National News

Renthia Kaimbi The removal of a learner from a public school or hostel is not a decision a principal or school board can make on their own, says Erastus Haitengela, executive director of the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture. Haitengela spoke as the Windhoek Observer received complaints from parents who say they were caught off guard by suspensions and expulsions, leaving them to face the cost of finding new schools and uniforms. He explained that the suspension and expulsion of learners are governed by strict legal procedures that require several levels of oversight and written communication…

Allexer Namundjembo Negumbo Senior Secondary School, located about 50 kilometres from Oshakati, has asked 38 students to bring mattresses to school because of severe overcrowding at its hostel. The situation has raised concerns about learner welfare and the learning environment. The school last year appealed to the Omusati regional education directorate to address the overcrowding.  In 2025, the hostel accommodated 589 learners, which is 141 more than its approved capacity of 448 beds. Documents seen by the Windhoek Observer show that the school suggested postponing planned classroom construction to prioritise fixing the hostel shortage.  Letters addressed to the Elim Circuit…

Justicia Shipena  The Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement has called on the government to use the new Pension-Backed Home Loan Scheme (PBHLS) as a starting point for wider housing reform that also includes landless and low-income communities. The call follows the announcement by the Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) on Friday that the PBHLS begins today.  The scheme allows government employees to use part of their pension savings to buy, build or renovate homes. While welcoming the move, AR said the scheme mainly benefits formally employed public servants and does not address the housing needs of most Namibians living in informal…

Allexer Namundjembo Emerging and small-scale miners have called for better access to modern mining equipment, processing facilities and geological support to strengthen their participation in Namibia’s mineral value chain. The concerns were raised during a consultative meeting held last Wednesday between the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy and the Emerging Mining Association of Namibia (EMAN).  During the meeting, stakeholders discussed the implementation of natural resource beneficiation strategies. EMAN president Thekla Mutero said limits on the use of modern equipment in areas designated as mining claims continue to affect productivity among small-scale miners. She said these restrictions reduce efficiency and…

Allexer Namundjembo Interpack chief executive officer Jacques Coetzer has denied claims that the company failed to pay employees their full basic salaries and overtime.  He said all workers were paid in full and that there were no outstanding payment issues. Coetzer said the company employs more than 440 workers and only received queries from two employees about their specific hours worked.  He said the concerns were reported to the Human Resources department and were resolved. “All employees were paid in full without any problems or challenges. The two minor issues that were reported to HR were resolved, and we are…

Chamwe Kaira Local electricity generation in Namibia increased on a year-on-year basis during the third quarter of 2025, supported by improved water availability at the Ruacana hydropower plant, according to the latest economic data. Local electricity generation rose by 19.4% compared with the same period last year.  Higher domestic output helped reduce reliance on imports, with electricity imports declining by 2.2% year-on-year over the quarter. Despite higher generation, electricity consumption fell. Units of electricity consumed declined by 3.2% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2025.  The drop was linked to lower activity in several commercial subsectors, including mining, reflecting slower…

Justicia Shipena Namibia remains a safe and welcoming destination for tourists, the government has said. In a media statement issued on Thursday, the government said Namibia continues to offer a secure environment for residents and visitors and remains one of the most peaceful and politically stable countries in the world. The statement follows travel advisories issued by Canada and Germany, which were reported by international media as flagging Namibia for higher fraud and crime risks.  However, Namibia said the advisories do not reflect the overall safety situation in the country. Sikongo Haihambo, executive director of the Ministry of Environment, Forestry,…