National News

Renthia Kaimbi Government officials, scientists, industry leaders and community representatives gathered in Swakopmund last week to confront gaps in marine research and address growing pressure on the country’s ocean resources during the two-day Ocean in Focus Symposium. The two-day Ocean in Focus Symposium, held from 18 to 19 February, aimed to identify knowledge gaps and guide research, policy and investment in Namibia’s coastal and marine areas. The event was facilitated by the Namibia Nature Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform through the Namibia Islands and Marine Protected Areas Project (NIMPA+). Donor support came…

Staff Writer The deputy minister of agriculture, fisheries, water and land reform, Ruthy Masake, says Namibia must expand beyond traditional fishing and invest in large-scale aquaculture. She identified salmon farming as a new driver of industrial growth. She was speaking at the “Unlocking Namibia’s Salmon Industry: An Opportunity for Industrialisation” seminar at the Avani Hotel on Monday. Masake said the country needs to shift from harvest-based fishing to farming-based production of high-value species such as Atlantic salmon. She said this move would strengthen agro-processing and aquaculture value chains while supporting economic diversification. Masake noted that salmon ranks among the most…

Justicia Shipena The workers at the Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (Nored) will proceed with planned industrial action after the High Court struck the company’s urgent application from the roll. The court dismissed the urgent application brought by Nored against the Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN).  Yesterday, High Court judge Johanna Salioga ruled the application did not meet the requirements for urgency. “The application for condonation to bring this application as one of urgency is refused. The application is struck from the roll for lack of urgency," she said.  Judgement had initially been expected last week but was only delivered on…

Justicia Shipena Urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa says a fine of N$200 under the Rent Ordinance of 1977 no longer meet the realities of today’s property market. Sankwasa said the penalties were set for a different time and must now be reviewed as part of efforts to modernise Namibia’s rental laws. “As I indicated in my previous responses, we are seized with drafting a new bill that speaks to today’s rental markets. That means matters such as N$200 fines were ideal for the property market of that time,” Sankwasa told Parliament on Thursday.  He said the value of…

Allexer Namundjembo “We need concrete results that translate into income for producers and stability in our industry,” Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco) deputy chairperson Stephanie De Klerk said as the state entity presented its latest financial results at its recent 37th annual general meeting in Windhoek.  The meeting, held at the Namibia Institute of Public Administration and Management (NIPAM), focused on improved financial performance and the country’s preparedness against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), which remains a threat in the region. Meatco reported that revenue increased by about 55% to roughly N$1.87 billion for the 2024/25 financial year.  Profit before tax reached…

Renthia Kaimbi The High Court has set aside former minister of urban and rural development Erastus Uutoni’s refusal to approve Tiofilia Jentzsch’s appointment as chief executive officer of the municipality of Outjo. The court then ordered his [Uutoni’s] successor, James Sankwasa, to reconsider the matter within 60 days. On 18 February, High Court judge Andrew Corbett ruled that Uutoni’s decision made in March 2024 was not properly handled and did not follow the correct procedures. He said the decision was not reasonable, had no proper justification, and failed to meet the constitutional requirements for fair administrative action. Jentzsch, who served…

Allexer Namundjembo Inspector general Joseph Shikongo has ordered police officers in Katima Mulilo and across the Zambezi region to respond to community callouts on foot even when no vehicles are available. Shikongo said the shortage of vehicles must no longer be used as a reason for failing to attend to public complaints. “Seventy vehicles should be available to assist. The issue of telling the community that there are no cars must come to an end. I do not want to hear about it again,” Shikongo said while addressing police officers in Katima Mulilo last week.  However, he acknowledged that 27…