Uncategorised – Windhoek Observer

24 Apr

YOUNG OBSERVER | Stigma shadows youth uptake of HIV prevention pill

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Patience Makwele PrEP is a daily pill taken by HIV-negative people to prevent infection. When used consistently, it can reduce the risk of contracting HIV by up to 99%. HIV remains a concern among young people, especially young women. Data from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS shows that women aged 15 to 24 in sub-Saharan Africa are more than twice as likely to contract HIV as men of the same age. Some young people say stigma makes it difficult to access the medication. Fatima Amukweya (29) said she started using PrEP after losing family members and a friend…

24 Apr

YOUNG OBSERVER | Breaking the silence on mental health

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Patience Makwele More young Namibians are speaking openly about mental health in homes, on campuses and online, challenging long-standing silence and stigma. At the centre of this shift is Windhoek-based mental health practitioner DieMut Amushila, founder of NeuroBloom Psychology, whose work is drawing interest from young people seeking safe spaces to talk. “Healing is possible not just for individuals but for the society at large,” she said. Amushila has more than a decade of experience in neuropsychology and neuroscience. She said her work goes beyond clinical care and focuses on changing how mental health is understood, especially among young people.…

24 Apr

Baroque concert to showcase young talent

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Patience Makwele A Baroque concert set for this weekend in Windhoek will place young Namibian musicians at the centre of a live orchestral performance. The concert is presented by the Namibian National Symphony Orchestra and will feature 52 participants, including seven young Namibian soloists selected through auditions. The event’s chairlady and organiser, Irmgard Rannersmann, said the selection was based on performance, not competition. “They did auditions where they had to play and show if what they’re playing is good enough. Their prize was that they were good enough to be one of the soloists at the concert," she said. She…

14 Apr

CPBN tightens rules for bid committee appointments

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Allexer Namundjembo The Central Procurement Board of Namibia (CPBN) has introduced new procedures for appointing Bid Evaluation Committee members to improve transparency and accountability in public procurement. According to CPBN, these changes aim to enhance service delivery and reinforce the evaluation process for public bids. “These strengthened procedures are aimed at promoting integrity, fair dealing, transparency and efficiency in the public procurement process,” said CPBN spokesperson Johanna Kambala. The changes are guided by the Public Procurement Act, which allows CPBN to appoint individuals, including those nominated by public entities, to serve on bid evaluation committees. The board sets up ad…

09 Apr

OBSERVER COASTAL | Ministry condemns tyre burning at Walvis Bay landfill

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Renthia Kaimbi The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has condemned the burning of tyres at the Walvis Bay landfill. Environmental commissioner Timoteus Mufeti said the ministry is taking steps to address the situation. “The reported burning of tyres at the landfill is a regrettable incident that the ministry strongly condemns,” he said on Wednesday. “Such activity releases dangerous pollutants into the air, posing serious health risks to both people and animals, while significantly compromising air quality.” Mufeti said burning tyres near towns is not allowed under environmental laws and warned that such practices cannot continue. The response follows complaints…

09 Apr

OBSERVER COASTAL | Revamped Arandis open market aims to grow informal trade

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Renthia Kaimbi The refurbished open market in Arandis has reopened. The upgrade was led by Orano Mining Namibia in partnership with the Arandis Town Council. The project was completed at the end of 2025 at a cost of N$300 000 and officially opened last week. The market was first built in 2012 with an investment of N$500 000 by Orano, then operating as AREVA Namibia. It was introduced after a 2005 study found that many small business owners were operating from their homes due to a lack of trading space. The upgraded facility now includes 16 business units and shared…

09 Apr

OBSERVER COASTAL | Erongo pushes for more community involvement in tourism

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Renthia Kaimbi Stakeholders in the Erongo region will meet later this month to discuss how communities can benefit more from tourism. The Erongo Regional Tourism Forum will host a stakeholder engagement on 16 April 2026 at Daureb Isib Rest Camp in Uis. The session aims to raise awareness about tourism opportunities and encourage local participation. Tourism remains a key part of Namibia’s economy, supporting jobs, investment and growth. The Erongo region is one of the country’s main tourism areas, with destinations such as Swakopmund, Walvis Bay and the Brandberg area attracting visitors throughout the year. Erongo governor Nathalia |Goagoses said…

02 Apr

Namibia and the forgotten architecture of the pan-African revolution

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Paul T. Shipale (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar) We have been taught to remember African liberation as if it happened in fragments: Namibia here, Algeria there, Egypt and Ghana somewhere in between. Clean national stories. Self-contained victories. But that is not how it was lived. Liberation was not a series of parallel struggles. It was a connected project, argued over, coordinated, and fought across borders. What made victories like Namibia's possible was not only courage within nations but also a continental infrastructure that supplied ideas, training, weapons, and, crucially, a shared understanding of the enemy. That infrastructure has…

27 Mar

Namibia exports N$1.2bn worth of grapes

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Allexer Namundjembo Namibia exported grapes worth more than N$1.2 billion during the fourth quarter of 2025, according to figures released by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA). The horticulture sector recorded export earnings of N$1.3 billion, with grapes making up the largest share. Key markets included the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Germany. NSA said imports of horticulture products remained steady at N$327.1 million, led by potatoes, apples and bananas. NSA statistician general Alex Shimuafeni said the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector remains important to the economy. “The agriculture, forestry and fishing sectors remain paramount as they play a critical role…

27 Mar

YOUNG OBSERVER | Namib Mills joins MTC to train youth in baking

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Staff Writer Young people in the ǁKaras region will begin skills training in April under the MTC4Life 2026 programme, aimed at helping them start small businesses and earn an income. The programme will support 30 young people aged 18 to 35 with training in trades such as baking, hairdressing, barbering, leatherwork, sewing and cell phone repair. This week, Namib Mills has partnered with MTC to support the baking trade. Namib Mills will contribute N$5 000 per trainee, either in cash or equipment, and will also provide a baking expert, equipment and ingredients for training. Participants will attend training sessions over…