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Niël Terblanché The Heads of State of both Namibia and Botswana reaffirmed their commitment to safeguarding borders and promoting peaceful co-existence. President Nangolo Mbumba during official discussions between the leadership of the two nations said that enhanced cooperation in defence and security is seen as vital for addressing transnational threats such as terrorism and organized crime. President Mbumba and President Mokgweetsi Masisi of Botswana engaged in official talks at Swakopmund to bolster bilateral relations and cooperation on Thursday. President Masisi returned to Namibia for an official state visit for the first time since the memorial services for President Hage Geingob,…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Namibia Local Businesses Association (NALOBA) has criticised the government's reliance on foreign borrowing. NALOBA’s vice president, Peter Kanu Amadhila at the start of this week highlighted the national debt, which currently stands at N$153.8 billion, emphasising its potential impact on future generations. “It is irresponsible borrowing. Namibia is not supposed to be borrowing money from other countries,” he said. Amadhila said Namibia, which was once envisioned as a prosperous lender rather than a borrower, faces a concerning trend of prioritising borrowed funds over sustainable economic strategies. "Our country was supposed to be lending money to other countries!…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) says it will only register those people who are classified as male or female on their identification documentation. This comes amid concerns from activists and the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, and other (LGBTQI+) communities about the lack of inclusivity for non-binary and transgender individuals. The activists argued that the binary gender options in the voter registration process are not inclusive. In response to queries, ECN spokesperson De Wet Siluka made reference to the Civil Registration and Identification Bill. “Please go through the Bill. If you see other genders apart from…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The University of Namibia (Unam) is reducing its intake of education students to address the oversupply of education graduates in the job market. This move, according to Unam spokesperson Simon Namesho, is part of a broader effort to align annual intakes with the teacher demand and supply model. "We have shifted focus away from oversupplied areas like lower and junior primary education and towards areas of teacher scarcity like Namibian languages," explained Namesho. He added that, in addition to reducing intakes, Unam has raised its admission requirements to improve the quality of its graduates. "For the secondary education…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) is facing criticism for its lack of gender sensitivity in the voter registration process. The current system only provides options for males and females, excluding non-binary and transgender individuals. This has raised concerns among activists and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, and other (LGBTQI+) communities. Transgender woman, Deyonce !Naris said she has been vocal about the issue and has been emphasising the battle for recognition beyond the binary gender options. “It’s really problematic that ECN is not accommodating inclusivity. This whole male and female thing I have been…

Political scientists and analysts say the transition of Affirmative Repositioning (AR) from a social justice movement to a fully-fledged political party has the potential to alter the dynamics of the political landscape. Ndumba Kamwanyah, a political analyst, says the AR needs to mature beyond its previous tactics. "The maturity of AR means moving past the issues of insult and dependence on cult personality. They must be prepared to speak to all Namibians, not just young people. The young people alone will not make them win the elections," Kamwanya asserts. He stresses that AR needs to learn from its past mistakes,…

Erasmus Shalihaxwe A political science lecturer at the University of Namibia, Erika Thomas has described Vipuakuje Muharukua’s switch to Swapo as an opportunistic move that shouldn't be taken seriously. Muharukua, who announced his defection from the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) to SWAPO on Tuesday, was criticised for his inconsistency and lack of loyalty. “These people are opportunists. He thinks the PDM boat is sinking, and he does not want to sink with it, so he chose to jump to stay relevant in the political sphere,” said Thomas. After many years of criticising Swapo for corruption and maladministration in Parliament, Thomas…

Niël Terblanché Despite its critical role in the economy and the potential for significant growth, Namibia's agricultural sector remains underfunded, receiving less than five percent of the national budget. Immanuel Kadhila, the Managing Director of Eos Capital, has called for increased investment in agriculture to unlock its full potential and reduce the country's dependency on imported food products. Speaking at a recent event, Kadhila highlighted the sector's importance, noting that it employs 25 percent of Namibia's workforce and has been growing at an impressive rate of ten percent annually since 2010. He said that with adequate support, the agricultural sector…

Niël Terblanché President Nangolo Mbumba has urged Namibian public servants to prioritise citizens in their duties and tailor public services to meet the needs of the people during the commemoration of Africa Public Service Day. On Sunday, the African continent celebrated Africa Public Service Day to highlight the role that public servants play in nation-building and governance. Mbumba's message resonated with the values of dedication, professionalism, and continuous improvement that are essential for effective public service delivery. “As Namibian public servants, you can honour this day by upholding the values and professionalism of the public service we provide to our…