National News

Justicia Shipena The Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) chief executive officer Martin Inkumbi says a past internal fraud case at the fund served as a painful reminder that ethical lapses can undo years of progress and damage institutional credibility. In 2023, GIPF suspended an employee for suspected benefits payment fraud amounting to N$124,000.  A year earlier, the Fund had launched an internal investigation after detecting possible fraudulent activities related to beneficiary payments. Another N$17 million fraud case involving former employees is before the court. Speaking during the Global Ethics Day 2025 commemoration in Windhoek this week, Inkumbi said the case,…

Allexer Namundjembo The newly elected Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) Divundu Branch committee will focus on assisting informal traders to improve their operations. “Divundu has a large number of informal traders and vendors and assisting them to improve their operations will be one of the key priorities on our agenda,” said the new chairperson, Mario Sawahenga. He said the committee would also prioritise unity and collaboration among local entrepreneurs.  “Teamwork and proactive engagement are essential if we want to see tangible results. We must work together and include all partners in advancing the branch’s objectives,” he added. The…

Gondwana’s Desert Grace  Gondwana has fortunately been running splash sales since the beginning of the year 2025, which has afforded Gondwana card-holding members such as myself to experience some of Namibia’s hidden gems but on a budget. I made the impulsive decision to visit The Desert Grace on a Tuesday afternoon after seeing an advert for the flash sale on Instagram and decided to eat air for the rest of the month and purchase my vouchers.  Due to the fact that my decision was last minute, I could only leave for the desert after work on Friday, which meant that…

Justicia Shipena  Despite global commitment, implementation of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda remains uneven, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said on Thursday.  Nandi-Ndaitwah urged world leaders and regional blocs to strengthen their efforts.  “As we mark this 25th anniversary, we must look forward. Resolution 1325 has laid a foundation, but the task ahead remains urgent,” she said.  “Conflicts across Africa and the globe are intensifying, with women and children bearing the greatest burdens," she said during the silver anniversary of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, held in Windhoek.  Nandi-Ndaitwah reflected on Namibia’s role in shaping the WPS agenda,…

Justicia Shipena A consortium that was previously rejected has now been awarded the Naute–Keetmanshoop Water Pipeline Replacement and Ancillary Works tender.  The newly appointed Public Procurement Review Panel upheld the decision to grant the contract to Adaptive Building Land Construction CC in partnership with China State Engineering Corporation (Southern Africa) (Pty) Ltd Namibia. Two months ago, Finance Minister Ericah Shafudah appointed 15 members to the Public Procurement Review Panel for a three-year term that began on 1 October 2025 and ended on 30 September 2028. The Central Procurement Board of Namibia (CPBN) confirmed that the N$191 million contract was approved…

Allexer Namundjembo The Namibian College of Open Learning (Namcol) experienced a decline in tertiary and vocational programme enrolments during the 2023/2024 financial year. This was mainly due to the discontinuation of certain courses and the end of the 2023 relief scheme that had allowed students to enrol without full upfront payment. Despite this drop, Namcol recorded a solid financial recovery and steady growth in secondary education enrolment. According to its 2023/2024 annual report, the institution achieved a surplus of N$7.2 million, reversing a deficit of over N$21 million from the previous year. The improvement was driven by stronger cost management,…

Justicia Shipena President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has warned that any attempt to seize power through unconstitutional means in Madagascar undermines democracy and regional stability. Namibia has expressed concern over the ongoing political crisis in Madagascar. Madagascar’s crisis escalated this week when a senior army colonel announced that the military had taken control after parliament voted to impeach President Andry Rajoelina.  Crowds celebrated in the capital, Antananarivo, following the military’s declaration. The announcement by colonel Michael Randrianirina came soon after parliament’s vote on Tuesday.  Nandi-Ndaitwah said such actions “run counter to the values and obligations that bind SADC member states” and threaten…

Moses Magadza  The second regional engagement meeting on adolescents’ access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) began on Tuesday, calling for stronger regional action to improve SRHR services for adolescents across East and Southern Africa. Held under the theme “Step Up 4 Adolescents SRHR Access: Collaborating for Equitable SRHR in East and Southern Africa”, the two-day gathering has drawn policymakers, youth advocates, parliamentarians, health experts, and civil society organisations from more than 12 countries. The chief executive officer of the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC), Farai Machinga, was the guest of honour.  He called for urgent, coordinated…