National News – Page 6

07 Apr

Zambezi police officer arrested for aiding inmates to escape

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Allexer Namundjembo A police officer stationed at the Goma Police Station in the Zambezi region was arrested on Saturday for opening a holding cell, which led to the escape of five trial awaiting prisoners. The Zambezi Regional Police Commander, Commissioner Andreas Shilelo, confirmed the incident, revealing that two Namibians and three Zambians were among the escapees. Shilelo said the officer acted alone and failed to inform fellow officers before opening the holding cell. “The inmates did not use force to escape. They simply fled after the cell was opened,” he said. By Monday, four of the five escapees were re-arrested.…

07 Apr

Duneside High faces backlash for holding organ donation lecture

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Hertta-Maria Amutenja Duneside Private High School in Walvis Bay is under scrutiny after learners attended a lecture on organ donation awareness without parental consent. The matter has sparked concerns from parents and community leaders over the handling of sensitive topics involving minors. The incident involved a lecture by international organ donation advocate Anil Srivatsa, hosted by the Walvis Bay Rotary Club at the Protea Indongo Hotel. However, parents were not informed beforehand, and no consent was sought for the students to attend. “I was shocked when I found out about the event through social media. It was disappointing to learn…

07 Apr

Auas Primary School principal accused of undermining Khoekhoegowab

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Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Ministry of Education is investigating allegations that Auas Primary School principal Toini Nauyoma is sidelining the Khoekhoegowab language and undermining the cultural identity of the Damara/Nama community. The probe follows complaints from parents and community members who say the school, located in a predominantly Damara people residential area, Windhoek, is shifting away from its cultural roots by reducing the presence of Khoekhoegowab and promoting other languages, particularly Oshikwanyama. “The situation is currently under investigation, and the ministry will provide more details once a formal report on the investigation has been issued,” said ministry spokesperson Sam Shino. Auas…

07 Apr

Luvindao calls for action on maternal deaths

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Niël Terblanché At the World Health Day commemoration in Katima Mulilo on Monday, the minister of health and social services, Dr Esperance Luvindao, addressed the pressing issue of maternal mortality in Namibia. She described many causes of maternal deaths as preventable tragedies that require urgent action. “Improved antenatal care, skilled birth attendance, exclusive breastfeeding, and better nutrition could further reduce these fatalities,” Luvindao said while stressing the necessity of people taking more time to care for and help each other. She also expressed concern that only 49% of mothers in Namibia practise exclusive breastfeeding, a factor contributing to child stunting.…

07 Apr

NamWater deploys water tanker to assist flood-affected Opuwo residents

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Niël Terblanché NamWater has deployed a water tanker in Opuwo to provide interim relief to residents still affected by a major disruption to the town’s water supply. The water tanker is supplying water to communities such as Olushandja and Katutura, which remain without piped connections following flood-related damage to key infrastructure. The national water utility’s spokesperson, Lot Ndamanomhata, said the company has made progress in restoring water services after last week’s flooding severely impacted Opuwo. “The 300 millimetre diameter feeder pipeline connecting three critical boreholes to the collector reservoir has been successfully reinstated. This, together with the reactivation of borehole…

07 Apr

Nekundi orders SOEs to include Namibians in large contracts

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Erasmus Shalihaxwe The minister of works and transport, Veikko Nekundi, has instructed state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to stop awarding high-value contracts solely to foreign companies, saying local businesses must be part of tenders worth N$100 million and above. Speaking in Walvis Bay on Monday during the visit of Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare to Namport, Nekundi said government institutions must ensure that local companies benefit from major contracts to retain capital in the country and create jobs. “It will not be business as usual. I will not take it anymore that you award contracts to foreign companies only. This thing of issuing…

07 Apr

Farmworker gets life sentence for murdering employer

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Niël Terblanché The Windhoek High Court sentenced the 29-year-old farmworker Rodney Hoxobeb to 25 years' imprisonment for the 2022 murder of his employer, Christof Mberitjiua Mungunda. Mungunda was a respected farmer from Tallismanus in the Omaheke region. At the time of his brutal death, he was 66 years old. The verdict, delivered by Judge Philanda Christiaan, has been met with approval from various quarters, including the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU). The murder occurred on 16 September 2022 at Mungunda's farm. According to court proceedings, an argument erupted between Hoxobeb and Mungunda after the latter refused Hoxobeb's request for food. The…

06 Apr

Heavy rains disrupt water supply in northern regions

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Niël Terblanché NamWater is besieged by water supply challenges across the northern regions following heavy rains that have disrupted operations at key treatment and supply facilities. Since the weekend, according to NamWater spokesperson Lot Ndamanomhata, the Oshakati Water Treatment Plant has been battling both water quality and quantity issues caused by runoff from the oshanas in Ogongo and Oshikuku entering the Calueque–Oshakati Canal. He said the raw water quality has deteriorated, prompting changes to the plant’s usual treatment process. “Our conventional treatment process is now using extra coagulants and more frequent desludging of sedimentation tanks,” Ndamanomhata said. These necessary adjustments…

06 Apr

Locust outbreak in Zambezi region prompts ministerial intervention

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Niël Terblanché A locust outbreak in the Zambezi region has prompted the intervention from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Land Reform, with the deputy minister, Ruth Maseka, visiting affected areas to assess the situation and coordinate a response. The visit formed part of a regional familiarisation tour, during which Maseka met with local leaders and officials to discuss the challenges facing the region’s agricultural sector. At a courtesy meeting with the Zambezi regional governor, Lawrence Sampofu, Maseka was briefed on the locust infestation and other pressing issues, including water supply concerns. The locust outbreak has affected crops and…

06 Apr

Police not investigating Ruacana High School fire incident

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Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Namibian Police have confirmed that it is not investigating the fire incident that destroyed a boys’ hostel block at Ruacana High School on 30 March 2025. “We are aware of the fire incident; however, the police are not involved in investigating the matter at this stage,” said Deputy Commissioner Zachariah Amakali, head of investigations in the Omusati Region. The fire, which wiped out one of the boys' hostel blocks, has left 52 Grade 10 learners without textbooks, school uniforms, shoes, bedding, and other personal belongings. Immanuel Angula, the school’s hostel superintendent, explained that the fire has put…