National News

Renthia Kaimbi The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has defended the Government Employment Redress Programme (GERP), saying it was lawfully created to secure permanent jobs for retrenched fishermen.  The defence comes after criticism from Walu Fishing Investments (Pty) Ltd, which accused the programme of being a flawed system that misleads workers and undermines the country’s marine resources. Walu’s managing director, Erna Loch, argued that the initiative has been distorted for personal and political benefit rather than creating meaningful jobs. The ministry responded by stating that a Cabinet directive set up GERP and selected companies implemented it through…

Allexer Namundjembo  Infrastructure is central to building an inclusive economy that leaves no region behind, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has said.  She spoke on Wednesday while at the groundbreaking of two projects in the Kunene region.  The projects that broke ground are the upgrade of the Opuwo–Otjivize–Okangwati–Omaseratundu road and the construction of the Oute Bridge at Etanga. “Infrastructure serves as a bridge, not just across rivers, but across divides of opportunity, access and development,” she said. The 280-kilometre Opuwo–Otjivize–Okangwati–Omaseratundu road is now under construction and will link Opuwo to the Baynes Hydro Power Project and Epupa.  The government will entirely fund…

The regional and local authority elections are just around the corner. The Windhoek Observer reached out to young people to hear their views on the elections and the issues that will shape their vote. As you head into this election, which issue will shape your vote the most and why is it important to you?  Loini Jonas  The issue that will shape my vote the most is local development and accountability. Growing up in Otavi, I have seen how poor roads and a lack of basic services hold people back. I want leaders who genuinely serve their communities and turn…

The findings of a recent Afrobarometer survey sent a sobering ripple through Namibia’s economic landscape. The data suggests that among young Africans, those in Namibia are the least likely to harbour ambitions of starting their own businesses, with a significant majority instead expressing a strong preference for government employment. In a nation grappling with one of the world’s most persistent youth unemployment crises, hovering around 45%, this widespread preference for guaranteed stability over the act of self-creation represents a profound national paradox. This phenomenon is not an indictment of the Namibian youth’s energy, intelligence, or even ambition; rather, it is…

The world of work, as previous generations understood it, is fundamentally over. Across the African continent, the vast, young population stands at a critical inflection point. While Africa is poised to host the largest workforce in the world, this demographic reality presents a stark challenge: the traditional job market is rapidly dissolving, replaced by an economy defined by relentless volatility, digital disruption, and the constant, essential demand for skill renewal. The future of work for young Africans is not about finding a job in the classical sense; it is about building a resilient pathway through a dynamic career structure capable…

Justicia Shipena  Former finance minister Calle Schlettwein has called on the Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) to explain the money lost in its investment in the South African-based Signal Structured Finance Fund (SSFF). Last week, it came to light that a tax claim by the South African Revenue Service (SARS) led to a major impairment in one of its offshore investment vehicles.  The fund said the claim created “significant uncertainty” over its ability to recover the full value of its assets.  The claim resulted in an impairment of N$815 million in its 2025 financial statements. GIPF chief executive officer Martin…

Justicia Shipena  Calling off an election in a constituency or local authority can only happen when a candidate dies or becomes incapacitated. This is according to Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) chief electoral officer Peter Shaama, who was responding to the situation in the Ogongo Constituency, Omusati region, where a candidate withdrew, leaving only one person in the race. Shaama said reports suggesting the regional council election in Ogongo could be postponed were incorrect.  On Friday, Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) candidate Ndalikutya Arkeleus Shonena withdrew from the race, leaving Swapo’s Daniel Iilende as the only remaining candidate. Shonena said…

Renthia Kaimbi Justice and labour relations minister Fillemon Wise Immanuel said an urgent court order and declarator is the only way to stop and fix the harm caused by the magistrates’ strike. Immanuel on Tuesday filed an urgent application case to compel the country’s magistrates to return to work, describing the strike as illegal and unlawful. He said the strike is causing serious and lasting harm to the justice system and is denying people their right to access justice. The application names the Magistrates’ and Judges’ Association of Namibia (MJAN) as the first respondent, along with the Magistrates Commission, the…