National News

Patience Makwele Namibia is moving to tighten laws on e-cigarettes and other emerging nicotine products as part of efforts to strengthen tobacco control. The deputy minister of health, Susan Ndjaleka, said the government is reviewing the Tobacco Products Control Act to close gaps in regulation.  She was speaking at the Africa Tobacco Control Core Partners Biannual Coordination meeting in Windhoek on Tuesday. “We are in the process of amending the Tobacco Product Control Act to address emerging tobacco products,” Ndjaleka said. She said Namibia is also working towards joining the protocol to eliminate illicit trade in tobacco products to curb…

Allexer Namundjebo  Small and medium enterprise (SMEs) operators in the e-hailing sector have asked works and transport minister Veikko Nekundi for an urgent meeting over delays in permit approvals. In a letter dated 10 April, seen by the Windhoek Observer, Yango partners said administrative delays are stopping compliant drivers from working. They said the problem is not refusal to follow the law but slow processes. “Systemic administrative delays in the permitting process are preventing compliant drivers from operating,” the letter states. Operators said many drivers submitted all required documents before the May deadline but are still waiting for approval. They…

Justicia Shipena More than 400 Namibian companies have already been assessed as part of an effort to prepare local businesses for participation in the green hydrogen sector. This comes as Hyphen Hydrogen Energy, in partnership with ENERTRAG and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), on Monday signed a cooperation agreement under the International Hydrogen Ramp-up Programme (H2UPPP) to support local participation in the value chain. The agreement introduces an enterprise and supplier development programme aimed at building the capacity of Namibian businesses and helping them compete in the sector. The initiative is backed by grant funding of up to 300…

Allexer Namundjembo The Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco) aims to increase value addition by processing Wagyu cattle locally as it moves into the premium beef market. Meatco on Monday announced that it has slaughtered and processed Wagyu cattle. Wagyu refers to four main Japanese cattle breeds known for high-quality beef that requires specialised breeding, feeding and management. “This is more than a processing milestone; it is a statement of intent. Namibia is not just participating in global beef markets; we are moving decisively into the premium segment where value, not volume, defines success,” said Meatco interim chief executive officer Albertus…

Allexer Namundjembo Residents of the ||Khomani Traditional Authority handed over a petition on Monday calling for a vote of no confidence against chief Juliane Gawanas and her council. The group gathered at Dolam in Katutura, led by community activist Shaun Gariseb. They accuse the leadership of selling land meant for local residents to business people within the ||Khomani area. The petition follows a community meeting held on 31 January at A.I. Steenkamp Primary School, where more than 750 people supported a vote of no confidence against the chief and the council. The process forms part of steps taken by the…

Staff Writer  Attorney general Festus Mbandeka says stronger legal compliance across state institutions and state-owned enterprises will reduce court cases and improve governance. He made the remarks during a stakeholder engagement session hosted by his office in the Erongo region on Monday. Mbandeka said government entities must follow laws and improve how they work to avoid costly litigation. “Together, we can foster a culture of legal compliance within state institutions and SOE entities by promoting voluntary compliance and using best practices to streamline processes and reduce litigation costs,” he said. The session forms part of a nationwide programme to strengthen…

Patience Makwele  Farmers in the Zambezi region are rushing to harvest crops as floodwaters spread across fields.  They say government support has not reached them in time. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has deployed tractors to move harvested crops to higher ground in areas such as Kabbe South, Kabbe North and Sibbinda. The ministry's deputy director of public relations and spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said the intervention has helped 14 farmers so far, with more than 50 tonnes of crops moved. “We have loaded about 75 tonnes of maize so far,” Muyunda said.  He said the operation…

Allexer Namundjembo President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah says the government remains open to the Cape Fria project, but only if credible investors are secured. She made the remarks while responding to a question from National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo) member of parliament Vetoruhe Kandovazu during her recent state of the nation address (Sona).  “I would like to see the development of a smart city during my time as president, but when you look at some of these investors, they are questionable,” she said. Nandi-Ndaitwah said the idea of developing Cape Fria dates back to the era of the then president Sam Nujoma. …