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Patience Makwele A parliamentary probe into lending practices has put Namibia’s debt crisis under the spotlight, with lawmakers raising concerns that some workers are taking home only a fraction of their salaries after multiple loan deductions. The National Assembly’s Parliamentary Standing Committee on Economy and Industry, Public Administration and Planning on Friday held a public hearing to examine whether existing laws adequately protect borrowers from exploitation by lending institutions and informal money lenders. The hearing formed part of the committee’s investigation into the country’s growing indebtedness and follows a motion tabled in Parliament calling for a review of lending practices…

Patience Makwele Namibia’s education system is producing graduates who are increasingly ill-prepared for the demands of the modern workplace, with industry and education leaders warning that a growing skills mismatch could hamper the country’s development ambitions. The warning emerged during International Training College-Lingua’s first business networking breakfast held under the theme, ‘Stakeholder Engagement: Actions Leading to Smart Partnerships between Industry and Educational Institutions in Windhoek on Friday. Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the education minister, National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) deputy executive director, Sylvia Demas said employers continue to complain about a mismatch between the skills required…

Eugenia Moche The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) has criticised President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s state visit to Tanzania, accusing her of remaining silent on human rights abuses while celebrating economic ties with a government accused of extrajudicial killings, political persecution, and mass detentions. In a statement issued on Sunday, IPC shadow minister of international relations and trade, Rodney Cloete, said that while the three-day visit had produced “warm words on trade” and pledges to deepen economic cooperation, there had been “public silence” on the imprisonment of Tanzania’s main opposition leader, Tundu Lissu, and the killing of citizens in the wake of…

Allexer Namundjembo Minister of justice and labour relations Fillemon Wise Immanuel has urged that workers’ voices be reflected in national policy and economic planning, while also stressing compliance with the labour law. Speaking at the Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN) regional roundtable meeting held under the theme “From the Shaft to the Chamber: Workers’ Voices, National Choices” in Swakopmund on Saturday, Immanuel also congratulated MUN on 40 years of service since its establishment in 1986. “Workers are not merely participants in the economy; they are builders of the nation. Every tonne of uranium, gold, diamonds, copper, lithium, zinc, and other…

Allexer Namundjembo A petition calling for pedestrian bridges instead of speed humps on the B1 highway has collected more than 16 560 signatures, organisers say. Social justice activist Michael Amushelelo, who is spearheading the petition, said the total includes electronic signatures and over 1 000 handwritten signatures. The campaign is demanding the removal of what it calls “poorly planned, bolted plastic-and-metal speed humps” which it alleges are causing catastrophic highway collisions. Amushelelo has announced plans to sue the minister of works and transport, Veikko Nekundi, through Kadhila Amoomo Legal Practitioners. “The planned class-action lawsuit seeks financial compensation for motorists who…