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Road crashes claim 344 lives since January

Road crashes claim 344 lives since January

Martin Endjala The Namibian Police recorded 344 fatalities as a result of motor vehicle accidents on Namibian roads between 1 January and 3 November. The Inspector General of the Namibian Police, Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo, described these statistics as a major concern. He was speaking at the start of the 2024 Festive Season Road Safety Campaign in Tsumeb on Friday. “This indicates that road users are still not complying with the road safety regulations,” he said. Shikongo called for greater compliance with road safety regulations to curb the alarming number of fatalities. “All road users are compelled to adhere to…
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NAMPA board distance itself from editor’s secondment

NAMPA board distance itself from editor’s secondment

Ester Mbathera The board of the Namibia Press Agency (Nampa) has distanced itself from the secondment of its head of commercial services, Confidence Musariri, to the New Era newspaper. Musariri was to resume the role of managing editor following the departure of Jonathan Beukes last month. In a letter dated 15 November, addressed to the Minister of Information and Communication Technology, board members Ndeuhala Katonyala-Lewis, Kingsley Guiseb, Elias Mwenyo, Bertha Amakali, and Kaulikalelwa Nghishitende stated they were unaware of the arrangement between the two media houses. “The board became aware, via the media reports of the secondment of Mr. Confidence…
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“Make America big again” but at what expense other than South Africa and Namibia?

“Make America big again” but at what expense other than South Africa and Namibia?

Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro Many people around the world harbor a deep-seated hatred towards the newly elected President of the United States. Because of the many derogatory diatribes against especially people of the South, not excepting Africans and/or Namibia for that matter, Namibia may be under the false illusion that she may be in a league of her own in this regard. Ironically, he has directed his racist rhetoric, bordering on fascism at times, against those who have just returned him to power. But such to them has not been less inconsequent than his trademark electioneering resolve during the recently ended presidential…
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HOW TOO MANY POLITICAL PARTIES IN A SMALL VOTING POPULATION MAY LIMIT THE RIGHT TO VOTE

HOW TOO MANY POLITICAL PARTIES IN A SMALL VOTING POPULATION MAY LIMIT THE RIGHT TO VOTE

In what appears to be winds of political change in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, the question on everyone’s mind is whether such winds will blow over Namibia and have the same chilling effect. We are justified to ask this question because history has taught us that political waves such as these can indeed sweep across the region, the continent and even the whole world, especially in an election year such as this where a whopping 64 countries will have headed to the polls by the end of this year. Namibia is one of the last countries to…
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NamRA issues N$75 million in tax refunds

NamRA issues N$75 million in tax refunds

Niël Terblanché The Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) announced on Wednesday that it successfully distributed more than N$75 million in tax refunds to over 50 000 taxpayers. According to Tonateni Shidhudhu, NamRA’s spokesperson, the mass payout, completed in two phases on 23 October and 1 November 2024, provided refunds ranging from N$100 to N$3 000 across various tax categories. He added that the refund initiative forms part of NamRA's ongoing efforts to clear the longstanding backlog of refunds and improve service delivery to Namibian taxpayers. Shidhudhu said the effort is aligned with Section 94 of the Income Tax Act of 1981…
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Trumped Again

Trumped Again

Jackie Wilson Asheeke One early slave-holding US president, Thomas Jefferson, once said, “The government you elect is the government you deserve.” That statement is more evident now in the re-election of Donald Trump as President of the United States and Republican control of both houses of Congress. Republicans continue their control of the Supreme Court as well, making a mockery of the symbol of blind justice. The much-praised American tricameral system of checks and balances does not exist, at least for now. Kamala won only 226 electoral votes (you need 270 to win), and Trump won 295. Remember, there is…
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A moment of choice: Standing on the right side of history

A moment of choice: Standing on the right side of history

Setson Tangeni Haidula As Namibians prepare to head to the polls on 27th November 2024, we are called to reflect on our past and its lessons. Our history is filled with resilience, bravery, and the unwavering determination of those who fought for freedom. During the liberation struggle, our people were divided into three groups: those who resisted oppression, those who collaborated with the colonial regime, and those who remained silent. The choices they made have not only shaped Namibia’s past but also influence the very democracy we live in today. Now, on election day, we face a new kind of…
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N$1.5 million winner-takes-all MTC Maris Cup launched

N$1.5 million winner-takes-all MTC Maris Cup launched

Windhoek General Administrators (WGA), a subsidiary of MTC, has launched the MTC Maris Cup, the country’s largest pre-season football tournament with a prize pool of N$1.5 million for the winning team. This is the biggest prize in Namibian football history. The tournament, beginning on 25 January 2025 will feature 16 Debmarine Premier League teams in a knockout format based on last season’s standings. The event also promotes MTC’s new mobile money service, "MTC Maris," and includes additional prizes: a N$30 000 preparation fee for each team, N$20 000 for both the top goal scorer and Player of the Tournament, and…
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Talking sport with Dimitri Bittler

Talking sport with Dimitri Bittler

Breathing New Life into Ramatex The former Ramatex textile factory, once a symbol of Namibia's industrial ambitions, now stands as an abandoned shell, a reminder of opportunities lost. However, this massive facility holds the potential for a new chapter in its history – one that could benefit the entire nation. Transforming Ramatex into a state-of-the-art indoor sports arena could open the doors to hosting international competitions and revitalizing the country’s sporting landscape. The Ramatex facility, located in the heart of Windhoek, offers a vast space that could be repurposed into a world-class indoor sports complex. With its high ceilings, ample…
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The rise of BRICS and Namibia’s geopolitical strategy as the Naval HQ, logistical hub and gateway for SADC landlocked countries

The rise of BRICS and Namibia’s geopolitical strategy as the Naval HQ, logistical hub and gateway for SADC landlocked countries

Paul T Shipale Bo Mbindwane, a South African-based socio-political researcher, with a focus on geopolitical risk management and national security, wrote an article titled; “Namibia and South Africa – Partners in History, Allies in the Future,” which appeared in the Windhoek Observer on 28 October 2024. In that article, Mbindwane says it is time to re-elevate Namibia’s role, strengthen its partnerships, and leverage a unique geographical bond to safeguard its future as that of neighbouring South Africa with whom it has a shared legacy and a shared destiny. Both nations’ fates and futures are geographically intertwined: sharing a land border…
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