National News

Niël Terblanché Emma Theofelus, the Minister of Information and Communication Technology, has issued a final reminder to Namibians to register their SIM cards by 30 June to avoid complete disconnection. This update is part of an ongoing national exercise that commenced in 2021, aligning with international standards and the Communications Act of 2009. While addressing Parliament on Tuesday, Theofelus pointed to the substantial progress made in the SIM registration initiative. "As of 30 April 2024, we have successfully registered 91% of active SIM cards, up from 70.6% in February. This marks a considerable increase, with 2 172 379 SIM cards…

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has refuted claims that its voter registration data is hosted abroad by a company in Hong Kong as reported by a local daily newspaper. ECN Chief Electoral and Referenda Officer Peter Shaama said on Wednesday that the commission is dismayed by the misleading and unfounded article. He said the claims have the potential to create misperceptions among the ECN stakeholders and compromise the credibility of the voters' register. “The commission reassures its stakeholders, including members of the public, that the ECN Voter Registration System has never been and will never be hosted…

Stefanus Nashama The Ministry of Health and Social Services says there is no need for operational testing centres for Covid-19 in the country. The ministry spokesperson, Walter Kamaya, said the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared that the pandemic is no longer a world health emergency. Kamaya said this in an interview with the Windhoek Observer on Tuesday. “We do not have any cases. We are not even talking about the wearing of a mask now. The 45th Covid-19 update has made it clear that the pandemic has subsided. We do not need operational testing centres,” he stressed. Kamaya pointed out…

Niël Terblanché Namibia's Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR) convened a workshop to gather stakeholder feedback on the proposed regulations for the Seed and Seed Varieties Act (No.23 of 2018). The workshop, launched by Deputy Minister Anna Shiweda on Wednesday, marks a step towards the finalisation and implementation of the Act's regulations aimed at fortifying the agricultural sector and ensuring food security, "We need inputs from all our stakeholders to finalise the regulations. Both small-scale communal farmers and large-scale commercial farmers play an essential role in Namibia's socio-economic development, and their voices must be heard," Shiweda declared, The…

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Martin Lukato, the leader of the National Democratic Party (NDP), said his party is advocating for the construction of a railway line from Grootfontein to Katima Mulilo that would pass through the two Kavango regions. Lukato said this during an interview with the Windhoek Observer on Wednesday while explaining the party’s plans for the November elections. He said the rail services are affordable to ordinary people, and also that it is a safe mode of transport considering the number of road accidents the country has been experiencing over the years, so travelling by train can help reduce road…

Stefanus Nashama The Governor of the Otjozondjupa Region, James Uerikua, will initiate procedures to investigate the dispute over land ownership at Okamuru Farm located in the Omatako constituency near Waterberg. This follows a situation where the owner of the farm, Joachim Rust, threatened to demolish the houses of the fifth generation of descendants of farmworkers residing on the farm. According to reports, Rust plans to evict the descendants and sell the farm to a German national for use as a game reserve or lodge. The initial eviction notice was given in 2019. Speaking to the Windhoek Observer on Wednesday, Uerikua…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Office of the Prime Minister has urged regional councils to continuously update drought relief beneficiary lists to ensure that only eligible individuals receive aid. The Executive Director in the Office of the Prime Minister, I-Ben Nashandi, stressed the importance of regularly identifying new beneficiaries and updating the current list to reflect those who meet the criteria. He said that some individuals registered since 2022 may no longer be eligible due to changes in their circumstances, such as relocating or finding employment. "A lot of people don’t know the true meaning of the drought programme. It is a…

Niël Terblanché Despite its critical role, the pharmaceutical sector in Namibia faces numerous challenges, including limited resources, a lack of local manufacturing capacity, medication shortages, and the need for better integration of pharmacy services into the broader healthcare system. The Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services, Ester Muinjangue, said this during the launch of the Annual National Pharmaceutical Services Forum on Wednesday. “Despite these challenges, there are numerous examples of innovative solutions and best practices that we can learn from and adapt to our context,” she said. The Annual National Pharmaceutical Services Forum serves as a platform for addressing…

Martin Endjala A former diplomatic representative of Namibia, Ambassador Pius Dunaiski urged the government to exercise caution when accepting financial support from countries outside Africa, as this could compromise the country’s ability to remain independent. Dunaiski said this on Wednesday during a telephone interview with the Windhoek Observer when asked about the possible implications of accepting financial support for the country's policy-making processes. The National Planning Commission (NPC), in a notice, invited the government, and other interested parties to provide input to the draft of the new Government-Civil Society Partnership and Engagement Policy. The notice was published in local newspapers…