While many residents are still asleep, street vendors in Rundu have already started preparing for another day of trading, some walking as far as eight kilometres from their homes t... …
Author Mathias Ngwangwama says Cuca Tops FC’s remarkable rise from Rundu to Namibia’s top football division is not only a sporting success story, but also one of resilience, leadership and organisational excellence. …
Author Mathias Ngwangwama says Cuca Tops FC’s remarkable rise from Rundu to Namibia’s top football division is not only a sporting success story, but also one of resilience, leadership and organisational excellence. …
Staff Reporter THE Ministry of Health and Social Services has responded to reports of a critical shortage of medicines at Rundu State Hospital and clinics, saying the shortage of pharmaceuticals is not an isolated matter but rather an issue currently being experienced countrywide …
… She says expectant women, children, prisoners, farmers and the elderly have to be rushed to the Katjinakatji or Mangetti clinics, where they are – in most cases – then rushed to Rundu. …
… Hambyuka made the remarks during the recent State of the Region Address (SORA) held in Rundu, which highlighted the region’s key achievements, developments, and challenges over the past year. …
… Wilherm The Namibia Industrial Development Agency (NIDA) is awaiting a High Court judgment in a dispute with Phat Pharm Construction (Pty) Ltd, which is demanding more than N$3.1 million in damages after an alleged failed agreement to establish a go-karting business at the Rundu …
… Wilherm The Namibia Industrial Development Agency (NIDA) is awaiting a High Court judgment in a dispute with Phat Pharm Construction (Pty) Ltd, which is demanding more than N$3.1 million in damages after an alleged failed agreement to establish a go-karting business at the Rundu …
An essay examines how children educated in English-medium schools in urban areas have an advantage over rural children who learn in mother tongues like Oshiwambo, arguing that assessment gaps reflect exposure rather than intelligence.
An essay examines how children educated in English-medium schools in urban areas have an advantage over rural children who learn in mother tongues like Oshiwambo, arguing that assessment gaps reflect exposure rather than intelligence.
Kavango West health director Fransiska Hamutenya says the directorate spends between N$2 million and N$3 million annually on office rentals, with no budget allocation in the current year for a permanent regional office despite urgent infrastructure needs. The regional and district teams are accommodated at high cost in rented space at the Matukuchila complex, while the region also lacks a proper district hospital and has infrastructure backlogs.
The Rundu Town Council has established a commercial subsidiary to generate additional income and diversify revenue sources, citing years of struggling with collections from unpaid municipal bills. The council's debt book grew from N$345.8 million in June 2023 to N$427.6 million in June 2024.
Rundu Town Council has established Rundu Town Council Commercial Services (Pty) Ltd, a wholly council-owned commercial company intended to strengthen the town's revenue base, attract investment, and support municipal service delivery. Prime Minister Dr Tjitunga Elijah Ngurare remarked that the company belongs to residents and should prioritize public service delivery alongside generating profit, while local authorities should explore innovative financing methods to meet growing demand for infrastructure and services.
Doctors at Otjiwarongo State Hospital are severely overworked due to a staffing shortage that has left only eight medical practitioners doing the work of 40. The shortage forces doctors to juggle multiple departments simultaneously, with patients often waiting hours for treatment.
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare has said the newly launched Rundu Town Council Commercial Services should prioritise public service delivery over profit, with its success benefiting the community rather than being driven by financial gain alone.
Namibia's new Mental Health Bill has been approved by the national council, but a national council member notes that Ohangwena region has no dedicated mental health facilities, forcing patients to travel to Oshakati Intermediate Hospital, which is often at capacity, and the region lacks a dedicated rehabilitation centre.
A man, Paulu Katombera (23), died after allegedly being stabbed in the neck with a broken beer bottle by Antonio Ngeve (29), his alleged romantic partner, at a mini market in Rundu's Ndama area on Saturday. Ngeve was arrested and remanded in custody pending police investigations.
Newly appointed Rundu Chiefs head coach Agnus Elemu says the club's ambitious plans to return to the Premier League and eventually compete on the African stage convinced him to join, citing backing from management and the club's long-term vision to establish itself among Namibia's top clubs.
Two children—a Grade 1 pupil and a 15-year-old—drowned in the Kavango River at Divundu after a canoe capsized in a strong current. Residents say police did not respond until Saturday, a day after the Friday incident, raising questions about emergency-response systems in communities along rivers.
Kavango West remains Namibia's poorest region with a multidimensional poverty rate of 79.6%, the highest in the country. The region faces additional challenges including an unemployment rate of 52.8% and youth unemployment of 58.1%, alongside rapid population growth.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform is repairing and servicing government-owned tractors and agricultural implements nationwide ahead of the upcoming ploughing season, with current work underway in Kavango East Region where 52 tractors and 50 implements are being restored for farmer use.
MTC told parliament's ICT committee that government should subsidise smartphones before 2G and 3G networks are phased out, to prevent customers being left without compatible devices as the frequencies are reassigned to 4G and 5G.
The Namibian Chamber of Environment has urged the government to abandon the Kavango Link project, a decades-old plan to transfer water from the Kavango River to Windhoek and central areas, arguing it is environmentally unsustainable and could strain relations with Botswana. The chamber's chief executive Chris Brown warned that the river is already exploited by unmonitored green schemes and farms.
The Namibia Sport Commission has launched a regional capacity-building initiative running from 17 to 29 August across five regions, beginning in Katima Mulilo, to strengthen sports structures, develop coaches, and expand sporting opportunities. The tour involves engagement with regional sport officers, coaches, federation representatives, and athletes to address regional challenges and align development strategies with national standards.
Rundu residents and leaders have opposed a proposed N$100 300 trip for mayor Andreas Jikerwa to attend the 15th Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona from 3 to 5 November, arguing the funds should address the town's challenges instead. The Rundu chief executive said the submission remains under consideration by the management committee and full council before final approval is sought from the line minister.
Urban workers routinely send money to families in rural villages for food, school fees, medical expenses, and housing, forming a significant but underexamined economic system that challenges assumptions about urbanisation and development in Namibia.
Namibia's ministry of agriculture is spending about N$8 million to service and repair 508 tractors ahead of the 2026/2027 rain-fed cropping season, which runs from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027. The work covers 385 tractors requiring minor servicing and 112 requiring major repairs, with services to be conducted at agricultural development centres and technology centres across the country.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has allocated N$8 million to service and repair 508 tractors ahead of the 2026/27 rain-fed cropping season (scheduled from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027), with work to be carried out by qualified ministry-employed diesel mechanics across Agricultural Development Centres in 14 regions.
A fire that destroyed N$1.6 million in property at Andara Lodge in Mukwe constituency has exposed gaps in firefighting services; the nearest firefighting vehicle, stationed 25km away in Divundu, was not operational at the time. Local leaders are calling for 24-hour emergency response units and improved firefighting services, noting that fires in the constituency have become common.
Teachers and low-wage earners in Namibia struggle to make ends meet despite formal employment, as salaries are consumed by rent, loans, and support for dependent relatives. The 2025 Namibia Financial Inclusion Survey reports that 74.6% of adults rarely or never make their income last until payday, while 63% struggle to keep up with financial commitments.
Rundu Town Council has unanimously adopted a motion to establish a Rundu People's Assembly and Rundu Youth Advisory Council to give residents and young people a more permanent role in municipal decision-making. The proposal, introduced by councillor Kufuna Patrick Masonde, addresses what he described as a gap between residents and municipal authorities, particularly affecting those in neglected neighbourhoods and informal settlements.
The Ministry of Education, in partnership with UNICEF, has officially launched the Namibia Learning Passport, a digital learning platform aimed at expanding access to educational resources, particularly for young people in rural, remote and underserved communities with limited connectivity.
The All People's Party has criticised minister of urban and rural development James Sankwasa for summoning traditional leaders to Rundu for consultations on Bwabwata National Park's customary status, questioning why he is summoning the leaders to meet him rather than travelling to meet the communities.
Coca-Cola Beverages Africa, in partnership with local authorities and the Recycle Namibia Forum, has trained 244 people in waste sorting, recycling practices and workplace safety under the 2026 Recycling Heroes Project. The initiative targets women, young people and people with disabilities, aiming to improve recycling practices while creating economic opportunities for waste collectors and addressing waste management challenges in both towns.
Rundu will stage its first-ever professional boxing event on 17 October, featuring a WBO Title Defense Bonanza headlined by Martin Mukungu defending his WBO Africa Junior Lightweight title against South Africa's Lucky Mnyebane, alongside title fights for Fillipus Nghitumbwa and Mateus Heita. The academy's promoter described the event as a celebration of opportunity for Kavango region fighters to compete for world titles.
Boxer Martin "Alligator" Mukungu will headline a boxing event in Rundu on 17 October, where he will defend his WBO Africa junior lightweight title against Lucky Manyebane of South Africa. The event, organised by MTC Sunshine Boxing & Fitness Academy in partnership with Kavango East Regional Council, will feature musical performances and cultural displays.
More than 300 trading stalls across Rundu stand empty while illegal vendors occupy pavements, parking areas, and business entrances, highlighting a growing challenge in the city.
A pregnant woman and her 3-year-old son died in a vehicle accident near Kombat on Tuesday; a third occupant who sustained serious injuries later died in a Windhoek hospital on Thursday. The seven-seater vehicle, carrying eight occupants travelling from Windhoek to Rundu, allegedly struck a rabbit, causing the driver to lose control, and the vehicle overturned and rolled several times.
An editorial in the Windhoek Observer argues that Namibia's sewerage infrastructure, built decades ago for much smaller populations, is reaching capacity limits across municipalities and town councils, as illustrated by Katima Mulilo's recurring sewage crisis.