Desert FM 95.3

AR representative Vaino Hangula is urging lawmakers to keep Namibia’s Upstream Petroleum Unit under the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy, warning that placing it under the Presidency could weaken parliamentary oversight. He is also calling for stronger local-benefit provisions to ensure Namibian businesses gain meaningful opportunities from the country’s emerging oil and gas industry.

The Namibian Powerlifting Association is calling on more Namibians, especially women and beginners, to take up powerlifting and help grow the sport locally. The public can support local athletes at the Go Big or Go Home competition on 7 November at CrossFit Windhoek, with free entry for spectators.

Namibia continues to battle foot-and-mouth disease, with 131 positive animals and 18 infected farms confirmed in the ||Kharas region, while more than 42 000 cattle have been vaccinated in the Zambezi region. The ministry says it cannot currently provide financial assistance to affected farmers, as resources are being directed towards containment and vaccination efforts.

As part of Consumer Protection Month 2026, Desert FM catches up with Junias Erasmus, consumer education specialist at the Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority (Namfisa).

Guided by this year's campaign theme, 'Know Your Rights, Secure Your Future', Erasmus highlights how Namfisa protects everyday citizens operating in non-banking financial sectors – including insurance, retirement funds, micro-lenders and medical aids. He breaks down critical steps for consumer safety: scrutinising contracts, verifying provider registrations before taking out loans or investments, detecting online FinTech scams, and filing official complaints when treated unfairly.

Following the heated passage of the petroleum amendment bill in the National Assembly, which secured 50 votes to place the upstream petroleum unit under the Office of the President despite an opposition walkout, Desert FMspeaks to member of parliament Kalimbo Iipumbu, for the Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF).

Iipumbu breaks down the NEFF's pivotal decision to vote alongside the ruling party, asserting that being in opposition does not mean opposing every legislative proposal automatically. He emphasises that as Namibia enters a historic economic era of major oil discoveries, centralising management within the presidency under president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s administration can drive accountability, provided citizens remain vigilant.

Following a heated debate in the National Assembly where opposition parties held out before the Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters provided a crucial vote to pass the petroleum amendment bill, Desert FM speaks to political analyst Sakaria Johannes to unpack what this milestone means for the nation's emerging oil and gas industry.

The controversial bill transfers regulatory oversight of upstream petroleum from the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy into a dedicated upstream petroleum unit in the Office of the President.

Namibian musician Berthold is urging the public to invest in local talent and give homegrown artists the same support shown to international performers. He says stronger collaboration between the government, media, event organisers and audiences is essential to growing Namibia’s music industry and preserving its cultural identity.

The Namibian Federation of the Visually Impaired is raising concerns about inaccessible public transport, saying the lack of audio announcements and accessible infrastructure limits independent mobility. Director Moses Ngipandulwa is calling on government institutions and municipalities to improve accessibility and ensure people with disabilities can travel safely and with dignity.

Former first lady Penehupifo Pohamba is being remembered for her compassion, dedication to healthcare and lifelong commitment to serving Namibians. General Martin Shali says her legacy is a reminder that true leadership is measured by how we care for others and respect their dignity.

Following the 27th annual meeting of the Council of Traditional Leaders – where urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa issued a stern warning against the illegal sale of state-owned communal land – Desert FM gets the perspective of the Ondonga Traditional Authority (OTA) via spokesperson Frans Enkali.

Enkali rejects allegations that traditional authorities sell communal land for exorbitant amounts like N$50 000 per hectare, clarifying that customary law regulates land allocation, not commercial sale. He outlines the OTA's structured allocation process, where administrative fees remain capped at N$600 for crop production plots, and attributes unauthorised land sales to private individuals acting outside the law.