National News

Niël Terblanché The Port of Walvis Bay is set to undergo a transformation with the commencement of a six-month-long capital dredging project aimed at widening and deepening its main navigation channel. The Namibian Ports Authority’s (Namport)Chief Port Captain, Lukas Kafuna has outlined the operational details of the dredging project, which will involve three dredger vessels, each measuring 140 metres in length, supported by a 24-metre Multi Cat and a survey vessel. To ensure maritime safety during the dredging operations, Namport has issued a notice to all marine stakeholders detailing the movement schedules of each dredger over the six months, as…

Niël Terblanché Namibia is moving towards bridging the knowledge and resource gaps that many Namibian Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) face, particularly aimed at youth-owned businesses that play an essential role in job creation and poverty alleviation. In this regard, the Economic Association of Namibia (EAN) hosted a landmark discussion on addressing the funding challenges faced by Namibian startups and SMEs in Windhoek on Monday. The event brought together key players from government, financial institutions, and business associations to explore practical solutions for creating a more supportive financial ecosystem for Namibia’s growing entrepreneurial sector. The Deputy Minister of Sport, Youth,…

Niël Terblanché Namibia has embarked on a transformative journey for its agricultural sector with the launch of the Strategy for the Transformation of the Agri-Food Sector (STAS) and the signing of the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) Compact. With this launch, the country has set a transformative agenda to empower its agricultural sector, ensuring it contributes robustly to the nation’s economic future and the prosperity of its people. The Compact signed in Windhoek on Wednesday marks a new era in Namibia’s agricultural development, with the aim of improving food security, creating job opportunities, and enhancing resilience against climate challenges.…

Allexer Namundjembo The Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) inaugurated a new state-of-the-art artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics laboratory. This cutting-edge facility was made possible by a strategic partnership between the university and the Bank of Namibia (BoN), representing a major milestone in the advancement of AI and robotics in the country. BoN's investment in this project highlights its dedication to modernising Namibia’s financial and technological landscape. Naufiku Hamunime, a technical expert in international relations and sustainability at BoN, noted that this investment aligns with the bank’s broader transformation strategy, which prioritises equipping Namibians with future-orientated technical skills to…

Allexer Namundjembo The construction of Ndoro Memorial Combined School’s hostel, which began in 2016, remains incomplete, leaving students without adequate accommodation eight years later. The school accommodates pupils from pre-primary to Grade 11, living at Omega 3 and nearby villages in Bwabwata National Park. The school lacks proper accommodation for learners, with the hostel expected to address this issue. During a visit by the Windhoek Observer last month, learners, especially Grades 9 and 11, were seen camping in the open while preparing for their national exams. The school principal, Sipopo Linus, said the construction of the school’s hostel started in…

Ester Mbathera Telecom Namibia made a loss of N$12.3 million before tax in the 2022/23 fiscal year compared to a profit of N$51.9 million in the previous year. This was reported in the Namibia Post and Telecom Holdings (NPTH) 2022/23 financial report released on Tuesday. According to the report, Telecom Group’s financial performance was impacted by the challenging economic environment, rising inflation and interest rate hikes, local and international supply chain constraints, volatile exchange rates, and increasing competition in the telecommunications market. The company reported a loss of N$1.2 billion in 2021/22, attributing this to outdated and redundant billing systems…

Niël Terblanché The University of Namibia (UNAM) has taken a step in strengthening the country’s wildlife conservation efforts within the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA) with the expansion of its Katima Mulilo Campus. The extension is a demonstration of the country’s commitment to developing skilled human resources that can sustainably manage and protect the country's rich biodiversity for future generations. President Nangolo Mbumba inaugurated the Department of Wildlife Management and Tourism Studies on Monday. He said the facility is another milestone in Namibia's efforts to build capacity in human resources dedicated to wildlife conservation. "In the past, we struggled…

Martin Endjala Municipal councillors of the Landless People’s Movement (LPM) have returned to work and have taken over the administration of the Karasburg Town Council on Monday. Mayor Maria Veldskoen, Gregorius Ruhl, Josef Witbooi, and Fransiskus Skeyer, were suspended earlier this year. Veldskoen confirmed their return to the office with the Windhoek Observer, citing the recent court order that found the suspension of the entire Karasburg council by Erastus Uutoni, the Minister of Urban and Rural Development to be illegal. “We did not encounter any hostility. It was a smooth transition so far and now we must work hard to…

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The National Council has recommended that the Roads Authority and Road Fund Administration under the Ministry of Works and Transport, recognise and prioritise both towns and rural road infrastructure. The recommendation is to ensure that connectivity in rural areas is positioned around rural development centres to grow the rural economy. The National Council standing committee on transport, infrastructure, and housing, which released a report this week and recommended it to parliament, advocates for allocating more financial resources to rural road infrastructure during the four stages of the budget cycle. This is to ensure sufficient funding to address the…