National News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The minister of home affairs, immigration, safety and security, Lucia Iipumbu, says the country is struggling with old and unsafe correctional facilities. Iipumbu made this statement during the fifth English-speaking Regional Workshop on Prison Infrastructure in Africa, which was held in Windhoek on Monday.  “We are grappling with old and dilapidated prison facilities, making them unsafe and inhumane to accommodate inmates,” Iipumbu said.  She said the Correctional Service Act of 2012 gives the legal basis for improving prison infrastructure.  “To support this shift, we have embarked on infrastructure projects at the Windhoek, Hardap, and Evaristus Shikongo correctional centres,”…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The City of Windhoek has allocated about N$250,000 for a survey on the operations and socio-economic impact of shebeens across the capital.  The survey will run from June to September 2025 and will be conducted in partnership with the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust). City spokesperson Lydia Amutenya said the budget covers logistics such as fuel and transportation, advertising, public outreach, and compensation for the Nust researchers contracted to carry out the survey. The municipality said the survey aims to gather data to guide the development of a new Shebeen Policy.  This policy will support improved…

Niël Terblanché Namibia is preparing to begin work on its largest solar photovoltaic (PV) power station, an ambitious 100 MW facility known as the Sores |Gaib Power Station, roughly 33 kilometres northwest of Rosh Pinah in the Karas Region. The initiative, led by the national utility NamPower, is a vital step in the country’s efforts to reduce dependence on imported electricity and expand its renewable energy presence. The groundbreaking ceremony set for Thursday, 19 June 2025, will officially launch construction, which is expected to take approximately 18 months, culminating in commissioning by the second quarter of 2026. NamPower has contracted a Chinese-led joint venture,…

Allexer Namundjebo  The University of Namibia (UNAM) says only 38 students will be temporarily relocated from its hostel to make way for the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 Youth Games. Namibia will be hosting the games, which are scheduled for 4 to 13 July.  On Monday, the university responded to growing concern among students and student leaders about a reported directive requiring some hostel residents to vacate their rooms ahead of the games. Unam spokesperson Simon Namesho said the university is not evicting students but relocating a small number to allow for renovations and to accommodate more than…

Niël Terblanché The Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) recently hosted a visiting delegation from Tanzania’s Research on Poverty Alleviation (REPOA) think tank to share insights into the implementation of Namibia’s National Blue Economy Policy. The engagement formed part of a broader effort to increase pan-African collaboration on sustainable development, particularly in maritime sectors. According to Cliff Shikuambi, Namport’s marketing and stakeholder engagement manager, the visit was aligned with growing interest across the continent in using aquatic resources to drive inclusive economic growth. “This exchange allowed us to demonstrate how Namibia is translating its Blue Economy policy into tangible action,” Shikuambi said.…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja  Namibia is looking to strengthen its cooperation with China in infrastructure and digital technology during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE), currently taking place in Beijing and Changsha. Minister of international relations and trade Selma Ashipala-Musavyi arrived in China on Sunday to lead Namibia’s delegation in bilateral and multilateral talks.  She was welcomed at Beijing International Airport by Namibia’s ambassador to China, Elia George Kaiyamo, and other senior government officials. According to the ministry, Ashipala-Musavyi’s focus is on deepening ties in key sectors such as infrastructure and digital technology, which…

Staff Writer  Renewed ambition and shared purpose took centre stage on 5 June 2025, as the University of Namibia (Unam) and the Bank of Namibia (BoN) sealed the continuation of a transformative partnership. By extending their long-standing cooperation agreement, which was first established in 2014, both institutions have reinforced their promise to advance education, research, and national development for another five years. At a signing ceremony hosted at BoN’s head office in Windhoek, acting vice chancellor Ellen Ndeshi Namhila and BoN deputy governor Leonie Dunn formally committed to this next chapter. The renewed agreement not only cements a decade of…

Justicia Shipena  Residents in Windhoek may face up to a 3% increase in electricity costs this year if the Electricity Control Board (ECB) approves the City of Windhoek’s proposed tariff adjustment. The municipality proposed the increase during a public consultation held on Friday at the Khomas Regional Council Hall. The session was organised by the ECB. The City, which supplies electricity in the Khomas Region, wants a 4% weighted average increase for the 2025/2026 financial year. It says this aligns with NamPower’s approved average bulk tariff increase of 3.8%. Last month, the ECB approved NamPower’s 3.8% tariff increase, which takes…

Allexer Namundjebo The Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN) has rejected planned retrenchments at the Sinomine Tsumeb Smelter, calling the move unjustified and procedurally flawed. In a letter to the minister of industry, mines and energy, Natangue Ithete, MUN secretary general George Ampweya accused the company of bypassing due process and undermining Namibia’s commitment to job creation. “We see these developments as a deliberate attempt to undermine the role of the union, promote precarious work, and perpetuate outsourcing practices that have already harmed job security,” said Ampweya. He said the company’s human resources division has excluded the union from proper negotiations…