National News

Allexer Namundjembo Works and transport minister Veikko Nekundi has ruled out the introduction of electronic tolls in Namibia, saying neither his ministry nor the government has adopted such a policy. Nekundi made the remarks in the National Assembly on Wednesday while responding to an urgent oral question from Affirmative Repositioning leader and Member of Parliament Job Amupanda, who asked whether the ministry intended to allow the implementation of e-tolls. Amupanda argued that Namibia’s economy is not ready for toll roads, warning that if the proposal is implemented, it would become part of Nekundi’s legacy. “We will say it is a…

Staff Writer Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) Member of Parliament Inna Hengari has raised concerns over the implementation and accountability of the Northern Communal Areas (NCA) Price Equalisation Fund, calling for clear timelines, oversight mechanisms and structural safeguards to ensure the policy delivers tangible benefits to farmers. Hengari submitted formal questions to the minister of agriculture, fisheries, water and land reform, Inge Zaamwani, on Wednesday and is expected to receive a response in the National Assembly next Thursday. While acknowledging the government’s commitment to operationalising the Equalisation Fund as a positive step, Hengari warned that persistent structural challenges in the livestock…

Patience Makwele  Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare has challenged executive directors to end what he described as a culture of poor implementation, weak accountability and wasteful public spending, warning that the government can no longer afford unfinished projects, delayed service delivery and institutions working in isolation if it is to meet the expectations of Namibians. Officially opening the three-day Senior Government Officials and Executive Directors Retreat at Strand Hotel in Swakopmund on Wednesday, Ngurare said the success of the eighth administration would not be measured by the number of policies the government produces but by its ability to implement them and…

Allexer Namundjembo The ministry of health and social services has gazetted two new sets of regulations under the Health Professions Act of 2024, establishing procedures for serving official documents on registered health professionals and setting out requirements for authorising health practitioners to work in government employment. The regulations were published in Government Gazette No. 8960 on 26 June 2026 and were signed by health minister Esperance Luvindao. The first regulation outlines how notices, subpoenas, and other official documents issued by the Health Professions Council of Namibia or its registrar must be served on registered practitioners. “A notice, subpoena or document…

Allexer Namundjembo Minister of education, innovation, youth, sport, arts and culture Sanet Steenkamp says the provision of water to schools is primarily a rural development responsibility that should be addressed through regional councils, although her ministry continues to intervene where possible. Speaking to the Windhoek Observer on Monday, Steenkamp said the ministry has assumed part of the responsibility because schools fall under its mandate, but stressed that rural water supply should ultimately be responsible for ensuring schools have access to water. “The provision of water is, in essence, a rural development issue and must be discussed under the regional council.…

Patience Makwele Young entrepreneurs and small businesses across Namibia will have access to an N$18 million grant fund aimed at helping them formalise, expand and create jobs, with the first application round closing on 24 July. The funding forms part of the Pro-SME Project, a joint initiative between the Namibian and German governments implemented through the National Planning Commission, the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). Speaking during an information-sharing session on access to finance for youth in Windhoek on Tuesday, Khomas Governor Sam Nujoma urged young entrepreneurs to take advantage…

Patience Makwele Misconceptions that vitiligo is caused by witchcraft, is contagious or linked to HIV continue to isolate people living with the skin condition, prompting health experts to announce plans for Namibia’s first research into the disease and the establishment of a national patient support group. The initiatives were announced during a World Vitiligo Day awareness session in Windhoek, where medical specialists said the country currently lacks national data on the condition despite growing concern over the stigma faced by patients. Speaking to the Windhoek Observer, Claudia Masiliso Lutombi, a 38-year-old teacher and entrepreneur from the Zambezi region who has…

Allexer Namundjembo Residents and community activists say the City of Windhoek’s failure to provide adequate electricity in informal settlements has contributed to widespread illegal electricity connections, arguing that access to affordable and legal electricity would significantly reduce the practice. Their remarks come after the municipality announced that it will begin removing illegal electricity connections in several informal settlements from September. Havana resident Marcus Hailonga said the debate over illegal connections would not exist if residents had been provided with electricity. “This whole discussion would not take place if the residents had electricity. The directive issued by the municipality has already…