Also known as: Roide David
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
Windhoek Observer
Patience Makwele appeared at the beginning of the article
“Patience Makwele African young people are demanding a greater say in policies affecting their future, saying they should no longer be treated merely as beneficiaries of programmes designed to address their challenges.”
YOUNG OBSERVER | Stop making policies for us, young Africans sayWindhoek Observer
Patience Makwele appears in article as opening name without substantive claim
“Patience Makwele Namibian fishing rights are under renewed scrutiny as the government prepares to review expiring rights and questions whether nominal Namibian ownership translates into genuine control and economic benefit.”
Fishing rights renewals under scrutinyWindhoek Observer
Patience Makwele obtained abortion medication from an unverified seller on TikTok
“A 19-year-old student at a local institution has narrated her harrowing experience of obtaining abortion medication from an unverified seller on TikTok after falling pregnant and fearing her parents' reaction.”
Student pays price for seeking abortion pills on Tik TokWindhoek Observer
Patience Makwele experienced severe pain, heavy bleeding, irregular menstrual cycles, and potential fertility problems
“She said the experience was followed by months of irregular menstrual cycles and prolonged bleeding, and that doctors later told her she may have difficulty conceiving in future.”
Student pays price for seeking abortion pills on Tik TokWindhoek Observer
Patience Makwele is identified as geological scientist
“Patience Makwele Geological scientists have urged Namibia to intensify exploration of its largely untapped mineral wealth and ensure more value is created locally from the resources extracted.”
Namibia urged to dig deeper into untapped mineral wealthWindhoek Observer
Patience Makwele Cabinet approved establishment of Public Assets Management Agency of Namibia
“Patience Makwele Cabinet has approved the establishment of the Public Assets Management Agency of Namibia (PAMA), a new state-owned company intended to strengthen the management of the country's commercial public assets.”
Cabinet approves PAMA to manage commercial public assetsWindhoek Observer
Patience Makwele allegedly disappeared from home in Omitara in early hours of Saturday
“The mother of a nine-month-old Namtani Loretta Nuses has described the frantic search for her daughter after the baby allegedly disappeared from their home in Omitara, Omaheke region, in the early hours of Saturday.”
Omitara mother recounts baby’s final hoursWindhoek Observer
Patience Makwele allegedly had N$60,900 transferred from FNB account without permission while asleep
“Patience Makwele Police in Tsumeb are investigating a suspected case of fraud after N$60 900 was allegedly transferred from a complainant's FNB account without his permission while he was asleep.”
N$60 900 allegedly transferred while victim sleptWindhoek Observer
Patience Makwele was denied bail for allegedly murdering domestic worker
“A 41-year-old woman accused of murdering her 22-year-old Angolan domestic worker and allegedly setting fire to the room where the body was found to conceal the crime has been denied bail.”
Bail denied in Angolan domestic worker murder caseWindhoek Observer
Patience Makwele faces charges of murder, arson and defeating or obstructing the course of justice
“Roide David made her first appearance in the Rundu Magistrate's Court on Monday, where she faces charges of murder, arson and defeating or obstructing the course of justice in connection with the death of Fernandu Christine Chipi at Mile 30 village in the Ncamagoro constituency, Kavango West.”
Bail denied in Angolan domestic worker murder caseWorks and Transport Minister Veiko Nekundi announced that a completed N$552 million upgrade of the 31-kilometre Karibib-Usakos road now includes a N$60 million emergency response and traffic management facility with cameras and two-way identification capability, allowing traffic officers to track and intercept reckless drivers along the route.
17 hours ago · Windhoek Observer →
Works and Transport Minister Veiko Nekundi announced that a completed N$552 million upgrade of the 31-kilometre Karibib-Usakos road now includes a N$60 million emergency response and traffic management facility with cameras and two-way identification capability, allowing traffic officers to track and intercept reckless drivers along the route.
17 hours ago · Windhoek Observer →
Young people in rural communities are asking traditional leaders to provide access to communal land for agricultural and business ventures, saying land access alone is insufficient—they also need financial support to acquire equipment and other essentials. The call follows President Nandi-Ndaitwah's remarks at the Lusata Cultural Festival urging traditional authorities to make communal land available for agricultural and ecotourism projects.
2 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
BookSprint Namibia has added four locally produced titles to its collection of children's reading material, created by 12 Namibian authors, illustrators and designers in a 12-hour session at the Goethe-Institut Namibia. The initiative aims to increase children's access to books, which organisers say influences learning outcomes.
2 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Regional councillors are facing renewed scrutiny over limited decision-making powers, inadequate funding and delays in transferring government functions, nearly three decades after Namibia adopted its decentralisation policy. At a consultative conference in Otjiwarongo, the parliamentary standing committee noted that 42 functions from six ministries had been coordinated for decentralisation, although most had been delegated rather than devolved, and that the programme remained slow with poor coordination among challenges.
30 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
A Bank Windhoek customer discovered her accounts had been closed and funds transferred after being wrongly flagged as deceased, with her salary still being deposited and the account actively used for transactions including loan payments. Bank officials told her the account had allegedly been flagged as belonging to a deceased person since 2020.
30 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has called for children's equal access to education, healthcare and opportunities regardless of where they are born or raised. Census data, however, shows school enrolment varies significantly by region, from 54.3% in Kunene to 82.8% in Kavango East.
29 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Young Namibians are using artificial intelligence skills to develop websites, create digital solutions for businesses, and offer AI training and consulting services. AI-powered tools are lowering barriers to entry into the tech industry by allowing entrepreneurs without years of traditional coding experience to develop solutions to local problems.
25 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Members of parliament have called for tighter financial and administrative oversight of Namibia's land reform programme, citing weaknesses in resource management and pointing to an adverse audit opinion on the Land Acquisition and Development Fund for the year ended 31 March 2025, which included approximately N$24.4 million in land-tax income recognition errors and N$11 million in overstated receivables.
25 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Princess Sehwe Maiba's side is challenging the process that led to Gilbert Muhongo Mutwa's designation as Chief Munitenge Moraliswani III, seeking to set aside the urban and rural development minister's April 2025 approval and the subsequent recognition under Proclamation No. 29 of 2025. The dispute stems from the succession process following Chief Kisco Maiba Liswani III's death in July 2021, with Sehwe and the Masubia Royal Council contending the process bypassed traditional succession order and royal institutions.
25 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Justice and Labour Relations Minister Wise Immanuel announced that Social Security Commission benefits will increase effective 1 October 2026. Maternity benefits will rise to N$20 000, sick leave to N$15 000 (first 12 months) and N$13 000 (final 12 months), and death, retirement and disability benefits each to N$15 000.
22 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
A decades-long land dispute involving four families in the Zambezi region has reignited, with the Masubia tribal court warning that renewed confrontations could result in injuries or death. The traditional authority, saying the matter has moved beyond its jurisdiction, summoned the families with police and security present in September 2026, but the meeting became confrontational.
22 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Namibia's justice system is struggling with poor court infrastructure, shortages of specialist services, weak record management, and avoidable postponements that slow justice delivery, according to officials at the State of Justice Conference in Windhoek. The Ministry of Justice highlighted inaccessible courts, lack of secure waiting areas, connectivity challenges, a shortage of psychiatrists for forensic assessments, and postponements linked to incomplete investigations and missing records.
21 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Education minister Sanet Steenkamp said the National Youth Service should measure success beyond recruitment and training figures, tracking how many former recruits pursue further education, secure employment, or contribute to their communities. The call comes as demand for NYS programmes grows, with about 18,000 young people applying for the 17th intake this year.
18 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
A Windhoek fundraising gala for Cuba raised about N$2.6 million for medical supplies and solar equipment, while Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare announced a separate N$17 million contribution from an unnamed donor. The prime minister's office later declined to clarify details of the N$17 million pledge, stating it was focusing only on the money raised during the gala.
18 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The United States is phasing out direct financial support for Namibia's HIV response, shifting to technical cooperation after 2027, while the government already funds 100% of antiretroviral medicines. Health experts warn that sustaining gains will require more than ARV availability, as US assistance has also covered testing, counselling, and community programmes.
18 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The ministry of home affairs has identified minors as the next priority in its drive to ensure Namibians have legal identity documents, with gaps remaining among children despite stronger registration rates among adults. The deputy minister urged learners to check documentation status of children and family members and encouraged those without documents to approach the ministry, while the government is bringing registration services closer to communities through regional offices, outreach campaigns, and partnerships with traditional leaders and other institutions.
17 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Health practitioners from the ministry of health and social services have raised concerns over medication errors from misdiagnosis, incorrect prescriptions, and poor communication between healthcare workers and patients, warning such mistakes can compromise the safety of people receiving treatment for chronic conditions. The warning comes ahead of World Patient Safety Day, which Namibia will commemorate at Windhoek Central Hospital.
16 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Prime Minister Tjitunga Elijah Ngurare says the government wants to see progress on Namibia's stadium rehabilitation by the end of the year, to enable the Brave Warriors to play international matches at home. The country currently lacks a CAF-approved stadium, forcing national team fixtures to be hosted outside Namibia.
16 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Oshana Regional Council received an Integrated Regional Land Use Plan to guide development across towns, infrastructure and agriculture, costing more than N$4 million. The plan is intended to balance competing land demands as the region's population grew from 201,363 to 230,801 between census periods, increasing pressure on limited land and natural resources.
14 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Khomas regional governor Sam Nujoma has called for practical opportunities to help young people transition from training programmes into employment, during an African Peer Review Mechanism validation consultation. Youth unemployment in Namibia stood at 44.4% in 2023, with combined youth unemployment and potential labour at 61.4%, and rates exceeding 60% in Kavango East and Kavango West.
11 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Young people are calling for deeper involvement in shaping policies that affect their future, rather than being treated only as beneficiaries of programmes. At the eighth Youth Sustainable Development Conference at NUST in Windhoek, leaders argued that policymakers should recognize youth as co-creators in development initiatives, not passive recipients.
11 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
A national early childhood development study cited by Development Workshop Namibia found that three out of four Namibian children are not considered ready for school. The organization's ECD project, which began in 2023, is working to improve learning quality in informal settlements by supporting 30 centres, 64 teachers, and over 1,042 children through infrastructure construction, learning materials, and educator training.
10 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Information and Communication Technology Minister Emma Theofelus has urged government institutions to communicate as a single state rather than separate ministries and agencies, emphasizing that citizens perceive the government as one entity and that government communication carries significant influence requiring authentic, verified and credible information.
10 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Teachers in the Omusati region say they are tired of teaching in makeshift "shacks" and other inadequate classrooms, with some schools still struggling with basic sanitation, administrative space, and facilities for practical subjects. Regional education officials reported in July 2025 that Omusati had 326 shacks as classrooms alongside 258 prefabricated classrooms, and schools face additional challenges including unusable buildings during rainy season and lack of proper ablution facilities.
9 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah announced that fishing rights expiring from the end of this year will be reviewed to determine which should be renewed and under what conditions. The review comes amid concerns over whether nominal Namibian ownership translates into genuine control and economic benefit, with Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare warning against "paper quota" and "paper right holders" despite about 92% of 462 fishing right holders being Namibian.
7 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
National Council vice-chairperson Emma Muteka told 42 school-going learners from all 14 regions gathered at the fourth junior National Council session that social media should be used to create meaningful change in communities, not just for entertainment, and that "followers are not the same as leadership."
5 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Namibia's Global Cybersecurity Initiative launch calls on young people to move beyond awareness and adopt practical habits to protect themselves, as the country recorded 161,547 cyber events and 513,921 vulnerabilities between April and June 2026. Cybersecurity experts stress that personal digital safety is now an everyday responsibility for individuals, not just IT departments, amid rising risks from phishing, data breaches, and compromised accounts.
5 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Katima Mulilo Town Council has handed over the site for a N$450 million wastewater treatment plant to contractor Fulbright Water, financed by Standard Bank Namibia and Old Mutual. The 13 to 14-month project aims to address persistent sewerage problems while creating local employment opportunities.
4 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Sean Naude, involved in the search for 15-year-old Erwin Bezuidenhaupt who reportedly drowned at Swakopmund marina in July, claimed on Facebook that authorities would have recovered the teenager's remains sooner had he been a "wambo child," a remark that has ignited debate over tribalism, privilege, and whether race belongs in the search effort.
2 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
According to UNICEF, 47.2% of Namibians still practise open defecation, rising to 70.9% in rural communities, a sanitation gap linked to wider inequalities in access to basic services. Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare said inadequate water and sanitation directly affects children's ability to live, learn and develop with dignity.
1 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →