National News

Allexer Namundjembo Namibia must move faster to prepare for artificial intelligence as the technology reshapes economies and public services, speakers said at a public lecture in Windhoek. AI specialist Chandan Chauhan addressed the event hosted by the Economic Association of Namibia (EAN) in partnership with the Hans Seidel Foundation. He said AI has moved beyond simple tools to systems that can reason and perform tasks.  It has evolved from generating content to handling text, images and video and is now entering a phase where systems can plan and act on their own. “AI is moving from answering questions to doing…

Renthia Kaimbi  India has inaugurated an advanced networking laboratory at the School of Signals at Osona Military Base to support training for the Namibian Defence Force (NDF). The facility was opened on Monday by deputy minister of defence and veteran affairs Charles Mubita.  The event was attended by the deputy minister of international relations and trade Jenelly Matundu, the chief of the Namibian Defence Force Air Marshal Martin Pinehas, and India’s high commissioner to Namibia Rahul Shrivastava. The government of India funded the laboratory through its defence diplomacy fund projects, with the goal of enhancing skills and training for defence…

Renthia Kaimbi More than 4 500 Walvis Bay residents have signed a petition calling for urgent municipal reform, raising concerns over sanitation, infrastructure and service delivery. The petition, titled “Demand urgent municipal reform in Walvis Bay,” has been submitted to the municipality and outlines what residents describe as ongoing failures that are affecting daily life. Signatories say poor sanitation in informal settlements has led to open defecation due to a lack of toilets.  “Every day as I drive out of Walvis Bay, I witness the heartbreaking sight of grown men and women resorting to relieving themselves by the roadside,” the…

Renthia Kaimbi The Hope Farm Project will expand to other regions after completing its first year in the Erongo Region. The project, launched on 26 July 2025, is a partnership between the Swakop Uranium Foundation, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, the Erongo Regional Council and local cooperatives. It started with the donation of 630 goats and sheep to 30 beneficiaries.  By January 2026, the project had placed 1 008 animals with cooperatives, with the total herd growing to 1 248 animals. Officials said the growth reflects the work of participating farmers and the use of a…

Renthia Kaimbi Global Money Week 2026 concluded in Swakopmund after four days of discussions on financial literacy and digital finance. The event ran from 16 to 19 March and was hosted by the Swakopmund municipality. It brought together government officials, financial sector representatives, educators and young people under the theme “Smart Money Talks". The programme focused on improving financial understanding and helping people manage money in a digital environment. At the opening, Bank of Namibia (BoN) deputy governor Leonie Dunn said the financial system is changing fast.  “The financial world is changing rapidly. Financial systems are increasingly digital, instantaneous, and…

Failed three of six regulatory criteria 1 164 vouched for Starlink 1 180 submissions received Allexer Namundjembo The rejection of Starlink’s licence application to operate in Namibia has been described as a setback for job creation. Some critics warn that it may limit opportunities in the digital economy. Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah said the decision could have affected employment prospects.  “Imagine how many jobs and opportunities this could have created," he said, noting that Starlink has improved internet access in rural areas in other African countries.  “That kind of connectivity can change lives, especially in underserved areas.” He questioned whether…

Patience Makwele  Namibia is failing to detect more than a third of tuberculosis (TB) cases.  Health minister Esperance Luvindao said an estimated 34% of TB cases remain undiagnosed.  “While these numbers represent lives saved, our concern lies with the people we have not reached,” she said during World TB Day commemorations in Gobabis on Tuesday. She said the challenge is more severe in rural areas, especially in the Omaheke region, which has the highest TB notification rate despite its low population density.  She said long travel distances to health facilities delay diagnosis and increase the risk of spread. Hence, the…

Allexer Namundjembo Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah says removing traditional authorities from land allocation may not solve the problem of illegal fencing in Kavango West. On Tuesday, during an outreach session led by the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, residents of Casa Village in the region called for traditional leaders to be stripped of their powers to allocate communal land. Kamwanyah said concerns raised by residents of Casa Village under the Mbunza Traditional Authority are valid, but shifting power alone may not fix the issue. “The line ministry also has…

Justicia Shipena  The future of Africa’s utility sectors will depend on how regulators use technology to build inclusive systems, according to the minister of industries, mines and energy, Modestus Amutse.  He spoke at the opening of the 22nd Annual Conference and General Assembly of the African Forum for Utility Regulators (AFUR) in Swakopmund on Monday. Amutse said new technologies must expand access to services and not increase inequality.  He said tools such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, digital platforms and automation are changing how services are delivered. He said Namibia is investing in renewable energy, including solar, wind…