National News

Justicia Shipena There is nothing wrong with a toast during formal diplomatic engagements between a president and foreign envoys, international relations analyst Marius Kudumo has said. This comes as, on Tuesday in the National Assembly, Affirmative Repositioning (AR) leader and member of parliament Job Amupanda questioned whether it was appropriate for the president to be seen drinking alcohol during official duties. On Monday, ambassadors from various countries presented their letters of credence to President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah at State House. A ceremonial toast followed, but the contents in the glass were not confirmed as alcoholic or non-alcoholic. “It is not fair…

Renthia Kaimbi Degazetted Dâuredaman chief Zacharias Seibeb has approached the High Court to challenge his removal as the leader of the Dâure Daman Traditional Authority. Seibeb was dethroned in November last year through a decision carried out by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah under Section 8(4) of the Traditional Authorities Act. Seibeb is seeking a judicial review to set aside the decision taken by the President and the minister of urban and rural development, James Sankwasa.  He also wants to be re-gazetted and recognised as chief in all official records. “I am the duly recognised traditional chief of the Dâuredaman Traditional Authority,"…

Justicia Shipena Namibia has officially submitted a nomination to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) to have the Dâures/Brandberg National Monument Area listed as a World Heritage Site. The submission was announced in Parliament on Tuesday by minister of education, innovation, youth, sports, arts and culture Sanet Steenkamp.  She said the nomination dossier was submitted on 29 January 2026, ahead of Unesco’s 1 February deadline. “I am pleased to announce that we have officially submitted a comprehensive nomination dossier to Unesco for the Dâures/Brandberg National Monument Area to be inscribed on the World Heritage List,” Steenkamp told…

Allexer Namundjembo The Ministry of Health and Social Services has refuted allegations that Onandjokwe Hospital in the Oshikoto region subjected expecting mothers to forced labour.  This is after a video showing pregnant women cleaning circulated on social media. Ministry spokesperson Walters Kamaya said the women are staying at the hospital’s maternity shelter and are not forced to work.  He said they are encouraged to stay active through light daily activities. Kamaya told Windhoek Observer in a telephonic interview last week that the women cook for themselves and clean their sleeping areas as part of routine self-care during pregnancy. “For the…

Renthia Kaimbi Aasha, a cheetah translocated from Namibia to India under Project Cheetah, gave birth to five cubs at Kuno National Park on 7 February. This is her second successful litter in India. The birth brings the number of Indian-born surviving cubs to 24 and marks the eighth litter since the project began in 2022. India’s minister for environment, forest and climate change, Bhupender Yadav, announced the development on social media and described it as “a moment of immense pride and joy.” “Aasha’s legacy leaps forward… This joyous achievement stands as a shining testimony to the unwavering dedication, skill, and…

Allexer Namundjembo Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) member of parliament Winnie Moongo says the shortages of doctors and specialist clinicians continue to strain public hospitals, particularly in rural and underserved areas.  Moongo said the public health system operates with too few doctors, most of whom are based in urban centres, leaving rural communities without adequate care. “It is unacceptable that rural populations continue to struggle to access basic medical care while doctors and specialists remain concentrated in a few areas,” Moongo said in parliament on Tuesday.  “This imbalance threatens the effectiveness of public healthcare and the wellbeing of our people.” She…

Renthia Kaimbi Beifang Mining Technical Services says there is no labour dispute at the Husab Mine and that operations have returned to normality.  Beifang said employees have returned to work after complying with a revised shift roster and that operations are proceeding normally.  This comes amid reports from employees at the mine who spoke on conditions of anonymity that workers are being suspended due to a new roster put in place.  “Employees have returned to work and operations are proceeding normally. There is no ongoing labour dispute,” the company said. However, the Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN) says the suspensions…

Justicia Shipena The Electricity Control Board (ECB) has moved closer to finalising changes to the rules that govern the electricity sector after years of consultations with stakeholders. Speaking at a validation workshop in Windhoek on Monday, ECB chief executive officer Robert Kahimise said the review focuses on the tariff methodology, economic rules and net metering rules that underpin the electricity supply industry. “Today, we gather for a comprehensive review of the foundational pillars for our sector’s future: the Economic Rules, the Net Metering Rules, and the Tariff Methodology for generation, transmission and distribution," he said.  The process began in 2023…

Renthia Kaimbi Retired lieutenant general Martin Shalli says the late former cabinet minister and veteran Erkki Nghimtina was a great fighter and leader.  Nghimtina died on Sunday at the age of 78. Shalli said his path was closely linked with Nghimtina’s for more than five decades.  He recalled that they both left Namibia in 1974 to join the liberation struggle and later received military training in the former Soviet Union.  “We joined the front at almost the same time,” Shalli said, recalling their early operations from Zambia. He said Nghimtina distinguished himself in several battles before moving into communications, where…

Justicia Shipena Government employees evicted from state-owned houses will not receive special treatment or automatic relocation, Minister of Works and Transport Veikko Nekundi has said. Nekundi said the ministry cannot create a system where people who breach contractual obligations are treated differently from others on the housing waiting list.  “The ministry cannot establish a precedent whereby persons who have breached their contractual obligations or who occupy government property unlawfully are granted preferential treatment through automatic reallocation,” he said while responding to questions from member of parliament Enea Emvula in parliament on Thursday.  The government’s immovable assets are valued at about…