National News

Niël Terblanché Air Marshal Martin Pinehas, chief of the Namibian Defence Force (NDF), has officially opened the 18th Recruit Training Intake at the NDF Training Establishment in Osona, cautioning the recruits that discipline, honour and loyalty are non-negotiable values in their journey as future defenders of the nation. A total of 1,679 recruits, drawn from all 14 regions of Namibia, reported for training.  The intake includes 1,303 men and 361 women, as well as 88 drivers and 11 student pilots. Pinehas described the occasion as an opportunity to mould civilians into soldiers capable of safeguarding Namibia’s sovereignty and constitutional obligations.…

Niël Terblanché The Mine Workers Union of Namibia (MUN) has reiterated its opposition to what it describes as disguised retrenchments at the Sinomine Copper Smelter in Tsumeb, following the company’s announcement of a voluntary separation scheme (VSS) affecting up to 650 workers. Speaking after a six-hour meeting with Sinomine management earlier this week, MUN general secretary George Ampweya said the union remained unconvinced by assurances that the VSS is optional and falls outside the scope of Section 34 of the Labour Act. “The chief executive officer of Sinomine confirmed the VSS has been board-approved and is final. Accordingly, the union…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The National Housing Enterprise (NHE) has partnered with the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) and the Miss Namibia Organisation to award a fully furnished house to the 2025 Miss Namibia winner under a three-year agreement signed on Monday. Speaking at the launch in Windhoek, the NHE Chief Executive Officer, Gisbertus Mukulu, affirmed that the partnership aims to promote affordable housing while empowering young Namibians. “We are indeed proud to be part of a process that will instil a positive economic trajectory to three young Namibians through housing, while three more citizens who will be picked randomly via the Win…

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Minister of urban and rural development, James Sankwasa, said he has observed widespread corruption among elected officials and staff in regional and local authority councils across the country. Sankwasa made the remarks on Monday during a high-level consultative meeting with regional and local council representatives in Windhoek. He said the corruption he has seen in just two months in office is alarming. “Rampant corruption in the regional and local authority councils by political leaders and staff members. The ministry is also not exempt,” said Sankwasa. He said many elected leaders and officials ignore the law and deliver services…

Allexer Namundjebo President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has called for stronger planning and budgeting for children’s rights across Africa.  She urged governments and communities to place children’s welfare at the heart of national development. Her remarks came in a statement issued by her office on Monday to mark the Day of the African Child, observed every year on 16 June.  This year’s theme is “Planning and Budgeting for Children's Rights: Progress Since 2010”. Nandi-Ndaitwah said the day is a time to reflect on the 1976 Soweto uprising and renew efforts to protect and empower African children. “The Day of the African Child…

Niël Terblanché The 22nd Annual Conference of the Association of Parliamentary Libraries of Eastern and Southern Africa opened in Swakopmund on Monday with a call to strengthen the role of parliamentary libraries in democratic governance amid rapid technological change. Themed “Parliamentary Libraries and Democracy in the Digital Age”, the week-long gathering drew more than 40 delegates from across the eastern and southern regions of the continent. Addressing delegates at the opening, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, speaker of the National Assembly of Namibia, spoke about the evolving function of parliamentary libraries. She said these institutions are not merely book repositories but serve as…

Niël Terblanché The second edition of the Youth in Oil & Gas Summit (YIOGS) is set to return to Walvis Bay’s town hall on 25 and 26 July 2025. The event will be presented under the banner “Drilling into the Future: Empowering Youth in Namibia’s Oil & Gas Revolution”, and the summit is set to welcome over 800 young professionals, industry experts, policymakers and educators, all committed to advancing youth representation in the sector. A statement issued by the organisers states that the theme reflects the drive to “move from conversation to construction and from awareness to active participation.” Having…

Allexer Namundjebo Namibia has accused Israel of violating international law following its recent military strikes on Iran. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah issued a statement on Monday condemning the 13 June 2025 Israeli airstrikes that targeted nuclear and civilian infrastructure in Iran.  She described the attack as a serious breach of Iran’s sovereignty and a threat to global peace. She said the act violates Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, which prohibits the use of force against another state’s territorial integrity or political independence. “The potential debilitating consequences of this escalation for both regional and global peace and security are a source…

Niël Terblanché The Namibia Water Corporation (NamWater) has warned the public about an online scam falsely advertising jobs under the name “NAMWATER LTD 2025 Recruitment”. NamWater spokesperson Lot Ndamanomhata said the fraudulent ad encourages people to click a link and apply for various positions.  The fraudulent ad instructs applicants to share the link with five WhatsApp groups or fifteen friends in order to complete the application process. NamWater has distanced itself from the scheme. “NamWater categorically states that it would never request or require any applicant to share job links via WhatsApp or any other social media platforms as part…

Justicia Shipena Namibia has been identified as one of 20 high-priority countries for industrial decarbonisation support under the Climate Investment Funds’ (CIF) Industry Decarbonization Program (IDP), following the country's submission of an Expression of Interest (EOI). The CIF report, titled CIF Industry Decarbonisation Investment Independent Expert Group Assessment Report, lists countries eligible for future climate financing and technical assistance based on their industrial decarbonisation needs and qualification for International Development Association (IDA) support. Namibia’s inclusion reflects growing concern over its rising industrial emissions and suggests that it requires targeted support.  The country is undergoing rapid energy sector changes, including new…