National News

Justicia Shipena The Chinese ambassador to Namibia, Zhao Weiping, says China supports Namibia’s goal of industrialisation and value addition.  Speaking at his second press meeting of the year at the Chinese Embassy in Windhoek on Wednesday, Weiping said China understands Namibia’s economic aspirations.  Four months ago, speaker of the National Assembly Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said China can support Namibia in adding value to its natural resources. “On value addition, China fully understands Namibia’s aspiration for industrialisation, modernisation, and value addition, which is very important for your economy. I think as time goes by, you may see more Chinese companies heading in…

Allexer Namundjembo The public has 14 days to submit written comments on new spectrum licence applications and tariff proposals published by the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran) in the latest government gazette, no. 8766, dated 23 October 2025. Cran invited public input on two major spectrum licence applications from Loc 8 Mobile (Pty) Ltd and Blue Telecommunications (Pty) Ltd under the Communications Act of 2009. Loc 8 Mobile, a 100% Namibian-owned company, has applied for a licence in the 3350–3400 MHz band with a 50 MHz bandwidth (TDD) to provide mobile services in the Otjozondjupa, Kunene, Oshikoto, Omaheke, Ohangwena…

Justicia Shipena Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security Lucia Iipumbu says the tendency of staff members to tell clients that their documents are waiting for her signature affects her mental health and concentration. Speaking during the workplace mental health and suicide prevention awareness session at the ministry's headquarters in Windhoek on Tuesday, Iipumbu said such actions, though seemingly minor, have serious effects on both staff and leadership well-being. “Do you know that the people you tell that the files are in my office follow me? Whether I’m in China or in Germany, they call me. Imagine you are…

Justicia Shipena  The National Housing Enterprise (NHE) aims to deliver 20 000 houses over the next five years.  This is part of its new integrated strategic business plan (ISBP) for 2024/25 to 2028/29, launched in Windhoek on Wednesday.  NHE chief executive officer Gisbertus Mukulu said the five-year plan comes as the enterprise realigns itself with national priorities.  “The success of this plan will require aligned efforts from leadership, management, and staff and collaboration from all our stakeholders," said Mukulu.  He said the ISBP serves as a roadmap built through reflection and collaboration, adding that strategy alone is not enough without…

Allexer Namundjembo Over 800 000 women have registered to vote in the upcoming regional and local authority elections set for 26 November 2025. The Electoral Commission of Namibia’s (ECN) final voters register shows that out of 1 499 449 registered voters, 808 419 are women and 691 080 are men.  This means women make up just over 54% of all registered voters. ECN chief electoral and referenda officer Peter Shaama said women have continued to show strong commitment to civic participation.  “Their dominance on the voters’ roll is not just a statistic; it’s a reflection of their leadership in community…

Justicia Shipena The Minister of Urban and Rural Development, James Sankwasa, has ordered local authorities in the ||Kharas and Hardap regions to reverse their decisions to write off pensioners’ debts.  He said the move was carried out without ministerial approval and is therefore illegal. In a letter dated 24 October to Lüderitz mayor Ronnie McKay, Sankwasa said his ministry had learnt that several local authorities had written off pensioners’ debts without first seeking authorisation from his office, as required by law. Sankwasa’s order comes days after the ||Kharas and Hardap regional councils directed municipalities under their control to cancel pensioners’…

Justicia Shipena The Agricultural Bank of Namibia (Agribank) has filed a lawsuit against Christine Hoebes, special advisor to the president, for failing to repay two livestock loans dating back to 2015. Court documents show that Hoebes entered into two loan agreements with AgriBank on 3 March 2015.  The first loan of N$193 000 was for the purchase of 26 cows and one bull. It carried an annual interest rate of 4% over a 10-year repayment period.  The second loan of N$7 000 was meant for a goat ram and a sheep ram, repayable over eight years at the same interest…

Justicia Shipena Former Namcor supply and logistics manager Cornelius 'Cedric' Willemse has become the third accused to be granted bail in the Namcor fraud and corruption case. The Windhoek Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday set his bail at N$200 000. Windhoek Magistrate Olga Muharukua ruled that Willemse’s continued detention was not in the interest of justice.  She said the state failed to present enough evidence showing that he was likely to interfere with investigations or witnesses.  “There is no evidence before this court to suggest a serious risk of interference with investigations or with witnesses,” she said.  “Further, the court is…

Justicia Shipena  President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has confirmed that former deputy prime minister and minister of industries, mines and energy, Natangue Ithete, was dismissed for violating a presidential moratorium on oil deals. On Sunday, she dismissed Ithete from the Cabinet, removing him from his roles as deputy prime minister and minister of industries, mines and energy.  She then assumed control of the ministry until a replacement was appointed. Speaking in a video that surfaced from her closed-door address to ministry staff on Monday, Nandi-Ndaitwah said Ithete went against her directive on upstream oil activities. “There seem to be things happening in…