National News

Chamwe Kaira  Commercial crimes resulted in losses of about N$2.79 billion during the 2024/2025 financial year, according to the Namibian Police. Police recorded 897 commercial crime cases during the period. Authorities arrested 229 suspects in connection with these cases. Of those arrested, 80 were convicted. The police said money and goods worth N$2.79 billion were stolen in these crimes. Only N$6.84 million was recovered. One vehicle and one house linked to the cases were also seized. Overall crime levels remained high during the period. Data from the Namibian Police Force shows that 110 945 criminal cases were reported during the…

Staff Writer  Namibia will host Africa’s first millimetre-wavelength radio telescope after a contract was signed to begin construction of the Africa Millimetre Telescope (AMT), which will form part of the global Event Horizon Telescope network. The telescope will be built near the H.E.S.S. observatory close to the Gamsberg table mountain.  The location offers high altitude, a dry climate and low radio interference, making it suitable for astronomical observations. The University of Namibia (Unam) welcomed the development and said the project places Namibia and the African continent in global astrophysics research. Once completed, the telescope will join the Event Horizon Telescope…

Patience Makwele  Institutional investors have been urged to direct more capital toward projects that support Namibia’s long-term economic development. The call was made during the recently concluded 5th Annual Namibia Institutional Investors Forum (NIIF) 2026.  The forum brought together pension funds, asset managers, development finance institutions and policymakers to discuss how institutional savings can support economic growth. Speaking at the forum, Monasa Advisory and Associates managing director Jason Kasuto said Namibia faces an important moment as new economic opportunities emerge. Kasuto said Namibia’s economic outlook over the next decade is expected to improve, supported by developments in mining and the…

Chamwe Kaira Sanlam Limited has reported a decrease in Value of New Business (VNB) for the year ended 31 December, partly linked to the disposal of its Namibia operations to SanlamAllianz in 2024. The company said the decline was largely driven by a shift in product mix in South Africa, where clients continued to favour market-linked or living annuities instead of life annuities. “This was compounded by development costs associated with establishing new distribution channels in India as well as by the cessation of the Capitec partnership and disposal of the Namibia operations to SanlamAllianz in 2024,” the company said.…

Allexer Namundjembo Businessman Knowledge Katti says Namibians risk missing an opportunity to gain local ownership in the Rössing Uranium Mine.  In January, reports emerged that one of the shareholders of Rössing uranium, the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) of South Africa, is selling its 10.2% stake in the mine. The IDC was among Rössing’s founding shareholders in the 1970s, when Rio Tinto was the main shareholder. IDC said it had reached the end of its investment horizon and intended to dispose of its 10.2% stake because the holding period for the investment had expired. Katti raised the concern on Friday in…

Justicia Shipena  President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah says progress toward gender equality requires action and commitment from society. Nandi-Ndaitwah was among many leaders who, on International Women’s Day yesterday, called for stronger action to protect the rights of women and girls.  “Progress does not happen by chance. It requires action, determination and the collective will of societies to ensure that women and girls are given the dignity, opportunity and space to contribute fully to the development of our world,” she said during the commemoration of International Women’s Day at Hosea Kutako International Airport on Sunday.  The global event was observed under the…

Allexer Namundjebo  A two-year emergency food support programme aimed at addressing food insecurity among vulnerable households was launched last week at Ondera Farm in the Oshikoto region. The programme is implemented through a partnership between the government, Chevron and the non-profit organisation Palms for Life Fund. The launch ceremony took place on Friday and was officiated by the governor of Oshikoto, Sacky Kathindi, on behalf of vice president Lucia Witbooi.  Regional and traditional leaders and community members attended the event. The programme will provide nutritious food assistance to about 3 150 households, including highly vulnerable individuals, pregnant and breastfeeding women…

Justicia Shipena  The chief of the Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA), Hoze Riruako, has proposed that the government consider a quota system to allow communities that lost land during colonial rule to access land again. Riruako made the proposal during a courtesy meeting with President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah at State House on Thursday.  He said the proposal aims to address the long-standing issue of ancestral land without creating fear among other Namibians. “What we wanted to see reflected, especially in the national development plan, is a quota system that will allow those who have been completely disenfranchised of their land to get…

Renthia Kaimbi The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Namibia has launched an urgent petition opposing a proposal by the Namibian Defence Force to permanently close a large section of civilian airspace in the Erongo region. The proposal involves reclassifying FYM-401, a military operations area currently used by both civilian and military aircraft, into permanently prohibited airspace. The area covers a 30-nautical-mile radius around the Erongo Mountains and includes the towns of Omaruru, Karibib and Usakos. According to AOPA Namibia, the airspace covers about one million hectares and stretches from ground level to 25 000 feet. The association says the…