Desert FM 95.3

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Sakaria Johannes talks about political weight ‘ there is only one president'

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is drawing a firm line on public accountability, telling civil servants to raise their standards and reminding critics that, in her words, ‘there is only one president.’ We break down the political weight of that message with analyst Sakaria Johannes.As he tables his opinion .

James Uerikua talks about the purpose of the visit to Naval Headquarters in Walvis Bay

In a time when national security, immigration control, and public safety are at the forefront of regional priorities, Parliament’s Standing Committee on Defence, International Relations and Immigration has been on the ground this time in the Erongo Region for stakeholder engagements and oversight inspections. From the Naval Headquarters in Walvis Bay to facilities of the Namibian Police, Immigration, and Correctional Services, the committee has been meeting with top brass from the navy, police, and correctional service to assess the current state of infrastructure, operations, and security readiness. The Chairperson of the Committee, Honourable James Uerikua, to walk us through the purpose of the visit.

Nellie Dina Kahua talks about injustice and what needs to change to make housing a reality for domestic workers

Domestic workers are the silent backbone of many households across Namibia cleaning, cooking, caring for our children and elderly often under difficult conditions and for very low pay. But now, they are raising their voices in a collective call for dignity: the right to own land and access affordable housing. At a recent policy advocacy workshop in Windhoek, domestic workers shared painful experiences of being excluded from housing finance, government schemes, and land allocation despite working for decades and reliably paying rent. Joining us now is Nellie Dina Kahua, the General Secretary of the Namibia Domestic and Allied Workers Union NDAWU to talk about this injustice and what needs to change to make housing a reality for domestic workers.

Ben Ulenga reflects on the life, the sacrifice, and the legacy of Lazarus !Guiteb

He was known as 'The Great Lion' a name that echoed not only through the battlefields of the liberation struggle, but also within the walls of Robben Island. Lazarus !Guiteb, one of Namibia’s true freedom fighters and a proud descendant of the Hai||Om people, has passed away at the age of 83. !Guiteb spent nearly a decade on Robben Island alongside fellow struggle icons such as Toivo ya Toivo, Michael Shikongo, Wilbard Sakaria – and today’s guest, veteran politician and liberation stalwart, Ben Ulenga. Mr. Ulenga in his personal capacity – as a comrade, a brother-in-arms, and a friend – to reflect on the life, the sacrifice, and the legacy of Lazarus !Guiteb.

Patricia Hangula unpacks what the GS1 barcode means for the everyday Namibian entrepreneur

Namibia officially has its own GS1 barcode, a massive step in empowering local businesses to compete and participate in the global marketplace. Until now, Namibian producers had to source their barcodes from outside the country, particularly South Africa. That’s now a thing of the past. The newly launched Namibia Barcode Centre is set to simplify product traceability, open new retail doors, and support the “Growth at Home” strategy. So, what does this mean for small vendors selling Owambo dresses, homemade sauces, or handcrafted jewelry? Are they eligible? And how can they start? To walk us through what the 631 barcode means for the everyday Namibian entrepreneur, we were joined by Patricia Hangula, CEO of GS1 Namibia — the official body tasked with overseeing barcode registration and implementation in the country.

ACC ON FUELROT UPDATE

The Anti-Corruption Commission has intensified its investigations into the Namcor-Enercon fuel scandal, now issuing a warrant of arrest for businessman Victor Malima and placing his name on a border alert. Malima is linked to Eco Fuels and Enercon Namibia, which together owe Namcor over N$108 million. Joining us is ACC spokesperson Josefina Nghituwamata to provide an update on the case and the broader investigation.

EDDA BOHN ON BACK TO SCHOOL

Namibia’s schools resume for the second semester this week under the two-term system. Deputy Executive Director Edda Bohn, from the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts & Culture, joins us to expand on the readiness, challenges of the previous semester and preparation for the return of a trimester calendar in 2026.

HUMAVINDU ON NEW INTERNAL AUDIT MANUAL

The Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises launched a new Internal Audit Manual that sets out updated, standard procedures that all government ministries, agencies and regional councils must now follow in their internal audits. To make sense of the significance of this is the Executive Director of the Ministry, Michael Humavindu.

KENYAN JOURNALIST LINDA ALELA ON VISA-FREE REGIME

Kenya officially dropped visa requirements for almost all African countries signalling a major continental development aimed at strengthening pan-African mobility and trade. This means citizens from most African and Caribbean countries can now enter Kenya without an Electronic Travel Authorisation or visa fees. Linda Alela is a foreign affairs journalist based in Nairobi, Kenya and gives Desert FM more details.

McHenry Venaani addresses the arrests made at Namcor

Corruption allegations continue to rock state-owned enterprises in Namibia, with the latest involving the former managing director of Namcor, Imms Mulunga, and several former executives. They face possible charges relating to questionable multi-million-dollar fuel deals and alleged abuse of authority. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is spearheading the investigation. Joining us was McHenry Venaani, leader of the Popular Democratic Movement. He has long criticised the ACC for weak enforcement, but today we also discuss what this case says about leadership, governance, and the future of SOEs in Namibia.

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