… of gender equality, poverty eradication and social welfare and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) estimate that 18.4% of girls in Namibia marry or enter unions before the age of 18, with the highest prevalence recorded in Kavango East and Kavango West, followed by Kunene …
The governors of the Ohangwena and Kunene regions have expressed concern over ongoing medicine shortages at public health facilities in their regions. …
… ivate and subsidised schools to charge up to N$10 for admission forms.“We are aware of the administrative costs and its implications on the school budget and on that basis, schools may charge a small fee not exceeding N$10 to cover administrative costs,” the circular reads.Kunene …
… Speaking to the Windhoek Observer last Tuesday, //Hoeb said the regional council has a procedure to address roads, but he is yet to see a master plan for Kunene. …
The Kunene regional education directorate on Friday concluded a week-long training programme in Okahandja attended by 110 participants, including heads of departments, senior educa... …
… Regional governors Verna Sinimbo of Kavango West, Hophni Iipinge of Oshana, Vipuakuje Muharukua of Kunene, and Sacky Kathindi of Oshikoto also attended. …
Descendants of genocide victims in the Kunene region have called for stronger historical truth-telling, intergenerational dialogue and meaningful healing ahead of Genocide Remembrance Day, saying remembrance must lead to lasting national reconciliation. …
Studies estimate 18.4% of Namibian girls marry or enter unions before age 18, with highest prevalence in Kavango East, Kavango West, Kunene and Zambezi regions. Child rights campaigners say early unions lead to school dropout and unemployment, perpetuating poverty cycles.
Why it matters
Child marriage trapping 18.4% of Namibian girls in poverty and educational dropout is a systemic human rights and development crisis.
Studies estimate 18.4% of Namibian girls marry or enter unions before age 18, with highest prevalence in Kavango East, Kavango West, Kunene and Zambezi regions. Child rights campaigners say early unions lead to school dropout and unemployment, perpetuating poverty cycles.
Governors of Ohangwena and Kunene regions have raised alarm about ongoing medicine shortages at public health facilities, with hospitals in Opuwo, Khorixas and elsewhere running low on medication for about three months. The shortages particularly affect chronic illness treatments including diabetes, hypertension, ARVs and tuberculosis medication, forcing patients to queue for long periods only to find prescribed drugs unavailable.
Education directors have called for the N$10 school admission application fee to be made optional, warning that some parents may struggle to afford it despite the Ministry of Education permitting schools to charge up to N$10 to cover administrative costs.
Sesfontein Constituency Councillor Bernadus //Hoeb is pushing for the tarred road from Sesfontein to Opuwo to be completed during his term, noting the project was supposed to begin in 2016–2018 but was halted by budget cuts. The design is complete and awaiting approval, according to the former Roads Authority CEO.
The Kunene regional education directorate completed a week-long training programme in Okahandja on Friday, attended by 110 participants including heads of departments and senior educators.
An opinion piece expresses concern about rising misconduct in Namibian schools, citing recent incidents including substance abuse, violence, and disrespect toward teachers, and argues that current disciplinary measures are inadequate and teacher authority has been weakened.
The German government has invested N$1.9 million to support the Namibia Planned Parenthood Association's "Pamwe" project, which promotes sexual and reproductive health and rights among young people in Kavango, Kunene, and Omusati regions from May to December 2026. The initiative aims to reduce teenage pregnancies, challenge cultural barriers, and expand access to youth-friendly health services.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said at the opening of the Omaludi Agricultural Festival in Ohangwena that development must not come at the expense of cultural identity. She noted the festival boosts the local economy through accommodation, transport, and informal trade, and announced the government will focus on improving existing agricultural schemes rather than establishing new ones.
Descendants of genocide victims in the Kunene region have called for stronger historical truth-telling, intergenerational dialogue and meaningful healing ahead of the inaugural national Genocide Remembrance Day on 28 May, arguing that remembrance must lead to lasting national reconciliation. They emphasised that the impact of the 1904-1908 genocide continues to affect affected communities through displacement from ancestral land, cultural disruption and psychological trauma.
Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture Sanet Steenkamp warned that Namibia risks future instability if young people are excluded from governance, economic opportunities and decision-making. She noted that 37% of Namibia's population is under age 15 and that youth should be treated as partners in governance and development rather than as a problem to manage.
Ombudsman Basilius Dyakugha has raised concerns about severe overcrowding in police holding cells across eight northern regions, with facilities such as Omuthiya and Oshakati police stations holding over 800 inmates each, and Katima Mulilo holding over 280 inmates in cells designed for 80. Dyakugha attributed the overcrowding to prolonged case finalization, lack of bail releases, and lengthy investigations.
The Khorixas town council will provide free graves to support bereaved families of three victims from a May 1 bus-truck crash that killed 11 people near Otjiwarongo. The graves are for the hospital patient bus driver and two brothers who will be buried together.
An animal auction at Oshaambelo Production Development Centre in Omusati sold 65 of 118 animals for N$373,150, with an auctioneer attributing low buyer participation to preference for informal trade. The ministry and livestock board support monthly auctions in the Northern Communal Areas to help farmers obtain fair prices through competition.
Families and community members gathered over the weekend to bury victims of a Workers' Day accident that claimed 11 lives when a government bus hit a kudu, veered into oncoming traffic, and collided with a truck on the B1 road near Otjiwarongo on 1 May. The impact caused the bus to burst into flames, with four occupants ejected and eight burnt beyond recognition.
Namibia's annual inflation rate slowed to 3.1% in April 2026, though transport and fuel costs remain under pressure. Consumers in northern regions (zone 1) paid the highest diesel price at N$24.31 per litre, while Khomas residents (zone 2) paid the lowest at N$24.12.
Leo Scholz, a 7-year-old who started playing football at DTS in 2016, has developed into a goalkeeper and shot-stopper. He recently made his Namibia U/17 national team debut, fulfilling a long-held dream to represent his country.
In remote Ovahimba communities in Omusati and Kunene regions, children experience markedly different childhoods depending on schooling: some attend Onakayale Private School while others remain in villages focused on livestock herding from a young age, reflecting how cattle-centred life has traditionally shaped attitudes toward formal education.
Police have reported eight rhinos killed on the Omusati side of Etosha National Park since January, with 14 suspects arrested. Intelligence suggests the rhino horn market is in Angola, and some poachers reportedly consult traditional healers for protection during illegal hunting activities.
A minibus operated by the Ministry of Health and Social Services crashed between Okahandja and Otjiwarongo on Friday, killing eleven people including two nurses and a driver. Sources dispute the ministry's claim that eight victims were patients, alleging they were hitchhikers picked up along the route, which has complicated identification efforts.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has urged Namibian workers to take initiative in improving their skills through available learning opportunities, including online courses, and stressed that capacity building has no age limit. She said the 2026 International Workers' Day theme on continuous in-service training highlights the need for a skill-driven workforce to ensure productivity and economic growth, and called for cooperation between workers and employers.
The Namibia Meteorological Services forecasts substantial showers across the country today, with the heaviest thundershowers expected in the Hardap and //Kharas regions, potentially causing flash floods. Several other regions including Kunene, Otjozondjupa, Erongo, Khomas, and Omaheke are also expected to experience rain showers and windy conditions.
Minister of Agriculture Inge Zaamwani has urged the Livestock Support Programme to prioritise cattle distribution to drought-stricken farmers in 2025, particularly in Erongo, Kunene, and //Kharas regions where livestock losses have been severe.
Livestock auctions in northern communal areas generate income for farmers but poor animal condition and limited market knowledge reduce earnings, according to agriculture officials. A recent auction in Oshikoto region sold 133 of 139 cattle and 42 goats for N$1.3 million, with officials calling for training on the relationship between livestock quality and prices.
Kunene Regional Council employees face a financial crisis after minister James Sankwasa blocked funds allocated to the council following a dispute over the appointment of acting chief regional officer George Kamseb in 2021. Staff have not received salaries for March and April, and the council has taken the matter to the High Court while seeking alternative payment methods.
The Rössing Foundation invested over N$14.7 million in 2025 on education and community projects, including scholarships, school support, solar-powered water systems, and assistive technologies. The funding targets learners from disadvantaged backgrounds and remote communities in Kunene, Omusati and Kavango West regions.
Japan, the UN, and global partners have launched major investments to strengthen Namibia's health system, including three key projects focused on emergency preparedness, disease prevention, and diagnostic capacity. The initiatives, valued at approximately N$18.4 million, will benefit more than 118,000 people across eight hospitals and vulnerable regions including Kunene, Omusati, and Otjozondjupa.
The Namibian Competition Commission has initiated an investigation against tourism company Ultimate Safaris and three Kunene region conservancies for alleged anti-competition conduct, after the respondents defied a December 2024 cautionary notice to cease the conduct. The case stems from a complaint by a mining claimant seeking to reopen Goantagab Mine within a joint management area that the respondents oppose, citing potential harm to black rhino tourism.
Erongo's under-20 football team won the Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup, defeating Kunene 2-1 at Keetmanshoop. Team manager Daniel Mouton attributed the victory to determination, unity, and support from stakeholders including the governor's office.
Former Otjozondjupa regional governor and parliamentarian James Uerikua and his son Ventro were buried at their family homestead in Gam following a road accident on 3 April. Hundreds of mourners attended the burial, and Vice President Lucia Witbooi described Uerikua as a dedicated public servant who served with humility and distinction.
Urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa has halted government funds to the Kunene Regional Council, demanding removal of acting chief regional officer George Kamseb, whose appointment is being challenged in court. The council's chairperson Western Muharukua describes the fund freeze as unlawful pressure and says it threatens to disrupt salaries, services, and capital projects; the council plans to seek judicial review.