National News

Patience Makwele The adequacy of Namibia’s border security resources has come under scrutiny after Independent Patriot for Change (IPC) member of parliament Immanuel Nashinge raised concerns about drug-detection facilities at two southern border posts, prompting the home affairs ministry to acknowledge that personnel, equipment and operational resources remain important considerations. Nashinge, who questioned line minister Lucia Iipumbu, identified Klein Menassa and Velloorsdrift border posts in the //Karas Region following an oversight visit, alleging that officers lacked proper scanning and drug-detection facilities and relied on manual searches to identify narcotics concealed in vehicles. Responding to the concerns, Iipumbu said the government…

CHAMWE KAIRA President Duma Boko announced in his 2026 State of the Nation Address on Monday that Botswana has selected the Global Diamond Consortium as its preferred bidder for Anglo American’s 85% interest in De Beers. According to a social media post by the Botswana Presidency, the transaction is intended to secure greater strategic influence for Botswana in the diamond industry while expanding opportunities for domestic beneficiation and participation across the diamond value chain. Boko further said Angola and Namibia will participate alongside Botswana in the transaction, marking an important development in regional cooperation among major diamond producing nations. He…

Elvis Mboya South Africa's changing political landscape exposes the economic consequences of weak governance, unemployment and poor service delivery, raising important questions for Namibia's ruling Swapo Party and the wider Southern African region. The African National Congress (ANC)'s declining electoral support is exposing the growing relationship between political accountability and economic performance in Southern Africa. Its latest setback comes amid persistent unemployment, municipal infrastructure problems, corruption concerns and public dissatisfaction with service delivery. For Namibia's Swapo Party, the developments offer an important case study in the changing political economy of liberation movements. Both parties have governed for decades. Both must…

…as partnership puts youth exchanges and vocational training in focus Patience Makwele  Nearly 400 Namibian children who studied in the former East Germany during the liberation struggle could become part of a renewed connection between the Ohangwena region and Germany’s Salzland district, following the signing of a cooperation agreement between the two regions. The agreement, signed on Sunday, is intended to create opportunities for young people through education, vocational training and exchanges, while opening cooperation in agriculture, sport, infrastructure and public service delivery. The historical link dates back to the 1980s, when approximately 400 Namibian children and young people studied…

Patience Makwele Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) chairperson Gerson Sindano has called for elections to be conducted fairly, transparently and without fear or favour, as the commission seeks to strengthen its capacity to manage risks that could affect the electoralthe  process. Sindano made call on Monday during the opening of a three-day Risk Management and Electoral Resilience training workshop at the NamPower Convention Centre in Windhoek, where he said electoral integrity was essential to public trust, citizen participation and social cohesion. “It is our collective duty and responsibility to ensure that elections are conducted fairly, transparently, and inclusively, and without…

The proposed African consortium’s bid for De Beers is more than a business transaction. It represents an opportunity for resource-rich African nations to take greater control of their economic destiny, create value at home and redefine their place in the global economy. There is something profoundly encouraging about the prospect of Botswana, Namibia and Angola joining forces to acquire a stake in De Beers. It is the kind of African cooperation that deserves to be celebrated, encouraged and, ultimately, replicated across the continent. For too long, Africa has been content to occupy the bottom end of the global value chain,…

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has accused beneficiaries of Namibia's fishing empowerment programme of selling off the rights entrusted to them, allowing the industry to return to the hands of established fishing companies. Speaking at a community meeting in Swakopmund yesterday, Nandi-Ndaitwah said fishing quotas had been distributed to Namibians across the country, but the intended beneficiaries ultimately sold their interests, undermining government efforts to broaden participation in the lucrative sector. “The fishing industry…that is one sector that was decentralized. Many rights were given to Namibians all over the country, what they did is, they sold this industry, and it went back…

Patience Makwele  Medicine shortages at public health facilities persist despite government efforts to improve procurement, with the Central Medical Stores previously recording supply levels below 60% against a national target of 80%. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah says she is investigating complaints that medicines are failing to reach hospitals and clinics, including possible deliberate interference within the pharmaceutical supply chain. She made the remarks during a town hall meeting in Swakopmund after a resident questioned whether the government was running out of money, given continued shortages of essential medicines in Erongo and other regions. The President said procurement had improved compared with…

SWAPO parliamentarian Natangwe Ithete has challenged Okahao residents to take an active role in the town’s economic development, saying local sport, cultural heritage and businesses must become part of efforts to improve livelihoods. Speaking at the official opening of the 2026 Ehao Cultural Expo and Mayoral Cup, Ithete said the annual event offered opportunities to promote local talent, support businesses and strengthen the town’s economy. “Simply put, Okahao cannot develop without us, and we cannot develop without developing local sport, cultural heritage and local trades,” he said. According to Ithete, he has been following the expo’s growth over the years,…