The Windhoek Times

24/07/2025

24/07/2025

The National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) has confirmed that it suffered no direct financial loss in Monday morning’s robbery at a Namcor-branded service station in Otjomuise.

In a statement released later that day, Namcor clarified that the affected station is not owned or operated by the corporation but is run independently under its Company Leased Dealer Operated (CLDO) model.

“While the site operates under the Namcor brand and receives fuel from us, it is managed by a third-party dealer,” the statement read. “There will be no financial implications to Namcor as a result of this incident.”

The corporation issued the clarification in response to public concern and media reports following the early-morning break-in. Police investigations are ongoing.

24/07/2025

MULENGA DENIES RECEIVING AUDI Q8 ||

Former Namcor Managing Director Immanuel Mulunga firmly denied allegations that he received a luxury vehicle as a bribe, as he took the stand during bail proceedings in the ongoing fraud and corruption case involving the state-owned oil company.

The state alleges that Mulunga was corruptly given an Audi Q8, valued at N$3.2 million, by co-accused Victor Malima, who remains a fugitive. The vehicle is said to have been part of a broader scheme of gratification linked to questionable deals at Namcor.

But Mulunga dismissed the claim outright, telling the court he neither owns, received, nor was ever offered such a car. His lawyer, Francois Bangamwabo, argued that the prosecution had failed to provide any proof of ownership or link the vehicle to his client.

“There is no documentation before this court showing that Mr. Mulunga owns or has ever possessed this vehicle,” Bangamwabo said.

Mulunga's testimony comes amid mounting scrutiny over high-value assets allegedly tied to the scandal. The case continues.

24/07/2025

CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON WALVIS BAY'S INDEPENDENCE BEACH UPGRADE ||

Renovation and expansion work at Independence Beach is set to kick off this week following the official handover of the site to contractor Larissa Investment CC.

The project is being carried out through a partnership between the Walvis Bay municipality and the Polish municipality of Czerwonak, with financial support from the European Union.

“This partnership offers a valuable opportunity to share best practices, and we look forward to more collaboration in future,” said Walvis Bay mayor Trevino Forbes during the handover ceremony.

The upgrade follows a community consultation held in 2023, where local residents were invited to share input on the beach’s development. Long-term plans include the construction of a promenade walkway along the shoreline.

The municipality has urged residents to stay clear of the area during construction and to observe all safety signage posted on-site.

24/07/2025

“POLICE BARGED INTO MY BEDROOM” ELINDI TELLS COURT ||

Lydia Elindi, the wife of one of the main suspects in the high-profile NAMCOR corruption case, says she was treated harshly and unfairly by the police during her arrest.

Testifying in court on Tuesday, Elindi broke down in tears as she described how officers stormed into her bedroom early in the morning. She said the officers were rude, aggressive, and in a hurry.

“There were too many officers in my sleeping room,” she said, adding that one officer, known only as Inspector Anna, dismissed her concerns and acted disrespectfully.

Elindi also told the court that she was forced to give up her phone password and SIM card PIN without being shown any official documents or warrants.

Her lawyer, Sisa Namandje, stepped in to calm her and told the court that the way police handled the arrest was a clear abuse of power. He promised to raise the issue formally in court.

Elindi revealed she owns half of Onyeka Clearing and Forwarding CC, a company that the state believes received suspicious payments through another company, Eco Trading.

The case, which involves allegations of large-scale corruption and misuse of public funds, is ongoing.

24/07/2025

RECORD 81 PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFULS FILE FOR CAMEROON’S OCTOBER ELECTION ||

Cameroon’s electoral commission, Elecam, has confirmed receiving a record 81 applications from candidates seeking to contest in the country’s upcoming presidential elections, set for October this year.

The submission window closed at midnight on Monday, with this year’s applications marking the highest number of presidential hopefuls in the country’s electoral history.

Among the contenders are several familiar names making a second attempt at the presidency, including Maurice Kamto and Cabral Libii, both of whom have also switched political affiliations ahead of the polls.

Notably, former ally of President Paul Biya, Bello Bouba Maïgari, is also returning to the race after breaking ranks with the ruling establishment earlier this year.

Despite the high number of entries, the race remains overwhelmingly male-dominated. Only seven women have submitted candidacies, among them Eliane Véronique Eboutou, and independents Mbengono Zouame Epse Ndzie Ngono Guyleine and Géneviève Zeh Amvene.

Elecam is expected to vet and announce the final list of approved candidates in the coming weeks.

22/07/2025

NAMIBIAN LAWYER SUES GOOGLE FOR US$10M OVER DEFAMATION ||

In a landmark legal move, Namibian lawyer Henner Diekmann is suing global tech giant Google for US$10 million (around N$180 million) over its alleged failure to remove defamatory content from its search engine.

The High Court of Namibia on Tuesday authorised the attachment of Google’s trademarks in the country a rare step that affirms the court’s jurisdiction and clears the way for legal proceedings to go ahead.

Diekmann’s application stems from a prior ruling in which the High Court declared an article by The Namibian, linking him to the Panama Papers, as defamatory. The court ordered the article removed from the newspaper’s website and instructed search engines to do the same. According to Diekmann, Google ignored the order, and its continued indexing of the article amounts to ongoing defamation.

He is now demanding US$10 million in damages. Of this, US$100,000 is to be paid immediately, while the remaining amount will be suspended on condition that Google deletes the article and confirms its removal under oath.

Tech expert Nrupesh Soni described the case as groundbreaking, noting that Namibia may become one of the first African countries to hold a company like Google accountable in court. However, he warned that enforcing the ruling could be difficult due to the absence of a national data protection law and Google’s lack of physical presence in the country.

“There is no framework here that compels Google to act,” said Soni, adding that the case raises the broader issue of the “right to be forgotten,” a legal principle common in Europe but not yet recognised in Namibia.

“This may be a wake-up call both for lawmakers and tech companies that even small countries have legal systems capable of challenging big tech,” he said.

The case is expected to attract international attention as it moves forward.

22/07/2025

KATIMA FAMILY LOSES EVERYTHING IN COWBOY FIRE ||

A family of seven was left homeless on Thursday morning after a fire gutted their home in the Cowboy settlement of Katima Mulilo, destroying belongings estimated at N$30,000.

The blaze is believed to have been sparked by a 20-year-old relative who allegedly visited the home to charge his phone. He does not reside with the family.

Nakwezi Mukasa, one of the occupants, said they were away at Diary Cemetery visiting a family grave when the fire broke out. “When I got back, everything was gone books, uniforms, shoes all burned. Tomorrow is Monday. How are my children going to school?”

The fire left the family without clothing, documents, and household items. Community members are now rallying behind them.

Cowboy suburb chairperson Oscar Lubanda has appealed for urgent assistance from the public and local authorities. “If anyone is able to help, please contact me. These people have lost everything,” he said.

Katima Mulilo Fire Chief Cornelius Matomola confirmed that emergency responders managed to control the fire and are now helping the family with temporary shelter. “We’ve pitched a tent for them to use for now, and we’ll assess what further support they may need,” he said.

No injuries were reported, and an investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.

22/07/2025

ECN DENIES SECRET DEALS OVER OUTAPI VACANCY ||

The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has strongly denied claims that it is working secretly with Swapo to delay a by-election in the Outapi constituency.

The position became vacant earlier this month after President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah appointed Immanuel Shikongo as the new governor of Omusati Region.

Affirmative Repositioning leader Job Amupanda last week accused the ECN and Swapo of holding secret meetings to break the law and delay filling the post.

In response, ECN spokesperson De Wet Siluka said the claims were false and meant to create confusion and distrust. “There is no truth to these accusations,” he said in a statement issued on Friday.

Siluka explained that the ECN followed the law and officially announced the vacancy in the Government Gazette on 18 July. According to the Regional Councils Act, a by-election must take place within three months of a seat becoming vacant. That means the Outapi position must be filled by the end of September.

Siluka also said the ECN has already started planning the by-election and met with political parties on 14 July to share the draft election schedule and discuss possible challenges. These include the short time left before the national regional and local authority elections in November.

He said all political parties at the meeting agreed that the ECN should review the options and later give feedback.

“This is not a secret plot,” Siluka said. “It’s part of making sure we do things properly and within the law.”

22/07/2025

President Nandi-Ndaitwah has appointed veteran broadcaster Jonas Mbambo as the new State House spokesperson, effective 1 August 2025. Mbambo, who holds a law degree and years of media experience, is expected to bring sharp insight and professionalism.

22/07/2025

CASH BEFORE COFFEE ||

A group of six suspects made off with N$48,000 in cash during an early morning robbery at the Namcor service station in Khomasdal on Monday.

According to City Police chief inspector Elifas Kuwinga, the robbery occurred around 06h20 at the Rand Street outlet. One of the suspects, armed with a knife, entered the back office and threatened the station manager, demanding money.

“He then dragged the manager to the front of the store, where he took two money boxes containing a total of N$48,000 from under the counter,” Kuwinga said.

The suspects fled the scene in a getaway vehicle. Preliminary reports suggest that three suspects entered the shop, while two others held the security guards outside.

“No arrests have been made, and no money has been recovered so far,” Kuwinga added, confirming that investigations are ongoing.

Police have urged anyone with information to come forward.

22/07/2025

Nandi-Ndaitwah Charts Bold Path With NDP6 Launch ||

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has launched Namibia’s Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6), outlining a bold new direction for the country focused on trade, innovation, energy, and inclusive growth.

Speaking at the official launch in Windhoek on Monday where she also presented a report on her first 100 days in office, Nandi-Ndaitwah called on all Namibians to join hands in building a more prosperous nation. “NDP6 is our plan. It is workable. It can be done,” she said.

The president highlighted Namibia’s progress in regional trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), pointing to the recent export of 40 000 tonnes of salt to Nigeria and Cameroon as a sign of growing continental ties. She also reflected on the recent state visit of Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, during which the two countries signed five cooperation agreements in areas including health, technology, agriculture, and entrepreneurship.

On the domestic front, she commended innovation initiatives led by the Office of the Prime Minister, including bootcamps in the //Kharas and Hardap regions aimed at solving local challenges. She said similar programmes will be rolled out to other regions.

In a significant announcement, Nandi-Ndaitwah revealed that she has instructed Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare to set up a committee to develop a nuclear energy policy by the end of September. This forms part of government’s exploration into alternative energy sources. To support this move, the University of Namibia is preparing to open a nuclear training school, with students already identified.

She added that the Ministry of Mines and Energy is working on a public benefit policy for all new mining resources, expected to be finalised by the end of 2025.

As part of her commitment to accountability, the president said ministers and the prime minister will be required to give regular progress reports. “Let us remain united by a common purpose to overcome challenges and realize the full potential of our country,” she said.