National News

Niël Terblanché Hundreds of Belgian, Dutch, and German tourists have been stranded at Namibia's Hosea Kutako International Airport (HKIA) for four days due to repeated flight cancellations by Eurowings Discover, a subsidiary of Germany’s national airline, Lufthansa. The ordeal started when a defective part grounded the scheduled Airbus A330-300 operating flight 4Y139 to Frankfurt last Thursday. Since then, passengers were informed of a new departure time, only to face further delays. This cycle has left many travellers in a state of frustration and uncertainty, particularly during the peak travel season when rebooking options are limited. According to Bisey Uirab, the…

Martin Endjala The chairperson of the Council of Traditional Authorities, Chief Immanuel ǂNu-Axa |Gaseb, has called for urgent intervention in the ongoing debacle in the Dâure Daman Traditional Authority. On Saturday, the traditional authorities forcibly removed several community members from the offices where they had been camping since 18 November 2024. This also led to the arrest of community activists Jimmy ||Araseb and Ringo |Huseb. According to Gâseb, what unfolded in Uis is painting a bad image of the Dâure Daman people. “I am very disappointed in how this matter is being handled. As the chairperson of traditional authority, I…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Medical doctor and former minister of health Dr Bernhard Haufiku has called for a ban on all commercial advertisements in the health domain, citing concerns about misinformation and ethical violations. Haufiku made the remarks in response to an advertisement for supplements made in WhatsApp groups claiming to treat and heal diseases and chronic medical conditions, such as ulcers, diabetes, cholesterol, and many others. "This is part of medical misinformation that needs to be restricted. Actually, all forms of commercial ads in the health domain should be banned. They are highly misleading and confuse the public,” he said. NeoLife,…

Stefanus Nashama Flooding after heavy rains on Friday left many Windhoek residents in informal settlements homeless, as their shacks and properties were washed away. Areas most affected include Otjomuise in the Khomasdal constituency, as well as Goreangab and Havana in the Samora Machel constituency. City of Windhoek spokesperson Harold Akwenye said plans for the relocation of victims and at-risk residents are being considered. “We intend to prioritize their safety and well-being. Plans for relocation will depend on several factors, including the availability of resources, suitable alternative housing, and input from the affected communities,” Akwenye explained. Akwenye said the city will…

Erasmus Shalihaxwe While much of Namibia is celebrating the recent good rains, the southern regions remain dry, with minimal downpours recorded in key areas. In Mariental, local authority council member Billy Mensah said the town received only 50 to 60 millimetres of rain last Thursday afternoon. He expressed concern over the Hardap Dam’s water level, which has dropped to a record low of 5.5 percent. “I was born and bred here in Mariental, and have never seen water in this dam come to that level. I am now in my 50s, so you can imagine how long that is. We…

Mallex Shipanga The Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) will host ConGen Global 2025 at its research centre in Otjiwarongo from 5 to 15 January. The nine-day conference centres around the most recent advances in conservation genetics, particularly the use of genomic technologies to conserve biodiversity. Participants of the conference will learn the latest applications, interpretations, and methods of molecular genetic analyses for the conservation of endangered species. According to the organisers, the course will host 25 to 30 students, with emphasis on students from African countries as well as 15 to 20 faculty from around the world. Lessons will be learnt…

Martin Endjala The Divundu Village Council is planning to establish a corridor truck port to serve as a key terminal for the Kavango West, Kavango East, and Zambezi regions. The facility is expected to cater to trucks transporting goods to countries such as Zambia, Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Speaking to the Windhoek Observer, Divundu Village Council Chairperson Katoyima Kupembona outlined the council’s vision for this ambitious project. “Divundu is well-positioned to have such a state-of-the-art port. But to pull this off, we as a council are engaging various stakeholders to come on board to look at ways…

Martin Endjala National Council member, Paulus Mbangu has called on investors in the table grape industry to ensure their workers are provided with decent accommodation, emphasising the potential reputational risks of poor labour practices. Speaking to the Windhoek Observer over the weekend, Mbangu raised concerns about the living conditions of workers living in the informal settlement at Aussenkehr. He highlighted last year’s devastating fire which destroyed 72 reed houses, as an example of the dangers posed by inadequate housing. “No customer wants to associate themselves with a business with bad news or bad labour practices,” he said. Mbangu’s comments follow…

Niël Terblanché The fallout from Namibia’s 2024 Presidential and National Assembly elections continues to deepen, with legal battles underway to contest or defend the integrity of the process. At the centre of the controversy are challenges led by the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) and the Landless People’s Movement (LPM). LPM President Bernadus Swartbooi has filed a notice of motion to the Electoral Court in which he requests to join the IPC’s leader, Panduleni Itula’s legal challenge to the election results. Swartbooi is alleging that the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) and President Nangolo Mbumba acted unlawfully in extending the…

Niël Terblanché Learners, teachers, and families across Namibia waiting for the results of the Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate Ordinary (NSSCO) and Advanced Subsidiary (NSSCAS) Levels will be able to access it next Tuesday (14 January). The executive director of the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture, Sanet Steenkamp, last week said the announcement is the conclusion of the examination cycle. Steenkamp also expressed satisfaction over the good progress made with marking and data processing. According to Steenkamp, the results will be accessible through multiple platforms, including the ministry’s website, SMS services, and print media. She urged candidates to have their…