Staff Reporter DAMS in the south have recorded positive changes following recent rainfall in the Hardap and //Kharas regions, with the combined capacity of the southern dams increasing from 86.8% last Monday, 14 September 2026, to 87.8% this Monday, 21 September 2026. This was revealed by the Namibia Water Corporation (NamWater), which reported that the Hardap and Neckartal dams were among those that recorded increases over the past week. According to NamWater, the Hardap Dam’s water volume increased from 160.008 million cubic metres (Mm³) last Monday to 163.708 Mm³ this Monday morning. This represents an increase in capacity from 54.3% to 55.6%. The dam’s level increased further during the day, reaching 56% by 17:20 on Monday afternoon. However, this remains below the level recorded during the same period last season, when the dam stood at 69%. NamWater reported that the Neckartal Dam increased from 849.776 Mm³, representing 99.1% capacity, last Monday to 857.781 Mm³, representing 100% capacity, this Monday. This is also higher than the level recorded during the same period last season, when the dam stood at 97.5%. The other southern dams, Naute and Oanob, did not record increases over the past week. However, the Naute Dam remains above its capacity. According to NamWater, the Naute Dam’s water volume decreased slightly from 86.753 Mm³, representing 103.8% capacity, last Monday to 86.394 Mm³, or 103.4%, this Monday. Despite the slight decline, this remains higher than the 91.8% recorded during the same period last season. The Oanob Dam also recorded a slight decrease, falling from 18.488 Mm³, representing 53.6% capacity, last Monday to 18.363 Mm³, or 53.2%, this Monday. This is below the 69% capacity recorded during the same period last season. Picture for illustrative purposes only. Photo: Leana Van Wyk (Facebook) The post Southern dams collective capacity climb to 87.8% appeared first on Informanté.

© Dorian Anderson; Hardap, Namibia; 11 Aug 2022

--- SOUTHERN SHOWERS: Light to moderate rainfall and thundershowers are sweeping across the southern parts of the country. Keetmanshoop, Sendelingsdrift and Helmeringhausen in the //Kharas Region are among the areas already experiencing notable showers today. The Namibia Meteorological Service has forecast that the showers in the south will intensify, particularly throughout today. The interior parts of the country are expected to receive more rainfall on Saturday, with the Hardap and //Kharas regions, including coastal areas, expected to be among the areas most affected. Photos and videos: contributed and Facebook (Jonathan Thomas, Вjörn Basler, Pieter Van Wyk, Gondwana Collection Namibia). --- The post SOUTHERN SHOWERS appeared first on Informanté.

Resembling a Martian-like surface, this Copernicus Sentinel-2 image shows part of the Hardap region in south-central Namibia on the western edge of the Kalahari Desert.

HARDAP CORRECTIONAL FACILITY HONOURS INMATE ACHIEVEMENTS NBC Online Sat, 09/19/2026 - 12:33

Staff Reporter WIDESPREAD showers, strong winds and flash floods are among the anticipated weather conditions expected to affect several parts of the country today. According to Namibia Meteorological Services, the Hardap and //Kharas regions are likely to be most affected by the anticipated rainfall. The southern regions are expected to experience severe thunderstorms that could result in flash floods. Isolated to scattered thundershowers are also expected in other interior areas, particularly the north-western regions, as well as Erongo and Omaheke. The showers are likely to be accompanied by strong winds. However, rainfall will not be confined to the interior. Namibia Meteorological Services also forecast moderate to heavy rainfall in coastal areas today. In light of the forecast, the weather service urged the public, particularly road users, to prepare accordingly and remain cautious and vigilant. “Stay alert, avoid driving or walking through unknown water depths,” Namibia Meteorological Services advised. Picture for illustrative purposes only. Photo: Pieter Van Wyk (Facebook) The post Widespread showers forecast for today, with heaviest rainfall expected in the south appeared first on Informanté.

Police in Rehoboth have confirmed the arrest of a doctor in connection with an alleged rape. Hardap crime investigations head Deputy Commissioner Theodore Kotungondo said the alleged incident occurred on 4 September 2026 at about 21h30 in Block D, Rehoboth. Police allege that the 40-year-old complainant was in her room when the suspect arrived and […]

© Dorian Anderson; Hardap, Namibia; 11 Aug 2022

Police in Rehoboth have confirmed the arrest of a doctor in connection with an alleged rape. Hardap crime investigations head Deputy Commissioner Theodore Kotungondo said the alleged incident occurred on 4 September 2026 at about 21h30 in Block D, Rehoboth. Police allege that the 40-year-old complainant was in her room when the suspect arrived and asked to have anal sex with her. After she refused, he allegedly played loud music, forced her onto the bed and sexually assaulting her without consent. The suspect was arrested on Tuesday and remains in custody. He is expected to be appear before the Rehoboth Magistrate’s Court. #WindhoekObserver

© Daniel Winzeler; Hardap, Namibia; 14 Feb 2024

Staff Reporter THE Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, Edward Wambo, has called for a national coalition on identity, saying that identity underpins health, education, finance, social protection, justice, policing and local government. Speaking at Dr Lemmer High School in Rehoboth, Hardap Region, during the commemoration of International Identity Day on Wednesday, Wambo said that every Namibian deserves to have their identity recognised from birth until death, and no one should remain invisible to the State. According to Wambo, it is his Ministry’s pledge to protect identity, to extend it to those still waiting for it, and to carry it securely into the future. Wambo said identity is not just a card in a wallet, but part of who a person is. The commemoration was held under the global theme, “My Identity, My Shadow. Never Apart.” “Look down at the ground on any sunny Namibian morning and you will see the truth of this theme. Your shadow was with you the day you were born. It has followed you to school, to work, to church, to the kraal and to the city,” Wambo said. “It grows and shrinks with the hours of the day, but it never leaves you, and it belongs to no one else but you. So, it is the same with identity.” Wambo said government views identity as a lifelong journey that the Ministry has a sacred duty to walk with every citizen. He said that journey starts at birth through the e-Birth Notification system, which allows real-time electronic notification of births at health facilities to ensure swift registration. That birth record, he said, is the foundation upon which the National Population Registration System builds a continuous, integrated record – the identity card at 16, passports, marriage registration, registration of one’s own children, and finally the dignified registration of death through the e-Death Notification system. “From the first cry to the final farewell: one person, one identity, never apart,” he said. The system also protects inheritance rights and provides vital statistics for national planning. Wambo acknowledged, however, that challenges remain. Late registration of births persists, and some Namibians, especially in remote and marginalised communities, are still undocumented. He said the Ministry is expanding its reach through regional offices, outreach campaigns and partnerships with traditional leaders, schools, health facilities, the police and development partners. He reaffirmed Namibia’s commitment to achieving legal identity for all by 2030, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 16.9 and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. Turning to the digital future, Wambo said the second focus of this year’s commemoration is ensuring that one’s “shadow follows online as faithfully as it follows in the sun.” With banking, government services and commerce increasingly moving online, he warned that identity theft, impersonation and fraud thrive where identity cannot be verified. He said government’s answer is the national electronic identity, the e-ID. The smart card will contain a secure electronic chip storing the holder’s photograph and fingerprints, allowing one-to-one verification that the person holding the card is its owner. The card is protected by international standards and cryptographic safeguards similar to modern e-passports, making forgery detectable and preventing secret alteration of data. The framework is anchored in Namibian law under the Electronic Transactions Act. “In practice, it means a young person opening their first bank account without stacks of certified copies. It means a grandmother receiving her pension without travelling hundreds of kilometres to prove she is alive. It means accessing government services online, securely, from a village as easily as from the capital,” Wambo said. He noted that Namibia, with support from partners such as the UNDP, is in the front rank of Africa’s digital identity movement. Wambo made a special appeal to young people, who are the focus of this year’s global campaign. He said while the population register is strongest among adults, the frontier is now minors. He gave learners a direct assignment: go home and check whether every child has a birth certificate and whether older siblings have identity documents, and bring those without them to the Ministry. “You are not too young to be ambassadors of identity,” he told them. He also called on teachers and youth organisations to explore the theme through art, storytelling, debate and performance. Photo: Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security The post Namibian government pledges legal ID for all by 2030 appeared first on Informanté.

The Hardap Correctional Facility is hosting a Bible Quiz and Choir Competition Award Ceremony, recognising inmates who participated in the two competitions. The competitions brought inmates together in a series of activities aimed at promoting knowledge of the Bible, teamwork, discipline and positive engagement within the correctional facility. The award ceremony is being held to acknowledge the inmates who excelled in the Bible Quiz and Choir Competition, with certificates and other forms of recognition presented to participants and winners. The event also provides an opportunity for the correctional service to encourage rehabilitation and constructive activities among inmates. Joe-Chintha Garises

--- RISING RIVERS, FLOODED STREETS: Rapidly rising rivers and heavily flooded streets were the reality on the ground in the South this weekend, as recent heavy rainfall left a significant mark across the Hardap and //Kharas regions. The Fish River is among the rivers where the impact of this weekend’s rainfall is evident, with the river rising rapidly following the recent rains. The weekend’s generous rainfall was so heavy in some southern areas that it turned a few streets into temporary rivers. Gibeon in the Hardap Region was among the places affected, with the rainfall flooding parts of the town. Photos and videos: Contributed. --- The post RISING RIVERS, FLOODED STREETS appeared first on Informanté.

Staff Reporter Southern Namibia might usually be among the driest parts of this arid country, but this weekend it was the scene of significant rainfall, with several areas in the Hardap and //Kharas regions recording between 20mm and 50mm of rain. Farm Kareeboomkolk near Rehoboth is among the areas that received substantial rainfall, reportedly recording more than 50mm on Saturday. Other southern areas, such as Soetdoringvlei in the //Kharas Region, also saw notable rainfall, recording 25mm between Saturday and Sunday morning. Alm Swartrant near Bethanie recorded 21mm during the same period. --- KEEP YOUR UMBRELLAS CLOSE: Photos and videos of recent rainfall. Photos and videos: contributed and Facebook (Gondwana Collection Namibia, Ronja Lyhs, Super Selfhelp Mariental, Jansen Kalahari Guest Farm, Sossusvlei Lodge, Jan-Antonie Delport Delport, Agama Lodge, Jacques W Husselmann). --- The South had already experienced notable rainfall between Friday and Saturday morning, with Rietmond recording 38mm, Bessieputs 21mm, Zabubegas 27mm, Kameelhoek 26mm and Fortuin 27mm. Keetmanshoop and Koës in the //Kharas Region, as well as Mariental in the Hardap Region, also received substantial showers this weekend. The recent rainfall in the South has already begun to revive some of the region’s rivers, with several recording noticeable rises following the inflows. Among them is the Kalf River in the Hardap Region, which rose rapidly over the weekend. While the southern regions were particularly favoured by this weekend’s rainfall, other areas also received their share of the showers. In the east, areas around Leonardville recorded decent amounts, including 15mm at Geikous and 12mm at Kameelpan. Buitepos near Gobabis in the Omaheke Region also benefited from some rainfall. Windhoek, too, has had its share of notable showers, receiving consistent rain between Saturday and Sunday morning, with showers still continuing in the capital. According to Namibia Meteorological Services, more rainfall is expected in some interior areas. The public, particularly road users, are advised to remain vigilant given the prevailing weather conditions. The current conditions and anticipated rainfall are particularly welcome in light of a recent prediction by Namibia Meteorological Services indicating that October could be a particularly dry month for Namibia. For now, September 2026 continues to give Namibians reason to keep their umbrellas nearby, with rain continuing to fall across various parts of the country. Photos and videos shared online have highlighted the widespread nature of this weekend’s showers, with people from different regions sharing news of rainfall in their respective areas. The post Widespread rainfall recorded over the weekend, southern regions most affected appeared first on Informanté.

The Ministry of Sport, Youth, and National Service in the Hardap region has outlined goals for 2025 aiming to equip young people with the essential skills to be employable. It says it will address youth unemployment in the region through training and targeted programmes. Mariental Youth Resource Centre head Ivan Pieters on Friday said the ministry’s primary goal this year is to align skills training with market demands. “The government … will ensure that training programmes meet job market needs,” he said. The ministry offers a wide range of training, including soft skills like drafting a curriculum vitae and interview skills. Entrepreneurship programmes cover business management and financial literacy, empowering young people to start and run successful businesses, thus boosting financial independence, Pieters said. He highlighted the importance of embracing digital tools, encouraging the youth to use online platforms for job applications, education and business ventures. “We provide free Wi-Fi at the centre and disseminate information on upcoming training programmes in the region over local radio stations like Kaisames – especially for those residing at other towns and villages in the region with limited internet access.” The post Skills, success and Wi-Fi: Hardap’s 2025 game plan for youth empowerment appeared first on The Namibian.

 Residents of the //Kharas, Erongo, Hardap and Omaheke regions paid the highest price for a 5kg bag of maize meal in March, according to the latest data released by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA). Consumers in these regions, classified as Zone 3 by the NSA, paid N$82.19 for a 5kg bag of maize meal – the highest in the country. In comparison, residents in the northern regions, collectively referred to as Zone 1, paid N$78.66, while consumers in the Khomas region (Zone 2) paid the lowest price at N$69.74. The NSA’s data also shows that Zone 3 recorded the highest regional inflation rate at 4.4% in March 2025, slightly above the national average of 4.2%. Although high, the figure reflects a slowdown from the 5.1% recorded in March 2024. “The slowdown in the annual inflation rate emanated mainly in the price levels of services such as ‘Transport’ (from 3.7% to 2.2%); ‘Recreation and culture’ (from 13.5% to 3.5%); ‘Health’ (from 4.2% to 1.5%); ‘Hotels, cafés and restaurants’ (from 10.5% to 8.4%); and ‘Alcoholic beverages and tobacco’ (from 5.8% to 4.2%),” the NSA stated in its monthly inflation report. Zone 1 – which includes the Kavango East and West, Kunene, Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, and Zambezi regions – registered an inflation rate of 4.2%, while Zone 2 (Khomas region) recorded a slightly lower rate of 4.1%. Despite paying less for maize meal, Zone 1 residents paid the most for beef stew, with a kilogram averaging N$108.99 in March. Zone 3 followed at N$106.88, while consumers in Khomas paid the least at N$100.39 per kg. Commenting on the national inflation trend, NSA Statistician-General and CEO Alex Shimuafeni confirmed that inflation slowed to 4.2% in March 2025, down from 4.5% recorded in the same month last year. “On a monthly basis, the inflation rate was 0.5%, a slight increase compared to 0.4% registered during the preceding month,” Shimuafeni said. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels contributed the most to the Namibia Consumer Price Index (NCPI) basket in March, accounting for 28.4% of the total. This was followed by food and non-alcoholic beverages at 16.5%, transport at 14.3%, and alcoholic beverages and tobacco at 12.6%. The post //Kharas, Erongo, Hardap and Omaheke pay highest price for maize meal first appeared on The Brief | Namibia's Leading Business & Financial News. Residents of the //Kharas, Erongo, Hardap and Omaheke regions paid the highest price for a 5kg bag of maize meal in March, according to the latest data released by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA). Consumers in these regions, classified as Zone 3 by the NSA, paid N$82.19 for a 5kg bag of maize meal – the highest in the country. In comparison, residents in the northern regions, collectively referred to as Zone 1, paid N$78.66, while consumers in the Khomas region (Zone 2) paid the lowest price at N$69.74. The NSA’s data also shows that Zone 3 recorded the highest regional inflation rate at 4.4% in March 2025, slightly above the national average of 4.2%. Although high, the figure reflects a slowdown from the 5.1% recorded in March 2024. “The slowdown in the annual inflation rate emanated mainly in the price levels of services such as ‘Transport’ (from 3.7% to 2.2%); ‘Recreation and culture’ (from 13.5% to 3.5%); ‘Health’ (from 4.2% to 1.5%); ‘Hotels, cafés and restaurants’ (from 10.5% to 8.4%); and ‘Alcoholic beverages and tobacco’ (from 5.8% to 4.2%),” the NSA stated in its monthly inflation report. Zone 1 – which includes the Kavango East and West, Kunene, Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, and Zambezi regions – registered an inflation rate of 4.2%, while Zone 2 (Khomas region) recorded a slightly lower rate of 4.1%. Despite paying less for maize meal, Zone 1 residents paid the most for beef stew, with a kilogram averaging N$108.99 in March. Zone 3 followed at N$106.88, while consumers in Khomas paid the least at N$100.39 per kg. Commenting on the national inflation trend, NSA Statistician-General and CEO Alex Shimuafeni confirmed that inflation slowed to 4.2% in March 2025, down from 4.5% recorded in the same month last year. “On a monthly basis, the inflation rate was 0.5%, a slight increase compared to 0.4% registered during the preceding month,” Shimuafeni said. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels contributed the most to the Namibia Consumer Price Index (NCPI) basket in March, accounting for 28.4% of the total. This was followed by food and non-alcoholic beverages at 16.5%, transport at 14.3%, and alcoholic beverages and tobacco at 12.6%. The post //Kharas, Erongo, Hardap and Omaheke pay highest price for maize meal first appeared on The Brief | Namibia's Leading Business & Financial News.

Die maatskaplike welsyn-ministerie het gedurende die 2024/2025-boekjaar skuiling, beskerming en psigososiale ondersteuning aan 254 oorlewendes van geslagsgeweld, geweld teen kinders en mensehandel verskaf. Lynminister Emma Kantema-Gaomas het in die Parlement bevestig dat dit oor agt streeksentrums in die Khomas, Hardap, Karas, Omusati, Ohangwena, Kavango-Oos, Zambezi en Kunene-streke gerealiseer is. Sy het meer. The post Maatskaplike welsyn-minister sit dienste uiteen appeared first on KOSMOS.

Staff Writer  Namdeb has strengthened its partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) by funding the establishment of a patrol camp in the Hardap National Park. The company donated N$280 000 for the camp, which will serve as the base for the wildlife protection service team recently deployed to the park. At the handover, Namdeb’s environmental manager, Nandeshasho Nickanor, said the company’s purpose of mining for good extends beyond diamonds.  “By partnering with MEFT to establish this patrol camp, we are strengthening Namibia’s frontline defences against poaching and contributing to a shared national vision of safeguarding our biodiversity for future generations.” Control warden Tashiya Joseph Tashiya welcomed the support and stressed the importance of joint efforts.  He said “the protection of Namibia’s wildlife and ecological processes” requires collective responsibility.  He added that the patrol camp is more than infrastructure, calling it a symbol of what government and the private sector can achieve when they work together. Namdeb and its partners have supported wildlife protection for years through the Debmarine–Namdeb Foundation.  The foundation has backed Save the Rhino Trust (SRT) by funding key conservation work, including the donation of three Land Cruisers valued at N$1.5 million in 2017 and another N$1.1 million in 2019 for the Rhino Pride and Rhino Ranger Programmes. MEFT’s zero-tolerance approach to poaching, supported by cooperation between government, communities and private sector partners, such as Namdeb, continues to play a key role in protecting rhinos and other threatened species. Caption Namdeb has donated N$280 000 for the establishment of a patrol camp in the Hardap National Park.  * Photo: Namdeb