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Niël Terblanché In an effort to advance wildlife conservation and rural development, the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism announced newly appointed members of the Game Product Trust Fund (GPTF) board. Environment minister, Pohamba Shifeta made the announcement and added that the fund was specifically created to play a key role in harmonizing the coexistence of humans and wildlife in Namibia. Established under the Game Product Trust Fund Act of 1997, the GPTF is a vital mechanism that ensures revenue from wildlife-related activities is reinvested into conservation and rural development projects. “The fund supports wildlife conservation, communal conservation, and rural…

Niël Terblanché Namibia is hosting the 38th High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy in Walvis Bay. The event brought together international experts, policymakers, and stakeholders to address the challenges and opportunities of sustainable ocean management. The event, which started on Wednesday and will conclude on Friday is expected to produce robust discussions on the critical role of oceans in global prosperity and Namibia's leadership in marine conservation. Opening the event, Derek Klazen, the minister of fisheries and marine resources, said the Benguela Current that flows past the Namibian coast is a national treasure and the cornerstone of the country's…

Martin Endjala In response to the persistent drought in Namibia, First National Bank has launched a drought relief initiative to support the agricultural sector. Sepo Haihambo, the bank’s commercial chief executive officer, said that the initiative aligns with the Bank of Namibia’s recent policy changes aimed at promoting economic and financial stability amid the ongoing drought. “FNB Namibia is pleased to offer loan moratoriums, loan restructuring, and emergency funding with preferential terms to qualifying farmers and agricultural clients affected by Namibia’s drought,” said Haihambo. The move follows the Bank of Namibia’s new determination requiring banks to implement drought relief measures.…

Mallex Shipanga Legal experts from Namibia’s Society of Advocates have raised objections to the “Definition of Spouse Bill,” which was passed in July 2023. The society is arguing that the bill contravenes the Namibian Constitution. In a statement issued on 3 December, the president of the Society of Advocates, Natasha Bassingthwaighte addressed the bill. She explained that the constitution does not allow the parliament to pass this law. “The constitution specifically states that parliament shall not make any law that abolishes or abridges the fundamental rights and freedoms conferred by the constitution and that any law that does so is…

Martin Endjala TransUnion Namibia’s country manager, Lara Enslin has urged consumers to avoid taking on additional debt during the festive season, emphasising the importance of maintaining a good credit score. In an interview with the Windhoek Observer on Wednesday, Enslin advised individuals to avoid maxing out credit facilities and to monitor their credit usage. She recommended keeping credit utilisation below 35% of the limit and prioritising the repayment of outstanding balances. “So if you check the credit limits on your loan accounts, credit cards, and overdrafts, see how much you owe on each. You plan to maintain a healthy amount…

Stefanus Nashama Matheus Mhani, the presiding officer for the Windhoek Rural Constituency during the 2024 presidential and national assembly elections, has denied allegations of election rigging involving 500 000 ballot papers reportedly filled in favour of Swapo. The allegations, circulating on WhatsApp and other social media platforms, accuse Mhani, a member of the Namibian Police, Gidein Shino, and the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) officials of plotting to manipulate results. "Those are false allegations. I am not the author. I do not know who is trying to use my name in connection with things that are not true. Even the…

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The homestead of Chief Hosea Kutako in the Toasis village near Aminius in the Omaheke region was officially declared a national monument during a special ceremony on Tuesday. The event led by President Nangolo Mbumba also marked the inauguration of the Hosea Kutako Memorial Museum and Homestead Shrine. Mbumba emphasised the significance of the site in Namibia's history. “It represents the unity of the Namibian people, which carried them during the fight against racism, German colonialism and illegal apartheid occupation,” said Mbumba. The President praised Chief Kutako as an iconic nationalist who championed peace, unity, and justice for…