Windhoek Observer

Niël Terblanché Namibia has taken a step toward improving the safety of fishing vessels and their crews by acceding to the 2012 Cape Town Agreement. Namibia is now the 23rd nation to endorse the agreement, according to a statement issued by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on 5 December. The Cape Town Agreement, adopted in 2012, sets mandatory international safety standards for fishing vessels 24 metres in length and above. “The Cape Town Agreement, once in force, will bring in mandatory international safety requirements for fishing vessels of 24 metres in length and over, including provisions addressing stability and associated…

Mallex Shipanga The Legal Assistance Centre (LAC), in partnership with the European Union (EU), announced the completion of the first paralegal training programme to empower San communities nationwide. This training which took place from 19 to 23 November, is part of the LAC’s “Empowering the SAN: Legal Capacity Building for Access to Human Rights” project. The project trains paralegals in San communities, enabling them to advise, guide, and support fellow community members on legal matters. The five-day-long, field-based training programme sought to empower San communities in Gobabis and Vergenoeg in the Omaheke Region. Dozens of aspiring paralegals attended the training…

Mallex Shipanga Namibia, which is home to the world’s largest wild cheetah population, was in the global spotlight on International Cheetah Day, celebrated annually on 4 December. This year, the occasion coincided with the premiere of "Return of the Cheetah," a new documentary on the Discovery Channel, which highlights critical conservation efforts in Namibia. The country is home to between 2 500 and 3 500 cheetahs, the largest population of free-ranging cheetahs in the world. The film follows biologist, Hazen Audel as he travels to Namibia to collaborate with Laurie Marker and the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF). “It’s a celebration…

Niël Terblanché As the festive season is about to start, the Namibian Police (NamPol) issued a warning to the public about a rise in card-related fraud scams targeting unsuspecting victims. Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi, the head of NamPol’s public relations division, said in a statement on Friday that these fraudulent schemes, orchestrated through email and WhatsApp, have reportedly cost victims significant amounts of money and left many in financial distress. “Victims are typically contacted electronically and informed that they are beneficiaries of an overseas inheritance. People usually receive an electronic parcel, which includes a certificate of inheritance and a bank…

Ester Mbathera President-elect Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah says she is widening the door for women to follow in her footsteps. She said she was not elected into the country’s highest office because she is a woman. “I am elected as a Namibian citizen with the quality and capability to lead this nation,” she said. Nandi-Ndaitwah made the remarks at her first media conference on Thursday in Windhoek after winning the presidential race early this week. According to her, her ascendance to the highest office affirms that equal responsibility for women and men in society is a reality. “As women activists, we don't…

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Namibian women journalists are disproportionately targeted by online attacks, particularly during politically charged periods such as the recently concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections, according to Namibia Media Trust director, Zoe Titus Speaking during a panel discussion on Thursday titled “Safety Online for Journalists During Elections,” Titus highlighted the prevalence of cyberattacks aimed at female journalists, with many of these attacks being defamatory in nature. She noted the inadequacies in Namibia's cyber laws, which currently do not provide clear protections against such attacks. “There are a lot of attacks directed at journalists every day, and I consider some…