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Defence ministry faces scrutiny over N$8 million part quotation

Defence ministry faces scrutiny over N$8 million part quotation

Martin Endjala The Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs (MODVA) is under scrutiny following allegations of a fabricated quotation of N$8 million for a single spare part. In a letter dated 22 November from Windhoeker Maschinen Fabrik (WMF) which was cited by the ministry last week as having sold the part, raised questions about the authenticity of the quotation presented to the public. The matter first came to light on 19 November, when Affirmative Repositioning (AR) party leader Job Amupanda questioned the quotation. The MODVA denied the allegations during a press conference last week. Colonel Petrus Anton, the managing director…
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PDM claims it alone holds government accountable

PDM claims it alone holds government accountable

Stefanus Nashama McHenry Venaani, the leader of the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) claimed that the party is alone in its quest to hold the Swapo-led government accountable. While addressing the party’s final rally in Windhoek on Sunday, Venaani stated that the PDM has a proven track record of holding the government accountable. “There is no political party in Namibia that has the legislative record, experience, maturity and holding government to account,” said Venaani. He believes the PDM has the legislative experience necessary to form its own government. Venaani said PDM’s record is unmixed since it has fought against unemployment in…
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Student leaders blame UNAM for gun-point incident

Student leaders blame UNAM for gun-point incident

Allexer Namundjembo Leaders of different student unions have blamed UNAM for letting students write their final examinations without knowing if they have qualified for them or not. This follows an incident last week during which a male student held his lecturer at gunpoint and demanded that the lecturer change his marks. According to Natangwe Shikesho, the president of the Student Union of Namibia, UNAM has recklessly permitted students to take exams without verifying their eligibility. “We regret the unfortunate situation, and we do encourage students to follow the right procedures to resolve the matter. However, this is a testimony of…
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NamWater and MTC sign agreement to tackle water challenges

NamWater and MTC sign agreement to tackle water challenges

Martin Endjala NamWater and MTC signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Monday aimed at addressing Namibia's water infrastructure challenges. Abraham Nehemia, NamWater’s chief executive officer, described the partnership as a transformative step for the country’s water sector. “By leveraging cutting-edge technology and embarking on initiatives such as smart water metering, digital transformation, and capacity building, we are paving the way for innovative and sustainable solutions,” he said. He explained that the MoU represents more than just an agreement, calling it a commitment to improving efficiency, reducing water losses, and enhancing service delivery for all Namibians. Nehemia emphasized that this…
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Water supply to Swakopmund normalises

Water supply to Swakopmund normalises

Niël Terblanché The planned maintenance shutdown for the service and repair of the Erongo Desalination Plant (EDP) has been successfully concluded. According to Christine de Klerk, the spokesperson for Orano, which operates the EDP, water production resumed early on Saturday morning. Since then, the plant has already produced more than 40 000 cubic metres of fresh water. “An unexpected pipeline breakage between Swakopmund and the Omdel aquifer, unfortunately, occurred while the desalination plant was offline for repairs and maintenance. This resulted in the water supply to Swakopmund being reduced to a bare minimum,” De Klerk said. She added that, with…
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Over 3 000 police officers receive ranks and promotions

Over 3 000 police officers receive ranks and promotions

Niël Terblanché The commitment to excellence, discipline, and service to the nation of officers of the Namibian Police was rewarded with ranks and promotions at a special parade at the Israel Patrick Iyambo Police College in Windhoek on Monday. Nearly 3 000 officers received their promotions and ranks during the parade. The promotions, which became effective on 1 November, saw 2 990 officers promoted. Of this number 1 342 are women and 1 648 men. The Inspector General of the Namibian Police, Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo presided over the event, where the commitment and dedication of the nation’s law enforcement…
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Walvis Bay stinks

Walvis Bay stinks

Mallex Shipanga Sewage water has flooded the streets of the Kuisebmund residential area in Walvis Bay. This is particularly evident at the intersection of David Hambunda Street and Nathanael Maxuilili Street, which are the streets directly opposite the Kuisebmund stadium. Kuisebmund resident, Efraim Nanghama took to social media complaining about the sewage floods. “The place is overpopulated. We now have 100 000 residents living in Kuisebmund. A house that was made to accommodate one family now has 20 shacks. That's why we have this kind of problem,” Nanghama said. The Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) in its 2023 Population and Housing…
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Ongwediva town council cautions against occupation in flood-prone areas

Allexer Namundjembo The Ongwediva Town Council warned residents not to occupy land in flood-prone, low-lying areas. The local authority’s spokesperson, Otilie Shingenge, on Monday, told the Windhoek Observer in an interview that the council is ready to assist those who are at risk of being impacted by floods during the rainy season. “Our engineers are experienced, and we try not to allocate land in areas where floods can occur. Despite our efforts, people still take risks and grab land to build their houses in places where floods can easily occur and later come to the council asking for help,” Shingenge…
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Government seeks leave to appeal red line case

Government seeks leave to appeal red line case

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Ministry of Agriculture, the Government of Namibia, the attorney general, and Hango Nambinga have applied for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Namibia. The High Court issued two judgments on 5 September 2023 and 25 October 2024, and a specific portion of the order on 25 October 2024, in response to Job Amupanda's challenge to the veterinary cordon fence, also known as the "red line." The applicants argue that the High Court made several legal and factual errors in a notice they filed with the court on November 15. "The court erred in finding that…
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New immigration facilities in augurated in the Zambezi region

New immigration facilities in augurated in the Zambezi region

Niël Terblanché The Namibian government officially inaugurated new state-of-the-art immigration offices and staff accommodation at the Impalila and Kasika border posts in the Zambezi region on Friday. Speaking at the event, the minister of home affairs, immigration, safety and security, Dr Albert Kawana, reiterated the strategic importance of the new facilities. "These areas fall under the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA) which is a tourist hub of Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Angola. The facilities represent Namibia's response to the commitment made by leaders of these countries to promote tourism and build infrastructure," he said. According to Kawana, the new…
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