By Michael Uugwanga

Grade 12 pupil Andrew Jamal is setting himself aside as the next big snooker to come out of the country, following his good display at the WPA Heyball U-19 World Championship in Australia, last month.
Although Jamal did not reach the final, his performance did not go unnoticed as he was up against snooker players from countries that snooker is a big sport. 

This week, Confidente caught up with Jamal as he shared his first international experience in the sport of snooker and the WPA Heyball U-19 World Championship.

Two young women from the Miss Namibia 2025 Top 10 have been empowered to take their dreams even further thanks to the National Youth Council of Namibia (NYC), which awarded them a combined sponsorship of N$20,000. Johanna Swartbooi and Alica Mokhatu, both among this year’s Top 10 finalists, each received N$10,000 from the NYC as part of its commitment to youth empowerment and national representation. This act of support is not only a financial boost but a clear message that young Namibians, regardless of where they come from, can rise to represent their country with pride and purpose.

By Hilja Shikongo

By Staff Reporter

Windhoek’s streets and public spaces will once again be transformed into live stages and open-air galleries as the Otjomuise Live Arts Festival (OLAF) returns for its fifth edition from 31 October to 01 November 2025.
The festival, jointly hosted by the National Theatre of Namibia (NTN) and the Goethe-Institut Namibia, has officially opened its Call for Pitches, inviting Namibian artists and creatives to submit proposals for innovative, small-scale projects that celebrate art in public spaces.

• By Hilja Shikongo

While Namibia’s sports and education sectors often grab the limelight, the country’s creative industries, which includes the arts, fashion design, filmmaking and dance, have been steadily laying the foundation for youth empowerment, in subtle ways. 
This is according to M’kariko Amagulu, the director of arts in the ministry responsible for arts and culture, who highlighted that Namibia’s arts sector is far from being dormant. 

Namibia this week mourns the passing of one of its steadfast sons, Philippus Tjerije, affectionately known as Philip, who passed away on 3 July 2025 at the age of 78. Born on 13 June 1947, Tjerije leaves behind a legacy woven into the very fabric of Namibia’s journey from colonial rule to independence and beyond.

More than 70 percent of Namibia’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are led by women, according to First National Bank (FNB) Namibia, highlighting a shift towards more inclusive entrepreneurship in the country.
Connie-Marlene Theyse, head of enterprise banking high touch and mid corporate at FNB Namibia, said this figure reflects the growing impact of women in the country’s business landscape.

As Namibia’s cities expand and climate pressures mount, a new movement is taking root in urban agriculture. More than a way to grow food, it is a pathway to sustainable development, social equity, and economic opportunity. 
In Windhoek and beyond, families and communities are transforming vacant lots, rooftops and informal settlements into thriving gardens, chicken coops and micro-farms. T

The Urban Opportunity 

•By Renthia Kaimbi

The Arandis Town Council recently convened a high-level stakeholder engagement aimed at strengthening intergovernmental and private sector collaboration on the future of green hydrogen. 

Speaking at the event, urban and rural development deputy minister Evelyn Nawases-Taeyele, described the gathering as an embodiment of Namibia’s great vision and strategic action towards a sustainable future.

By Hilja Shikongo

The Ohlthaver & List (O&L) Group has officially transitioned from the Pick n Pay brand to Model, a move that marks the end of a 27-year franchise agreement with Pick n Pay South Africa. 
The change took effect on 1 July 2025 and affects all 19 retail stores previously operating under the Pick n Pay Namibia name.
According to O&L, the decision to revive the Model brand first introduced by the company in 1965, was driven by the need for full operational independence.