… The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare has raised concerns over the growing crisis of child neglect in the country, revealing that the Oshikoto region has recorded the highest number of cases. …
… Originally from Ontananga in the Oshikoto region, Amakali’s early life was shaped by constant movement and survival, with his mother moving from job to job in search of stability and finally settling the family in Windhoek in 2004. …
… l and urban centres demonstrated a show of excellence, demonstrating improvement across diverse learning environments.At Advanced Subsidiary level, regional rankings shifted once again, with Kavango West retaining the first position, Hardap rising from 12th to third, and Oshikoto …
… According to the Namibia Meteorological Services, Thursday’s showers are expected to affect several regions, including Ohangwena, Oshikoto, Kavango East, Kavango West, Zambezi, Otjozondjupa and Omaheke. …
… Deputy Minister Ruthy Masake received and welcomed response teams from Kunene, Oshana, Oshikoto, Ohangwena, Omusati, and Kavango East and West, who have been sent to support the containment efforts. …
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. …
… Oshikoto (40.7), Khomas (38.1%) and Kavango West (37.6%) also exceed the national average, reflecting relatively stronger performance as far as quality symbols from C and better grades are concerned,” Steenkamp revealed. …
… Nepando died on 2 January 2026 after he was shot and killed during a community meeting over a land dispute at Iikokola village in the Oshikoto region. …
Staff Reporter POLICE in the Omusati and Oshikoto regions are investigating a series of bar break-ins over the weekend that led to arrests in Tsandi and a major cash and equipment theft in Onethindi, where suspects remain at large. …
One of the most celebrated festivals in the Oshikoto region, the Oniipa Kalawa Fresh Festival, will return for its fifth edition, aiming to revive the northern spirit that drew more than 17 000 people to its first edition in 2018. …
Improper disposal of disposable nappies is contributing to pollution and pressure on waste management systems in Oshikoto region, particularly in Onyaanya, Oniipa and Onayena constituencies, according to a Strategic Environmental Assessment for the regional land-use plan.
Why it matters
Improper disposal of disposable nappies creating growing pollution and waste management challenges across Oshikoto region.
Improper disposal of disposable nappies is contributing to pollution and pressure on waste management systems in Oshikoto region, particularly in Onyaanya, Oniipa and Onayena constituencies, according to a Strategic Environmental Assessment for the regional land-use plan.
Hilma Nakashole is the only female bulldozer operator for NamWater in Oshakati, working on heavy earthmoving equipment and tipper trucks for the past nine years. She says she feels she is proving that both men and women can perform such jobs, having overcome scepticism from interviewers and colleagues.
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.
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.
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.
A fire in Okakoko Village, Oshikoto region, claimed the lives of two three-year-old girls on Sunday morning while they slept in a corrugated iron structure. The blaze broke out while a domestic worker was gathering firewood; authorities are investigating the cause.
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.
An opinion piece argues that Namibia's pharmaceutical shortages in public hospitals and clinics are creating opportunity for traditional healers and sangomas, who operate without supply-chain constraints and face no medication stock problems.
National Council members have criticised the government's N$1.27-billion water and marine resources budget, saying many rural communities continue to face severe shortages despite repeated promises. Parliamentarians called for urgent implementation of stalled projects and warned that bureaucracy continues to delay access to clean water across the country.
Martha Uupindi, 23, from Windhoek has been diagnosed with severe aplastic anaemia and is appealing to the public for assistance to fund a bone marrow transplant in South Africa. The family needs around N$200 000 for additional expenses such as travel, accommodation, medication and daily support, as Psemas is expected to cover most major medical costs.
Oshikoto governor Sacky Kathindi said the region needs approximately N$22 million to comprehensively address water challenges affecting communities. The region recently secured N$6.4 million from the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia for the initial phase, with technical assessments underway to determine boreholes for drilling and rehabilitation.
Oshikoto governor Sacky Kathindi has announced an initiative to desalinate the region's saline underground water for drinking and irrigation, while using the brine by-product for fish farming. The region has secured N$6.4 million from the Environmental Investment Fund, with plans to diversify livelihoods in water-stressed constituencies through aquaculture training and development.
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.
Minister of Works and Transport Veikko Nekundi says the government lacks funds to build permanent bridges in flood-prone regions including Zambezi, Oshana, Oshikoto, Ohangwena and Omusati, and is instead deploying floating bridges as a temporary solution. The ministry has purchased 24,640 double floating cubes totalling N$24 million, with bridges already installed or under construction at Kalimbeza and Masikili villages to restore access to schools and essential services during seasonal flooding.
Namibia's agriculture ministry is implementing floodwater and rainwater harvesting across the country to improve water security and build climate resilience against recurring droughts and floods. Six earth dams have been completed so far out of a target of 17, with additional dams finished in various regions last year.
The Khomas region registered 3.2% annual inflation for March, above the national rate of 2.1%, with housing and utilities driving inflation most significantly. Food prices fell sharply compared to the prior year, while transport costs declined, according to data from the Namibia Statistics Agency.
Annual inflation in Namibia slowed to 2.1% in March 2026, down from 4.2% a year earlier, driven largely by lower transport costs, though housing and food remain significant cost pressures. Inflation varies by region, with Khomas recording the highest rate at 3.2% while northern zones recorded 1.0%.
The Ministry of Health and Social Services will not take disciplinary action against four nurses, an intern doctor, and a doctor from Onandjokwe State Hospital accused of defrauding Sanlam of about N$1.9 million until police investigations are completed. The 12 arrested individuals are alleged to have helped members of the public claim insurance payouts using fake documents and fake death claims between 2020 and 2024.
A Namibian man fled after police detected 104 parcels of cannabis worth an estimated N$5.45 million hidden in a vehicle at the Noordoewer border post on Friday; the suspect remains at large and police are continuing their investigation.
Oshikoto governor Sacky Kathindi has urged the Ministry of Environment and Tourism to regulate gaming, entertainment and lotteries through a collaborative approach that promotes economic growth and job creation while protecting communities from addiction and exploitation. The proposed amendments to the Gaming and Entertainment Control Act aim to modernise regulations, strengthen compliance, curb illegal operators and promote responsible gambling.
Desalination plants and reverse osmosis systems will be constructed in Oshikoto to tackle water shortages caused by the region's saline underground water. The projects are expected to take three to four months to complete, beginning after the rainy season and finishing before August, with pipelines linking boreholes to supply communities, livestock, and agriculture.
Efraim Shipindo, councillor for Okongo constituency in Ohangwena, has described progress in agricultural diversification, youth empowerment, education, and water access, while identifying road infrastructure upgrades and financial constraints as ongoing challenges for the remote region.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has appointed several new officials to ministerial and deputy ministerial positions, including Charles Mubita as minister in the Presidency, Hambeleleni Ndjaleka as deputy minister of health and social services, and others to various portfolio positions across government departments.
Oshikoto topped their group with three straight wins in the Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup, while ||Kharas advanced to the quarter-finals with a 2-2 draw against Ohangwena in a match that ended in controversy over a last-minute goal.
The opening day of the football tournament at Keetmanshoop saw Oshikoto thrash Ohangwena 4-1 and Oshikoto edge //Kharas 1-0 to book their place in the quarterfinals, while defending champions Kunene and other teams played to mixed results in rainy conditions.
Omaheke's netball team manager Estmerelda Bendt says they aim to win the coveted Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup, drawing in group B alongside defending champion Kavango East and Khomas. The team, coached by Monica Bohitile and Gregg Makari, finished second last year and has received support from the regional council and municipality for preparation.
Namibia's water ministry has drilled 94 new boreholes, installed 137 water supply units across all regions, and constructed 55 short pipelines with 2,886 private connections, improving water access in underserved rural communities. The ministry also rehabilitated sanitation facilities and increased access to basic sanitation services to 36.2% nationwide, with rural safe drinking water access rising from 83.5% to 84.9%.
An opinion piece argues that Namibian school principals shoulder huge operational and leadership responsibilities—overseeing instruction, managing staff, finances, and safety—yet receive minimal allowances (N$27,936 annually) compared to medical officers and dentists on the same salary grade, who get over N$316,000 in additional benefits. The piece contends that principals are forced to fundraise and use personal resources to keep schools functional, lack meaningful representation in salary negotiations, and must be given adequate compensation and funding to function as true leaders rather than survival-focused administrators.