National News – Windhoek Observer

18 Aug

MEFT rejects Schlettwein’s claims that charcoal threatens biodiversity

National News

Sostenus Wilherm The ministry of environment, forestry and tourism (MEFT) has rejected concerns that Namibia’s charcoal industry is contributing to biodiversity loss, saying sustainable bush control can restore degraded rangelands and improve wildlife habitats. The ministry’s response follows concerns raised by former agriculture minister Calle Schlettwein, who warned that large-scale removal of woody vegetation through charcoal production could threaten species and reduce biodiversity. Schlettwein questioned claims that charcoal production is a sustainable way of addressing bush encroachment, arguing that the conversion of woody areas into simpler grassland systems could result in the loss of species associated with trees and shrubs.…

18 Aug

Creative sector gets N$17.5m boost for 470 targeted jobs

National News

Patience Makwele Namibia’s creative sector is set for a major government-backed expansion, with a N$17.5 million Local Content Plan expected to create approximately 470 direct jobs and support film production across all 14 regions. The plan, which was formalised on Monday through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the ministry of education, innovation, youth, sports, arts and culture (MEIYSAC) and the ministry of information and communication technology (MICT), will finance a national soap opera, two limited television series, 14 regional short films and a film production equipment access programme. The N$17.5 million forms part of a broader N$50 million government…

18 Aug

Mercedes-Benz to showcase Namibia’s tourism attractions

National News

Sostenus Wilherm Namibia’s tourism attractions are set to receive international exposure when three Mercedes-Benz S-Class vehicles travel through the country from 22 to 27 August as part of the automaker’s global “140 Years. 140 Places” anniversary campaign. The initiative, which marks 140 years since Carl Benz invented the automobile, will see the three vehicles travel more than 50 000 kilometres across six continents, visiting 140 selected destinations and highlighting stories of people, places, mobility and progress. Namibia has been selected as one of the African destinations on the global campaign, with the Namibia Tourism Board (NTB), Namibia Investment Promotion and…

18 Aug

Online weight-loss injection boom sparks safety concerns

Main, National News

…NMRC flags Ozempic among others Patience Makwele Namibia’s booming market for injectable weight-loss treatments is facing increased scrutiny after the country’s medicines regulator warned that products sold through social media, online vendors and informal markets may contain the wrong ingredients, incorrect strengths or contaminants. The Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council (NMRC), through the ministry of health and social services, issued a public notice on 13 August warning against unregistered GLP-1 receptor agonists and peptide-containing medicines being marketed for weight loss. Among the products named are Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Saxenda, Rybelsus, Upret 30 and TB500+BPC-157, alongside active ingredients including semaglutide, tirzepatide, liraglutide…

17 Aug

Protecting those who protect the rule of law

Editorial, National News

The decision to move closer to a comprehensive security plan for Namibia’s magistrates and prosecutors is a welcome and necessary development. It demonstrates that the country’s justice system is not merely acknowledging the risks faced by those who administer and prosecute the law, but is beginning to respond to them in a structured and institutional manner. The meeting convened by Chief Justice Peter Shivute with key stakeholders to consider the findings of a security assessment covering more than 400 judicial officers and prosecutors is therefore significant. The anticipated submission of the assessment to Cabinet and the Office of the Prime…

17 Aug

Sankwasa defends N$45 000 Bukalo plot deals

National News

Renthia Kaimbi Urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa has rejected allegations surrounding the allocation of four business plots to him in Bukalo, as well as claims regarding a long-running dispute over communal land in the Zambezi Region. The allegations, raised by former Bukalo Village Council chief executive officer, Martin Limbo question how Sankwasa could have obtained four business plots in Bukalo Extension 2 for a combined N$45 000 and whether the transaction complied with legal requirements governing the disposal of immovable property by local authorities. Limbo further raised concerns about the absence of refuse collection services in Bukalo since…

17 Aug

CoW relocates 309 households to Havana

National News

Sostenus Wilherm The City of Windhoek has relocated 309 households from the Moses //Garoëb constituency to Havana Extensions 8 and 11, with the move expected to improve road access for emergency vehicles and strengthen the council’s response to fires and other emergencies in the constituency. The households are now seated according to the approved and proposed township layouts, a development the City of Windhoek says will create clearer routes and improve connectivity in the rapidly growing informal settlement. The relocation was highlighted during a public meeting at the Max Mutongolume TB Clinic, where residents raised concerns about safety, water supply…

17 Aug

Cabinet approves PAMA to manage commercial public assets

National News

Patience Makwele Cabinet has approved the establishment of the Public Assets Management Agency of Namibia (PAMA), a new state-owned company intended to strengthen the management of the country’s commercial public assets. The decision was taken at the 25th Cabinet meeting on 4 August 2026 and announced by minister of information and communication technology and cabinet spokesperson Emma Theofelus during a Cabinet decisions briefing on Friday in Windhoek. According to Theofelus, PAMA will be established as a public company with limited liability under the Companies Act of 2004, with the government as its sole shareholder. “PAMA is conceived as a strategic…

17 Aug

‘Ratification is the beginning of an obligation’ – Kuugongelwa-Amadhila

National News

Patience Makwele National Assembly Speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila has warned African countries that signing and ratifying continental agreements will mean little without concrete action to implement them, saying “ratification is the beginning of an obligation”. Kuugongelwa-Amadhila made the remarks on Friday at the book launch of the Constitutionalism, Sustainable Economic Development and the African Continental Free Trade Area: Prospects and Challenges for Africa in the 21st Century in Windhoek. She said the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) should not be viewed as a solution in itself, but as an instrument whose success depends on whether member states honour the commitments…

17 Aug

Tractor repairs, machinery drive ahead of rainy season

National News

Sostenus Wilherm The ministry of agriculture, fisheries, water and land reform has begun preparations for the 2026/2027 rain-fed cropping season, with the government set to spend about N$8 million to restore its tractor fleet and agricultural implements ahead of the planting period. The ploughing season is scheduled to run from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027, with the ministry targeting improved readiness of its agricultural machinery across all 14 regions. Acting executive director Patrus-Canicius Nangolo said the ministry had identified 508 tractors for servicing and repairs as part of the preparations, with 385 requiring minor servicing and 112 requiring…