Hardap council fails to report Build Together, Housing Funds

Hardap council fails to report Build Together, Housing Funds

Allexer Namundjembo The Hardap Regional Council failed to include the Build Together Fund and Housing Fund in its financial statements for the 2022/2023 financial year, according to a report tabled in Parliament last week by Auditor General Junias Kandjeke. The report noted that the Council did not explain the omission, nor did it make any disclosures relating to these funds. In the previous financial year, the Council had recorded closing balances of N$635 892 for the Build Together Fund and N$2.5 million for the Housing Fund. The Auditor General also found that completed projects worth N$9 million were incorrectly listed…
Read More
Hunting season opens with strict guidelines on meat exports

Hunting season opens with strict guidelines on meat exports

Niël Terblanché The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has officially opened the 2025 hunting season for registered conservancies and commercial farms, confirming that the season will proceed under clearly defined periods and regulatory conditions. This follows Cabinet approval in line with Section 25 of the Nature Conservation Ordinance of 1975. According to the announcement made by the environment minister, Indileni Daniel, last week, hunting will only be permitted on registered conservancies and commercial farms that meet specific size and fencing requirements. “From 1 May to 31 August 2025, hunting may be conducted on all registered conservancies and commercial farms…
Read More
Agriculture deputy minister urges results-driven planning

Agriculture deputy minister urges results-driven planning

Niël Terblanché Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, Ruth Masake, has called on senior officials within the ministry to focus on tangible results as the new five-year strategic planning cycle begins.  Masake delivered the message during a high-level strategic and annual planning workshop held in Swakopmund on Tuesday. “Our nation looks to us not just for plans, but for results. The time for excuses and delays is long gone. I call on every single management official here today to commit to excellence, accountability, and responsiveness,” she urged. The workshop was convened to shape the ministry’s strategic plan…
Read More
New vehicles and equipment set to enhance NamWater’s capacity

New vehicles and equipment set to enhance NamWater’s capacity

Niël Terblanché The procurement of 26 new vehicles and a suite of infrastructure support equipment enhanced the operational efficiency of the Namibia Water Corporation (NamWater) and expanded service delivery throughout Namibia. The announcement about the acquisition, valued at N$12.6 million, was made by NamWater’s spokesperson, Lot Ndamanomhata, on Tuesday. He described the purchase as a broader effort to improve the national water utility’s ability to serve communities across the country. According to Ndamanomhata, the contract for the procurement was awarded on 11 December 2024, and all the vehicles have now been received and are ready to be deployed. The new…
Read More
Under-resourced regions excelled at the Newspaper Cup

Under-resourced regions excelled at the Newspaper Cup

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Kunene Region was crowned champions of the 2025 Nedbank Newspaper Cup after defeating Kavango West 2-0 in the football final, marking a historic first win for the team. The victory, achieved on home soil, was guided by head coach Tuerikondjera Kasaona, who made history as the first woman to coach a men’s team to a tournament win. Kasaona also serves as assistant coach of the Debmarine Premier League side Blue Waters. “This win means a lot to the people of Kunene. It’s even more special that we did it at home in front of our supporters who have…
Read More
Brave Warriors to face Bafana Bafana in June

Brave Warriors to face Bafana Bafana in June

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Namibia’s national football team, the Brave Warriors, is expected to play South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in a FIFA international friendly match scheduled for 10 June 2025. According to a report by South African publication The Star, the South African Football Association (SAFA) has lined up two friendly matches for Bafana Bafana in preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. South Africa is scheduled to face Tanzania on 6 June, followed by Namibia four days later. The fixtures are seen as important warm-up matches for both countries as they gear up for the next round of World Cup…
Read More
Venus Oil Project enters environment study phase

Venus Oil Project enters environment study phase

Ester Mbathera  The Venus Oil Project, located offshore in Block 2913B, has entered its environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) phase as TotalEnergies EP Namibia B.V. and its joint venture partners NAMCOR and QatarEnergy move ahead with plans to start oil production. The Venus Field lies approximately 290 kilometres southwest of Lüderitz, in waters around 3 000 metres deep. The proposed development involves drilling up to 40 subsea wells, installing supporting infrastructure, and deploying a floating production storage and offloading vessel (FPSO) to process and store the extracted oil. The FPSO will offload oil to tankers for export, while supply…
Read More
Pope Francis remembered for compassion and justice

Pope Francis remembered for compassion and justice

Ester Mbathera Namibians have joined millions of people around the world in mourning the death of Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday at the age of 88 after a battle with pneumonia. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah extended her condolences to the Vatican, describing the late pontiff as "an extraordinary leader of faith who led with compassion, courage and integrity until his last breath." She noted his focus on global socioeconomic issues and his concern for the developing world. “We shall forever recall his simplicity and the wise spiritual guidance he emphasised in addressing the challenges facing humanity. On behalf of…
Read More
Infrastructure sabotage disrupted water supply to central coastal towns

Infrastructure sabotage disrupted water supply to central coastal towns

Niël Terblanché Swakopmund and Henties Bay residents are facing a critical water supply disruption following a double setback involving criminal vandalism and adverse environmental conditions. According to Lot Ndamanomhata, spokesperson for the Namibia Water Corporation (NamWater), a severe act of vandalism affected the power infrastructure needed to operate the Omdel water supply scheme. “The theft and destruction of seven power poles has critically affected power supply to NamWater’s infrastructure that is critical to the water supply system,” he said. He stated that the damage, which was discovered over the weekend, occurred on Erongo RED’s network, has rendered the Omdel scheme…
Read More
Okakarara town boundaries extended for urban development

Okakarara town boundaries extended for urban development

Allexer Namundjembo The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development has extended the borders of Okakarara to include five surrounding farms. According to a government notice, the expansion brings Farms Sohlangen No. 965, Teutoburg No. 458, Otjahewita No. 291, Panorama No. 967, and Portion 1 of Farm 968 under the jurisdiction of the Okakarara local authority.  All the farms fall within the Otjozondjupa Region. The ministry said the move empowers the town to improve spatial planning and service delivery in line with national development priorities. “By incorporating these additional areas, the government aims to provide Okakarara with the capacity to better…
Read More