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Namibia seeks N$270 billion to meet climate targets by 2030

Namibia seeks N$270 billion to meet climate targets by 2030

Justicia Shipena President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said Namibia will require about US$15 billion, or roughly N$270 billion, to achieve its climate mitigation and adaptation goals by 2030. She noted that most of this funding will rely on international support. Speaking at the COP30 Heads of State Summit in Belém, Brazil, Nandi-Ndaitwah said the country's adaptation efforts in agriculture, water, health, biodiversity and infrastructure will require about US$6 billion (around N$108 billion), with 90% expected to come from external sources. She said mitigation measures are estimated to cost about US$9 billion (roughly N$162 billion), with 10% expected to be financed locally. “In…
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IPC candidate’s resignation throws Ogongo Constituency into uncontested territory

IPC candidate’s resignation throws Ogongo Constituency into uncontested territory

Renthia Kaimbi The resignation of Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) candidate Ndalikutya Arkeleus Shonena has left the Ogongo Constituency in the Omusati region without a contested race.  This might clear the way for Swapo's Daniel Iilende to secure the council seat unopposed. In his resignation letter dated Friday, Shonena wrote, “After careful consideration, I have decided to step down and discontinue my membership with the IPC in order to pursue new personal and political directions.”  Shortly after resigning from the IPC, Shonena joined the Swapo Party. His withdrawal, though politically surprising, is allowed under Namibia’s electoral law.  Corporate governance expert…
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Justice Ministry asks lawyers to help to resolve labour cases

Justice Ministry asks lawyers to help to resolve labour cases

Justicia Shipena The executive director in the Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations, Audrin Mathe, has called on the legal fraternity to help clear over 475 pending labour arbitration cases.  He said the backlog represents delayed justice for both workers and employers. He was speaking at the Law Society of Namibia (LSN) Gala Dinner held in Windhoek on Friday.  “We are currently facing a backlog of over 475 unresolved labour arbitration cases. This is not just a number; it represents over four hundred and seventy-five instances of delayed justice for workers and employers alike. Justice itself is crying out for…
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Diamond factory to help Namibia compete in global market

Diamond factory to help Namibia compete in global market

Justicia Shipena  President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said the new Ankit Gems Namibia Diamond Cutting and Polishing Factory will strengthen the country’s manufacturing base. She added that it will also promote resource diversification and create jobs for young people. Her remarks were delivered on her behalf by the acting minister of industries, mines and energy, Frans Kapofi, during the factory’s inauguration in Windhoek on Friday. Nandi-Ndaitwah said the project aligns with the country's priority of adding value to natural resources. “This plant will not only strengthen our manufacturing base but will also be instrumental for the diversification of our natural resources and…
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Onamatanga residents finally taste clean water

Onamatanga residents finally taste clean water

Allexer Namundjembo The people of Onamatanga in the Omusati region no longer have to drink salty water after the official commissioning of the Onamatanga Water Supply Scheme on Friday. The N$15 million project by the government through the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform was officially launched by minister Inge Zaamwani. She said the new system would bring lasting relief to residents who have struggled for years with unreliable and saline water sources. “For too long, the people of Onamatanga had access only to salty water,” Zaamwani said.  She added that the project provides a long-term and sustainable solution…
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Namibia and Nigeria eye creative exchange programmes for youth

Namibia and Nigeria eye creative exchange programmes for youth

Renthia Kaimbi Namibia and Nigeria want to create exchange programmes in the creative arts to strengthen cooperation between the two countries. The initiative will focus on music, film, fashion, and digital media to promote innovation, entrepreneurship, and cross-cultural understanding among young people. This follows a visit by Ohangwena governor Kadiva Hamutumwa to Lagos, Nigeria, where she met with Lagos deputy governor Karri Obafemi Hamzat and business leaders to discuss trade, investment and youth empowerment. During the meetings held last week, both sides agreed to deepen cooperation in key sectors and boost intra-African trade and investment. Officials from both regions are…
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CeSHHAR urges lawmakers to link climate and health in new bill

CeSHHAR urges lawmakers to link climate and health in new bill

Moses Magadza  A community liaison officer in the climate, environment and health department with CeSHHAR Zimbabwe has urged Zimbabwean lawmakers to ensure that the proposed Climate Change Management Bill explicitly addresses the intersection between climate change and health. Lloyd Pisa described this link as “the most critical and visible dimension of the climate crisis, because nearly every climate impact ultimately manifests as a health impact – whether through heat stress, food insecurity, malnutrition, or disease.” The call builds on pioneering work being led by Dr. Fortunate Machingura, the principal investigator of the climate, environment and health demonstration laboratories in Mount…
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The jobpocalypse is not coming – It’s already here

The jobpocalypse is not coming – It’s already here

Celeste Nangolo We used to talk about the future of work like it was something far away. Something our children would have to worry about. But let’s be honest: it’s already here. The jobpocalypse isn’t a distant storm on the horizon. It’s happening right now, quietly reshaping the way we live, work, and survive. Jobs are disappearing. Not because people aren’t trying hard enough, but because the world is changing faster than we ever imagined. Machines are doing things we thought only humans could do. Algorithms are making decisions, writing reports, and even handling customer service. And while that sounds…
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The importance of community and solidarity in the mining industry

The importance of community and solidarity in the mining industry

Rebekka Bengela Mining is an important sector in Namibia, but it is also an industry that may have a damaging impact if not carefully safeguarded. Economically, mining's contribution to the Namibian GDP has been phenomenal. Despite the mining sector contracting by 1.2% in 2024, over the past five years (2019-2023), diamonds and uranium were the most significant mineral commodities contributing to Namibia’s economy.  In 2023, the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (“KPCS”) revealed that Namibia (having the richest known marine diamond deposits in the world, estimated to total more than 80 million carats) is among the top five African diamond exporters,…
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TURNING POINT | Guided democracy

TURNING POINT | Guided democracy

Every election season, Namibians get a chance to ask themselves a question that goes deeper than politics: are we really ready to govern? It’s been 35 years since independence, a lifetime for a country that promised democracy, accountability, and development. And yet, our towns, villages, and regional councils are in distress. Roads crumble. Water taps run dry. Councils are broke, divided, and sometimes downright dysfunctional. The signs of regression are too clear to ignore. We often talk about democracy as if the act of voting alone guarantees good governance. But democracy, as political philosopher Claude Ake reminded us, is not…
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