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Young author from Ongha seeks support to publish first novel

Young author from Ongha seeks support to publish first novel

Mallex Shipanga Seventeen-year-old Julia Shaama from Ongha village in the Ohangwena region is seeking assistance to publish her debut novel, Behind Me. Shaama, a learner at Dr Abraham Iyambo Secondary School, has completed her manuscript but faces challenges in getting it published. “The book is complete, but I still have not published the book. I do not know where to publish the book. I have got no sponsors,” she said. She expressed her pride in completing the novel and her eagerness to see it published. “With happiness and a smile on my face, I will be proud to see that…
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Rising model eyes New York Fashion Week

Rising model eyes New York Fashion Week

Mallex Shipanga At just 24 years old, Ruan Potgieter has quickly made a name for himself in Namibia’s fashion industry. Born in Swakopmund and raised in Windhoek, Potgieter began his modelling journey in 2019, just a year after finishing secondary school. Now, as he approaches his 25th birthday, he reflects on a journey that has transformed him into a local supermodel. “I was inspired by friends to start modelling, and I also really enjoy fashion. So when the first opportunity knocked, doing a small shoot for an acquaintance, my love for the posing arts had quite the jumpstart. I was…
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Beyond the game with MT – Building spaces, skills, and communities for a thriving Namibia

Beyond the game with MT – Building spaces, skills, and communities for a thriving Namibia

Mathew T Haikali Am very excited to see that our leaders are taking a keen interest in the need to develop sports facilities and amenities around the country. As our country progresses, it is crucial that town planners take on the task of ensuring that the living environment of citizens includes more than just housing and basic services. Am just saying, the creation of recreational spaces must be prioritized and designed with accessibility, safety, and functionality in mind. All I am asking is that these spaces should not be tucked away in isolated corners where they could become dangerous, but…
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Nudo infighting threatens party stability ahead of regional and local authorities elections

Nudo infighting threatens party stability ahead of regional and local authorities elections

Martin Endjala Internal divisions within the National Democratic Unity Organisation (Nudo) are expected to escalate this year as the party prepares for local authority elections scheduled for November. The ongoing factional battles have already delayed key processes, including the party's congress and the selection of a presidential candidate in last year’s presidential elections. The party obtained one seat in the National Assembly. It currently has two seats occupied by the party president, Esther Muinjangue and secretary general, Joseph Kauandenge. Infighting prevented the party from holding its elective congress last year, leading to its postponement to May this year. A faction…
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Nandi-Ndaitwah and Shanghala summoned in Red Line case

Nandi-Ndaitwah and Shanghala summoned in Red Line case

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Windhoek High Court has summoned Vice-President and President-elect Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, along with former justice minister Sacky Shanghala, to testify in a constitutional case brought by activist Job Amupanda. The case challenges the constitutionality of the veterinary cordon fence, commonly known as the Red Line. The hearing is set to run from 20 January to 31 January. In the summons dated 16 January, Nandi-Ndaitwah, in her capacity as former minister of international relations, is expected to address the government's claims regarding international agreements that could be affected if the red line is removed. Shanghala, currently in jail awaiting…
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Youth leaders advocate for increased TVET funding

Youth leaders advocate for increased TVET funding

Allexer Namundjembo Students and youth leaders are urging the government to prioritise funding for technical and vocational education and training institutions (TVET) to attract more applicants and reduce the stigma associated with vocational training. The Landless People’s Movement (LPM) Youth Command leader, Duminga Ndala, in an interview with the Windhoek Observer on Thursday, said she would like to urge the government, through the education ministry, to encourage students to study at TVETs. She said students need to understand that TVETs are not only for those who did not meet university requirements but are also another form of higher learning, offering…
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Namibia’s exports stand at N$12.2 billion

Namibia’s exports stand at N$12.2 billion

Stefanus Nashama The Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) has announced that the country's export earnings for November 2024 reached N$12.2 billion, marking a 39.0 percent increase from N$8.8 billion recorded in October of the same year. In contrast, the country’s import bill for the month amounted to N$17.7 billion, a rise of 7.2 percent from N$16.5 billion in the previous month. These figures were released in the Namibia International Merchandise Trade Statistics Bulletin for the month under review, published on Thursday. The trade data reveals an improved trade deficit of N$5.5 billion in November 2024, an improvement from the N$7.7 billion…
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B2Gold to spend N$131m on exploration at Otjikoto

B2Gold to spend N$131m on exploration at Otjikoto

CHAMWE KAIRA B2Gold plans to spend a total of US$7 million (N$131 million) for exploration at its Otjikoto mine in 2025. The focus of the exploration programme will be drilling to expand and refine the recently discovered Antelope deposit, located approximately 3 km south of phase 5 of the Otjikoto open pit, with a total of 44 000 meters of drilling planned, the company announced. Gold production at Otjikoto will be weighted towards the first half of 2025 due to the conclusion of open pit mining activities in the third quarter of 2025. For the full year 2025, Otjikoto is…
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Global oil prices expected to exceed US$80 per barrel

Global oil prices expected to exceed US$80 per barrel

CHAMWE KAIRA Global oil prices are expected to exceed US$80 per barrel this year. Furthermore, Simonis Storm Securities has said for 2025, it anticipates that Namibia’s headline Consumer Price Index (CPI) will average around 4%, with core inflation stabilising at approximately 4.5%. The firm said the outlook assumes relative stability in global markets and continued monetary easing domestically. However, an expected increase in global oil prices, currently at US$77 per barrel, is projected to exceed US$80 per barrel, driven by heightened geopolitical tensions under the Trump administration. “Such an increase may exert upward pressure on transport costs, with potential spillover…
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Chevron fails to find commercial hydrocarbons

Chevron fails to find commercial hydrocarbons

CHAMWE KAIRA Namibia’s quest to become an oil producer has suffered another setback. Sintana Energy Inc. has announced that it has been notified by Chevron that while operations reached total depth 25% ahead of plan at its offshore Namibia exploration, the well did not find commercial hydrocarbons. This is the second setback suffered by Namibia in its quest to become an oil producer following the recent announcement by Shell that it will write down around US$400 million over an oil discovery offshore Namibia that it deemed commercially unviable. Shell said the oil and gas resources in offshore block PEL39 in…
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