
Swapo president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has defended the ruling party’s decision to build a multimillion-dollar head office near the Katutura Intermediate Hospital in Windhoek. Speaking at the inauguration of the Swapo headquarters, Nandi-Ndaitwah addressed criticism that the party should have directed resources towards renovating the hospital. She explained that the funds for the headquarters were contributed by Swapo members specifically for that purpose and could not be reallocated to government projects. Nandi-Ndaitwah noted that these members, as taxpayers, also contribute to government funds. She added that postponing the construction was not a viable option, despite initial internal resistance. The cost of the building has exceeded initial projections of N$600 million to N$700 million, now reaching over N$900 million. The new headquarters features eight floors, 150 offices, a congress hall for 1,500 people, a media room, and an amphitheater named Sam Nujoma Square after the founding president.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.

Enzo Fernandez scored the decisive goal, sending Chelsea into the FA Cup final with a 1-0 victory over Leeds. This win comes in the Blues' first match following the sacking of manager Liam Rosenior. Fernandez's first-half header at Wembley provided a much-needed boost for Chelsea, who had been experiencing a turbulent period. Rosenior was dismissed after only 106 days, following a dismal run of five consecutive defeats without scoring, culminating in a 3-0 loss to Brighton. His criticism of the players' desire and spirit after the Brighton match was reportedly the final straw for Chelsea's owners, highlighting a rift within the team. Interim manager Calum McFarlane, stepping up from his role with the club's Under-21 squad, is now leading Chelsea. The team will face Manchester City in the final on May 16. This marks Chelsea's 17th FA Cup final appearance, and they aim to win the trophy for the first time since 2018, potentially salvaging a challenging season.
Must ReadKenya's Sabastian Sawe made history at the London Marathon by becoming the first athlete to complete a marathon in under two hours, finishing in 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 30 seconds. This achievement surpassed the previous men's world record of 2:00:35. Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha, in his marathon debut, finished second with a time of 1:59:41, and Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo placed third at 2:00:28. Sawe expressed his belief that his performance demonstrates to the new generation that achieving such a record is possible through preparation and discipline. While Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge previously ran a sub-two-hour marathon in 2019, it was not ratified as a world record due to non-standard conditions. Both Sawe and Kejelcha wore Adidas's new Pro Evo 3 supershoes. Kenyan President William Ruto and Kipchoge praised Sawe's historic run. In the women's race, Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa broke her own women's-only world record, finishing in 2:15:41. Kenya's Hellen Obiri came in second with a personal best of 2:15:53, followed by compatriot Joyciline Jepkosgei.

Recent rainfall across Namibia has significantly transformed the Namib Desert, leading to visible changes in the landscape. Areas typically characterized by sand and stone now show subtle green growth, softening the desert's usual appearance. A night of rain left the ground refreshed, and the familiar scent of dry earth and water settled into the sand. The journey to Sossusvlei became more dynamic, with travelers sometimes removing their shoes to cross shallow water and damp sand. The 2x2 parking area for Deadvlei became a 4x4 access point due to the altered conditions. The Tsauchab River flowed into the Sossusvlei area, and Sesriem Canyon carried water, both rare occurrences after heavy rainfall. Thunderstorms also brought strong winds and sounds, contrasting with the desert's usual silence. The immediate response of the landscape, with shifts in color, texture, and movement, highlights the quick changes possible in the Namib. This period offers a unique opportunity to witness the desert in bloom, with carpets of grass and wet riverbeds, encouraging Namibians to visit during this special time.

Namibia's Roger Suren and Qara Volschenk secured gold medals at the SA XCO Cup 2 MTB series held at Thaba Trails in Gauteng. Roger Suren won the under-23 men's category, completing the eight-lap race in 1 hour, 32 minutes, and 28 seconds, narrowly beating South Africa's Massimiliano Ambrosini in a sprint finish. Qara Volschenk earned gold in the sub-junior girls' category, finishing more than two minutes ahead of South Africa's Leona Theron. This was Volschenk's second gold medal at the event, having also won the XCC race on Saturday. Other Namibian participants included Micah Chase, who won a silver medal in the youth men's category; Delsia Janse van Vuuren, who placed fourth in the under-23 women's category; JP Lambert, who came fourth in the sub-junior boys' category; and Rosemarie Thiel, who finished fifth in the junior women's category.