National News

Allexer Namundjembo The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) has accused the ruling party of undermining parliamentary oversight by monopolising leadership positions in National Assembly committees. The IPC is calling the move a threat to democracy and a “deepening constitutional crisis.” The IPC’s Chief Whip, Imms Nashinge, said the current setup undermines Parliament’s oversight role. “Let’s call it what it is: Committee capture. When the referee wears the same jersey as the player, the game is rigged,” he said. The accusations come after parliament confirmed appointments to its standing committees. Swapo secured chairmanship over eight out of nine committees.  Only the…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Eight months after the Windhoek City Police pledged to trace the new owner of the abandoned Pamodzi building and to increase patrols, residents say criminal activity at the site remains a concern. The building, located in Rykmans Dorp, has been a hotspot for criminal activity since its closure in 2015.  Last year, a woman and her two sons were robbed at knifepoint in front of the structure, prompting fresh calls from the community and leaders for urgent action. Residents of the nearby Pamodzi Village flats continue to express concern. “Nothing has changed. We still hear people screaming at…

Niël Terblanché The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) says its vice president, Trevino Forbes, is recovering well after being involved in a car accident on Wednesday evening.   Christine !Auchamus, the IPC’s National General Secretary, confirmed to the Windhoek Observer that Forbes, who also serves as the mayor of Walvis Bay, sustained a broken collarbone in the incident. She added that the news sent shockwaves through the party’s membership. “News about any motor vehicle accident is always shocking. It is so much worse when people know the person or persons involved,” she said. She added that the incident, which took place…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja  Since the beginning of its yearly duty penalty waiver program in November 2023, the Business and Intellectual Property Authority (BIPA) has forgiven fines totalling N$219 million for 28 203 businesses. This follows the extension of the waiver deadline to 30 September 2025, aimed at helping thousands of non-compliant businesses avoid deregistration and regain good standing. The waiver applies to all registered entities with outstanding annual duty payments and late fees from 2012 to 2022. BIPA confirmed that, as of 31 March this year, around 177 000 entities had not yet participated in the campaign. According to BIPA’s spokesperson,…

Niël Terblanché As part of a regional school outreach effort, the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) this week visited several schools in the Oshikoto and Ohangwena regions, introducing learners to the various career paths available within the military. The visits form part of the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs’ participation in a broader series of career fairs aimed at inspiring young people to consider defence service roles. Schools visited included Onankali South Combined School, Oshilungi Combined School, and Odjadjaxwi Combined School. At Onankali South, Principal Ruusa Simson welcomed the initiative, saying the decision to host a career fair on the…

Niël Terblanché A proactive approach, particularly in regions susceptible to climate-induced adversities, has once again pointed out the importance of coordinated efforts in addressing both human and animal health challenges. In this regard, Governor Sacky Kathindi, accompanied by a multidisciplinary team of medical, veterinary, and security personnel, embarked on an aerial survey across the Oshikoto Region this week. The mission aimed to assess the impact of recent flooding and to address ongoing health and livestock concerns in the area. Utilising a Namibian Police helicopter, the delegation conducted flyovers of flood-affected communities within the Cuvelai Basin catchment area. On the ground,…

Niël Terblanché The Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security, Lucia Iipumbu, met with the Department of Immigration Control and Citizenship on Wednesday as part of her ongoing series of familiarisation visits aimed at aligning government departments with national development goals. During the engagement, Iipumbu placed emphasis on modernising immigration operations and enhancing service delivery. She praised the continued rollout of the Namibia-Botswana bilateral agreement, which enables citizens of both countries to travel using national identity cards. “This arrangement has facilitated easier movement of people and goods, particularly at 24-hour border posts, thereby strengthening trade and regional cooperation,” she…

Niël Terblanché Deputy Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Evelyn Nawases-Taeyele, says some regional and local authorities have become ATMs for known tender recipients, and this must stop immediately. She made the remarks on Wednesday while opening the first-ever Local Authorities Convention this week, on behalf of Minister Sankwasa James Sankwasa. “I have noticed that our regional and local authorities are highly riddled with corruption, financial mismanagement and irregularities, some of which border on incompetence by the staff members appointed, while some are a result of misguided political directions,” she said. She added that these authorities have become a haven…

Allexer Namundjembo As President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah prepares to deliver her first State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Parliament today, opposition political leaders are calling for a clear plan to address unemployment, land reform, corruption, and the rising cost of living.. Nandi-Ndaitwah’s maiden SONA comes at a time when many citizens are struggling to make ends meet, and opposition parties have made it clear that vague promises will not be enough. Political parties, especially those in opposition, are calling on the president to provide concrete strategies on key national issues, including food security, land reform, governance, education, and economic recovery.…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja  The City of Windhoek plans to relocate 644 households from the Mixed informal settlement to pave the way for formalisation efforts in a project estimated to cost over N$251 million. The decision was discussed during a quarterly meeting of the Council Advisory Committee on the Formalisation of Informal Settlements and Integration of Groot Aub held on 22 April. The new layout plan for the Mix informal settlement accommodates only 830 of the 1 474 households counted in March.  This necessitates the relocation of nearly half of the community, either within the settlement or to alternative locations. The chairperson…