National News – Page 189 – Windhoek Observer

20 Oct

Turkey aids Namibia’s drought relief efforts with food donations

National NewsComprehensive Drought Response Relief Programme

Niël Terblanché The Turkish government has stepped in to strengthen Namibia’s drought relief programme by donating food aid worth approximately N$350 000. The much-needed assistance that was handed over on Friday, comes at a critical time, as almost half of the country’s population faces hunger because of the impact of the ongoing drought that has severely affected food security and the livelihoods of many vulnerable communities. During a ceremony held in Windhoek on 18 October 2024, Namibia’s Deputy Prime Minister, John Mutorwa, expressed deep gratitude on behalf of the Namibian government for the country’s timely donation. He explained that the…

20 Oct

Capacity building and market access for small-scale fisheries vitally important

National News

Niël Terblanché By addressing these key challenges, Namibia’s small-scale fisheries (SSF) sector can play a more significant role in the country’s economy, improving food security and livelihoods, particularly for rural communities. To achieve this, strengthened collaborations between government entities, non-governmental organisations, and SSFOs will be vital in ensuring the sector’s success as it adapts to evolving market conditions and climate-related challenges In this regard, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, in partnership with the Namibian Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR), held a one-day workshop to validate the results of a Training Needs Assessment (TNA)…

20 Oct

Veteran broadcasters set to guide next generation

National NewsSociety of Broadcast Veterans

Niël Terblanché Seasoned professionals from the broadcasting industry launched the Society of Broadcast Veterans (SBV) an initiative to mentor, inspire, and support the next generation of media talent. The forward-thinking initiative was launched on Friday. By bridging the gap between traditional broadcasting principles and modern journalism, the SBV aims to equip young broadcasters with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive in a constantly changing industry, ensuring that the future of media remains rooted in credibility, integrity, and passion. Kolie van Coller, convener of the SBV, stressed the significance of this initiative. “We recognise the challenges that young and…

17 Oct

Political interests spark renewed /Khomanin communal land dispute

National News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Special advisor to the chief of the /Khomanin Traditional Authority, Walter /Hâseb, has accused certain individuals of exploiting the ongoing /Khomanin communal land dispute for political gain. The dispute, which revolves around ancestral land rights, has resurfaced with allegations from the community that a farmer, John Cuff, is infringing upon their rights to access, use, and control the land. “These individuals are being economical with the information they are sharing. They have their own political objectives that they want to achieve through elections. They are using this land issue to rally support, but they are not telling the…

17 Oct

Northern and Southern regions paid the least tax

National News

Martin Endjala The northern, southern, northeastern, and north-central regions contributed the least to Namibia's tax revenue, collectively adding over N$387 million out of the total N$4.2 billion in regional revenue performance. The central region contributed the most, with N$1.5 billion, followed by the western region with N$487.3 million. Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) Commissioner, Sam Shivute attributed the disparity to tax evasion by individuals and businesses. He discussed this issue during NamRA's performance report for the period from April 1 to September 30. “To address these issues, NamRA implemented the Tax Amnesty Program on April 1, 2023, offering relief to taxpayers…

17 Oct

ECN disqualifies three presidential hopefuls

National NewsAlly Angula, Else Ndapandula Chen, Jeremia Kaambo

Niël Terblanché The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) announced the disqualification of three presidential hopefuls in the upcoming Presidential and National Assembly Elections scheduled for 27 November. In a statement issued on Thursday, the ECN said the disqualified candidates are Ally Angula, Else Ndapandula Chen, and Jeremia Kaambo. The Commission cited non-compliance with the nomination requirements outlined in the Electoral Act (Act 5 of 2014), particularly regarding the collection of registered voters’ signatures. In accordance with section 75(3)(b) of the Electoral Act, the public nomination process, which commenced at 09h00 on the 17th of October, officially closed at 11h00. “After…

17 Oct

NIPDB boss explains controversial rehiring of Balloti

National News

Ester Mbathera During a recent staff meeting at the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), the chairperson and chief director, Nangula Uaandja, informed employees that Dino Balloti would be rejoining the organisation on a fixed-term basis. This is to give him time until he goes to parliament in March 2025. Ballotti is on the Swapo list of National Assembly candidates. “We asked Exco and everybody was unanimous and said, yes, we can have Dino join us for a few reasons. Number one, we still do not have an executive director. We are looking for that executive director with time…

17 Oct

‘Namibia has low levels of corruption’ – Prime Minister

National NewsNational Anti-Corruption Strategy and Action Plan

Martin Endjala Namibia has relatively low levels of corruption, according to Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila. She made the remarks on Wednesday during the National Anti-Corruption Strategy and Action Plan (NACSAP) 2021-2025 Steering Committee meeting in Windhoek. “Since independence, the Namibian government has made significant strides in strengthening measures to combat corruption and promote effective governance. The government has achieved this progress by improving processes, systems, and institutions, she said. The country performed similarly in the 2022 Transparency International Corruption Perception Index, ranking 8th out of 54 African nations. In the 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index by Transparency International, Namibia ranked 59th…

17 Oct

Namibia leads Africa in gender equality

National News

Niël Terblanché While Namibia continues to lead in many areas of gender equality, the country’s progress must be complemented by robust, actionable strategies to further improve the lives of all citizens. While addressing participants at the 7th High-Level Gender Advisory Committee Meeting in Windhoek on Wednesday, Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila hailed Namibia’s impressive progress in gender equality, announcing that the country has closed 80.2 percent of its gender gap. “According to the 2023 Global Gender Gap Index, this achievement places Namibia first in Sub-Saharan Africa and eighth globally,” she said. The premier expressed pride in the nation’s achievements in Education,…

17 Oct

Muinjangue dismisses NUDO-SWANU collaboration claims

National NewsBarry Rukoro, The Electoral Act

Allexer Allexer The National Unity Democratic Organization (NUDO) president, Ester Muinjangue, has said that her party is busy with campaigning and has no time to waste on collaboration claims. This comes after a NUDO faction led by Barry Rukoro announced that NUDO and the South West Africa National Union (SWANU) have joined forces to collaborate in the November elections. Muinjangue on Wednesday told the Windhoek Observer that her party has no time to comment on these claims because she is busy campaigning. “The Electoral Act is clear that one cannot belong to two parties at the same time. So, we…