Thursday, 22 October 2026

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Thursday, 22 October 2026

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Namibian press · Place

Ohangwena region

2020-07-242026-10-22

News reports

Order a long-term news report on Ohangwena region

Every mention in the Namibian press over the period you choose, compiled as a PDF or Word document.

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

February 2026
10 FebThe Namibian
… The former Cabinet minister and long-serving member of parliament died at his homestead at Edundja village in the Ohangwena region on Sunday. …
President Nandi-Ndaitwah pays tribute to former minister Erkki Nghimtina
9 FebInformanté
Staff Reporter WEEKS after the death and burial of liberation struggle icon Mathias Kanana Hishoono, the Ohangwena Region and Namibia in general have been struck by the death of yet another veteran of the national liberation struggle and former minister, Erkki Nghimtina. …
Former minister Nghintina passes on
9 FebInformanté
Staff Reporter THE death in combat 109 years ago of King Mandume Ya Ndemufayo, who is recognised as a national hero in both Namibia and Angola, was commemorated simultaneously at the Omhedi Palace in the Ohangwena Region and at the historic Oihole village in the Cunene Province o …
Mandume Day commemorated at Omhedi and Oihole
4 FebNew Era
Auleria Wakudumo A government funded youth training programme has yielded results: one of its beneficiaries is now an entrepreneur and employer, improving learning environments in schools across the Ohangwena region. …
Ohangwena youth training bears fruit
4 FebNew Era
… The launch of the tower follows the successful inaugural USF tower deployment in Epinga, Ohangwena region, which was inaugurated in November 2025. …
CRAN expands digital inclusion with tower launch
3 FebNew Era
A group of people from Okongo and Omundaungilo in the Ohangwena region today held a peaceful demonstration in Eenhana, against the removal of fences from their lands. …
Unhappy…
January 2026
30 JanThe Namibian
… Born at Uupumako village in the Ohangwena region, Iiyambo was exposed to football at a young age. …
Former winger Iiyambo scores big as NFA director

Society

Customary marriages lack legal recognition, leaving spouses vulnerable

The News

Customary marriages in Namibia remain unrecognised for general legal purposes, exposing traditionally married couples—particularly widows—to loss of property and inheritance rights. Legal experts and traditional leaders are calling for formalisation, noting that pending legislation like the Marriage Act 14 of 2024 has not yet commenced, leaving couples dependent on civil marriage certificates for protection.

19 October 2026 · New Era →

Monday 19 October

Customary marriages lack legal recognition, leaving spouses vulnerable
Customary marriages in Namibia remain unrecognised for general legal purposes, exposing traditionally married couples—particularly widows—to loss of property and inheritance rights. Legal experts and traditional leaders are calling for formalisation, noting that pending legislation like the Marriage Act 14 of 2024 has not yet commenced, leaving couples dependent on civil marriage certificates for protection.
19 October 2026 · New Era →
Namibia mourns death of former First Lady Penehupifo Pohamba
Former First Lady Penehupifo Pohamba died on 17 October 2026 at age 78, leaving a legacy of public service, women's empowerment, and advocacy for maternal and child healthcare. Pohamba served as Namibia's second First Lady from 2005 to 2015 during her husband Hifikepunye Pohamba's presidency.
19 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Sunday 11 October

Ministry plans five new mental health units by 2037
Namibia's Ministry of Health and Social Services aims to establish at least five new mental health units countrywide by 31 March 2037 to improve access to care in underserved regions. The country currently has only two mental health institutions: Windhoek Central Hospital and Oshakati Intermediate Hospital.
11 October 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 7 October

Retired teacher and founding Helao Nafidi councillor dies
Placido Hilukilwa Immanuel Hainghumbi, a retired teacher, former pastor and one of the founding councillors of Helao Nafidi Town in Ohangwena Region, has died aged 84. He was a Bible Studies teacher who engaged in political sensitisation in the 1980s and later went into exile in Angola before returning to resume his teaching career after independence.
7 October 2026 · Informanté →

Wednesday 23 September

Union completes two classrooms at Limbadungila Combined School
The Revolutionary Union has finished construction of two classrooms at Limbadungila Combined School in Ohangwena Region, replacing makeshift stick structures where learners were taught while exposed to rain and unsafe electricity. The project, which cost between N$300,000 and N$350,000, is expected to benefit between 70 and 80 learners.
23 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Monday 21 September

Regional governors visit FNB Namibia Cricket Ground
Cricket Namibia hosted regional governors at the FNB Namibia Cricket Ground on 18 September to share insights on sports facility development, construction costs, maintenance, and revenue generation models. The governors are tasked with commencing construction of 28 multi-purpose sports facilities across Namibia.
21 September 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 16 September

Eenhana vendors ordered to relocate by month-end
Street vendors in Eenhana's Ohangwena region have until the end of the month to move to council-designated trading areas, the town council says, citing a need for safer and more orderly trading. Vendors have requested that the council fully prepare the designated sites before enforcing the relocation.
16 September 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 11 September

Capricorn Foundation invests N$56.7m in community initiatives
The Capricorn Foundation has invested N$56.7 million since 2020 across education, economic advancement, vulnerable communities, health, and sustainability programmes, with N$21.9 million directed to education and training as its largest focus area.
11 September 2026 · New Era →

Thursday 10 September

Family alleges negligence in hospital deaths of mother and newborn
The family of a 39-year-old woman from Etope village in Ohangwena has accused medical staff at Eenhana District Hospital of negligence after the woman and her newborn died on 30 August 2026 during labour. The family alleges doctors and nurses failed to provide necessary care during delivery, including prescribing seven doses of labour-inducing medication and telling the woman not to push, and has called on the health minister to investigate.
10 September 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 1 September

Onambutu women earn income selling outwishi sweetener
Unemployed women in Onambutu village in Ohangwena region collect and sell outwishi, a natural sweetener from the mopane tree, to support their families. The product, traditionally a forest snack, has become an economic lifeline for rural women who harvest it during early morning hours to avoid the midday heat.
1 September 2026 · New Era →

Monday 31 August

Robbers steal goods and cash valued at over N$270,000
Equipment valued at N$200,000, cash totalling over N$70,000 and other valuable goods were stolen in three separate robbery incidents over the weekend in Windhoek, Oshakati and Oshikango, during which at least one victim was tied up and a vehicle was badly damaged.
31 August 2026 · Informanté →

Sunday 30 August

Anglican youth northern region holds annual conference in Oshandi
The Northern Region of the Anglican Christian Youth Association will hold its annual conference this week at the Holy Spirit Parish in Oshandi Village, Ohangwena Region, featuring youth choirs, cultural performances, Bible study, and a Christian song competition.
30 August 2026 · Informanté →

Monday 24 August

Chula Chula wins Denga Ndaitwah football tournament in Okongo
Chula Chula FC were crowned champions of the First Gentleman Lieutenant General (Rtd) Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah Annual Sports Tournament after defeating DT Meds on penalties in the football final in Okongo. The three-day tournament from 20 to 23 August brought together about 23 teams competing in youth and legends football, netball and volleyball, with Namibia Correctional Services winning both netball and volleyball titles.
24 August 2026 · Informanté →
President commissions sports facility in rural Ohangwena Region
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah commissioned the Eeshoke Chula Chula sports facility in Helao Nafidi, Ohangwena Region, stating that sporting opportunities should not be limited by urban or rural location and that the centre should produce champions, responsible citizens, and economic opportunities for the community.
24 August 2026 · New Era →

Sunday 23 August

President inaugurates Helao Nafidi Sports Centre in Ohangwena
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah opened the Helao Nafidi Sports Centre, calling it an investment in youth development, community growth and the local economy. She highlighted sport's economic potential and alignment with the Sixth National Development Plan's objectives in youth empowerment and regional growth.
23 August 2026 · Informanté →

Saturday 22 August

Namibia recorded 4,965 gender-based violence cases in 2025/2026
According to the Acting Inspector General of the Namibian Police, 4,965 gender-based violence cases were recorded during the 2025/2026 financial year, with Khomas Region reporting the highest number at 685 cases. The police clarified that previous reports of more than 18,500 cases represented a cumulative four-year figure, not annual data.
22 August 2026 · Informanté →

Thursday 20 August

First Gentleman tournament draws 34 teams to Okongo
The 2026 edition of First Gentleman Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah's Annual Sports Tournament began at Elia Weyulu Sports Field in Okongo, Ohangwena Region, with 24 youth soccer teams, 10 Legends teams, five netball teams, and two volleyball teams competing over four days through Sunday, with prize money across all codes.
20 August 2026 · Informanté →
Namibia reports 11 489 mental health admissions in 2024/25
The Ministry of Health and Social Services reported 11 489 people admitted for mental health treatment during the 2024/25 financial year, with 91 544 total mental health cases and 123 deaths. Chief health programme officer Magdalena Didalelwa attributed the burden to stigma, discrimination, family distress, and social ills, and called for stronger multi-sectoral collaboration in schools to improve early identification and support.
20 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Illegal sand mining continues across Namibia despite environmental laws
The Ministry of Environment and Tourism says illegal sand and gravel mining persists across the country, posing dangers to the environment, people and livestock. The ministry notes that such commercial extraction requires an environmental impact assessment and clearance certificate, and that illegal sites are particularly prevalent in north-central regions.
20 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia recorded 91 544 mental health cases in 2024/25
Namibia recorded 91 544 new mental health cases during the 2024/25 financial year, with 11 489 patients admitted for treatment and 123 deaths. Chief health programme officer Magdalena Didalelwa noted that stigma, limited awareness, and undiagnosed cases mean statistics represent only a fraction of the actual mental health burden.
20 August 2026 · New Era →

Tuesday 18 August

Okongo sports tournament set for August 2026
The First Gentleman Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah Annual Sports Tournament will run 20–23 August 2026 in Okongo, Ohangwena Region, featuring youth soccer, legends soccer, netball and volleyball with prize money across the four codes. The tournament was initially launched in 2003, became inactive, and was revived in 2022 with Ndaitwah as patron, with its first major edition in 2023.
18 August 2026 · Informanté →

Monday 17 August

Police investigate property damage in Rehoboth, Endola
The Namibian Police are investigating two separate cases of malicious damage: a fire truck was damaged by stones thrown by a group in Rehoboth's Block E on Saturday, and a 40-year-old man was arrested in Endola's Onepandaulo village for allegedly vandalising an MTC tower and cutting three electrical cables valued at N$30,000.
17 August 2026 · Informanté →

Saturday 15 August

Nust security officer wins brand ambassador award
Tobias Nghimane, a 58-year-old security officer at Nust's Eenhana campus, has won the university's newly established brand ambassador award for going beyond his core duties and treating everyone with respect. He received a cash prize of N$1 000, a certificate and a hamper.
15 August 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 12 August

N$21.7m Onamafila clinic opens in Ohangwena Region
The N$21.7 million Onamafila Primary Health Care Clinic in Okongo District has officially opened, bringing healthcare services closer to 24 villages in Ohangwena Region. Minister of Health Esperance Luvindao inaugurated the facility as part of Namibia's commitment to Universal Health Coverage.
12 August 2026 · Informanté →

Thursday 6 August

Ohangwena Region launches investment roadmap for 2025–2030
The Ohangwena Region has unveiled a strategic investment map and action plan to attract investment and position local entrepreneurs and businesses as drivers of regional development. The roadmap identifies priority opportunities in agriculture, agro-processing, manufacturing, creative economy, health, tourism and hospitality, supported by enabling sectors including water, energy, logistics and housing.
6 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Wednesday 5 August

Ministry recovers N$1.5m in retail worker wage complaints
The Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations recovered N$1.5 million between April and June linked to 1,241 labour complaints in wholesale and retail businesses, involving unpaid salaries, unlawful deductions, and other payments owed to employees. Labour inspections found common violations including non-payment of wages and unlawful deductions, with a labour expert noting that many workers fear reporting violations due to job loss concerns.
5 August 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 2 August

SWAPO Secretary-General officiates leadership and women's seminars
SWAPO Party Secretary-General Sophia Shaningwa closed a three-day leadership training seminar in Rundu for regional and district party leaders, then opened the SWAPO Party Women's Council Annual Regional Seminar in Okongo Village, Ohangwena Region, focused on assessing economic activities of Namibian women.
2 August 2026 · Informanté →

Friday 24 July

Construction payment dispute referred to court mediation
The High Court has ordered Manani Investments CC and August 26 Construction (Pty) Ltd to participate in mediation over nearly N$800,000 in unpaid construction work. The mediation is scheduled for 29 July 2026 at the High Court in Windhoek, with a status hearing set for 8 September 2026.
24 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Wednesday 22 July

High Court defers in-camera ruling in terrorism trial case
High Court judge Hannelie Prinsloo has deferred a judgment on the State's application for a closed-door hearing in the trial of Jona Hangula, a 32-year-old accused of working with ISIS and Boko Haram to allegedly overthrow the Namibian government. The in-camera application will be decided by the trial judge once assigned to the case; the matter was postponed to 20 August 2026 pending translation of Arabic-language evidence documents.
22 July 2026 · Informanté →
Government allocates N$10 million for rural Food/Cash for Work Programme
The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development has warned regional councils to improve project implementation and service delivery while announcing a N$10 million allocation for the Food/Cash for Work Programme to provide temporary income support to vulnerable households and strengthen rural resilience. According to the deputy minister, 50.5% of Namibia's population lives in rural areas, and while some regional councils have made progress, others struggle with poor implementation.
22 July 2026 · Informanté →