Staff Reporter THE Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, Ruthy Masake, has urged young people in the Oshikoto Region to fully utilise the region’s natural advantages by engaging more actively in agriculture and making use of the government support avai …
… The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform issued a statement in which it urged strict adherence to communal land laws and condemned the recent violent incident in the Oshikoto Region in which village headman Sam Nepando was shot and killed, while his counterpa …
… the Zambezi Region (315 mm), Omauni in the Ohangwena Region (328 mm), Sibinda in the Zambezi Region (355.9 mm), Ompundja in the Oshana Region (345.2 mm), Ndiyona in the Kavango East Region (316.1 mm), Mukwe in the Kavango East Region (348 mm), King Kauluma in the Oshikoto Region …
… The authorities were responding to questions following the shooting of I-Ben Nashandi, headman of Iikokola village in the Oshikoto region under the Ondonga Traditional Authority, which occurred earlier this month. …
… His response comes after minister of urban and rural development James Sankwasa told Windhoek Observer this week that the fatal shooting of headmen under the Ondonga Traditional Authority in the Oshikoto region is due to the systemic failures of the Communal Land Board. …
BLOWN OFF: A strong wind that uprooted trees near Omuthiya town in the Oshikoto Region on Tuesday also caused serious damage to a residential property belonging to NamRights executive director Phil yaNangoloh. …
… In a separate matter, police in the Oshikoto Region are also seeking assistance in locating a missing person, Lyamine Proffesser Mupano, a 42-year-old Namibian man who speaks Silozi, Oshiwambo and English. …
Hilma Hashange Lawmaker Willem Amutenya has donated 30 pairs of school shoes to learners at Kandume Combined School in the Omuthiya constituency in the Oshikoto region. …
Staff Reporter PANDULENI Nghitanwa, a male learner from Oshigambo High School in the Oshikoto Region, was listed as the top candidate for the NSSCAS full-time category, achieving the top achiever status overall for Grade 12s in the country. …
A 31-year-old medical doctor has been arrested for allegedly raping a 26-year-old man at Onandjokwe State Hospital in Oshikoto Region on 17 July. The suspect is expected to appear in Ondangwa Magistrate's Court on Monday, with investigations ongoing.
A 31-year-old medical doctor has been arrested for allegedly raping a 26-year-old man at Onandjokwe State Hospital in Oshikoto Region on 17 July. The suspect is expected to appear in Ondangwa Magistrate's Court on Monday, with investigations ongoing.
A 31-year-old medical doctor has been arrested in Oniipa on allegations of raping a 26-year-old man at Onandjokwe District Hospital. According to police, the incident occurred in the suspect's room during the early hours of Saturday, following an invitation to celebrate the suspect's new job.
A 31-year-old doctor has been arrested after allegedly raping a 26-year-old man at Onandjokwe State Hospital in Oshikoto over the weekend. The complainant claims he was given alcoholic drinks, lost consciousness, and was sexually assaulted before escaping through a window; both parties have undergone forensic examinations and police investigations are continuing.
The Chinese Embassy says healthcare is a major pillar of Namibia-China cooperation, with Chinese medical teams providing free traditional Chinese medicine services at Katutura State Hospital since 1996; the 15th team treated more than 19,000 patients over 18 months, and the 16th team arrived in 2024 to continue the programme.
A 19-year-old was stabbed and killed in Okaku on Saturday by a 15-year-old suspect, and a 26-year-old was fatally stabbed in Epako, Gobabis on Thursday night following a confrontation with two suspects aged 23 and 21. A minor and two adults have been arrested as police investigations continue.
Police reported four suicide incidents over the weekend in Omuntele, Onyaanya, Kapako, and Kalkrand, involving three men and one woman aged 27 to 49. No foul play was suspected in any of the cases.
The Environmental Investment Fund has allocated N$6.4 million for water infrastructure projects in Oshikoto Region, including boreholes, pipeline rehabilitation, and a desalination plant, with construction expected to commence before the end of July 2026.
The Governor of Oshikoto Region reported that crimes increased by 404 cases—a 35.5% rise—from the 2024/2025 to 2025/2026 financial years, with total reported crimes rising from 1,137 to 1,541 cases. Assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm was the most prevalent offence, recorded at 945 cases, while rape cases increased by 41.7% and drug-related offences more than doubled.
The 2026 Real Madrid Foundation Football Clinic has opened in Oshakati, providing primary school learners with football training and life-skills development through a partnership between the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture, the Namibia School Sport Union, Cadilu Fishing Pty Ltd and the Real Madrid Foundation to promote youth empowerment, discipline and talent development.
Three stock theft incidents in Oshikoto and Otjozondjupa regions resulted in one arrest in Tsumeb, the recovery of suspected stolen meat valued at approximately N$3,500, and ongoing investigations into livestock valued at more than N$8,000.
Police arrested a 33-year-old man in Tsumeb after finding him with dry beef meat valued at N$3,500 that he could not explain. In a separate incident, a goat was allegedly stolen and slaughtered at Okakoko village in Omuthiya district, with two additional female goats killed; no arrests have been made in that case.
The Minister of urban and rural development approved Calista Schwartz-Gowases's appointment as Tsumeb municipality CEO effective 1 June 2026, but she has not yet received a formal letter of appointment and has not commenced work. The appointment faced internal council dispute over procedural irregularities, with some councillors raising concerns about deviation from the interview panel's recommendation.
IPC president Panduleni Itula has raised questions about a proposed N$612 million solar power project linked to the Tsumeb smelter, alleging involvement of companies associated with President Nandi-Ndaitwah's sons and calling for full public disclosure of the project's documentation. Itula stated the issue is not whether the President's family may legally participate in business ventures, but whether sufficient transparency exists when politically connected individuals are linked to projects involving public institutions.
The Office of the Judiciary announced that the Omuthiya Periodical Court will commence operations on Monday, 8 June 2026, providing essential judicial services including criminal proceedings, marriage solemnization, maintenance disputes, and bail payments to residents of Oshikoto Region who previously had to travel to Ondangwa Magistrate's Court.
Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah argues that the Genocide Remembrance Day commemoration is creating divisions rather than promoting unity and collective healing as intended. He says the government's approach, selection of speakers, and messages delivered are contributing more to division than unity, and warns that regional activities and speeches reflected limited knowledge of the genocide.
The state alleges that 21-year-old murder and fraud accused Petrus Shikwaya owns five properties across northern Namibia, claiming his uncle Abner Mateus financed their acquisition; Shikwaya has denied knowledge of most properties but confirmed ownership of a farming unit near Windhoek that he says he bought for N$11,000.
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.
The state alleges that murder accused Petrus Shikwaya fraudulently took possession of his uncle's Suzuki vehicle and gave it to co-accused Petrus Uusiku as a reward for buying acid used to attack Ondangwa prosecutor Justine Shiweda on 17 October 2025. Shikwaya denies the allegations, claiming the vehicle was purchased for his uncle at the decision of his uncles.
Two suspects aged 35 and 46 were arrested near Tsumeb after police found illegally hunted game meat and unlawfully transported firewood in their vehicle. The confiscated items included warthog meat, four guinea fowl, and firewood valued at N$12,846.00.
Multiple former employees of Oxford hotel in Tsumeb allege the owner fired them without compensation for work completed, citing reasons ranging from failing to inform him of customers to seeking medical treatment. The hotel owner denies most allegations, claiming only one worker was fired for theft and the rest were unpaid interns.
A 120-bed maternity ward at Onandjokwe Intermediate Hospital in Oshikoto has been inaugurated by Health Minister Dr Esperance Luvindao. The facility, costing N$57 million and described as the largest in the country, replaces a 1964-era maternity building and aims to address long-standing healthcare needs for expectant and new mothers.
Health Minister Esperance Luvindao officially opened Namibia's largest maternity unit at Onandjokwe Intermediate Hospital in Oshikoto region, featuring a 120-bed capacity with 12 private rooms, two operating theatres, and comprehensive services for antenatal care, labour, delivery, and post-natal support. The facility, built at a cost of N$57 million, is expected to reduce pressure on existing facilities and improve maternal and child health outcomes in the region.
Regional Governor Sacky Kathindi stressed that Oshikoto Region's progress depends on unity and mutual respect among public servants, emphasizing the importance of teamwork, open communication, and cooperation between the Regional Council, traditional leaders, and other stakeholders for effective service delivery.
Photos of disorganized medical records at Oshakati State Hospital highlight widespread administrative negligence in public institutions. The author argues that Namibia has qualified records management professionals available but institutions fail to employ them, and calls for the National Archives to conduct comprehensive inspections and publish compliance reports across all public institutions.
Activist Job Amupanda has donated equipment to construct a school hall and renovate a playground at Omaalala Primary School in Oshana, and recently built classrooms and administrative blocks at two other schools in Oshikoto and Ohangwena regions. Amupanda, now a parliamentarian and patron of Omaalala Primary School, stressed the importance of providing conducive learning environments for learners.
Three decades into independence, Namibia has expanded rural infrastructure including water supplies reaching 92.85% of rural households, constructed 419 new schools mostly in villages, and grown the road network from 41,800km to nearly 49,000km. However, challenges including high poverty, food insecurity, and uneven access to services remain, with experts noting the urban-rural development gap has not been fully closed.
Since 1990, Oshikoto has expanded infrastructure, education, healthcare and services through regional council coordination. Key developments include 11 constituency offices, water and electricity systems, 18 senior secondary schools, hospitals, and improved road networks across the region.
Vice President Lucia Witbooi opened a planning workshop for divisions handling disability affairs and marginalised communities, highlighting progress including a sign language app launch, disability cost report, and national disability policy 2025–2035, while acknowledging resource constraints and challenges such as limited funding and land disputes affecting indigenous minorities.
Tsumeb Municipality's 14 schools serve over 10,000 learners amid rapid population growth, with some classrooms operating at a 1:40 teacher-to-learner ratio. The municipality is identifying land for new schools, with the regional education directorate planning to prioritise a new primary school by 2027.
Oshikoto Governor Sacky Kathindi denied that keynote speakers for regional Independence Day celebrations were chosen based on political affiliation, saying the selection was a collective decision focused on the region's challenges and service delivery rather than party considerations.