By: Selma Taapopi The Minister of Works and Transport, Veikko Nekundi, has called for reforms within his ministry, warning that inefficiencies particularly in the procurement unit will no longer be tolerated. Addressing the ministry’s senior management and staff on Thursday, Nekundi stressed the need for improved efficiency, accountability and stricter adherence to procedures. The minister also spoke on reforms in the management of government flats, highlighting the long standing failure to enforce lease agreements between the state and tenants, despite clear contractual obligations governing maintenance. According to the ministry, tenants are required to carry out certain repairs within specified time frames and to comply with regulations that prohibit practices such as hanging laundry on balconies or converting garages into storage areas. Nekundi further expressed concern over the poor state of the living environment in various government flats, describing conditions as unsightly and unhygienic. He stressed that responsibility for maintenance during occupancy lies with tenants, while the state intervenes only at specific stages.

By: Josia Shigwedha City Police Head of Public Relations, Marcelline Murapo, has warned residents to remain vigilant against a rise in scams during January, particularly those linked to fake house rentals, school placements, and tertiary institution registrations. Murapo said scammers are taking advantage of the seasonal demand for accommodation, school placements, and tertiary registrations by targeting desperate residents. She noted that in the case of school placements, some parents, eager to secure spaces for their children, fall victim to individuals falsely claiming to be school officials. Murapo urged parents to apply for school placements on time and to only engage directly with school authorities to avoid being scammed.

By: Envaalde Matheus The finance ministry will roll out regional mentorship programs, coordinated through the governors' offices, to oversee Youth Fund projects and prevent misuse of funds. Ministry spokesperson, Wilson Shikoto, says successful applicants have begun training and creating jobs, supporting the President’s call for youth and self employment. Shikoto said during February, successful applicants will be announced, including candidates applying through the Development Bank of Namibia, adding that this will be done continuously in groups, as they are being processed. Shikoto said the Fund remains open for applications, with no fixed deadline, and submissions will be accepted throughout the year.

By: Selma Taapopi Minister of Works and Transport, Veikko Nekundi, has defended the decision to ban and fine Intercape Namibia for transporting passengers within the country using foreign-registered vehicles during the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup. As a result, the public transport operator was fined N$4 000 for operating at least nine buses. They were also ordered to immediately cease operations for violating Section 70(3) of the Roads Traffic and Transport Act of 1999, which prohibits cabotage operations without a valid cross-border permit.

By: Ritta Lotto Information minister, Emma Theofelus, says the Cyber Crime Bill is in its final stages of drafting at the government legal drafters. She said, once it's passed with careful consideration of cases such as the six-youth arrested in a scamming syndicate in Myanmar, it will safeguard Namibia's cyberspace and strengthen existing legal frameworks.

By: Ludorf Iyambo Some beneficiaries of the Government Institutions Pension Fund’s (GIPF) Pension-Backed Home Loan Scheme have argued that their retirement savings are under the control of a third party-administrators. In an interview with NewsOnOne, Haundjondjo Moses, who is also a civil servant said they are being forced to borrow their own money through intermediaries rather than receiving funds directly from GIPF.

By: Envaalde Matheus The environment ministry is drafting new regulations that will see illegal sand and gravel miners face heavy fines, prosecution, equipment seizures and possible jail time, aimed at curbing illegal mining and enforcing compliance. Environment Commissioner Timoteus Mufeti said there will be stakeholder consultations across several regions from 19 January to 4 February on the draft Environmental Management Amendment Bill, and proposed sand and gravel mining regulations. Responding to questions by NewsOnOne, Mufeti said the draft rules will also require mandatory fencing and rehabilitation of pits, proper payment systems, and stricter checks on trucks transporting sand without valid permits. Mufeti said the new regulations are needed as uncontrolled sand mining has caused deaths, destroyed infrastructure, and sparked conflicts between communities, leaders, and operators due to widespread non-compliance. Mufeti said illegal sand and gravel mining continues to thrive due to weak enforcement, legal loopholes, and under-resourced traditional authorities.

By: Josia Shigwedha Education minister Steenkamp said the top 20 performers in the 2025 ordinary level and advanced subsidiary examinations should serve as a source of pride and motivation for everyone involved in education.

By: Ritta Lotto A family member of one of the six Namibian youths arrested in Myanmar, Dr. Bernard Haufiku, says the Malaysian embassy says the youngsters were coerced by a syndicate with a promise to work in Thailand, only to end up in Myanmar where they were to be used as agents to scam people. Haufiku told NewsOnOne however the youngsters were well aware of the risks and deliberately avoided keeping their exact locations known. “I tried on behalf of the family when Immanuel’s brother told me that Immanuel was apparently leaving for Thailand, but by the time he told me, Immanuel had already boarded the plane from South Africa. I tried his number several times, but he wouldn’t pick up. One of the staff members at the Namibian Embassy in Malaysia, who was dealing with them, told me that Immanuel instructed her not to tell me where he was. They were very difficult to reach, moving from place to place, disappearing before they were arrested in Myanmar,” he said. These revelations are contrary to human trafficking claims circulating in local media. Dr. Haufiku, who is an uncle to 31-year-old Immanuel Haufiku, who is part of the Myanmar syndicate, said they were arrested in that country to be deported but lacked the funds for flight tickets to return to Namibia. Haufiku said this was not a government negligence issue, nor were they promised work in Thailand, explaining that the arrested individuals already ran a scamming business in Namibia, which they tried to extend overseas. Meanwhile, the ministry of international relations has issued a statement reassuring the nation that they are attending to the matter and are working tirelessly to provide consular assistance and diplomatic intervention. The ministry added that this situation stems from a rise in sophisticated transnational crime syndicates that lure foreign nationals to the region under the guise of legitimate employment, specifically targeting those seeking opportunities in online recruitment, education, and sports. The ministry of international relations also said their efforts involve high-level collaborations with the International Organisation for Migration and relevant regional authorities to facilitate the safe return of the Namibians. They further added that currently the ministry is monitoring 24 Namibians identified as being caught in similar scam-related circumstances and have so far facilitated the repatriation of four Namibians, who are expected to arrive back in Namibia in due time. The ministry further said efforts to assist the remaining individuals will continue with the utmost urgency.

By: Hertha Ekandjo Namibia’s rapid progress in green hydrogen development is the result of deliberate de-risking reforms that have created clarity, credibility and investor confidence, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Phillipus Katamelo, said over the weekend. Katamelo was speaking at the 16th Session of the Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, which was held under the theme “Powering Humanity: Renewable Energy for Shared Prosperity.”

By: Ritta Lotto Windhoek based Clinical Psychologist, Shaun Whittaker, says a 13-year-old who commits a serious crime cannot be treated as an adult offender and should fall under the juvenile justice system, which focuses on rehabilitation and restorative justice, rather than long-term imprisonment. This comes after a 13-year-old boy was arrested on Friday in Epako, near Gobabis, for allegedly fatally stabbing 26-year-old Nacky Menatzick and her three-year-old daughter, Delanie Menatzick, inside their home.

By: Josia Shigwedha Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) Member of Parliament Milunga Lizazi has criticised a presidential proclamation granting the President authority to approve the leave of absence of the Speaker of the National Assembly. Lizazi who is the party’s shadow minister for justice and labour relations said there is no legal basis for the President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to assume such powers.

By: Envaalde Matheus Grootfontein’s new town council plans to set up an interlock, brick and paving manufacturing plant, a project expected to create over 1 500 jobs. Council chairperson, Bennet Namaseb, says the initiative aims to tackle the town’s unemployment crisis, where only 35% of residents have a stable income. Namaseb said the plant will not only create jobs but also support infrastructure improvements, as the same blocks produced will be used to upgrade the town’s roads and pavements, build homes and contribute to municipal revenue.

By: Envaalde Matheus Education minister Sanet Steenkamp has demanded integrity, fairness, and transparency from educators as the 2026 academic year begins. Steenkamp made the remarks on Sunday in her message officially opening the new school year, warning that admissions must be handled ethically, be fully documented, be merit based and free of bribes, gifts or favoritism. Steenkamp said any misconduct by educators or school staff undermines the ministry’s effort to restore public trust in the education system.

By: Ritta Lotto Oshana Regional Crime Investigation Coordinator, Deputy Commissioner Frederick Ndjadila says investigations have revealed that 41-year-old Salom Nikanor died by suffocation. Nikanor was murdered in Ondangwa last Sunday and the suspect, Andreas Sunday Kanyanga cut open his scrotum, removed the testicles and burnt them together with the razor blade he used in the act.