National News

Justicia Shipena  More than one million tourists visited Namibia in 2024, showing a strong rebound for the country’s tourism sector after years of Covid-19 disruptions. The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism reported 1 257 093 arrivals, an increase of 45.5% compared to 2023. A separate inbound tourism report also shows that total foreign arrivals reached 1 444 174, reflecting a 37% rise and renewed global confidence in Namibia as a travel destination. Launching the tourist statistical report 2024 in Windhoek on Wednesday, environment and tourism minister Indileni Daniel said the growth reflects the sector’s resilience.  “This increase in tourist…

Justicia Shipena   Japan has committed N$48 million to a new agriculture project aimed at helping drought-affected farming communities build resilience through adaptive, climate-smart practices.  The funding was announced on Tuesday in Windhoek during an exchange-of-notes and signing ceremony. The event was attended by Japan’s ambassador to Namibia, Shinichi Asazuma, and officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the National Planning Commission (NPC). The project, titled Enhancing Resilience in Farming Communities Affected by Drought Through the Promotion of Adaptive Agriculture, will run for two years until…

Renthia Kaimbi A joint technical committee will guide a new academic partnership between the Fisheries Observer Agency (FOA) and the International University of Management (IUM), following the signing of a five-year Memorandum of Understanding yesterday.  The agreement sets out a structured plan to strengthen the country's marine resource management through education, training, and research. The joint technical committee will define technical details, monitor progress, and determine funding needs for planned activities. FOA chief executive officer Stanley Ndara signed the MoU alongside IUM vice chancellor Osmund Mwandemele.  Ndara said the agreement is the first between the two institutions and will be…

Renthia Kaimbi Beifang workers at the Rössing Uranium Mine say they are forced to eat in dusty pits and inside mining equipment without proper lunch breaks. This is as a result of a three-year exemption granted by former labour minister Utoni Nujoma to Beifang Mining Technologies. The exemption has sparked outrage and raised health concerns at the mine. In July 2023, Nujoma declared Beifang’s operations at Rössing as continuous operations. The declaration, which took effect on 1 August 2023 and runs until 31 July 2026, suspended normal lunch break provisions for mining and plant employees. The exemption directed the mine…

Justicia Shipena The cost of a new twice-a-year HIV prevention and treatment injection, Lenacapavir, is too high for immediate rollout in Namibia’s public health system. Health minister Dr Esperance Luvindao announced this during the World AIDS Day commemoration in Otjiwarongo on Monday, saying the long-acting injectable has the potential to change HIV treatment but remains out of reach for most public patients. She said the ministry has begun the regulatory approval process so that people who can afford the medication in the private sector may access it sooner. “Our ultimate goal is equity. No one should be denied the future…

Renthia Kaimbi In 1999, a mandatory HIV test before a boxing match changed Bernard Kamatoto’s life. The positive result ended his boxing career, but 25 years later he stands as a national and global HIV advocate. As he marks 19 years on antiretroviral treatment, his message remains one of strength and survival. “HIV is not a death sentence. I am here, living proof that HIV is not the end; it is a chapter that can be lived with courage, medication, and love,” Kamatoto expressed. Kamatoto shared his story with the Windhoek Observer as Namibia commemorated World AIDS Day in Otjiwarongo…

Allexer Namundjembo Former Mukwe Constituency independent candidate Isdor Muronga has called for financial support to assist rural farmers. His appeal comes after he delivered farming equipment to a woman he met during his campaign trail. He said small-scale producers in remote areas need urgent assistance to sustain food production. Muronga told the Windhoek Observer on Sunday that he first met Shadinyando Kayungu at Shamaghandutji in Kavango East. He said the inland village is difficult to reach because of poor roads. He said her determination to run a small garden and feed her community left a strong impression on him.  “During…

Allexer Namundjembo Twenty-six-year-old Nanzila Litah Lota from Katima Mulilo is carving a new path for herself after years of personal hardship.  She is one of more than 1 300 students supported by Palms For Life to pursue vocational training at the Community Skills Development Foundation (Cosdef). Lota is studying office administration level 2. She was born to a mother from the San communities of the Kwe and a Totela father from Katima Mulilo. Her childhood changed sharply when her mother died in 2013 while she was in Grade 4. Her paternal grandmother, who became her guardian, passed away in 2015.…

Renthia Kaimbi The High Court has directed finance minister Ericah Shafudah not to interfere with the loading of new deductions onto the government’s payroll deductions management system (PDMS).  The order, issued by High Court deputy judge president Hannelie Prinsloo on Friday, blocks the ministry’s plan to stop all new deductions on the system. Prinsloo granted permission for the PDMS to continue its operations until the hearing of the review application on 6 March 2026. The decision does not prevent the government from taking over the system later. The finance ministry plans to discontinue the use of deduction codes that allow…

Justicia Shipena The opposition parties needed just one more seat to regain control of the Windhoek Municipal Council.  Instead, Swapo’s majority has closed the door on any chance of an opposition-led coalition for the next term. Swapo secured eight seats in the 2025 local authority elections, giving the party a clear majority and the power to steer the council without relying on other parties. Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) won three seats, while Affirmative Repositioning (AR), Landless People's Movement (LPM), Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) and United Democratic Front (UDF) each secured one seat. Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah said the numbers…