National News

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…

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Bishop Lukas Katenda of the Evangelical Angelica Church of Namibia said traditional, cultural, and religious marriage has always been between a natural man and a natural woman and should remain that way. Katenda was responding to the new bill that parliament had tabled on Tuesday. “The same-sex marriage that society is now pushing is a new phenomenon, people should listen to doctors on what they say about men who are sleeping with other men,” said Katenda. According to him, sexual activities, especially between two men, are dangerous in the long run. “They might be enjoying it now, but…

Martin Endjala After 29 years in existence, Mobile Telecommunication Limited (MTC) widened its presence with a dealer shop concept in the Otjinene village, in the Omaheke region on Tuesday. John Ekongo, MTC’s corporate affairs manager, explained that apart from providing services to the people, the dealership concept also provides income for dealers to earn a commission from serving MTC clientele, especially in remote areas. “Before this new dealer shop, people of Otjinene and other adjacent constituencies used to travel hundreds of kilometres to Gobabis or Grootfontein to open a contract account. We are thus glad that this will not be…

Martin Endjala Alcoholic beverages topped the list of commodities exported from Namibia, contributing 72% to the commodity trade in May. This is according to the Namibia Statistics Agency's (NSA) latest international merchandise trade statistics bulletin. Namibia exported goods worth N$5.4 billion and imported goods worth N$5.3 billion to and from other African countries. Exports to Kenya stood at N$10 million. Namibia imported goods valued at N$464 905, with the import basket mainly made up of men's or boys' clothing (47.4%) and telecommunications equipment (16.2%). In the analysis of the commodity of the month, the country imported blankets worth N$10.8 million…

Niël Terblanché President Nangolo Mbumba is hosting President Mokgweetsi Masisi of Botswana for a working visit. The visit will be focused on strengthening the bilateral relations between the two countries and enhancing cooperation in various sectors. During the visit, Masisi will serve as the guest of honour at the Swakopmund International Trade Expo (Swaitex). This year’s Swaitex is aimed at efficient connectivity and resource beneficiation for sustainable growth in Africa. The expo at the coast will provide an opportunity for the leaders to engage with industry stakeholders and discuss collaborative initiatives aimed at the economic development of both nations. The…