National News

Staff Writer  Namibia continues to face serious sanitation challenges despite improvements in access to drinking water, deputy minister of agriculture, fisheries, water and land reform Ruth Masake has said. Masake made the remarks in Windhoek during the joint commemoration of World Wetlands Day and World Water Day. She said sanitation remains a major concern even though access to potable water has improved in recent years. About 40% of Namibian households still do not have access to basic toilet facilities and many continue to practise open defecation. Masake said the situation raises concerns about public health and human dignity. “These startling…

Renthia Kaimbi Namibia has signed a cooperation agreement with South Korea to develop a green port strategy aimed at improving sustainability in the country’s maritime sector. The letter of intent on the development of a green port policy, strategy, investment plan and implementation roadmap was signed in Windhoek two weeks ago. The agreement was signed between the Ministry of Works and Transport, the Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) and Korea’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. The partnership places Namibia under the International Port Development Cooperation Programme, an initiative supported by the African Development Bank and the Korean government. Officials said the…

Patience Makwele  The Miss Namibia Organisation has called on the public to support contestants in the Miss Namibia 2026 competition.  This followed criticism about contestant Albertina Haimbala, who served as a judge during the 2024 Miss Namibia competition and is now competing in the 2026 contest. In a media statement on Tuesday, the organisation said all contestants are subject to the same eligibility requirements and screening standards. The organisation said there are no rules preventing former judges, masters of ceremonies, experienced models or previous contestants with pageant experience from entering the competition if they meet the official entry requirements. “All…

Patience Makwele  Psychologists say they are seeing more children struggling with anxiety, low self-esteem, poor sleep and difficulty concentrating – problems they link to excessive social media use. Several mental health experts told the Windhoek Observer on Tuesday that the growing number of children spending hours on social media platforms is beginning to show clear psychological and developmental effects. Clinical psychologist Anastasia France said children under the age of 15 are particularly vulnerable because their brains are still developing. “At that stage of development, children are still forming their sense of identity and self-worth,” France said. “When they are constantly…

The children and close relatives of Namibia’s founding First Lady, Madam Kovambo Nujoma, gathered at the family residence in Windhoek to celebrate her 93rd birthday, yesterday. Surrounded by love, laughter and generations of family, the occasion was a reminder of the quiet strength that has helped shape our nation’s history. As the steadfast partner of Namibia’s founding president, Sam Nujoma, Madam Kovambo was more than a First Lady, she was a pillar of resilience and a steady hand during the most defining chapters of Namibia’s journey to independence. While the nation mourned the passing of President Nujoma in February last…

Staff Writer  Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture minister Sanet Steenkamp has urged employees of the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) to continue supporting students as the fund adjusts to its integration into the ministry. NSFAF was formally integrated into the ministry on 1 March and will now fully operate from within the ministry. She said students depend on the fund and services must continue during the transition. “I must emphasise that students depend on NSFAF, and service delivery must not be compromised during this period,” Steenkamp said during her first meeting with NSFAF employees at the fund’s…