National News

Digital inclusivity for poverty eradication

Digital inclusivity for poverty eradication

Martin Endjala The popular mobile telecommunication giant, MTC continues its strive as a digital enabler of change in realizing its dream of rural inclusivity through its 081everyone initiative through partnering with likeminded corporates for the betterment of Namibia, as the company looks to embark on eradicating poverty. MTC signed a memorandum of understanding with the World Food Programme today in Windhoek for a period of five years, under pillar two of the HPP2 which is to eradicate poverty. MTC Managing Director Luckius Erastus said that the MoU solidifies their commitment in collaborating on matters of concern pertaining food security in…
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New project to resuscitate “dead” Ondera Farm

New project to resuscitate “dead” Ondera Farm

Obrein Simasiku Fertile and rich soil of Ondera farm which was going to waste for the past five years with nothing to little meaningful agricultural activities, was given a second lease on life to reclaim its hey days of bumper harvests. This is after the Oshikoto Regional Council together with the United Nations World Food Programme, decided to provide support to the San community through the provision of equipment and training. The two institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding in October 2021, aimed at partnering and collaborating in the implementation of projects that are ideal to be executed through the…
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Poverty biggest threat facing children

Poverty biggest threat facing children

Tujoromajo Kasuto As part of observing the International Day of the African Child, 16 June 2022, the Basic Income Grant Coalition (BIG) of Namibia hosted a public event themed ‘Ending Multi-dimensional Child Poverty in Namibian’. The event was held at the Katutura Multi-Purpose Youth Centre. The event highlighted the multidimensional child poverty experienced by Namibian children, the negative effects of poverty on the Namibian Child, and the possible interventions to end child poverty at once to improve the Namibian Child’s well-being. Rinaani Musutua of the Basic Income Grant Coalition said poverty is the biggest threat facing the African Child which…
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50m inadequate for Independence Stadium

50m inadequate for Independence Stadium

Martin Endjala The N$50 million budget for the renovation of the Independence Stadium is insufficient and the Ministry of Youth, Sport and National Service has started holding engagements with the private sector to raise the shortfall of 48.1 million dollars. A meeting at the Safari Hotel in Windhoek today emphasised the importance of maintaining infrastructure to ensure longevity. The engagement by various stakeholders was called by the Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service to discuss the renovation and upgrading of the Independence Stadium, which is in a state of disrepair because of years of neglect. Also of particular concern…
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LPM calls on Cabinet for economic relief

LPM calls on Cabinet for economic relief

Martin Endjala The Landless People’s Movement has called on the Cabinet to come up with a response to the devastating impact to the lives of the people in the midst of skyrocketing prices increases and the upward moving interest rates. LPM spokesperson Eneas Emvula at a media briefing of the party yesterday, said the 50 basis points increased announced by the Bank of Namibia this week to 4.75 percent is a tremendous jump compared to the previous 25 basis points, emphasizing that this will have a huge economic impact on households. Emvula painted a bleak picture of a significant drop…
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June 16 Uprising and importance of Mother Tongue education

As we celebrate The Day of the African Child, which happened exactly 46 years ago on June 16, 1976 in Soweto, South Africa, we remember the innocent lives of young children that were mercilessly cut short by heavily armed South African soldiers whose reason to kill was because of Afrikaans language instruction and cultural dispossession of the African value system. We will do well if we reflect on this journey in terms of how far we have come and how much more work remains in realizing the dreams of those young brave sons and daughters of Africa, who died solely…
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Food, fuel price hikes biting

Life is seriously becoming expensive in Namibia and it skyrocketing further is to be expected. The price increases that have been seen since the onset of the Covi-19 pandemic have not been witnessed in recent history in Namibia. What is clear is that Covid-19 did not only turn the health systems upside down, but also had a serious impact on the world economy. The mass lockdowns experienced worldwide, to stop or slow the spread of the virus, had unintended consequences, such as interruption in production of essential goods and created shortages, thereby pushing up prices. The lockdowns also affected the…
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Monica saves ‘Bishop’ and family<br>…will not pursue cash for damages

Monica saves ‘Bishop’ and family
…will not pursue cash for damages

Staff Writer First Lady Monica Geingos will not enforce the High Court defamation judgement of 11 February 2021 against Abed Bishop Hishoono to pay damages of N$250 000, including her legal cost of up to N$400 000. Hishoono was also ordered to tender an unconditional public apology to Geingos and to retract his defamatory and false statements. The First Lady in a statement issued through her legal practitioners, Sisa Namandje & Co.Inc today said that she is convinced that Hishoono has ‘’now honestly, deeply and genuinely indicated that he has wrongfully violated my rights and that of my family, and…
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Civil servants salary hikes could lead to economic paralysis

Civil servants salary hikes could lead to economic paralysis

Martin Endjala Civil servants will have to tighten their belts further as the government is currently not in a position to afford salary increases, except for improving some of the benefits. The reason for being unable to accord salary hikes, the Minister of Information, Communication and Technology Peya Mushelenga, said is because the country facing various challenges including a stagnant economy and the consequent narrowing fiscal space since 2016. This has resulted from ‘’a combination of weak global demand, low commodity prices and protracted drought,’’ the minister said. ‘’Reduced revenue receipts from the SACU common revenue pool and the outbreak…
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ACC wants special court for civil irregularities

ACC wants special court for civil irregularities

Martin Endjala The Anti-Corruption Commission wants to be given the power to prosecute public officials who are involved in mismanagements, malpractices and misappropriation public funds. The Director General of ACC Paulus Noah made this call during today’s consultative meeting with the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Accounts in Windhoek. ACC is currently in the process of amending the law that governs its functions to make provision for the investigative body to also prosecute accounting officers through a civil litigation court. Currently, ACC only conducts investigations on implicated officials and then refer it to the accounting officer in charge or supervising…
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