National News

Stefanus Nashama Namibia's property market has witnessed minimal growth since the onset of the economic downturn in 2015/16. This is according to Adrian Gläser, an equity associate at Curris Capital. According to Gläser, the national rental index, which reflects the average rent charges, has remained stagnant since 2016 and has subsequently fluctuated around minimal growth levels. “When adjusted for inflation, this indicates that the real value of average rents decreased to about 68 percent of their 2016 levels,” he said. Gläser further stated that the national housing index, which tracks average house sale values, performed slightly better. “It stands only…

Niël Terblanché The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security of Namibia has successfully achieved its target in the national mass registration campaign by registering more than 50,000 Namibians for birth certificates and identity documents. In a statement issued by Etienne Maritz, the ministry’s executive director, a total of 50 833 citizens have been documented by 24 June, marking an important step in the government’s ongoing efforts to ensure comprehensive birth registration and identification across the country. Launched on 5 February, the campaign has seen extensive participation from all 14 regions of Namibia. Maritz said that the initiative aims…

Niël Terblanché Namibia is making substantial strides in sustainable development through the implementation of the Namibia Integrated Landscape Approach for Enhancing Livelihoods and Environmental Governance to Eradicate Poverty (NILALEG) project. This initiative was the focus of the National Integrated Landscape Management (ILM) Conference where the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Pohamba Shifeta and Alka Bhatia, UNDP Resident Representative to Namibia addressed participants. Shifeta stressed the severe impact of environmental degradation on Namibia, affecting 70% of the population reliant on natural resources. He said that the NILALEG project, funded by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and implemented by the UNDP,…

Stefanus Nashama Telecom Namibia clients have expressed dismay that the company has not been able to sort out technical issues that led to disruptions in data connection services. They say the company is only good at apologising but fails to fulfil its promises. As a client of the national telecommunications provider, lawmaker Inna Hengari, stated that a mere apology is insufficient to compensate for the missed week of work or entertainment. “Just like in school, when you have a submission to make and you miss the deadline, an apology does not cut it,” she stated. Hengari, a prepaid customer, finds…

Niël Terblanché President Nangolo Mbumba has called on the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) to ensure the electoral process in the run-up to the November elections adheres strictly to relevant laws, maintaining Namibia's tradition of transparent and fair elections. Despite previous challenges, such as the 2019 court case brought by IPC leader, Dr Panduleni Itula over electronic voting machines without a paper trail, the electoral process has been praised for its integrity and democratic principles. As Namibia prepares for the Presidential and National Assembly Elections in November, approximately 500 000 eligible voters have so far registered to vote. During a…

Martin Endjala The Zambezi region submitted a council submission resolution, signed by its chairperson, Matengu Simushi, to keep the region's constituency border as is but with the addition of the Bwabwata constituency. This will bring the region's number of constituencies to eight. “Furthermore, it is proposed that the Bwabwata constituency border start from the middle of the Kwando River to the middle of the Kavango River. This proposal entails a re-alignment to the Kongola Constituency,” reads the letter. In a letter titled “Submission Zambezi Regional Council Resolution on the Regional and Constituency Boundaries Delimitation dated 31 May, Shimushi claimed that…

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Veterans of the liberation struggle, represented by the Former Refugees Repatriation Association Namibia, have urged parliament to remove defence and veterans affairs minister Frans Kapofi and his deputy, Hilma Nikanor, from their positions. The group, led by Matheus Nangolo, addressed the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs last week, expressing their dissatisfaction with the duo. Nangolo claimed that Kapofi and Nikanor have failed to address the veterans' concerns since their appointments, leading to a worsening situation. ‘’Honourable Frans Kapofi and Hilma Nikanor should be removed from dealing with veterans’ issues, together with Mr Thaddeus Erago. He…

Martin Endjala In the event that a political party fails to lodge its audited accounts with the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), the electoral body has no power to de-register such a party. According to Kadhila Amoomo, the lawyer representing the Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF), the ECN unlawfully deregistered and cancelled the party’s registration certificate on Monday. “To deregister a political party before exercising these powers is not only premature, but it is unreasonable, unfair, and irrational to want compliance with the Electoral Act,” he argued. On 17 June, the ECN notified NEFF deputy leader Kalimbo Iipumbu about the…

Niël Terblanché The Swakopmund Regional Court postponed Jandre Dippenaar's sentencing procedure until the third week of August after finding him guilty on six counts of murder last week. Dippenaar also received a conviction on Thursday last week for reckless and negligent driving as well as for operating a vehicle without a valid driver's license. The charges stem from a car crash between a Ford Ranger and a Toyota FJ Cruiser near Henties Bay on 29 December 2014. The crash claimed the lives of German nationals Walter Helmut Joschko, Stephanie Dorothea Schemick Joschko, and Alexandra Marlene Joschko, who were passengers in…

Niél Terblanché In an encouraging gesture of community support, Capricorn Group employees, known as Changemakers, hosted a winter warmer event for elderly residents of the Katutura Old Age Home and the Khomasdal Old Age Home on Friday. The event saw the donation of winter items worth N$20,000, bringing much-needed warmth and comfort to the pensioners. Capricorn Group organized a company-wide appeal to collect the donated items, which included knee blankets, socks, gloves, beanies, scarves, and toiletries. The generous response from employees demonstrated the organisation's commitment to positively impacting the lives of vulnerable community members. “At Capricorn Group, we believe that…