National News – Page 9 – Windhoek Observer

12 Jun

Formalisation of Orange River border still looming

National News

Renthia Kaimbi Nearly two years after a technical committee reached an agreement, the formalisation of the long-disputed Orange River border between Namibia and South Africa remains unresolved, with the matter still looming over bilateral relations. The dispute, which has been ongoing since Namibia’s independence in 1990, boils down to a fundamental disagreement over where the international boundary lies along the Orange River, spanning roughly 600 kilometers of the shared border. Pretoria’s claim relied on the colonial 1890 Helgoland-Zanzibar Treaty between Great Britain and Imperial Germany, which demarcated the boundary along the high-water mark of the northern bank of the river.…

12 Jun

U.S. cracks down on global birth tourism networks, revokes hundreds of visas

National News

Patience Makwele The United States Department of State says it has dismantled multiple birth tourism networks operating across Africa and Europe, in a global crackdown that has led to the revocation of hundreds of visas. The action targets foreign nationals accused of abusing the U.S. immigration system by travelling on visitor visas with the primary aim of giving birth in the United States to secure citizenship for their children. According to the State Department, the operations form part of broader efforts to tighten visa scrutiny worldwide and curb fraudulent use of U.S. travel documentation. “Under President Trump, the State Department…

12 Jun

Stray animals in Khomas to get reflective gear

Main, National News

Renthia Kaimbi Stray animals along the B1 road in the Khomas region are set to receive reflective gear as part of the Animal Visibility Project, with priority given to the high-risk stretch near the Mix informal settlement. The project that was launched in December 2025 aims to reduce nighttime collisions between motorists and free-roaming livestock, which is a leading cause of fatal accidents on Namibian roads. While an official handover ceremony originally scheduled for Monday, 8 June at the Khomas Governor’s office has been indefinitely postponed, the Windhoek Observer understands that implementation plans for the region remain on track. At…

11 Jun

/Goagoses slams 10 protesters calling her “root of all evil”

Main, National News

Renthia Kaimbi Erongo Governor Nathalia /Goagoses has condemned a petition calling her the “root of all evil”, describing it as a defamatory personal attack rather than a legitimate governance complaint. Speaking at a press conference in Swakopmund yesterday, the governor said she was petitioned by a group of 10 people led by one Stanislaus Napuka, who claimed to speak on behalf of the Daure Daman traditional community. The petition titled 'Petition for Governor’s Removal’, dated 1 June 2026 and addressed to the Office of the Governor, accused /Goagoses of dishonourably disrespecting the Council of Elders by creating a position that…

11 Jun

PG recruitment hits dead end as eight candidates fail written test

National News

Renthia Kaimbi The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has been forced to restart the search for the next Prosecutor-General after none of the eight shortlisted candidates passed a written assessment, raising fresh questions about the depth of senior prosecutorial talent in the country. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Commission revealed that the highest score among the applicants was just 49%, with the lowest at 30% out of a possible 100 marks. Candidates required at least 50% to pass the assessment. The assessment, which took place on 8 May 2026, was designed to test legal knowledge, analytical ability, legal reasoning…

11 Jun

State ordered to pay activists over arrests

National News

By Patience Makwele The High Court has ordered suspended Inspector-General of the Namibian Police Joseph Shikongo and the ministry of home affairs, immigration, safety and security to compensate activists Michael Amushelelo and Dimbulukeni Nauyoma for their arrests, detention, and prosecution following an anti-unemployment protest in 2023. In a judgment delivered on Wednesday, the court awarded Amushelelo N$300,000 in damages and Nauyoma N$80,000. The government was also ordered to pay their legal costs. The case stems from the pair's arrests during a planned protest against unemployment in Windhoek on 21 March 2023, which coincided with Namibia's Independence Day celebrations. The demonstration…

11 Jun

Health ministry rolls out new complaints system

National News

Patience Makwele Health Minister Esperance Luvindao has acknowledged growing public frustration over conditions in Namibia's public health system, including allegations of negligence, poor communication, discrimination, and the unauthorised sharing of patient information. The admission came as the ministry unveiled a new complaints management system aimed at improving accountability. Speaking at the launch of the ministry’s Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the Management of Complaints in Windhoek on Wednesday, Luvindao said the ministry could no longer ignore concerns repeatedly raised by patients and their families. “For too long, the headlines in our national media have painted a distressed picture of our…

11 Jun

PDM MP questions implementation of SORA commitments

National News

Allexer Namundjembo Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) Member of Parliament Rosa Mbinge-Tjeundo has submitted questions to the minister in the Presidency, Charles Mubita, regarding the monitoring and delivery of projects announced during State of the Region Addresses (SORAs). In her notice of question, set for Thursday next week, Mbinge-Tjeundo noted that the addresses were originally intended to provide Namibians with a transparent account of development progress and improvements in regional quality of life. However, she argued that they have increasingly become platforms for announcing ambitious projects without proper mechanisms to measure delivery, evaluate impact, or hold authorities accountable. She further stated…

11 Jun

OBSERVER COASTAL | Works deputy minister assesses Walvis Bay’s road infrastructure challenges

Featured, National News

Renthia Kaimbi Deputy minister of works and transport, Hans Haikali, convened an urgent meeting with local government officials, engineers, and private contractors yesterday to assess the state of road infrastructure projects in Walvis Bay and to devise solutions for persistent challenges affecting the town’s road network. The session, which took place at the municipality’s engineering headquarters, brought together the town’s mayor Johanness Shimbilinga, chief executive officer Victoria Kapenda, technical teams from the municipality, the Roads Authority, Otesa Civil Engineering, Namibia Construction, Tulipamwe Consulting Engineers, and other key stakeholders. The engagement was part of Haikali’s broader effort to familiarise himself with…

11 Jun

OBSERVER COASTAL | School survey reveals widespread vaping among teens

Featured, National News

Renthia Kaimbi A senior World Health Organization (WHO) official has warned that nicotine addiction among teenagers is not accidental but deliberately engineered by the tobacco and vape industry, as new national data reveals that nearly one in four school-going adolescents in Namibia currently uses vaping products. Speaking at the World No Tobacco Day commemoration held at the Kuisebmond Stadium Sport Field in Walvis Bay last week, WHO Country Representative Dr. Richard Banda presented findings from the 2024 Namibia Global School-based Student Health Survey. The survey found that 23% of students aged 13 to 17 currently use vaping products, 18% use…