Informanté, Keller Street, Windhoek (2026)

07/09/2026

Fisheries Observer Agency calls for expanded observer coverage

Staff Reporter

There is a need to expand the coverage of fisheries observers on vessels operating in Namibian waters. According to Dr Stanley Ndara, Chief Executive Officer of Namibia’s Fisheries Observer Agency, the long-term future of Namibia’s fishing industry depends on it.

However, he noted that fisheries observers are currently not being effectively deployed on vessels.

He made this argument during a panel discussion at the Fisheries Indaba, which recently took place in Walvis Bay. The event aimed to bring stakeholders in the fisheries sector together to facilitate discussions.

Ndara highlighted that there are about 230 licensed fishing vessels operating in Namibian waters, with 117 fisheries observers based between Walvis Bay and Lüderitz who need to be deployed on these fishing vessels.

"There are, of course, fishing vessels that are exempted from carrying fisheries observers. However, the question remains, are we fully deploying fishery observers on these vessels? At times, one. At times, not. And at times, two, which is actually the ideal scenario that we need to have," Ndara said.

He emphasised that a lack of deployment of fisheries observers means that there is a lack of compliance, which has an impact on the scientific data.

“If your compliance is compromised, you will have a problem with your science because your stock assessment is only as strong as the data feeding it," Ndara said.

Thus, he stressed, there is an urgent need to strengthen the link between science and compliance.

“Of course we have strong confidence level in our commercial fisheries sector, but note that caveat that is there, once you have problems or a lack of deployment with compliance, your scientific part would have been compromised,” Ndara explained.

He therefore called for expanded fisheries observer coverage and urged the government to resource institutions like the Fisheries Observer Agency properly so that they are able to cover most, if not all, of the fishing vessels, to enhance compliance.

This was also reiterated by Matti Amukwa, Chairperson of the Confederation of the Namibian Fishing Associations. He encouraged the Fisheries Ministry to capacitate more fisheries observer agencies, particularly to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. He argued that IUU fishing is not considered when the Ministry determines the Total Allowable Catch (TAC), which can have detrimental ripple effects.

“We have an issue of IUU whereby whatever is being taken out is not being factored into the TAC. So, here I just want to emphasise on what Dr Ndara has said, we have to empower more, capacitate more, fisheries observer agencies so that we can close down those leakages,” Amukwa said.

Photo: Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water & Land Reform

07/09/2026

Fisch denied bail after crack co***ne bust

Staff Reporter

REHOBOTH-based Namibian national Naomi Fisch has been denied bail after appearing in the Rehoboth Magistrate’s Court.

Fisch was arrested on 5 September 2026 at Erf 332, Block F, Rehoboth, after an undercover police operation. It is alleged that Fisch attempted to flush contraband down a toilet, and officers are said to have recovered 15 units of suspected crack co***ne and N$5 100 in cash.

This is the third time Fisch has been arrested. In March 2026, Fisch was re-arrested by the Namibian Police after allegedly being found with co***ne at her Rehoboth residence. The arrest came a month after Fisch was granted bail of N$10 000 in another drug-related case involving her boyfriend and one other person.

State Prosecutor Victoria Paulus said the State is currently opposing bail in the matter because there is a fear that Fisch might commit similar offences, as well as fears of interference with investigations and witnesses. She also argued that it is not in the interest of the public or the administration of justice for her to be released on bail.

The matter was postponed to 26 November 2026 for further investigations.

Photo: NBC Digital News

07/09/2026

Scientist questions operational value of ECC to phosphate mining

Staff Reporter

INDEPENDENT Fisheries Management Scientist Dr Carola Kirchner has said that the current granting of an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) to Namibia Marine Phosphate (NMP) Pty Ltd as it stands is incomplete, as the environmental impact of the mining on shore is yet to be assessed.

Dr Kirchner detailed that a closer reading of the ECC, its accompanying Notification of Decision and NMP's own project documents presents a more complicated picture.

“The marine ECC was issued on 5 August 2026 and is valid for three years. It authorises the listed marine activity within Mining Licence 170, but it does not constitute approval of the complete Sandpiper operation. NMP itself has stated that the granting of the ECC does not mean mining will commence immediately and that additional permitting for the terrestrial component remains outstanding,” Dr Kirchner said.

She added that separate terrestrial environmental assessments and clearance are still required, with substantial shore-based infrastructure to be approved, financed and constructed, and the marine ECC itself imposes additional environmental work before commencement.

Dr Kirchner said that this distinction matters because Sandpiper is not simply an offshore dredging operation.

“The proposed operation would use a trailing suction hopper dredger to recover approximately 5.5 million tonnes of phosphate-bearing seabed sediment annually. That material is not the final product. It must be transported as a seawater-rich slurry to Walvis Bay and processed on land to produce approximately three million tonnes of phosphate concentrate annually.

“According to the 2022 Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), the shore-based operation would require a buffer pond receiving the slurry, a beneficiation plant and a tailings facility. The phosphate-bearing sand would be separated mechanically from shell material and fine sediment, followed by further processing, washing, drying and stockpiling before a saleable 27–28% P2O5 phosphate concentrate is produced.

Dr Kirchner further noted that without an approved and constructed shore-based receiving and beneficiation system, the dredged sediment cannot be converted into the product NMP intends to sell.

“NMP's own ESIA states that permitting for both the marine and land components is required to secure funding for the proposed 24-month plant and site construction phase, after which operations and full-scale production could commence,” Dr Kirchner said.

She also said that the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has appealed against the Environmental Commissioner's decision. Among its grounds, the Ministry argues that establishing the complete environmental baseline, identifying knowledge gaps, defining environmental thresholds and developing management measures are fundamental components of an environmental assessment and should not have been deferred until after an ECC was granted.

“That is now a matter for the appeal process and should not be prejudged. What can be established from the documentation is considerably less dramatic than much of the present public debate suggests.

“The marine ECC is an important regulatory milestone for NMP, but it is not approval of the complete Sandpiper project and does not by itself place the project in a position to commence full-scale commercial production. A separate terrestrial environmental assessment and clearance are still required, substantial shore-based infrastructure would have to be approved, financed and constructed, and the marine ECC itself imposes additional environmental work before commencement.

“The more useful question may therefore no longer be simply whether Sandpiper has received an environmental clearance,” Dr Kirchner concluded.

Picture for illustrative purposes only. Photo: Contributed

07/09/2026

The teams that perform are the ones where people can say the difficult thing early. That takes work from the person at the top. People read very quickly how you react and they calibrate what they bring you. Make it safe to be told and you hear about things while you can still fix them.

07/09/2026

Suspected stolen goats, oryx meat seized in separate incidents

Staff Reporter

POLICE have arrested four people in connection with the alleged possession of suspected stolen goat carcasses near Outjo, while a woman was arrested in Okakarara after she was allegedly found transporting oryx meat.

According to the Namibian Police weekend crime report, the Outjo incident occurred on Sunday along the Outjo-Kamanjab road, where police stopped and searched a grey Suzuki motor vehicle.

According to the police, four goat carcasses bearing ear tags or marks were found inside the vehicle.

Three suspects allegedly failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for their possession of the carcasses.

All three suspects were arrested and remained in police custody, while investigations continue.

In a separate incident at Okovimboro, Okakarara, on Friday police allegedly found suspects transporting oryx meat.

A 57-year-old Namibian woman was arrested and remains in police custody.

Eight other suspects allegedly fled the scene.

Police investigations into the incident are continuing.

07/09/2026

Weekend road accidents leave three dead, several injured

Staff Reporter

THREE people were killed in separate road crashes near Oshivelo, in Rundu and along the B8 over the weekend, while several others sustained serious injuries, according to the Namibian Police weekend crime report.

Near Oshivelo, two people died after a Toyota seven-seater overturned on the B1 road near Uutele village on Friday afternoon.

The incident occurred at approximately 25 kilometres from Oshivelo towards Omuthiya.

Police allege that the vehicle was travelling from Omuthiya towards Oshivelo when one of its tyres burst, causing the driver to lose control.

The vehicle subsequently left the road and overturned.

Two passengers, a Namibian adult male and an 18-year-old Namibian woman, died at the scene, while four other occupants, including the driver, sustained serious injuries.

The next of kin of the deceased had not yet been informed, and police investigations continue.

In Rundu, 47-year-old Gabriel Regina Mbava died at the scene after she was allegedly struck by a vehicle in a hit-and-run incident at Katondo village on Friday.

Police allege that the driver of a Toyota Passo fled the scene after the incident.

No arrest had been made in connection with the incident, while Mbava's next of kin were informed. Police investigations are continuing.

Meanwhile, a man died and several others were seriously injured following a collision on the B8 road at Chetto early Saturday morning.

The incident occurred when a truck travelling from east to west allegedly crossed into the lane of another truck, causing the other truck to roll several times.

The driver of the second truck, identified as Namibian national Simasiku Ricky Simasiku, died at the scene.

Other occupants sustained serious injuries and were transported to Katima Mulilo State Hospital for treatment.

The driver allegedly responsible for the crash was arrested and is expected to appear in court on Monday, 7 September.

Simasiku's next of kin were informed, and police investigations continue.

In a separate incident at Otuvingo village, Okakarara, on Saturday, the driver of a Nissan NP200 allegedly lost control of the vehicle.

The vehicle veered off the road to the right and collided with a tree.

Police did not provide details on the condition of the occupants or whether there were any fatalities, and investigations are continuing.

07/09/2026

Weekend robberies leave five victims tied up

Staff Reporter

ARMED suspects tied up robbery victims in separate incidents in Windhoek and Walvis Bay over the weekend, while a security guard in Onethindi was robbed of her service firearm, according to the Namibian Police weekend crime report.

In Klein Windhoek, four armed suspects allegedly broke into a residence at Ludwigsdrop in the early hours of Friday.

The incident occurred when the suspects, who were allegedly armed with fi****ms and a knife, had their faces covered with masks and were dressed in black. They allegedly poisoned the victims' dog before breaking the electric gate and forcing open the main door.

Police allege that the suspects tied up the three victims with shoelaces, assaulted them and locked them in a bathroom.

The suspects allegedly took electronic devices, clothing, jewellery and cash with a combined value of N$21,000.

No arrests or recoveries had been made, and police investigations continue.

Meanwhile, in Walvis Bay, six men allegedly armed with a pistol and two machetes, or pangas, robbed two people on Friday night.

The incident occurred after the suspects allegedly gained entry through the back door, which had been left open while the residents' dog was being let into the yard.

The suspects allegedly tied up the two victims and ransacked the house before fleeing with several items, including a rifle, electronic devices and N$3,000 in cash.

The stolen property was valued at approximately N$211,500.

No arrests or recoveries had been made, and police investigations continue.

In Onethindi, a security guard was allegedly robbed of a service firearm while walking from her workplace after knocking off.

The incident occurred on Friday along the Onethindi-Olukonda road near Basic Mini Market in the Oshikoto Region.

Police allege that an unknown man in an unknown sedan approached the complainant and robbed her of the firearm.

No arrest had been made and the firearm had not been recovered, while police investigations continue.

07/09/2026

ReconAfrica increases funding to N$220.4 million for Kavango West drilling programme

Staff Reporter

CANADIAN oil and gas company Reconnaissance Energy Africa (ReconAfrica) has increased the size of its previously announced public offering to C$19 million (about N$220.4 million) to fund a horizontal sidetrack and production testing programme at the Kavango West 1X well in Namibia.

ReconAfrica announced that it had amended its agreement with Research Capital Corporation, acting as sole bookrunner and lead underwriter, alongside Canaccord Genuity Corp. and ATB Cormark Capital Markets.

Under the revised offering, the underwriters have agreed to purchase 26,028,000 units at C$0.73 (about N$8.47) per unit, generating gross proceeds of C$19,000,440 (about N$220,405,104).

Each unit comprises one common share and half of a common share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one additional common share at an exercise price of C$0.93 (about N$10.79) for up to 36 months following the closing of the offering.

ReconAfrica said it would also use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the necessary approvals to list the warrants on the TSX Venture Exchange.

The company has granted the underwriters an over-allotment option allowing them to increase the offering by up to 15% of the total number of units issued. The option may be exercised within 30 days after the closing of the offering.

The net proceeds will primarily be used to conduct an open-hole horizontal sidetrack and production testing programme targeting the primary reservoir in the Huttenberg Formation and/or the secondary reservoir in the Elandshoek Formation.

The funds will also be used for general corporate purposes and working capital.

ReconAfrica expects the offering to close on or about 10 September 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange for the listing of the common shares and warrant shares.

The company said it intends to file a prospectus supplement to its short-form base shelf prospectus dated 13 April 2026 with securities regulators in the Canadian provinces, excluding Quebec.

The planned programme forms part of ReconAfrica’s ongoing exploration activities in the Kavango Basin in northeastern Namibia, where the company has been pursuing hydrocarbon resources.

The offering is subject to a number of regulatory conditions, and the securities have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933. They may therefore not be offered or sold in the United States or to US persons unless registered or an applicable exemption from registration requirements applies.

Picture for illustrative purposes only. Photo: ReconAfrica

06/09/2026

One killed, two injured in separate Khorixas and Lüderitz attacks

Staff Reporter

ONE person was killed and two others injured in separate violent incidents in Khorixas and Lüderitz over the weekend, with police investigations continuing and one suspect arrested.

According to the Namibian Police weekend crime report, in Lüderitz, a 27-year-old Namibian man, Johannes Lukas, died after allegedly being stabbed in the chest and stomach during an altercation at the Build Together suburb on Saturday.

Another person who was with Lukas sustained severe injuries during the attack.

Police allege that the altercation followed an incident in which Lukas threw a stone at a vehicle carrying the suspect, his father and his brothers.

The suspect was arrested and remains in police custody.

Lukas’s next of kin were informed, and the suspect is expected to appear before the Lüderitz Magistrate’s Court.

Police investigations into both incidents are continuing.

In Khorixas, a 25-year-old Namibian man sustained a gunshot wound to the leg during an alleged confrontation in Donkerhoek Location in the early hours of Friday.

According to the police, the incident occurred after an argument allegedly erupted between the victim and the suspect over money the victim had at a bar.

The suspect allegedly threw the victim’s money on the floor, prompting the victim to leave the bar and return home.

Police allege that the suspect followed the victim to his home, where he pulled out a pistol and shot him in the leg.

The victim was taken to hospital, where he remains admitted in stable condition.

No arrest had been made in connection with the Khorixas incident, and police investigations continue.

06/09/2026

Repeat drug accused arrested again in Rehoboth

Staff Reporter

REPEAT drug accused Naomi Fisch, 33, has been arrested again on allegations of possessing and dealing in crack co***ne following an undercover operation in Block F, Rehoboth.

According to the Namibian Police, Fisch was arrested after officers allegedly confronted her during the operation.

Police allege that Fisch attempted to dispose of the suspected contraband by flushing it down a toilet when she was confronted.

Officers reportedly recovered 15 units of suspected crack co***ne, valued at about N$1,500, as well as N$5,100 in cash.

Fisch is facing charges under the Abuse of Dependence-Producing Substances Act, including allegedly dealing in a dangerous prohibited dependence-producing substance, as well as defeating or obstructing the course of justice.

She was previously arrested in December 2025, together with her boyfriend Steve Schneiders and co-accused Menschel Beukes, Revilo Diergaardt and Dylan Vrieslaar, following a police tip-off about alleged drug dealing at a residence in Block F, Rehoboth.

Fisch's latest arrest follows the new undercover operation as police continue their investigation.

Photo: NBC Digital News

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