Windhoek Observer

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The National Council Standing Committee on Public Accounts and Economy has strongly advised the Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRa) to consider amending the Import and Export Control Act, 1994 (Act No. 30 of 1994). The committee chairperson, Peter Kazongominja, made this statement in the National Council on Tuesday. The Act currently restricts the import of second-hand vehicles into Namibia, resulting in a significant loss in direct import tax for Botswana. The committee's recommendations were based on findings from visits to several regions, including Karas, Ohangwena, Omaheke, and Erongo, where they assessed NamRa's operations. “The Commissioner informed the Committee that…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) has confirmed that it will no longer fund tuition fees for Namibian health professionals on study leave. In a recent letter, two of the students currently studying abroad expressed concerns about financial difficulties. In their letter, the students said that they were granted study leave to pursue Master of Medicine degrees at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical College. They claimed that the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) denied them financial assistance, leaving them to pay for their studies. They stated that the rising costs of tuition, accommodation, research funding, transportation, and…

Martin Endjala The Namibian Competition Commission has discovered alleged anti-competitive behaviour in the automotive industry. This comes after the Commission finalised its investigation into the automotive industry against various Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), referred to as vehicle dealerships and panel beaters which commenced in September 2018, in terms of Section 33 of the Competition Act No. 2 of 2003. This was disclosed by the Commission’s report released last week. According to the report, the Commission’s investigation found that restrictive vertical distribution agreements/concerted practices and or territorial restrictions between OEMs and vehicle dealerships exist in the distribution of vehicles in Namibia.…

Martin Endjala The chief executive officer of the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), Nangula Uaandja, has urged businesses to look beyond the country’s borders in order to increase their clientele. Uaandja was responding to questions following a notice by the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade requesting samples of Namibian products and promotional materials. These items will be distributed to Namibian missions, consulates, and embassies, as well as high commissions abroad. “Given the small size of the domestic market, it is essential for Namibian businesses to look beyond our borders. By targeting just 0.01% of this vast market, Namibian…

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The leader of the official opposition in Parliament, McHenry Venaani, has advised President Nangolo Mbumba and the government to establish a Water Commission to oversee the management of water resources. He made the call on Monday during a press briefing where he addressed various issues affecting the country. “A Namibian Water Commission would not only ensure resource conservation as well as the management of water resources, ensuring that they are used efficiently and equitably. It would also facilitate a coordinated response to water shortages, including drought management and emergency relief efforts and support research into sustainable water practices…

Niël Terblanché Deepsea Consolidated Investments donated six metric tons of salt-dried fish towards the government’s drought relief effort. John Mutorwa, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works and Transport, expressed profound gratitude to Deepsea Consolidated Investments for the donation on Monday. “This act of generosity is a demonstration of the collaborative spirit required to combat the challenges caused by natural disasters,” he said. This is the latest donation towards drought relief activities. The government's Drought Relief Programme, running from July 2024 to June 2025, is a comprehensive initiative aimed at providing immediate relief and long-term solutions to mitigate the…

Niël Terblanché The Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) within the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR) announced a scheduled service interruption of the Namibia Livestock Identification and Traceability System (NamLITS) from 23 to 27 August. The acting director of the DVS, Dr. Johannes Shoopala, informed all users in a special notice issued on Monday that the maintenance work will affect several services rendered by the DVS and the Livestock and Livestock Products Board of Namibia (LLPBN). “This downtime is due to essential maintenance of NamLITS hardware,” he said. Shoopala added that services such as the issuance of livestock…