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Ester Mbathera  Esja Investment (Pty) Ltd has reached a settlement of N$1.8 million with 23 former fishermen who lost their jobs in December 2018. The settlement was finalised in the High Court on 1 April. According to the fishermen’s lawyer, Norman Tjombe, the settlement excludes the 20% annual interest that has accumulated since 2021, amounting to over N$1.7 million. “Esja obviously does not have money, but we will see what we can do,” Tjombe said. As part of the agreement, Esja will pay an initial N$115,000 on or before 1 April, with the remaining N$1.7 million due by 30 April.…

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security has generated N$19 million in less than a month through electronic visas on arrival from foreign travellers who entered Namibia last month. The ministry’s executive director, Etienne Maritz, shared the figures on Monday during a ceremony at the ministry’s head office to bid farewell to outgoing minister Albert Kawana and welcome the new minister, Lucia Iipumbu. He said 12 562 travellers applied for and were granted visas on arrival, paying administrative fees that amounted to N$19 million. Maritz said the system behind the electronic visas and visas on arrival…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Emergency medical services in the Omusati region have been severely affected by the poor condition of the Okahao-Amwaanda gravel road, especially the 15-kilometre stretch between Okahao and the Indira Gandhi Clinic. Health officials have confirmed that ambulance response times are significantly delayed. In some cases, pregnant women have been forced to deliver at home due to the impassable state of the road. Senior medical officer Okahao district hospital  Nghishikushitya Mutilifa, confirmed that the road’s condition has caused dangerous delays in emergency response efforts. “The ambulance cannot go there, and other off-road vehicles have to move at a very…

Chamwe Kaira and Allexer Namundjembo  Finance Minister Erica Shafudah has placed youth empowerment and food security at the centre of the country’s N$106.3 billion 2025/26 national budget, unveiled in Parliament on Thursday.  Presenting the budget under the theme “Beyond 35: For a Prosperous Future”, Shafudah said the government is prioritising development spending that directly addresses economic challenges facing young people and vulnerable communities. “We have also made specific provisions to address youth empowerment programmes and capacity enhancement activities,” Shafudah told Members of Parliament.  She added that the budget made allocations to various initiatives to promote food production and stimulate agricultural…

Ester Mbathera  Former Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Derek Klazen and his former personal assistant, Leevy Lee Abrahams, have denied allegations of corruption in the system for allocating fishing quotas. The accusations were made on social media by August Maletzky, director of the African Labour & Human Rights Centre, who claimed Abrahams demanded payments from fishing rights holders in exchange for access to marine resources. Klazen confirmed he was aware of the allegations. “I am also aware of the same allegations against myself and many staff members of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, not only recently, but…

Ester Mbathera President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has remained silent amid growing public outcry over the appointment of Dr Esperance Luvindao to parliament and subsequently as minister of health and social services. Allegations surfaced about irregularities in the vetting process and questions surrounding her nationality. Luvindao has been open about her parents' nationality on numerous occasions, of which proof is available on the internet. In 2023, at the Africa Women's Summit 2023 in Rwanda, Kigali, where she was a guest speaker, she again confirmed it. “My parents are from the Democratic Republic of Congo, so I speak Lingala, I speak Swahili and…

Allexer Namundjembo Namibia has become the first country in Africa where women hold the top three government positions. This followed the swearing-in of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah on 21 March as the country’s first female president. She previously served as Namibia’s first female vice president, a role she assumed in February 2024 after Nangolo Mbumba became president following the death of Hage Geingob. Alongside her are Vice President Lucia Witbooi and Speaker of the National Assembly Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila. Kuugongelwa-Amadhila is the first woman to serve as Speaker, while Witbooi is the second woman to become Vice President. Nandi-Ndaitwah has long supported…

Niel Terblanche Namibia’s fifth President, Dr Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has announced a sweeping reorganisation of Namibia’s Government Offices, Ministries and Agencies (OMAs), alongside a new Cabinet for the 2025–2029 term.Nandi-Ndaitwah said changes are aimed at eliminating duplications, reducing public expenditure, and improving the implementation of national development programmes. “In accordance with Article 32(3)(g) of the Namibian Constitution, and guided by the Election Manifesto Implementation Plan, I have decided to establish, abolish, and make several alignments in various Government Offices, Ministries and Agencies. I have also merged some ministries and transferred some mandates to the ministries where we can maximise outcomes,” she…

Ester Mbathera  President-elect Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has pledged to serve all Namibians, regardless of political affiliation. Speaking to SABC News on Wednesday, she said her leadership will focus on national unity and ensuring that everyone benefits from government policies. “From now on, even the Swapo Party members, will know Netumbo is a president of all Namibians,” she said. Nandi-Ndaitwah will be sworn into office on Friday as the country’s 5th and first female president. She acknowledged divisions following the elections but said her priority is to unite the country. “Namibia’s unity is very important, and I will keep appealing to all…