National News

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Minister of Trade and Industrialisation, Lucia Iipumbu has advised Namibian intellectual property holders to voluntarily register for copyright, as this can be used as collateral to secure loans or engage with direct foreign investors. Iipumbu shared this advice on Wednesday while presenting the Kampala Protocol on the voluntary registration of copyright and related rights in the National Assembly. She emphasized that voluntary registration of copyright and related rights reassures the business community and opens doors for rights holders, enabling effective coordination among copyright offices, collective management organizations, rights holders, and users worldwide. "The voluntary registration of Copyright…

Stefanus Nashama Following the retraction of the electricity tariff increase by the Electricity Control Board (ECB), the planned protest against the electricity hike has been postponed until further notice. The protest organiser, social activist Michael Amushelelo, confirmed this with the Windhoek Observer on Thursday. “This will give us enough time to organise the biggest protest for the removal of the regional electricity distributors and for the ECB to be a department in the Ministry of Mines and Energy. This is to ensure only Nampower will be supplying electricity, and the ministry revises the tariff like what it did this fuel…

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Divorce Bill should make it mandatory for divorcing couples to undergo psychodynamic therapy. This is according to a Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) member of parliament, Winnie Moongo. During the debate in the National Assembly this week, Moongo explained that therapy can provide divorced individuals with the tools they need to process their experiences and emotions constructively. “Therapy can help individuals deal with overwhelming feelings of sadness or helplessness, persistent anxiety and difficulty facing everyday challenges. Therefore, by addressing these issues, individuals can improve their mental health and well-being, making them better prepared for future relationships,” she said.…

Niël Terblanché Namibia and China celebrated their enduring friendship with the unveiling of a memorial statue of Chairman Mao Zedong in Windhoek on Wednesday. The statue is at the Mao Zedong High School in Otjomuise, named after the founder of the People's Republic of China, and stands as a symbol of the long-standing support and cooperation between the two nations, dating back to Namibia's liberation struggle. During the ceremony, Namibia's ambassador to China, Elia Kaiyamo, stressed the historical and diplomatic significance of the occasion. The school, constructed in 2016 with funding from the People's Republic of China, now serves more…

Niël Terblanché The sixth session of the Children’s Parliament, scheduled to sit from 12 to 19 July, is set to tackle pressing educational challenges in Namibia. Established 17 years ago, the Children’s Parliament provides a platform for young Namibians to engage in the democratic process, allowing them to understand the legislative process, voice their concerns, and propose changes to legislation that impact their welfare. This initiative, rooted in the Namibian Constitution’s principles of freedom of expression and fundamental human rights, is a collaboration between the Namibian Parliament and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Over 60 learners from Namibia’s 14…

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…