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10384 Posts
Property Practitioners Bill introduced

Property Practitioners Bill introduced

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Minister of Industrialization and Trade, Lucia Iipumbu, has this week introduced the Property Practitioners Bill in the National Assembly, which contains the Fidelity Fund Certificate that aims to protect consumers against theft of money entrusted to a property practitioner. In terms of the bill, once a Fidelity Fund Certificate is issued to a property practitioner, should that property practitioner then steal money held in trust, the consumer can claim the money back from the fidelity fund. “This part of the bill also deals with the consequences of a property practitioner not having a Fidelity Fund Certificate. The…
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UPM worried by lack of political interest among youth

UPM worried by lack of political interest among youth

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The United People's Movement (UPM) has been struggling to attract the youth to take up positions within the party structures due to a lack of interest in politics. UPM president, Jan van Wyk revealed this during an interview with the Windhoek Observer while outlining the party’s plans for the November elections. He said that even though there has been a slight change in the number of young people joining the party, they are still behind when compared to other political parties. “Until recently, the UPM had a problem getting the youth into its ranks. We see a change…
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Renewable energy initiatives drive greater independence

Renewable energy initiatives drive greater independence

Niël Terblanché Namibia is making substantial strides in its journey towards energy independence by focusing on renewable energy projects that aim to bridge the gap in electricity generation, especially in rural areas. Penda Ithindi, the Executive Director of the Ministry of Mines and Energy, said that harnessing Namibia's vast renewable resources is a credible game changer for the country. Currently, Namibia generates only about 45% of its total energy demand, relying heavily on electricity imports from neighbouring countries like South Africa and Zambia. According to Ithindi, this reliance on imported energy stresses the urgency of developing local renewable energy sources…
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Delayed construction of Otjiwarongo Hospital hampers healthcare access

Delayed construction of Otjiwarongo Hospital hampers healthcare access

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The construction of the Otjiwarongo referral hospital planned seven years ago with a budget of N$720 million, remains stalled, causing challenges for healthcare access in the region. In an interview with the Windhoek Observer on Thursday, Otjozondjupa Governor James Uerikua said that decentralisation of procurement functions to local governments could expedite the process. “As the regional government, we do not have much control over what happens in procurement, and it is hampering progress because it is at the central government. If this element could be decentralised, it could speed up the process,” said Uerikua. Despite allocating an erf,…
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Swapo members drag party to court

Swapo members drag party to court

Ester Mbathera In an effort to invalidate a crucial decision the party's central committee made to postpone the extraordinary congress to 19 April 2025, five members of the SWAPO have filed a lawsuit against their own party. The applicants, Joshua Vaino Martins, Petrus Ndeshipanda Shituula, Aina Kalimba Angula, Reinhold Nghihepavali Shipwikineni, and Erich Chrismann Shivute, filed a Notice of Motion with the High Court of Namibia on Thursday. The five have been insisting on the party holding an extraordinary congress in order to elect a party president before the November elections. Swapo currently has no president, just Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as…
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More calls for constituencies to split

More calls for constituencies to split

Martin Endjala Several communities across the country have proposed the creation of their own constituencies for better service delivery. This trend emerged during ongoing consultation meetings with the Boundaries Delimitation and Demarcation Commission in the Khomas region. The residents of the informal settlements in Havana and Goreangab are the latest community to express a desire for representation. They are currently part of the Samora Machel Constituency. Affirmative Repositioning Movement (AR) Khomas region chairperson and youth community leader Sem David of the Samora Machel Community Development Committee (CDC) and community members rejected the border demarcation commission's decision to split the Samora…
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Undocumented persons struggle to register for voter cards

Undocumented persons struggle to register for voter cards

Martin Endjala Although voter card registration in the Ndiyona Constituency in the Kavango East region is progressing well, undocumented people find it hard to register. On Thursday, Ndiyona constituency councillor, Mukoya Laurentius, told the Windhoek Observer that he had not encountered any hiccups at most of the registration points. Laurentius said he has received complaints from undocumented people who want to register but are unable to do so because they lack identity documentation. “We do not have any challenge. The only challenge we have is documenting those who are undocumented. The mass state documentation capturing programme by the Ministry of…
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Who is learning what from who between Namibia and South Africa?

Who is learning what from who between Namibia and South Africa?

“You will not be able to stay home, brother You will not be able to plug in, turn on and cop out You will not be able to lose yourself on skag And skip out for beer during commercials, because The revolution will not be televised”. Goes the opening lyrics from the song by Gill Scott-Heron, pioneer of rap music. I relived the song live at Hyde Park in the late 1980s while performing live during the days of agitation for the end of Apartheid capitalism colonialism in Namibia, and likewise the reform of Apartheid in South Africa. Reform of…
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Oceana’s horse mackerel sales volumes drop

Oceana’s horse mackerel sales volumes drop

CHAMWE KAIRA Oceana Group’s horse mackerel sales volumes in Namibia reduced by 20,5% mainly due to a reduction in catch rates. Oceana said firm market demand, together with the benefit of the weaker exchange rate on US dollar export sales, resulted in an improvement in rand prices partially offsetting the volume reduction. The company said an improvement in fishing days and vessel utilisation resulted in hake sales volumes increasing by 20,8%. “Industry wide catch rates remained below historical average for the period with some improvement experienced in the second quarter,” the company said. The total allowable catch for pilchards in…
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MICC Properties records N$44 million profit

MICC Properties records N$44 million profit

MICC Properties Namibia (Pty) Ltd, recorded a profit of N$44 million for the year ended 30 March 2024 compared to N$41 million in the previous year. The company controls 269 Independence, Katutura Shopping Centre, and retail centres in Ondangwa, Oshakati and Oshikango. Vukile Property Fund of South Africa has a 36% interest in MICC Properties Namibia. The group said opening balance at carrying value at N$134 million compared to N$119 million in 2023. Rental revenue during the period was N$137 million compared to N$129 million in 2023. MICC said net operating income was N$86 million while profit was N$44 million…
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