National News

Kawana introduces bill to help SWA ID holders acquire citizenship

Kawana introduces bill to help SWA ID holders acquire citizenship

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, Albert Kawana, has introduced the Regularisation of Status of Certain Residents of Namibia, their Descendants, and Foreign Spouses Bill. On Monday, the minister introduced the bill in the National Assembly with the goal of regulating the status of holders of South West Africa Identification Documents (SWA IDs), their descendants, and their foreign spouses who are unable to obtain Namibian citizenship under the current legislative framework. According to the minister, the bill provides for a process for these categories of people to acquire Namibian citizenship. “The Bill provides that SWA…
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Donation of specialised equipment enhances fight against malnutrition

Donation of specialised equipment enhances fight against malnutrition

Niël Terblanché The Capricorn Foundation assisted in addressing the pressing issue of child malnutrition in the Omaheke region by donating ten infusion pumps to the Gobabis State Hospital Paediatric Ward. The donation, valued at N$264 500 made last Wednesday is a vital addition to the hospital's equipment, enabling the administration of essential fluids to malnourished children. The Governor of the Omaheke Region attended the official handover of the infusion pumps. Ismael Pijoo Nganate stressed the dire malnutrition crisis exacerbated by drought and food insecurity in the region. "Our most vulnerable people are children, and they cannot stand for themselves. This…
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UNAM official caught red-handed in price fixing scandal

UNAM official caught red-handed in price fixing scandal

Niël Terbalnché The Director of Information and Communications Technology Services at the University of Namibia (UNAM), Tuyoleni Hamata, appeared in the Windhoek Magistrate Court on Friday on charges of corruption. According to the spokesperson of the Anti-Corruptin Commission, Josefina Nghituwamata, Hamata was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for violating Section 43 of the Anti-Corruption Act 2003 (Act No. 8 of 2003). In a statement released on Friday, Ngituwamata said the charges against Hamata stem from a fraudulent transaction in which the University of Namibia (UNAM) paid N$2.9 million for 3 466 4G internet dongles instead of the originally agreed…
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Conflict of interest stalls taxi industry reforms

Conflict of interest stalls taxi industry reforms

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The leader of the Namibia Transport and Taxi Union (NTTU) Werner Januarie said there is no positive movement in the direction of much-needed reforms in the public passenger road transport and taxi industries. He said this is due to a conflict of interest, as the same law enforcement agents and legislators are majority taxi owners. Januarie said this in a letter addressed to President Nangolo Mbumba on 27 May titled ‘’Calling on your action in solidarity with the taxi industry'' as seen by the Windhoek Observer. He said NTTU has been advocating for reforms in the public passenger…
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City of Windhoek implements water restrictions

City of Windhoek implements water restrictions

Martin Endjala The City of Windhoek has implemented water restrictions after declaring a Category D drought due to a water scarcity situation that has been continuously worsening since June 2023. The decision was approved during the Municipal Council ordinary council meeting held last week. According to the city council’s Water Management Plan and Water Demand Response Index, Category D - severe water scarcity - requires mandatory water restrictions of at least 15%. Cillie Kapolo, the City of Windhoek communication officer, said that measure was taken to regulate demand. “The impact of this demand management category on residents includes measures such…
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More than 1.4 million registered to vote

More than 1.4 million registered to vote

Niël Terblanché The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has announced that it has registered a total of 1 467 604 eligible voters within the borders of Namibia and at diplomatic missions abroad. According to Peter Shaama, the ECN’s Chief Electoral and Referenda Officer, this number was reached at the successful conclusion of the fourth General Registration of Voters (GRV) on 1 August. Shaama reported that during the final four days of the registration period, from 29 July to 1 August, 152 472 eligible voters were registered. “This figure represents an average of 38 002 registered voters per day during that…
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Shaningwa met Zanu-PF leaders

Shaningwa met Zanu-PF leaders

Martin Endjala The Swapo secretary general, Sophia Shaningwa, said a recent meeting between her and Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa was not secretive but part of their bilateral relationship. This follows last week's reports that Mnangagwa met in secret with prominent members of the ruling party in Namibia. “Why was our meeting termed secret and whose opinion made it secret? Those insinuations smell like hatred towards Swapo and Zanu-PF. Our bilateral relationship is not a secret and your informers must stop causing confusion,” she argued. She said the bilateral relationship between Swapo and Zanu-PF will continue. Shaningwa stated that the two…
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ACC sends teams to probe mismanagement across regions

ACC sends teams to probe mismanagement across regions

Martin Endjala The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has dispatched teams of investigators across various regions of Namibia to investigate matters of alleged corruption. The issues include a variety of cases of corruption reported countrywide, such as theft, mismanagement, unlawful appointments, and transaction approval, among others. The ACC’s spokesperson, Josefina Nghituwamata confirmed this during a telephone interview with the Windhoek Observer last week. "Yes, I can confirm that the commission has sent out a team to various regions to investigate alleged corruption matters. But I cannot provide the details at this time. The team’s investigations are not focused on one region or…
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MVA Fund encourages male staff to reject societal stereotypes

MVA Fund encourages male staff to reject societal stereotypes

Stefanus Nashama The Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVA Fund) has encouraged its male employees to reject societal stereotypes. Speaking at the MVA Fund's annual men’s conference network for male employees last week, the fund’s chief executive officer, Rosalia Martins-Haufiku, said that men won’t be safe and regarded as valuable members of society if they follow societal stereotypes. “It is important that we move away from societal stereotypes and focus on creating more workplace platforms where men feel safe and included as valuable members of society,” she said. The conference, hosted under the theme "Empowering Men for a Balanced Future," provides…
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City of Windhoek clarifies disruption at council meeting

City of Windhoek clarifies disruption at council meeting

Stefanus Nashama The City of Windhoek clarified the incident in which two young men interrupted the proceedings of the Ordinary Council Meeting last week. According to Lydia Amutenya, the City of Windhoek’s spokesperson, the two individuals requested to use the reading room at Katutura Community Hall for training purposes. “Their grievance is centred around a reading room located at Katutura Community Hall, which is managed by the city's Economic Development and Community Services Department,” she stated. Amutenya also explained that the individuals expressed dissatisfaction with the services offered by the municipality's employees. She added that they also called for the…
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