National News

Patience Makwele City of Windhoek councillors have demanded legal clarification on President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s private application to acquire municipal land in Auasblick, questioning whether the matter should be discussed publicly or in camera. The demands were made during the city’s ordinary council meeting on Thursday, where councillors debated the treatment of several land applications on the agenda. Affirmative Repositioning councillor Kavetu Maitjituavi questioned why Nandi-Ndaitwah’s land application should be treated differently from other applications, particularly Cricket Namibia’s, which he said was open to public discussion. Maitjituavi said the President’s application involves a large parcel of land that could accommodate about…

Sostenus Wilherm Namibian activist Michael Amushelelo has launched a petition calling on the government to declare United States Ambassador John Giordano persona non grata, citing concerns over Namibia's sovereignty and what he describes as growing foreign influence over the country's natural resources. The campaign comes as Namibia attracts increasing international attention following major oil discoveries, with the country emerging as one of Africa's most closely watched frontier oil markets. Amushelelo argues that Namibia's oil, uranium and other mineral resources belong to Namibians and should not be subject to foreign control or political influence. “Our oil is not American oil. Our…

Patience Makwele  The Namibia Special Risks Insurance Association (NASRIA) has injected N$25 million into regional economic development, with the funds set to support productive initiatives across all 14 regions. The contribution was handed over to regional governors in Windhoek on Thursday at a ceremony attended by prime minister Elijah Ngurare and finance minister Ericah Shafudah. Receiving the contribution on behalf of the government, Ngurare said the funds must translate into tangible economic benefits, including stronger businesses, job creation, improved infrastructure and further investment in regional economies. “Development plans matter only when they produce visible improvements in people’s lives,” Ngurare said.…

Patience Makwele & Sostenus Wilherm President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has challenged Namibians to move beyond celebrating the country’s liberation and confront the modern-day battles of poverty, unemployment, inequality and corruption, saying the next generation’s struggle is for economic emancipation. Speaking at the 60th Heroes’ Day commemoration at Heroes’ Acre in Windhoek on Wednesday, the Head of State said the liberation generation had secured political freedom and sovereignty, but the responsibility now rests with the current generation to improve the material conditions of Namibians. “Political freedom and sovereignty have been won. But every generation has its own struggle. Thirty-six years after independence,…

Sostenus Wilherm The Bethanie community has received a N$64,886.51 boost through a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) commitment attached to a government infrastructure contract. The commitment marks the first implementation of the Central Procurement Board of Namibia’s (CPBN) new procurement requirement. West Trading JV Unik Construction Engineering Namibia handed over blankets, boy’s and girl’s school uniforms and sanitary pads valued at N$64,886.51 on Monday to vulnerable members of the Bethanie community, including learners at Schmelenville Combined School. The donation is linked to the company’s N$64.88 million contract for the upgrading of the Sandverhaar-Buchholzbrunn Railway Line Phase 2, which involves the construction…

Sostenus Wilherm Minister of environment, forestry and tourism Indileni Daniel has called for greater investment in drought preparedness, warning that Namibia can no longer afford to respond to drought only after disaster has struck. Speaking during the high-level Drought and Water Day segment of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on Tuesday, Daniel said drought must be treated as a development, economic and resilience priority rather than merely an emergency. “For Namibia, drought is not a distant threat. It is a recurring national reality,” Daniel said. Namibia is among the driest countries in sub-Saharan…

Patience Makwele Geological scientists have urged Namibia to intensify exploration of its largely untapped mineral wealth and ensure more value is created locally from the resources extracted. The call was made on Wednesday during the ministry of industries, mines and energy’s informative awareness campaigns and engagements information sharing session, where geological survey of Namibia regional mapping geologist Claudia Mutongolume and geoscientist Norwel Mwananawa unpacked the country’s mineral potential, exploration opportunities and the role of geological science in developing the sector. Mwananawa said Namibia remains underexplored despite its long history of mining and diverse mineral endowment. “Traditionally, we have been producing…

Patience Makwele  Deputy minister of education, innovation, youth, sports, arts and culture Dino Ballotti has challenged Namibian entrepreneurs to look beyond the country’s small domestic market and use digital technology to target customers across the region. Speaking during the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia’s (CRAN) second Digital Transformation and Entrepreneurship Breakfast in Oshakati on Monday which was held under the theme “Unlocking Opportunities for Namibia’s Digital Economy.”  He said Namibia’s population of about three million should not limit the ambitions of local businesses, particularly as digital platforms make it easier to reach consumers beyond national borders. “Your target market is…