National News

Jacobie questions whether Namibia’s democracy is delivering
09 Nov

Jacobie questions whether Namibia’s democracy is delivering

National News
Staff Writer Veteran journalist reflects on independence, corruption and the widening gap between the promises of liberation and the realities of governance A veteran Namibian journalist who once served in the Parachute Battalion during the liberation war era has raised difficult questions about the state of Namibia’s democracy, corruption and whether the country has lived up to the promises made at independence. Chris Jacobie, former executive editor of the Republikein, makes the observations in a wide-ranging interview on the Catalyst Podcast, hosted by Lazarus Jacobs, in which he reflects on a lifetime spent on both sides of Namibia’s history. One…
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One project drives the N$403m Windhoek building surge
09 Nov

One project drives the N$403m Windhoek building surge

National News
Elvis Mboya Windhoek recorded N$403.3 million in approved building plans in September 2026. However, one N$200 million commercial development accounted for almost half of the total. The figures point to improving construction activity, but also reveal how concentrated investment remains. According to IJG Securities' September 2026 Building Plans report, the value of approved plans increased by 149.1% from N$161.9 million in August. The number of approvals also rose from 135 to 204, representing a monthly increase of 51.1%. IJG highlighted the influence of the major development in its report. “A single commercial plan valued at N$200.0m accounted for nearly half…
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Otjiwarongo CEO accused of shielding ‘baby mama’ in ghost worker scandal
09 Nov

Otjiwarongo CEO accused of shielding ‘baby mama’ in ghost worker scandal

Main, National News
Renthia Kaimbi A payroll officer identified as Otjiwarongo Municipality chief executive officer (CEO) Mberipura Hifitikeko’s “baby mama” allegedly processed payments for a ghost employee for approximately 12 months, but a disciplinary process against her was allegedly halted after the CEO intervened and ordered the case file to be handed to his office for legal advice. The allegation is among a series of explosive claims contained in a complaint submitted to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) by concerned municipal employees, who are calling for an investigation into alleged corruption, nepotism, procurement irregularities and the misuse of public funds at the local authority.…
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Mariental mourns Valery Rooi
06 Nov

Mariental mourns Valery Rooi

National News
Desmarius Hansen  The murder of 34-year-old Valery Rooi has renewed concerns over gender-based violence in the Hardap Region, with the governor calling on law enforcement and the Judiciary to ensure perpetrators are brought to justice and victims are protected. The Hardap Region has been plunged into mourning following the brutal killing of 34-year-old Valery Rooi, whose alleged murder by her boyfriend has reignited concerns over gender-based violence and the safety of women in the region. Rooi was allegedly stabbed to death during the early hours of Saturday (31st October) at Plot 11 in the Mariental district, following an argument with…
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Shanghala takes PG and deputy to Law Society over recording
06 Nov

Shanghala takes PG and deputy to Law Society over recording

National News
Renthia  Kaimbi Former justice minister Sakeus Shanghala has lodged a formal complaint with the Law Society of Namibia against acting Prosecutor-General Olivia Imalwa and deputy Prosecutor-General Edmund Marondedze, accusing the two senior prosecutors of conduct that could amount to professional misconduct. In a sworn complaint dated 5 November 2026, Shanghala asks the Law Society’s Disciplinary Committee to investigate a widely circulated audio recording allegedly capturing Marondedze making disparaging remarks about High Court and Supreme Court judges, discussing his influence over court proceedings and recounting how Imalwa allegedly instructed him to prosecute Shanghala. The complaint, lodged under section 35(1) of the…
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How govt bureaucracy costs Namibia major investments
06 Nov

How govt bureaucracy costs Namibia major investments

National News
From Pohamba to Geingob and now Nandi-Ndaitwah, successive presidents have warned about red tape, stalled projects and weak implementation. The near-loss of a N$41.1 billion Dangote investment raises fresh questions about why bureaucratic delays persist and what they are costing Namibia's economy. Elvis Mboya President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah's revelation that Namibia came close to losing a multibillion-dollar investment because of bureaucratic delays has brought renewed attention to a problem that has confronted successive administrations for nearly two decades. At the launch of the Dangote Namibia Tank Farm and Regional Pipeline Project at Farm 58, outside Walvis Bay, on Wednesday, 4 November…
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Who will make money from Namibia’s oil boom?
06 Nov

Who will make money from Namibia’s oil boom?

National News
Billions of dollars are being committed to offshore exploration, but the question of how much Namibian businesses will earn from the industry remains largely unanswered. Elvis Mboya Namibia is preparing for an oil industry that could change the country's economy. International companies are spending millions of dollars on exploration. The government is putting policies in place to ensure that Namibians benefit when commercial production begins. But there is a question that deserves more attention: who will actually make money from the oil boom? The business opportunities will extend well beyond drilling. Oil companies need ships, transport, engineering services, equipment, construction,…
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Cabinet approves draft anti-corruption policy …as ministries directed to strengthen accountability and implementation
06 Nov

Cabinet approves draft anti-corruption policy …as ministries directed to strengthen accountability and implementation

National News
Staff Writer Information and communication technology minister Emma Theofelus has announced Cabinet’s approval of a draft National Ethics and Anti-Corruption Policy, while government institutions have also been directed to strengthen the monitoring, evaluation and reporting of Cabinet decisions. Theofelus announced the decisions during a briefing on Wednesday, covering outcomes of the 34th and 35th Cabinet meetings held on 13 and 27 October. She said the draft policy seeks to eliminate corruption through transparency, accountability and ethical practices at all levels of society. “Cabinet approved the draft National Ethics and Anti-Corruption Policy to eliminate corruption by achieving full transparency, accountability, and…
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TransNamib CEO, engineering exec suspended over railway failures
06 Nov

TransNamib CEO, engineering exec suspended over railway failures

Main, National News
Renthia Kaimbi TransNamib’s chief executive officer Desmond Van Jaarsveld and executive for Engineering and Technical Services Bertus Eksteen have been placed on precautionary leave pending an independent investigation, amid mounting concerns over the deteriorating condition of the national railway network, railway fatalities and alleged irregularities in the procurement of spare parts. The Windhoek Observer understands that the suspensions follow what sources close to the matter described as “serious accountability issues” relating to the management and maintenance of the state-owned railway operator’s infrastructure. The concerns reportedly include the failure to maintain and inspect the railway network, the fatal Rovos luxury train…
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‘Air ambulance not for every patient’ – Luvindao
05 Nov

‘Air ambulance not for every patient’ – Luvindao

National News
Patience Makwele Health minister Esperance Luvindao has clarified that Namibia’s newly launched state-owned air ambulance service will not evacuate every patient. She said access will be determined by the severity of medical conditions and whether road transportation poses a clinical risk. She made the clarification on Wednesday during the official launch of the country’s first state-owned air ambulance service in Windhoek, which is intended to improve access to emergency medical care for patients in remote communities. Luvindao said the service would specifically target patients whose clinical conditions and transfer circumstances justify aeromedical transportation. “Not every single patient that’s qualified. We…
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