National News

Swakopmund prepares for the festive season

Swakopmund prepares for the festive season

Niël Terblanché With a mix of holiday spirit, exciting activities, and enhanced security measures, Swakopmund is ready to welcome visitors and residents to a memorable and safe holiday season at the coast. The festive season has officially descended upon Namibia, and the signs are unmistakable. Businesses are winding down for the year, schools are emptying out, and the atmosphere is charged with excitement. For many, it’s the perfect time to relax by the beach in Swakopmund or embark on a journey to visit family in the northern or southern regions of Namibia. Coastal towns such as Swakopmund, Henties Bay, and…
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RDP questions the quality of education from “mushrooming” higher learning institutions

RDP questions the quality of education from “mushrooming” higher learning institutions

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) Member of Parliament, Kennedy Shekupakela, is not convinced that some institutions of higher education that keep popping up every year at the beginning of the academic period can offer quality education to Namibians. He demanded that the Minister of High Education, Innovation and Technology, Itah Kandjii Murangi, review how such institutions are granted registration and permission to give sub-standard education to young Namibians. Shekupakela made these remarks in the National Assembly this week while giving a notice of questions to Minister Murangi if she has noticed that most of such institutions…
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MoHSS crafts a new plan for neonatal and maternal health

MoHSS crafts a new plan for neonatal and maternal health

Niël Terblanché The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) is taking significant steps to enhance neonatal and maternal health, recognizing their importance as top priorities in public healthcare services. During the official opening of a special seminar, Dr Kalumbi Shangula, the Minister of Health and Social Services, unveiled plans to address the challenges in neonatal and maternal health. The seminar, which brought together healthcare experts and stakeholders, coincided with the ten-year anniversary of the partnership between the MoHSS and NEO FOR NAMIBIA, a collaboration that has played a vital role in improving neonatal care interventions in various health facilities…
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CoW opposes the establishment of another RED

CoW opposes the establishment of another RED

Martin Endjala The City of Windhoek (CoW) has strongly objected to the idea of introducing a Regional Central Electricity Distributor (RED) in the Khomas region. The council firmly believe that this proposal does not align with the interests of local authorities, who are the designated legal distributors of electricity and constitutionally established local governments under Chapter 12, Article 111 of the Namibian Constitution. The city’s concerns have arisen in response to a statement by Robert Kahimise, the Chief Executive Officer of the Electricity Control Board (ECB), who revealed plans to establish a central RED with the aim of ensuring electricity…
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Over-profitable Namibian banks pose a vexing dilemma: Venaani

Over-profitable Namibian banks pose a vexing dilemma: Venaani

Stefanus Nashama McHenry Venaani, the Leader of the official opposition and head of the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), has expressed concern about the excessive profits earned by banks in Namibia and the broader Sub-Saharan African region, stating that it presents a challenging issue. In his statement yesterday, Venaani emphasized that while banks are expected to generate profits to contribute to economic growth and stability, the exorbitant profits accumulated by Namibia’s banking sector exacerbate economic imbalances. “At the heart of a thriving economy lies the importance of bank profitability, which drives economic growth and stability. However, this should not be confused…
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LPM financial support comes from party members and business people

LPM financial support comes from party members and business people

Stefanus Nashama Explaining their financial sources, the Landless People’s Movement (LPM) says the party has strong financial support from members and business personalities. “Our financial support comes from our party members and business people who sympathise with us,” the party revealed. Speaking at a press conference yesterday in Windhoek, the Party Leader, Bernadus Swartbooi, explained that, in 2019, the Party ran a successful campaign without any cent from the government. This is in response to questions raised by members of the public, that the party spends money on buying vehicles. Swartbooi explained that LPM, as a political party, requires vehicles…
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Revised National Resettlement Policy must benefit all communities

Revised National Resettlement Policy must benefit all communities

Niël Terblanché The recently revised National Resettlement Policy in Namibia is geared towards achieving equity in land redistribution to alleviate poverty. The revised National Resettlement Policy was approved by the Cabinet in May of this year and will be in effect from 2023 to 2033. It replaces the 1991-2001 National Resettlement Policy and incorporates resolutions made during the second land conference held in 2018, which emphasized the issue of landlessness resulting from dispossession and the inability to maintain resettlement farms due to a lack of resources after acquisition. Concerns have, however, arisen regarding the criteria for qualification under the program,…
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Former GIPF CEO takes the reigns at the Capricorn Group

Former GIPF CEO takes the reigns at the Capricorn Group

Martin Endjala The former Chief Executive Officer of the Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF), David Nuyoma, has been appointed as the new Capricorn Group Chief Executive Officer, effective Designate from 1 January 2024 and as substantive Group CEO with effect from 1 March 2024, subject to regulatory approval. The Capricorn Group Chairman Gerhard Fourie, while announcing the news this week, described Nuyoma as an experienced and accomplished executive leader with a successful track record as CEO of the GIPF until recently and before that as CEO of the Development Bank of Namibia, making him the ideal leader for the Group…
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Local companies lack the capacity to produce police uniforms

Local companies lack the capacity to produce police uniforms

Stefanus Nashama In responding to questions concerning the procurement of uniforms for the Namibian Police last week, it was revealed that there are no local factories that sell or produce materials with the quality of police uniform standards. According to Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi, the National Spokesperson of the Namibian Police, it is for that reason that the force has to procure uniform materials from outside the country, “Be informed that all uniform materials are procured outside the country, as there are no local factories to sell or manufacture the said materials,” Shikwambi said. This is despite other uniform pieces…
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Chinese national banned from entering Namibia returned twice in 2023

Chinese national banned from entering Namibia returned twice in 2023

Hertta-Maria Amutenjna Chinese national, Jiaming Li, who has been deported from Namibia on two separate occasions, has attempted to enter the country illegally twice. In his latest attempt, he took the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security to court for refusing him entry into the country. However, he has now withdrawn the case. Documents filed at the Windhoek High Court reveal that Li’s legal troubles began with his first conviction in September 2022 for conducting business in Namibia without a proper residence permit. This led to his initial deportation in the same month, accompanied by a prohibition from…
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