National News

Justicia Shipena A new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Namib Desert Diamonds (Namdia) and the Namibian Police Force (Nampol) will create a framework for intelligence sharing, cooperation and operational alignment across the diamond value chain. The two institutions signed the agreement on Thursday at the Police National Headquarters in Windhoek. The agreement follows a robbery in January that involved the theft of diamonds worth about N$350 million from Namdia's Windhoek headquarters. The incident also led to the deaths of Namdia executive Francis Eiseb and one of the suspects, Max Endjala. Acting Namdia chief executive officer Lelly Usiku said the partnership…

The High Court has ruled that a performance appraisal prepared by Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) chief administrator Freddy Mwiya for former executive for finance Junias Thomas Hamalua was a “sham”, as it did not meet the contractual requirement of continuous, annual evaluations. The finding formed part of a judgement dismissing Hamalua’s attempt to overturn the commission’s decision not to renew his five-year contract. High Court judge president Shafimana Ueitele said Mwiya’s February 2023 performance analysis failed to show how the former executive had been appraised throughout his contract term from 2018 to 2023. He noted that the interim board had…

The Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations has launched a nationwide campaign to help employers and employees understand the national minimum wage (NMW), set last year at N$18 per hour. The launch took place on Thursday in Windhoek. The ministry's deputy executive director, Aune Mudjanima, said the educational materials were developed with support from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to provide clear and reliable information. She said access to information helps workers and employers make informed decisions and improves compliance with labour laws. Mudjanima said the materials explain what the minimum wage entails, how it should be applied and the…

Allexer Namundjembo The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) has urged the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) to strengthen its staff to avoid errors that undermine trust in the electoral system.  PDM secretary-general Manuel Ngaringombe said the recent error made during the Rundu local authority election should not have happened.  “It is not something that anyone expects, that an error of that kind should occur,” he said.  This comes after the ECN admitted it made a seat allocation error in the Rundu election and has now launched an urgent self-review application in the Electoral Court.  The commission said one seat was wrongly…

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…