National News

Renthia Kaimbi Erongo Regional Council chairperson Lazarus Kanelombe says the new council will focus on water access, youth unemployment and rural development during its term. He made the remarks during his maiden address at the first Ordinary Council Meeting of the year.  He said the council’s strategic plan for 2025 to 2031 will guide development and service delivery in the region. “This is an exciting time to serve our region,” Kanelombe said, referring to the mandate given to the new administration after the recent elections. He said census data shows the region’s population has grown to 240 000, an increase…

Justicia Shipena  European Union (EU) ambassador to Namibia Ana Beatriz Martins says Namibia has every reason to be concerned about foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks, as it remains Africa’s only exporter of fresh meat to the European market. Martins made the remarks on Wednesday, during the handover of nine livestock transport vehicles worth about N$10 million to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Land Reform in Windhoek. “As Africa’s only fresh meat exporter to Europe, Namibia has good reason to be alarmed by the foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks on its external borders,” she said. The fleet includes eight Land Cruiser 79 4.2D…

Renthia Kaimbi Namibia has proposed the establishment of a Joint Economic Commission with the United Arab Emirates(UAE) to strengthen trade and investment between the two countries. The proposal was presented during a Namibia/UAE Business Forum held at the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) head office yesterday.  The forum brought together five Namibian cabinet ministers, heads of state-owned enterprises, local authorities and about 30 representatives from the UAE government and private sector. Minister of international relations and trade Selma Ashipala-Musavyi hosted UAE minister of foreign trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, who was on a one-day working visit leading…

Allexer Namundjembo Policy analyst Lazarus Kwedhi has questioned whether the proposed N$1.43 million salary package for the information commissioner is justified.  He said the role does not generate revenue.  In a telephonic interview with the Windhoek Observer on Tuesday, Kwedhi said the advertised remuneration package is excessive. “The position is not a monetary performance-based one. We should look at how much will be generated through the position. It must be measured. It is a waste of resources. In terms of revenue, what will it contribute? We already have the Minister of Information and the executive director in the ministry. It…

Staff Writer  Nasan Energies is in the final stages of acquiring the 52 divestiture businesses operated by Vivo Energy and Engen Namibia.  The announcement follows a stakeholder engagement hosted by the Namibia Competition Commission (NaCC) in Windhoek on Monday.  The public meeting formed part of the NaCC's review of the proposed transaction, where members of the public were invited to engage with the deal.  In September 2025, Nasan Energies and Vivo Energy Namibia underwent an evaluation process assessing technical expertise and financial proposals. Nasan was selected as the preferred bidder. The chief executive officer of NaCC, Vitalis Ndalikokule, said the…

Renthia Kaimbi Botswana Oil Limited (BOL) denies that it received substandard fuel imported through the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor). This follows reports which stated that BOL had raised concerns about the quality of ULP95 purchased from Namibia.  Emails seen by The Namibian indicated that Botswana Oil notified Namcor on 11 January that seven trucks loaded at the Namcor terminal in Walvis Bay on 5 and 7 January “do not meet product specification".  Routine tests reportedly showed the fuel fell outside acceptable limits for octane rating (RON). In a statement circulated on social media on Thursday, Botswana Oil said…

Allexer Namundjembo Student advocate Gabriel Mandume has urged young people to take technical and vocational education and Training (TVET) seriously, saying it should be seen as “a path to jobs and not a backup plan”. Mandume said many learners still treat TVET as a second option and “only something to consider if university places do not materialise”. He said this mindset weakens efforts to tackle youth unemployment. Mandume referred to the latest labour force figures from the Namibia Statistics Agency, which show that the unemployment rate rose to 36.9% in 2023 from 33.4% in 2018. “This means that more than…

Renthia Kaimbi The Sam Nujoma Foundation says United States sanctions on Cuba are pushing the island toward a humanitarian crisis and has called on the international community to act. In a statement released on Tuesday, the Foundation described the decades-long embargo as a “silent and genocidal” campaign that is driving Cuba toward collapse. It said recent measures by Washington have worsened an already fragile situation. The Foundation, led by chairperson Nahas Angula, said the latest actions have intensified what it called a suffocating oil blockade, adding pressure to the embargo first imposed in 1962. “This cannot and should not be…