National News

Patience Makwele & Sostenus Wilherm President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has challenged Namibians to move beyond celebrating the country’s liberation and confront the modern-day battles of poverty, unemployment, inequality and corruption, saying the next generation’s struggle is for economic emancipation. Speaking at the 60th Heroes’ Day commemoration at Heroes’ Acre in Windhoek on Wednesday, the Head of State said the liberation generation had secured political freedom and sovereignty, but the responsibility now rests with the current generation to improve the material conditions of Namibians. “Political freedom and sovereignty have been won. But every generation has its own struggle. Thirty-six years after independence,…

Sostenus Wilherm The Bethanie community has received a N$64,886.51 boost through a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) commitment attached to a government infrastructure contract. The commitment marks the first implementation of the Central Procurement Board of Namibia’s (CPBN) new procurement requirement. West Trading JV Unik Construction Engineering Namibia handed over blankets, boy’s and girl’s school uniforms and sanitary pads valued at N$64,886.51 on Monday to vulnerable members of the Bethanie community, including learners at Schmelenville Combined School. The donation is linked to the company’s N$64.88 million contract for the upgrading of the Sandverhaar-Buchholzbrunn Railway Line Phase 2, which involves the construction…

Sostenus Wilherm Minister of environment, forestry and tourism Indileni Daniel has called for greater investment in drought preparedness, warning that Namibia can no longer afford to respond to drought only after disaster has struck. Speaking during the high-level Drought and Water Day segment of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on Tuesday, Daniel said drought must be treated as a development, economic and resilience priority rather than merely an emergency. “For Namibia, drought is not a distant threat. It is a recurring national reality,” Daniel said. Namibia is among the driest countries in sub-Saharan…

Patience Makwele Geological scientists have urged Namibia to intensify exploration of its largely untapped mineral wealth and ensure more value is created locally from the resources extracted. The call was made on Wednesday during the ministry of industries, mines and energy’s informative awareness campaigns and engagements information sharing session, where geological survey of Namibia regional mapping geologist Claudia Mutongolume and geoscientist Norwel Mwananawa unpacked the country’s mineral potential, exploration opportunities and the role of geological science in developing the sector. Mwananawa said Namibia remains underexplored despite its long history of mining and diverse mineral endowment. “Traditionally, we have been producing…

Patience Makwele  Deputy minister of education, innovation, youth, sports, arts and culture Dino Ballotti has challenged Namibian entrepreneurs to look beyond the country’s small domestic market and use digital technology to target customers across the region. Speaking during the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia’s (CRAN) second Digital Transformation and Entrepreneurship Breakfast in Oshakati on Monday which was held under the theme “Unlocking Opportunities for Namibia’s Digital Economy.”  He said Namibia’s population of about three million should not limit the ambitions of local businesses, particularly as digital platforms make it easier to reach consumers beyond national borders. “Your target market is…

Sostenus Wilherm A community’s three-year effort to secure better early childhood education for its children is becoming a reality, with the Kyeracan community set to break ground for a new Early Childhood Development (ECD) center built partly from 15 000 bricks its residents moulded by hand. The groundbreaking ceremony for the new centre is scheduled for Tuesday, marking a significant milestone for the community, which has long sought to establish a dedicated learning facility for its young children. The project is being implemented in partnership with ATENU Developments, with funding and support from the Palms for Life Fund. What makes…

Sostenus Wilherm The trustees of the Namibian Procurement Fund II Fund are seeking to recover N$1.78 million from FlowCentric Mining Technology Namibia (Pty) Ltd over a disputed financing agreement involving an automated water filtration plant, after an arbitration process found that the agreement had lapsed because several conditions were not fulfilled. The matter is before the High Court in Windhoek, where the fund has given notice of its intention to amend its particulars of claim against FlowCentric. The proposed amendments introduce new claims based on alleged misrepresentation, unjust enrichment and the circumstances surrounding the disbursement of almost N$3 million for…

Renthia Kaimbi The ministry of works and transport has moved to strengthen Namibia’s road-safety framework by introducing a regulatory system for driving schools and driving instructors, with the aim of improving the quality and consistency of driver training across the country. The ministry is set to announce the initiative during a stakeholder consultation workshop on the registration and regulation of driving schools and instructors held in Swakopmund later today, where government officials, regional and local authority representatives, road-safety stakeholders, driving schools and instructors gathered to discuss the proposed regulatory framework. The consultation will be attended by Erongo governor Nathalia /Goagoses,…