info_e12wt4cs – Page 232

23 Aug

The path to agricultural prosperity: A regional perspective on import bans in Southern Africa

info_e12wt4csOpinions

Benedick Moody Louw In a recent post on X, Wandile Sihlobo, Chief Economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa highlighted the growing tension between South African agriculture and the neighboring countries of Botswana and Namibia over the latter's bans on imported vegetables. Sihlobo argues that such bans undermine regional agricultural cooperation and pose significant challenges to South African farmers. He acknowledges the political and economic motivations behind these bans but emphasizes the need for a balanced and cooperative response from South Africa. This article aims to provide a comprehensive response from the perspectives of Namibia, Botswana, the Southern…

22 Aug

Namibia honours centenary of liberation stalwart Andimba Toivo ya Toivo

info_e12wt4csMainAndimba Centenary Year

Niël Terblanché Namibia celebrated the 100th birthday of the revered liberation stalwart, Andimba Toivo yaToivo. This date also signifies the commencement of the Andimba Centenary Year, a period dedicated to honouring the life and legacy of one of Namibia’s most esteemed figures in the struggle for independence. Andimba was born on 22 August 1924, in Omangundu, northern Namibia, and passed away on 9 June 2017. He is remembered not only as a co-founder of the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) but also as a symbol of resistance and integrity. To commemorate his centenary, his widow, Vicky yaToivo, and their…

22 Aug

Ghana trade mission called off

info_e12wt4csNational NewsNamibia Investment Promotion and Development Board, Namibia-Ghana Business Forum

Martin Endjala Conflicting schedules with partnering institutions have forced the postponement of a business mission to Ghana. The Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board's (NIPDB) senior marketing, branding, and communication manager, Catherine Shipushu, confirmed this on Thursday. According to Shipushu, the new date on which the business mission will take place is yet to be announced. She told the Windhoek Observer that the Namibia-Ghana Business Forum is an initiative of the Namibian High Commissioner in Ghana. “Due to conflicting schedules with partnering institutions and in order to attract maximum participation from key stakeholders, the mission resolved to postpone the business…

22 Aug

90 years of resilience – celebrating the life of liberation stalwart Helao Shityuwete

info_e12wt4csNational NewsRobben Island

Hertta-Maria Amutenya Namibia will commemorate Hero’s Day on 26 August, a day set aside to remember the sacrifices of those who fought for the country’s independence. Among the many remembered is Helao Joseph Shityuwete, a national hero whose journey from humble beginnings through the harsh realities of Robben Island to years of exile epitomises the struggle for freedom. Shityuwete was born in a small Namibian village in 1941, where he first encountered the injustices of colonial rule. At six, he lost his father and has vivid memories of the funeral and the rites. His upbringing was marked by his Aunt…

22 Aug

Rehoboth pensioner battles Bank Windhoek over property sale

info_e12wt4csNational NewsAnna-Maria de Klerk

Hertta-Maria Amutenja A Rehoboth pensioner is in a legal battle with Bank Windhoek over the subdivision and sale of a portion of her property. The dispute stems from a 2015 agreement in which the pensioner agreed to sell 1 000 square meters of her 1 457-square-meter plot to Neal John Rittmann for N$180 000. Anna-Maria de Klerk, the pensioner, and Rittmann signed the sale agreement on 28 January 2015. Rittmann subsequently approached Bank Windhoek for a mortgage loan, which was approved and registered on 24 April 2015, followed by a second bond on 2 October 2015. According to documents delivered…

22 Aug

Government urged to set up a universal healthcare system

info_e12wt4csNational News

Niël Terblanché A recent study by Afrobarometer has revealed that the majority of Namibians do not have medical aid coverage, with affordability being the primary barrier. The survey's findings indicate a growing concern among citizens about access to adequate healthcare and have sparked calls for government intervention, even if it requires raising taxes. The Afrobarometer survey from March 2024 found that 85% of Namibians lack health insurance, with unaffordability being the primary cause for 74% of these respondents. The survey, which included a nationally representative sample of 1 200 adult Namibians, highlights the widespread financial inaccessibility of medical aid, leaving…

22 Aug

Police urge caution on roads ahead of Heroes Day travel rush

info_e12wt4csNational NewsHeroes Day commemoration

Niël Terblanché As many prepares to travel for the upcoming Heroes Day long weekend, the police is appealing to motorists to prioritise safety on the country’s roads. With the Heroes Day commemoration set to take place on August 26th in Omuthiya, Oshikoto Region, alongside other major events like the Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair, the police anticipate an influx of travellers on the roads from 23 to 25 August. The head of the Namibian Police’s Public Relations Division, Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi, said in a statement issued on Thursday that, in light of the expected increased road activity, the police wishes…

22 Aug

Debt to NamWater tops N$2.1 billion

info_e12wt4csNational News

Niël Terblanché NamWater faces financial challenges, with outstanding debts now surpassing N$2.1 billion. According to a statement issued by the national water supplier, this debt burden is an obstacle to NamWater’s ability to operate on a cost-recovery basis, as the entity primarily functions as a public service provider rather than for profit. As of June 2024, the accumulated debt from various sectors surpassed N$2.1 billion. Private and individual consumers owe N$312 139 216, while industries are responsible for N$40 343 848. Irrigation farmers have accrued N$22 525 668 in debt, and mines have an outstanding balance of N$91 820 587.…

22 Aug

State requests severe sentence for Dippenaar

info_e12wt4csNational News

Niël Terblanché The state prosecutor in Jandre Dippenaar’s murder trial, Advocate Ethel Ndlovu, urged Magistrate Gaynor Paulton to mete out a custodial sentence for the convicted person while presenting her submissions in aggravation of sentencing on Thursday. Advocate Albert Strydom countered her arguments by arguing that, despite Dippenaar's conviction on six counts of murder, the extraordinary verdict warrants an extraordinary sentence. Advocate Strydom contended that his client became the first person in Namibian history to receive a murder conviction following a fatal motor vehicle collision. He went on to state that his client was convicted by society. “The advent of…

22 Aug

Defence ministry appoints commission to rebury liberation heroes

info_e12wt4csFeatured, National NewsPeople’s Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN)

Stefanus Nashama and Hilarius Hamutenya The minister of defence and veterans affairs, Frans Kapofi, commissioned a committee for the exhumation and reinterment of the remains of martyrs of the liberation struggle on Thursday. According to the minister, the committee will be headed by former commander, Major General Charles Namoloh, who led the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) on the battlefield. Other members of the committee include Colonel (retired) David Ndatipo, Ericas Ndalikokule, Apollo Bassenero, Elvis Handura, Penofina Eises and Timoteus Mashuna. “Several years ago, the government mandated the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs to ensure that the history…