namcor to provide full transparency on Namibia's offshore petroleum developments, following Galp's announcement of its transaction with TotalEnergies. On 27 July, Galp confirmed that its deal with TotalEnergies had received all necessary governmental and regulatory approvals. The Namibian Competition Commission had already approved the transaction without conditions on 28 April. However, Galp noted that remaining joint-venture documentation still needed to be completed. Once concluded, TotalEnergies will hold a 40% operating interest in Petroleum Exploration Licence (PEL) 83, which contains the Mopane discovery. Galp will retain…

Sostenus Wilherm Learners in the //Kharas Region have been given a rare opportunity to explore career possibilities without leaving their communities after Namdeb hosted its first-ever Career Fair in Oranjemund, addressing a long-standing challenge of limited access to career guidance in remote areas. The two-day event, held on 17 and 18 July, brought together professionals, educational institutions and industry representatives to expose learners to various career pathways, with a focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM). For many learners outside Namibia’s major towns, access to career exhibitions and direct interaction with professionals remains limited due to distance and…

Patience Makwele The Adventist World Radio (AWR) Namibia and the Namibia North Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church are strengthening the role of AWR-Zambezi as a community information platform aimed at improving access to local news, education, health information and public awareness programmes in the Zambezi region. Representatives from AWR Namibia and the Namibia North Conference introduced the station’s services to the Office of the Zambezi regional Governor during a courtesy visit on Thursday, highlighting its role in providing locally relevant content and engaging communities on issues affecting their daily lives. AWR-Zambezi provides programming focused on information sharing, education, development…