National News

Geingob was the people’s President – Prime Minister

Geingob was the people’s President – Prime Minister

Martin Endjala In her heartfelt tribute to President Hage Geingob during the memorial service last week, Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila described Geingob as the people’s President. “President Geingob was the people‘s President. He had the ability to draw people across different backgrounds, and this has continued to be the case in the aftermath of his death,” she said. The Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said 4 February 2024 will go down as one of the darkest days in the nation’s history. Highlighting that although Geingob had publicly disclosed his health condition, which the nation appreciated its seriousness, many still hoped that he would pull…
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Power outage affects southern towns and farms

Power outage affects southern towns and farms

Niël Terblanché Residents of towns in southern Namibia, including Ariamsvlei and Noordoewer, along with farms in the area, have been plunged into darkness due to an ongoing power outage that began at 14:46 on Sunday. The blackout, attributed to an electrical fault on a key transformer at the Harib substation, has left communities without power and disrupted business and border crossing operations. NamPower has identified the cause of the outage as a fault on the second transformer (220/132 kV 40 MVA) at the Harib Substation. The national utility corporation stated that technical personnel are in the process of transporting a…
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Calls for improved disability grants increase

Calls for improved disability grants increase

Niël Terblanchéfor In a recent appeal, the National Federation for Persons with Disabilities in Namibia, led by Chairperson Mathew Hashoongo, has urged the government to fulfill President Hage Geingob’s commitment to raising disability grants from N$1,400 to N$3,000. This push for an increase reflects a broader call for enhanced support for individuals living with disabilities, including the alignment of disability grants with the proposed increments. According to the association, notable strides were made towards supporting vulnerable groups within Namibia under President Geingob’s leadership. In April 2023, the government announced a significant increase in the disability grant for children under the…
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UN agencies laud Geingob’s vision for Namibia and the world

UN agencies laud Geingob’s vision for Namibia and the world

Niël Terblanché During a special vigil, representatives from various United Nations agencies commemorated the profound impact of President Hage Geingob on both the Namibian nation and the international community. President Geingob was remembered for his essential role in Namibia's journey towards independence and his commitment to fostering international solidarity and according to UN representatives, his vision continues to resonate across the globe. Sam Ocran, the UNICEF country representative, remembered President Geingob's dedication to inclusivity, particularly his efforts to ensure youth participation in decision-making processes through initiatives like the children's parliament. According to Ocran, this approach emphasized Geingob's belief in empowering…
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ACC calls for companies to publicly declare assets

ACC calls for companies to publicly declare assets

Martin Endjala In a strong move to intensify the fight against corruption, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has called for companies to disclose their financial dealings, including gross revenue, taxes, royalties, and payments to the government and shareholders. This initiative aligns with the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), a standard that Namibia, through the Ministry of Mines and Energy, is encouraged to adopt. The ACC’s Chief Public Relations Officer, Josefina Nghituwamata highlighted the potential benefits of joining the EITI, emphasizing transparency in the financial activities of companies. "These disclosures are essential for public accountability," Nghituwamata stated while pointing to Norway as…
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Amushelelo claims that he received death threats

Amushelelo claims that he received death threats

Stefanus Nashama Social Justice Activist, Michael Amushelelo, said he has received death threats after speaking out against the incident in which members of the the Namibian Police Force killed five suspected robbers at Okahandja last year He, however, vowed to keep fighting injustice, stating that he would die standing on his principles because he is not a coward. “Please, tell those that are sending me death threats that I am not afraid of them. I will die on my feet because I am not a coward,” said the activist. Speaking to Windhoek Observer yesterday, Amushelelo said a person, whom he…
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High Court rescinds Chinese company’s urgent application in procurement dispute case

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The High Court has denied Zhong Mei Engineering Group (Pty) Ltd, the opportunity to apply for an interim interdict on an urgent basis against the Central Procurement Board of Namibia (CPBN) with regard to the construction of a new head office for Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority (Namfisa). Acting Judge Collins Parker found that the applicant failed to establish the exceptional nature of the case or provide a proper and strong foundation for the relief sought. This decision comes amidst a legal battle involving Palladium Civil Engineering (Pty) Ltd and Zhong Mei Engineering, who urgently challenged the Central…
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NAU aims to assist with implementation of new Water Act

Niël Terblanché Safeguarding Namibia's water resources for future generations rests on the successful implementation and the collective effort of the Namibian people to embrace sustainable water management practices. Namibia has embarked on a significant legislative shift with the implementation of the Water Resources Management Act 11 of 2013, known colloquially as the Water Act, which came into effect towards the end of August 2023. This new legal framework, complemented by its supporting Regulations 268, 269, and 270, aims to redefine water resource management in the country, emphasizing the government's commitment to sustainable water use and environmental conservation. The Namibia Agricultural…
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Mbumba confers the honour of National Hero on Geingob

Mbumba confers the honour of National Hero on Geingob

Niël Terblanché President Nangolo Mbumba, in a proclamation published on Friday, directed that a state funeral be held in honour of President Hage Geingob and that the former Head of State would be buried at Heroes’ Acre in Windhoek on 25 February. According to the Conferment of National Honours Act of 2012, a hero or heroine means a person who has done a heroic deed for the public good or has made an outstanding contribution or achievement for Namibia. The day Geingob died, Mbumba described him as “a distinguished servant of the people, a liberation struggle icon, the chief architect…
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700 000 people impacted by drought in Namibia

700 000 people impacted by drought in Namibia

Martin Endjala Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia (EIF) Chief Executive Officer Benedict Libanda, has made a shocking revelation that on an annual basis, an average of 700 000 people in Namibia are impacted by climate change and drought. He shared this information during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between EIF and the Namibia Special Risks Insurance Association Limited (NASRIA) in Windhoek last week. The agreement aims to mitigate climate change challenges and promote sustainable development. “With pressing times of climate change challenges, requiring funding and innovations such as this MoU, it becomes paramount to mitigating climate challenges,” he…
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