National News

Erasmus Shalihaxwe NamWater, in consultation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform, has announced the resumption of irrigation water supply from the Hardap Dam. The decision was approved by Agriculture Minister Calle Schlettwein to support national priorities of agricultural productivity and economic stability in the Hardap region and will be implemented on 20 January. NamWater spokesperson Lot Ndamanomhata revealed the development on Wednesday, following a thorough assessment of the dam's water availability. The analysis determined that irrigation water can be supplied with a 20% demand reduction, allowing 80% of arable land to be irrigated until July while maintaining…

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The country’s top performers in the National Senior Secondary Certificate (NSSCO) Ordinary and Advanced Subsidiary (AS) levels are setting their sights on careers in medicine. Many of the high achievers expressed aspirations to study at the University of Namibia (UNAM) or abroad. The exam results were announced on Tuesday by the minister of education, arts and culture, Anna Nghipondoka. Trinity /Oxurus from Rukonga Vision School in Kavango East shared her passion for radiology and medicine. “I enjoy learning about the human body and that is why I want to study either radiology or medicine. I am mostly motivated…

Allexer Namundjembo Landless People’s Movement (LPM) national council affiliate, William Minnie and Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) Youth League secretary general, Julia Nekwaya have accused the National Youth Council (NYC) interim board of political bias after a High Court order barred them and other protesters from entering the council’s premises. The court order, issued on Monday evening, follows protests that began last week, culminating in NYC staff being forced out of their offices and the interim board being chased from its premises. The order prohibits Minnie, Nekwaya, third respondent Jafet Amakali, and unnamed protesters from disrupting NYC operations, locking premises, or…

Niël Terblanché The Inspector-General of the Namibian Police, Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo, has assured the public that the Namibian Police’s general crime-fighting and prevention efforts will be intensified this year to ensure the safety of all. “I would like to indicate that the 2025 crime prevention operations, traffic law enforcement, anti-poaching operations, and efforts against drug trafficking and dealings will be intensified,” he said. Shikongo said during a special briefing on Monday when he voiced serious concern over the increasing incidents of child exploitation through prostitution and the spread of child pornography. According to him the police and other law…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Employers in the fuel retail, security, and hospitality sectors have issued retrenchment notices and threatened to alter employees' benefits in response to the national minimum wage (NMW) implementation order. The Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN) has described this as retaliatory actions by certain employers. The MUN’s general secretary, George Ampweya revealed that the union is aware of one such employer, Engen Swakopmund Truck Port. “The employer has informed employees about plans to remove the housing allowance of about N$1 400 to increase their wages to the minimum required level. Additionally, they have proposed removing the annual bonus, which…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Reinhold Shipwikineni has raised objections to the legal costs awarded against him after his case against Swapo and its presidential candidate, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, was struck off the court roll last October. The High Court in December ordered Shipwikineni to pay N$382 768 in legal costs, which included N$158 500 for lawyer fees and N$224 268 in disbursement fees. The court ordered Shipwikineni to pay the respondents' legal fees despite striking the case from the roll. Shipwikineni is now objecting to the legal cost award, stating it is unfair to hold him personally responsible for the costs, especially when…

Niël Terblanché The Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service has issued a stern warning to young people against a fraudulent internship programme circulating on social media, exploiting job-seekers' desperation. According to a notice issued by the ministry's public relations office on Tuesday, the scam, falsely claiming to represent it, is enticing individuals to apply for an "Internship Program 2025" by clicking on a suspicious link. The notice states that the fraudulent post, which lists various duty stations across the country - including Windhoek, Katima Mulilo, Divundu, Oshakati, Khomas, Rundu, and Otjiinene - urges potential applicants to use the link…

Niël Terblanché The Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform has imposed a ban on the importation and transit of cloven-hoofed animals and their products from Germany in order to protect Namibia’s livestock industry. The restriction follows a confirmed outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) in Germany on 10 January 2025. The disease has been confirmed in a herd of water buffalo near Brandenberg, in the Markisch Odèland district of Germany (to the west of Berlin). Announcing the measure, Johannes Shoopala, the acting chief veterinary officer, said the ban aims to safeguard Namibia’s prized animal health status. "This decision is in…

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Opposition parties have criticised President Nangolo Mbumba for extending a message of solidarity message to the president of the United States of America, Joe Biden and the people of California following six days of deadly wildfires. Mbumba, in his message, said Namibia stands with the people of California during this difficult hour and wishes them strength. “As a country that is disproportionately affected by a warming planet, Namibia stands ready to work with the American government and like-minded nations to deal with the scourge of climate change,” he said. However, opposition parties accused Mbumba of failing to extend…

Niël Terblanché The Namibian Police in the Erongo region confirmed the arrest of three suspects linked to the brutal panga attack and armed robbery of an elderly couple in Henties Bay last week. According to Chief Inspector Ileni Shapumba, the head of the police’s community affairs division in Erongo, the suspects were apprehended on Sunday morning, mere days after the attack that left Alexander Grobler (77) and his wife, Martha Maria Grobler (69), hospitalised. The attack occurred on Wednesday night when the suspects broke into the Groblers’ home situated on Henties Bay’s main road. Armed with pangas, they assaulted the…