Page 3 – Windhoek Observer

12 Jun

YOUNG OBSERVER |Your background should never limit your ambitions: Herunga

Featured, Uncategorised

Patience Makwele Former Olympic athlete Tjipekapora Herunga is encouraging young Namibians not to allow their backgrounds, circumstances or geographical location to define their ambitions, saying success is possible for anyone willing to work hard and remain focused on their goals. Herunga’s journey from the small village of Ehungiro in the Otjinene Constituency to competing on the world’s biggest sporting stage serves as proof that determination can overcome even the most difficult obstacles. Today, the former national sprinter is using her experiences to mentor young athletes through the Tjipekapora Herunga Athletics Academy, where she hopes to inspire the next generation to…

12 Jun

Namibians jailed in SADC could soon finish prison terms locally

National News

Allexer Namundjembo Convicted Namibians serving prison sentences in other Southern African countries may soon be transferred home to complete their jail terms, following the gazetting of an amended SADC protocol on prisoner transfers. The amendment, published in Government Notice no. 177 of 2026 and seen by the Windhoek Observer, updates Namibia's ratification of the SADC Protocol on Inter-State Transfer of Sentenced Offenders. It was signed by home affairs minister Lucia Iipumbu on 29 January and appeared in the Government Gazette of 5 June 2026. The notice states that, under subsection 20(3) of the Transfer of Convicted Offenders Act of 2005,…

12 Jun

Amushelelo files urgent court bid to remove B1 speed humps

National News

Allexer Namundjembo Social justice activist Michael Amushelelo has filed an urgent application in the High Court seeking the immediate removal of speed humps installed on the B1 Western Bypass, arguing they are unlawful and pose a public hazard. The matter is set to be heard before the High Court today, according to a Notice of Motion dated 11 June 2026 and seen by the Windhoek Observer. Amushelelo is expected to appear in person. The case lists the minister of works and transport as the first respondent, while the Roads Authority (RA) and Attorney-General are listed as the second and third…

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

The Boy-Child Crisis: Namibia’s Ticking Time Bomb

Editorial

For years, public discourse in Namibia has rightly focused on empowering women and girls, correcting historical injustices and creating opportunities where barriers once existed. Those efforts have yielded remarkable gains. Today, women are excelling in schools, universities and many professional fields. This progress deserves recognition and celebration. Yet, while the nation applauds these achievements, another reality is emerging quietly but alarmingly: Namibia’s boys are falling behind. The warning delivered this week by First Gentleman Epaphras Ndaitwah during a community engagement in Katima Mulilo should not be dismissed as an isolated concern. It should be viewed as a national wake-up call.…

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…

12 Jun

Inflation rises to 4.1% in May, highest this year

Observer Money

CHAMWE KAIRA The annual inflation rate accelerated to 4.1% in May, up from 3.5% recorded in the corresponding period a year earlier, according to the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA). NSA Statistician-General and chief executive officer, Alex Shimuafeni, said the headline inflation rate for the 12 months ending May reached 4.1%, while the overall price level increased by 1.2% on a month-on-month basis, compared to 1.1% recorded in April 2026. Core inflation, which excludes certain volatile items, stood at 3.1%, remaining below the headline inflation rate. The agency's zonal analysis showed that Zone 2, comprising the Khomas Region, recorded the highest…

12 Jun

GIPF’s asset base reaches N$213 billion

Observer Money

CHAMWE KAIRA The Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) currently has an asset base of N$213.2 billion and delivered 15% net investment return over the past three years as at 31 January 2026. The fund this week launched its three-year strategic plan (2026-2029), with board chairperson, Penda Ithindi, disclosing that the plan encompasses several strategic pillars that provide focus and direction on the sustainability of the fund, delivering excellent service, good governance and ethical leadership, organisational and employee capacity and socio-economic impact. Ithindi said the successful implementation of the fund’s strategic priorities will result in ensuring optimal cost management, risk mitigation,…

12 Jun

Alexforbes integrates Namibia into regional fund system

Observer Money

CHAMWE KAIRA Financial services group, Alexander Forbes Group Holdings Limited (Alexforbes) has started consolidating its fund administration platforms across Namibia, South Africa and Botswana into a single system, a move aimed at improving client service, reducing costs and supporting future growth across the region. The company said it has begun decommissioning its legacy fund administration systems as part of a broader technology modernisation programme. Initial milestones have already been achieved and clients in the affected markets, including Namibia, have been engaged during the transition process. The development forms part of Alexforbes' wider strategy to simplify operations, improve efficiency and strengthen…