National News

Martin Endjala and Ester Mbathera A political science graduate believes that the decision to deregister the Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) and two other political parties should have included input from the voters who elected them. Lucia Sibanga, who is currently pursuing a master's degree in political science at Unam, said Section 136(1) of the Electoral Act stipulates that an application for registration as a political party requires at least 3,500 signatures from across Namibia. These signatures represent the voters who participated in the party's registration, whom she says deserve a say in its fate. “Excluding these voters from the…

Niël Terblanché The Governor of the Bank of Namibia, Johannes !Gawaxab, said that Namibia's stability and predictability are the major factors that attract investors in today's uncertain global economic climate. He made these remarks during a meeting with an audience of bankers, analysts, and representatives of the London Stock Exchange in London on Thursday. !Gawaxab stressed Namibia’s political stability and significant natural resources as pivotal elements of the country's developmental agenda. "Namibia's modern financial system and well-developed legal regime contribute significantly towards building investor confidence," he said. Despite facing domestic challenges like the drought, Namibia remains resilient, !Gawaxab said Namibia…

Niël Terblanché The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has officially registered the Action Democratic Movement (ADM) and Affirmative Repositioning (AR) as political parties that will participate in the Presidential and National Assembly Elections in November. The official registration was confirmed by the ECN’s Chief Electoral and Referenda Officer, Petrus Shaama, after a rigorous process as prescribed by the Electoral Act 5 of 2014. Shaama said that upon receiving an application, the Electoral Commission conducts a due diligence verification process. If the application meets all requirements, a notice is published in the Government Gazette to allow for objections. Objections can be…

Stefanus Nashama Musician Lazarus ‘Gazza’ Shiimi has come under fire after criticising opposition parties for not giving drought relief food to the people and developing the country. Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) spokesperson, Hidipo Hamata says Gazza is making the mistake of scratching where it doesn't itch. “As a movement, we are not concerned about Gazza. We see him as a musician trying his best to survive. If he wants another N$2.5 million, he should ask his party directly, without dragging other political parties into it as collateral, because there was no collateral when he received that money initially,” Hamata said.…

Stefanus Nashama The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) has dismissed allegations contained in a letter circulating on social media purporting that the party is a British-funded entity. The party’s spokesperson, Immanuel Nashinge, on Thursday in a statement, said the letter dated 25 May was fake and meant to fabricate all sorts of deceptions and innuendos. “The IPC strongly condemns what has now become a norm for political opponents to fabricate lies, forge documents and distribute fake news to tarnish the integrity of the IPC. We challenge our political opponents to engage in mature political campaigns, comply with the code of…

Niël Terblanché The Namibian government, with the financial support of Rössing Uranium, has commenced the construction of a new police station in the sprawling DRC informal settlement of Swakopmund. The groundbreaking ceremony, officiated by Dr Albert Kawana, the Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security, marks a critical step in enhancing public safety, and security while also improving the well-being of DRC residents. Kawana stressed the project's importance and said that the new police station is not just a building but a symbol of hope, security, and progress for the community. "This police station represents more than just a…

Ester Mbathera The Etunda Green Scheme Irrigation Project has reported continuous production activities since the return of the Green Schemes to the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform (MAWLR) in 2022. The farm manager, Sacky Shilyomunhu, and his team last week started with the final harvest of 180 hectares of maize and are simultaneously planting 210 hectares of wheat. “We are currently busy with the harvesting of maize that we planted in the summer," said Shilyomunhu. He said that out of the 180 hectares planted at the beginning of the year, they have so far harvested 120 hectares. “We…

Niël Terblanché The government convened a stakeholder forum on wildlife protection and relevant law enforcement issues. This initiative comes in response to the increasing concerns highlighted by international financial institutions, which have listed environmental crimes, including wildlife crimes and money laundering, among the top threats in Namibia's national risk assessment. The forum is also partly aimed at preventing Namibia from being grey-listed by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Pohamba Shifeta, the Minister of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism, opened the special forum and pointed to Namibia's historical success in wildlife protection post-independence. "Since controlling a surge in poaching in the…

Martin Endjala Namibian consumers struggle to make ends meet, as the high cost of living continues to affect household finances. Lara Enslin, the chief executive officer at TransUnion Namibia, said on Wednesday that the latest Consumer Pulse Study by TransUnion shows that 49% of Namibian consumers are unable to pay at least one of their current bills and loans in full. Of those consumers, 25% plan to borrow from a friend or family member to help pay some of their current bills and loans. “As a result, many consumers shifted their spending behaviour in the past quarter, including cutting back…

Niël Terblanché The Swakopmund International Trade Expo (SWAITEX) 2024 welcomed a rare and momentous occasion as the President and Vice President of Botswana joined President Nangolo Mbumba at the event's official opening. President Nangolo Mbumba, while welcoming President Mokgweetsi Masisi, hailed the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) event as a substantial milestone for Swakopmund. He said the visit by Botswana’s head of state and his delegation clearly demonstrates growing bilateral relations between the two countries. "It is a rare occasion to have both a president and a vice president from another country visit together,” Mbumba said. He added…