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Allexer Namundjebo The Outapi Town Council has taken Tobias Haimbodi, a resident of Omukoko village near Outapi, to court over a building he constructed on what the council says is municipal land.  Haimbodi says the council has not compensated his family for the land, which is part of the town’s expansion plan. “In normal circumstances, when a town expands, the residents living on that land are compensated.  In this case, that has never happened,” Haimbodi told Observer. He also accused the council of changing the location’s name to gain a legal advantage.  “They’re now calling our place Oukwa-wananyanga Extension 11.…

Niël Terblanché Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare called for renewed focus on local economic empowerment through value addition in the mining, green hydrogen, oil and gas sectors. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 12th edition of the Opuwo Annual Trade Fair on Monday, Ngurare said the event’s theme, “Empowering the Local Economy through Sustainable Innovation in Green Hydrogen, Oil & Gas, Tourism, and Mining”, aligns with the country’s broader goals for an industrialised, energy-secure, and inclusive economy. “Events such as this are instrumental in achieving the Government of the Republic of Namibia’s developmental objectives under Vision 2030, the Harambee Prosperity…

Niël Terblanché The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security has rejected recent claims circulating on social media that the recently introduced Visa on Arrival (VoA) system is causing delays and damaging Namibia’s reputation as a tourist destination. Etienne Maritz, the executive director of the home affairs ministry, responded to an article published by Spotlighting Namibia under the headline “Visa on Arrival: Travel Industry Fears Damage to Namibia's Image. He described the assertions in the article as misleading, irresponsible, and alarmist. Maritz maintained that the piece contains “factually incorrect” information and appears to be “a deliberate attempt to distort…

Justicia Shipena  The Ministry of Agriculture, through its Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS), has announced a partial resumption of the importation and in-transit movement of live poultry, poultry meat, and poultry products from Brazil.  This move follows a review of a comprehensive report from Brazil’s veterinary authority on the risk of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) transmission. Last Friday, Brazil’s Agriculture Ministry updated the list of countries that have imposed restrictions on chicken trade with Brazil after confirming its first case of bird flu on a commercial farm.  The countries include China, the European Union, Mexico, Iraq, Chile, the Philippines,…

Niël Terblanché Swakopmund residents were met with an unpleasant surprise on Tuesday when a damaged municipal sewer pipe at the MTC Dome grounds led to raw effluent flowing all the way down to Strand Street. The flood of sewage occurred just days after the road had been repaired following damage caused by flooding after recent heavy rains. The Swakopmund municipality confirmed that the sewer line was damaged during the installation of a tent at the Dome. “A contractor inadvertently damaged one of the municipal sewage pipes. Our maintenance teams are actively attending to the issue and will carry out the…

Justicia Shipena The introduction of a sugar tax in Namibia is back on the table.  This follows earlier government statements ruling it out. In July last year, the then Finance and Public Enterprises Minister Iipumbu Shiimi said the government had no plans to introduce a sugar tax, even though it could bring in additional revenue.  He said a feasibility study was needed to assess its impact on sugary beverage retailers. At the same time, the then director general of the National Planning Commission, Obeth Kandjoze, also said the government was not planning to introduce a sugar tax. Despite those statements,…

Justicia Shipena United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for African nations to fully benefit from their natural resources, especially those key to the renewable energy transition.  He also renewed his call for reparatory justice for historic injustices. “We must support Africa’s efforts to expand its clean-energy sector, and ensure that the minerals that are critical to the renewables revolution benefit Africans first and most,” Guterres said in a statement marking Africa Day on Sunday. He said Africa is becoming a global leader in renewable energy and technology, driven by its young and dynamic population.  Guterres also highlighted the role…