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Niël Terblanché The government has introduced the Marriage Act of 2024, a new piece of legislation that brings significant changes to the regulation of civil marriages in the country. Etienne Maritz, the executive director of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, described the new law as a critical step in modernising Namibia’s marriage framework. Among the key provisions is a requirement for pre-approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security before couples can proceed with their marriage. This legislation, which replaces the Marriage Act of 1961, was signed into law by President Nangolo Mbumba…

Martin Endjala The First National Bank of Namibia (FNB) has reported losing over N$4 million to fraud, with just under N$1 million successfully recovered for affected clients.  This was revealed by FNB’s chief risk officer, Johan Du Plessis, during a media briefing held in Windhoek. “Between November and December 2024, FNB reported and investigated 103 fraud incidents. This represents less than 1% of the customer base impacted by fraud,” he said. One recent case involved a 60-year-old pensioner from the Omusati region, who was defrauded of N$1.1 million by an unknown suspect.  The suspect gained access to her account and…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja  In a country like Namibia, where traditional gender roles often dictate career paths, women like Linda Haimbili are challenging the status quo. Born on 26 August 1996 in Ohakweenyanga village near Ongwediva, Haimbili's upbringing as the only girl among boys instilled in her a sense of independence. In 2019, Linda worked on the Onkumbula police station roofing project in the Oshikoto Region, standing out as the only woman among 87 men. Her work earned her the moniker "The Welding Queen Among Men" from site managers. Today, Linda is the leader of Core Commercial Construction cc, a company that…

Moses Magadza An influential traditional leader is rallying other traditional leaders across the African continent behind ongoing efforts to eradicate child marriage. His Royal Highness Chief Chamuka VI, Dr. Morgan Kumwenda, is a gender equality activist and traditional leader of the Lenje ethnic group in Zambia.  He was a special guest at a side event co-hosted in Livingstone, Zambia by the Parliament of the Republic of Zambia, SRHR Africa Trust (SAT) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) during the 56th Plenary Assembly of the SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) in December last year.  The speaker of the National Assembly…

Mallex Shipanga Access to gynaecological care is not just a matter of health but one of empowerment, dignity, and saving lives.  For many women, untreated gynaecological issues can lead to life-threatening conditions, yet access to specialist care remains out of reach for countless others. Recognising this critical need, specialist gynaecologist and obstetrician Simon Emvula has stepped up, partnering with the Be Free Care Clinic to provide free consultations for women. “Watching so many women queue up at the clinic, many suffering from serious, life-threatening, untreated gynaecological issues, was deeply disheartening. It served as a powerful reminder that, as healthcare professionals,…

Niël Terblanché The Namibian government has taken steps to address issues of statelessness and improve civil registration processes through two new pieces of legislation. These include the Civil Registration and Identification Act, 2024, and the Regularisation of Status of Certain Residents of Namibia, Their Descendants and Foreign Spouses Act, 2024. On Thursday, the executive director of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, Etienne Maritz, announced these developments, while reiterating their importance for national identity management and human rights. “These Acts reflect Namibia’s commitment to addressing critical issues of identity and statelessness while ensuring that all residents are…

Niël Terblanché President Nangolo Mbumba of Namibia welcomed Mohamed Meziane, Algeria's Minister of Communication and Special Envoy, at State House in Windhoek on Thursday. The Algerian envoy during the diplomatic engagement at State House in Windhoek sought to strengthen bilateral ties and secure strategic support from Namibia. Meziane delivered a personal letter from Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, seeking Namibia's endorsement for Algeria's candidate in the upcoming African Union (AU) Commission chairmanship elections. In response, President Mbumba reiterated the longstanding camaraderie between the two nations. "Namibia and Algeria have good relations; we have both full diplomatic representation in the capitals," he…

Niël Terblanché NamWater has unveiled a series of urgent measures to address the ongoing water supply challenges in Opuwo. The town in the Kunene region has been struggling with deteriorating water quality and insufficient supply NamWater’s spokesperson, Lot Ndamanomhata, in a statement on Thursday, said the national water utility has embarked on a combination of short-, medium-, and long-term initiatives aimed at ensuring reliable and sustainable access to potable water for the town’s residents. Ndamanomhata assured the community of NamWater’s commitment to resolving the crisis. “NamWater remains steadfast in its mission to provide reliable and safe drinking water to all…

Niël Terblanché Emma Theofelus, Namibia’s Minister of Information and Communication Technology, has announced plans to expand collaboration agreements with neighbouring countries Angola, Zimbabwe, and Zambia.  The announcement was made during the ministry’s annual staff meeting in Windhoek on Thursday. “This initiative aims to harmonise mobile roaming fees, building on the successful reduction of roaming charges between Namibia and Botswana,” she said. Theofelus reiterated that the process of digital inclusion and cross-border connectivity is already in progress and being strengthened. “Our collaboration with Botswana is a demonstration of our efforts to deliver affordable communication services to all Namibians, which will ultimately…