Copper cable theft has been on the rise in Namibia, causing significant problems for electricity distribution companies and the communities they serve.

The town of Okahandja has become a hotspot for this dangerous criminal activity.

In the early morning hours of Sunday, residents of Smarties extension 9 in Okahandja were awakened by a loud sound, followed by a power outage.

At sunrise, residents noticed that three copper cables had been cut from a transformer supplying power to their houses. They promptly alerted CENORED officials, who responded quickly.

Protesters marched to Agostinho Neto Square on Saturday to demand justice for the killing of five men who died at the hands of police officers in Okahandja in April last year.

The protest was spearheaded by activist and Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) member Michael Amushelelo.

The plan for this march was to bring across a message of grief and unhappiness.

Gathered were the youth, family, and friends of Erikki 'Akawa' Martin, Abed Andreas, Marius Ipinge, Malaika Kotokeni, and Flavianus Endjala.

In an effort to improve the lives of Okahandja residents, the town's municipality has launched a five-year strategic plan.

The strategic plan aims to provide basic and affordable service to residents, and accelerate land and housing delivery as well as water provision to the residents. 

The plan includes granting 5,000 families security of tenure, while 705 families will receive erven.

In addition, it will also bring infrastructure and institutional development.

Disgruntled Okahandja residents are up in arms over poor service delivery at the town, claiming that their pleas for help fall on deaf ears.

At a community meeting held in Okahandja on Sunday, the residents said issues of poor water supply, inadequate land delivery, and the lack of proper sanitation remain unresolved despite numerous appeals to councillors and the municipality.

Sewage water, which has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and a health hazard with the potential to cause diseases like cholera and malaria, flows freely within the community.

A 17-year-old boy succumbed to his injuries at the Okahandja State Hospital this morning after he was allegedly stabbed in the neck with a sharp object.

Henry Kock was allegedly found by a passerby on Vekarapi Street in the town in the early morning hours of today.

Preliminary police investigations indicate that Kock was still alive when he was found and was taken to the Okahandja State Hospital, where he died later.

The motive that led to the incident is still unknown to the police, and no arrest has been made so far.

The Red Flag has commemorated 100 years since the reburial of the remains of Chief Samuel Maharero, who died in Botswana in 1923.

The commemoration was held at Okahandja under the theme, ''Celebrate the past, embrace the present, and leverage the foundation for the future generation".

Hundreds of descendants of the OvaHerero flocked to Okahandja in remembrance of the reburial of Chief Samuel Maharero's remains.

Maharero is remembered for succeeding in leading thousands of his people to the British Bechuanaland Protectorate, today known as Botswana.

The United Democratic Front of Namibia Youth League (UDFYL) has embarked on a mission to revive the youth league structures, which have been dormant for the past 15 years.

The youth league held an elective conference to decide the next wing's executives to represent the party come 2024.

The conference at Okahandja was attended by members from Tsumeb, Grootfontein, Otavi, and Otjiwarongo.

Michael Skini, UDF Youth League Secretary General, said they are on a journey to revive all 32 branches.

The government continues to support initiatives to deliver housing to low-income earners.

The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development handed over 33 houses to the Shack Dwellers Federation in Windhoek's Okahandja Park.

Of the 33 houses, 22 were funded by the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development, while Standard Bank funded 11.

Deputy Minister Natalia |Goagoses emphasised the need to address poverty and inequality and bring about social harmony and economic advancement.

The Namibian Police have yet to release the identity of the sixth suspect, who allegedly jumped out of the vehicle and fled from the Okahandja shooting in April this year.

In a police report released a week after the incident, the Head of Operations in the Namibian Police, Major General Elias Mutota, explained the police received intelligence about a planned robbery at a farm in the |Khomas district and a subsequent robbery at a gambling house in Okahandja, prompting a hot pursuit.

Farm workers who have been camping along the corridors of the Okahandja and Grootfontein Districts since 2022 are calling on the government to relocate them as a matter of urgency.

The group, which was evicted from commercial farms in the area, says they are losing livestock due to a lack of grazing land and fodder.

Some of the group were born on the farms from which they have now been evicted when their parents had previously worked there.

However, when their employer died, the farm changed ownership, and they were left stranded.