National News

Patience Makwele A parliamentary probe into lending practices has put Namibia’s debt crisis under the spotlight, with lawmakers raising concerns that some workers are taking home only a fraction of their salaries after multiple loan deductions. The National Assembly’s Parliamentary Standing Committee on Economy and Industry, Public Administration and Planning on Friday held a public hearing to examine whether existing laws adequately protect borrowers from exploitation by lending institutions and informal money lenders. The hearing formed part of the committee’s investigation into the country’s growing indebtedness and follows a motion tabled in Parliament calling for a review of lending practices…

Patience Makwele Namibia’s education system is producing graduates who are increasingly ill-prepared for the demands of the modern workplace, with industry and education leaders warning that a growing skills mismatch could hamper the country’s development ambitions. The warning emerged during International Training College-Lingua’s first business networking breakfast held under the theme, ‘Stakeholder Engagement: Actions Leading to Smart Partnerships between Industry and Educational Institutions in Windhoek on Friday. Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the education minister, National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) deputy executive director, Sylvia Demas said employers continue to complain about a mismatch between the skills required…

Eugenia Moche The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) has criticised President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s state visit to Tanzania, accusing her of remaining silent on human rights abuses while celebrating economic ties with a government accused of extrajudicial killings, political persecution, and mass detentions. In a statement issued on Sunday, IPC shadow minister of international relations and trade, Rodney Cloete, said that while the three-day visit had produced “warm words on trade” and pledges to deepen economic cooperation, there had been “public silence” on the imprisonment of Tanzania’s main opposition leader, Tundu Lissu, and the killing of citizens in the wake of…

Allexer Namundjembo Minister of justice and labour relations Fillemon Wise Immanuel has urged that workers’ voices be reflected in national policy and economic planning, while also stressing compliance with the labour law. Speaking at the Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN) regional roundtable meeting held under the theme “From the Shaft to the Chamber: Workers’ Voices, National Choices” in Swakopmund on Saturday, Immanuel also congratulated MUN on 40 years of service since its establishment in 1986. “Workers are not merely participants in the economy; they are builders of the nation. Every tonne of uranium, gold, diamonds, copper, lithium, zinc, and other…

Allexer Namundjembo A petition calling for pedestrian bridges instead of speed humps on the B1 highway has collected more than 16 560 signatures, organisers say. Social justice activist Michael Amushelelo, who is spearheading the petition, said the total includes electronic signatures and over 1 000 handwritten signatures. The campaign is demanding the removal of what it calls “poorly planned, bolted plastic-and-metal speed humps” which it alleges are causing catastrophic highway collisions. Amushelelo has announced plans to sue the minister of works and transport, Veikko Nekundi, through Kadhila Amoomo Legal Practitioners. “The planned class-action lawsuit seeks financial compensation for motorists who…

Allexer Namundjembo The acting deputy general secretary of the Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union (MANWU), Lukas Matias, has confirmed that a planned strike by Furnmart employees will proceed across all branches nationwide, following a breakdown in negotiations over salary increases and the introduction of a housing allowance. Speaking to the Windhoek Observer on Thursday, Matias said the industrial action stems from long-standing unresolved demands despite continued engagement between the union and management since last year. According to Matias, 467 employees voted in favour of the strike. “The strike is about both the salary increase and the introduction of a…

Patience Makwele President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah says Namibia remains committed to securing a resolution on reparations for the genocide committed against the Ovaherero and Nama people during German colonial rule, insisting that justice and reconciliation can only be achieved through truth, acknowledgement and sustained dialogue. Addressing the High-Level Consultative Conference on the Next Steps for United Nations Resolution A/RES/80/250 on the Transatlantic Slave Trade in Accra, Ghana on Thursday, Nandi-Ndaitwah said Namibia’s pursuit of restorative justice forms part of a broader African effort to confront the enduring effects of slavery, colonialism and historical injustices. She said Namibia’s engagement with Germany stems…

Allexer Namundjembo Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare has defended the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Amendment Bill, saying the proposed reforms are necessary to safeguard Namibia's emerging oil and gas industry and ensure the country's petroleum resources are managed in the national interest. Contributing to the debate in the National Assembly on Tuesday, Ngurare urged lawmakers to put aside political differences and support the legislation, drawing parallels with the passage of the original Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act in 1991. Recalling discussions with ambassador Heiki Ausiku, a member of the first National Assembly, Ngurare said that lawmakers from across the political spectrum…