Desert FM 95.3

An oversight visit by parliament’s standing committee on gender equality, health and social services has found that, despite significant spending on renovations at Okakarara District Hospital, critical facilities such as the hospital laundry remain non-operational due to infrastructure challenges.

Speaking on Desert FM, Okakarara constituency councillor Uzeraije Tjaverua says the visit also highlighted equipment shortages, limited surgical capacity, and the urgent need for staff housing and ward expansion.

The University of Namibia has announced a new registration arrangement for 2026, allowing senior undergraduate students with debts of up to N$50 000 to continue registering without having to settle their full balances upfront. The move is aimed at students who are nearing completion of their studies, but it also raises questions about affordability, access to education, and how universities are balancing financial sustainability with student support. To explain how this will work in practice and what it means for affected students, we’re joined by Unam spokesperson Simon Namesho.

Members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Gender Equality, Health and Social Services recently conducted an oversight visit to Okakarara District Hospital in the Otjozondjupa Region. While the visit acknowledged significant investment in renovations, it also revealed serious concerns including a non-operational hospital laundry, shortages of critical medical equipment, limited surgical capacity, and the need for further expansion and staff housing. To unpack the findings of that visit and what they mean for health service delivery going forward, we are now joined by Nono Katjingisua, Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Gender Equality, Health and Social Welfare in the National Assembly.

Rev Dolly Nengushe says the Women of Valor Mentorship Programme provides a safe space for young and mature women to gain guidance, build confidence, and grow spiritually and personally. The forum, running on Valentine’s Day at Highlands Assemblies Church, brings together multiple generations to share wisdom, tackle life challenges, and strengthen faith. Interested participants can contact 0814355116 to join.

LGBTQ activist Friedel Dausab says Namibia’s prisons expose LGBTQ individuals to sexual violence, harassment, and unsafe housing due to outdated binary systems and a lack of clear national policies. He urges government and correctional services to prioritize human dignity and constitutional rights for all incarcerated citizens.

Errki Shitana of the Namibia Seamen and Allied Workers Union says ongoing retrenchments are creating a serious crisis, with over 600 workers laid off last year and another 480 at Gendev facing possible job losses. He calls for urgent action from government and industry to secure long-term employment in Namibia’s fishing sector.

Insurance advisor Fikameni Neliwa has warned that the abuse of funeral insurance is on the rise, attributing the growing problem to weak monitoring, poor enforcement, and gaps in compliance that have turned funeral cover into an easy target for fraud and exploitation.

Officials from the Ministry of Environment and Tourism recently shot three baboons in Goreangab following repeated complaints that the animals were raiding homes, stealing food, and threatening children near schools.
Speaking on Desert FM, local resident Jonas Paulus reflects on the community’s response, safety concerns, and measures being taken to prevent the problem from repeating.

American streamer IShowSpeed, real name Darren Watkins Jr, toured parts of Windhoek and Okahandja this week, engaging with Himba and San communities, sampling kapana in Katutura, and livestreaming the experience to millions of viewers worldwide.

Speaking on Desert FM, Namibia Tourism Board spokesperson Flora Quest weighs in on what the visit means for Namibia’s international visibility and its potential to boost long-term tourism growth.

With Anti-Corruption Commission director general Paulus Noa’s contract set to expire in June, views remain sharply divided. Swapo Party Youth League secretary Ephraim Nekongo has defended Noa’s performance, while opposition figures argue that two decades in office have produced limited convictions and weakened public trust.

Speaking on Desert FM, Popular Democratic Movement leader McHenry Venaani outlines why he believes Noa has failed in his mandate and should not be granted a fifth term, and what genuine accountability should look like in Namibia’s anti-corruption fight.