National News

Sostenus Wilherm The City of Windhoek is accelerating efforts to transform informal settlements in the Samora Machel constituency into formal townships, with 10 areas earmarked for upgrading as part of a broader drive to improve housing, basic services and public infrastructure. The progress was outlined during a public meeting in the constituency, where residents also raised concerns over access to water and electricity, safety and the lack of a formal taxi rank. Of the 10 planned townships, four areas situated on Farms 1008 and 1007 at Goreangab Dam have already been approved and recommended by the city council.  Environmental Impact…

Patience Makwele  Namibia Agronomic Board (NAB) chief executive officer Fidelis Mwazi has called for a major overhaul of the country’s fragmented crop-sector policy and regulatory framework, arguing that consolidating functions under a single institutional authority could unlock investment, strengthen agricultural value chains and accelerate food security. Mwazi made the proposal during the Public Enterprises Chief Executive Officers Forum breakfast dialogue with President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah in Windhoek on Thursday. He identified institutional fragmentation as a key barrier to agricultural development and proposed that government consider consolidating crop-related policies and legislation under a harmonised framework. “The single most transformative reform that is…

Patience Makwele Namibia and Botswana have identified 13 additional telecommunications sites needed to close persistent connectivity gaps along the Trans-Kalahari Corridor (TKC), with the infrastructure upgrade estimated to require about N$52 million. The disclosure was made in Kasane, Botswana, on Friday as the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in information and communication technology (ICT), aimed at strengthening digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, digital skills, regulatory cooperation and digital transformation. Speaking at the event, information and communication technology minister Emma Theofelus said a comprehensive assessment of the TKC had been undertaken to identify areas requiring investment to achieve…

Sostenus Wilherm The municipality of Gobabis is facing a claim of nearly N$1.8 million from Bethlehem Builders over an eight-year-old sewerage project, with the legal battle set to continue in the High Court after the municipality’s legal representative failed to appear for a scheduled hearing. The matter, involving businessman Petrus Nangoro and his company Bethlehem Builders, was postponed on Friday by High Court judge Hannelie Prinsloo to 12 August 2026 for a civil part-heard hearing concerning an application for absolution from the instance. According to the court order, the postponement followed the absence of the municipality’s legal practitioner, who reportedly…

Sostenus Wilherm The Rössing Foundation is positioning itself as a long-term legacy of Rössing Uranium, with its leadership stressing the need to build partnerships that can sustain community development even after the mine’s resources are exhausted. Speaking at the 2026 Namibia Mining Expo in Windhoek, Rössing Foundation Board Member and Rössing Uranium general manager for human capital, safety and sustainability Liezl Davies said the foundation is being revitalised and rebranded as the organisation prepares for the next chapter of its existence. “Rössing Foundation will also be 50 years old in two years, while Rössing Uranium Mine celebrates its 50th anniversary…

Patience Makwele President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has given state-owned enterprises (SOEs) 24 months to identify strategic investment projects ready for implementation, promising to disrupt government systems where necessary to remove barriers preventing institutions from delivering for Namibians. The President made the remarks on Thursday during the inaugural Public Enterprises Chief Executive Officers (CEO) Breakfast Dialogue which was held at the Namibia Institute of Public Administration and Management (NIPAM), where she challenged public enterprises to move beyond discussions and translate plans into measurable economic outcomes. “I said that I am going to be a disruptive President. I will disrupt for the sake…

Sostenus Wilherm The Central Procurement Board of Namibia (CPBN) has become the first organisation in Namibia to receive the internationally recognised Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) Corporate Ethics Mark, a milestone that positions the institution as a benchmark for ethical public procurement practices. The award, presented in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 5 August 2026, recognises organisations that demonstrate strong commitment to ethical governance, transparency and accountability in procurement and supply chain management. The achievement comes as public procurement institutions worldwide face increasing pressure to strengthen oversight, prevent misconduct and ensure that public resources are managed responsibly. The CIPS…

Sostenus Wilherm Agriculture minister Inge Zaamwani has challenged farmers in Aminuis and the wider Omaheke Region to move beyond primary production and embrace value addition, warning that Namibia’s future agricultural growth depends on producers capturing more economic benefits along the livestock value chain. Speaking at the official opening of the 22nd Aminuis Agricultural and Industrial Show on Thursday, held under the theme “Cultivating a Legacy of Excellence,” Zaamwani said the livestock sector must evolve from simply producing animals for export into a broader industry that creates jobs, businesses and wealth within rural communities. She said Aminuis has demonstrated resilience and…

Sostenus Wilherm The Namibian College of Open Learning (Namcol) and the Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU) have formalised a new partnership aimed at expanding academic programmes, strengthening research and creating student and staff exchange opportunities, signalling a deeper push towards regional collaboration in open and distance learning. The partnership was cemented through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during a three-day institutional visit by a five-member Zimbabwe Open University delegation to Namibia. The agreement establishes a framework for cooperation in academic programme development, curriculum support, research, capacity building, knowledge sharing, and student and staff mobility. The collaboration is expected…