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MFV Helena Ndume will make history on maiden Antarctic voyage

MFV Helena Ndume will make history on maiden Antarctic voyage

Niël Terblanché The Motorised Fishing Vessel (MFV) Helena Ndume, owned by Honeyguide Investments and named after “Namibia’s miracle doctor” recently set sail on a historic expedition to the icy waters of Antarctica. This voyage is the first-ever foray by a Namibian fishing vessel into international waters. Costing N$100 million, the ice-breaker vessel has been commissioned to fish for Patagonian toothfish within the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) Convention area. The crew, comprising 32 members, including 12 proud Namibians, anticipate a 60-day journey. Derek Klazen, Minister of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, lauded Honeyguide…
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Cyber fraud syndicate busted in Auasblick

Cyber fraud syndicate busted in Auasblick

Niël Terblanché In a significant blow to cybercriminal activities, the Namibian Police apprehended 20 individuals, primarily foreign nationals, on a slew of charges that encompass human trafficking, cyber fraud, money laundering, and tax evasion. The mass arrest follows a raid on a house in the affluent Windhoek neighbourhood of Auasblick. The individuals in custody consist of 11 Chinese, five Zimbabweans, two Namibians, one Singaporean, and one Cuban. Major General Elias Mutota, the Deputy Inspector General of the Namibian Police, during a special briefing on Friday, elaborated on the details of this intricate operation. It has been discovered that this syndicate…
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Excessive study fees might result in public outrage

Excessive study fees might result in public outrage

Stefanus Nashama The Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement has cautioned vocational institutions nationwide against charging registration and examination fees to government-funded students. The group suggests that continuing this practice might lead to public outrage. The AR’s National Spokesperson, George Kambala, believes that vocational institutions should prioritize affordable, quality education. He contends that charging such fees is not only unethical but also puts unnecessary financial strain on students looking to gain essential vocational skills. “Consider this a clear warning. If these institutions don’t change their ways, we’re prepared to hold them accountable through legal and regulatory avenues,” he warned. Kambala also emphasized…
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Namibia launches Etotha Carnival in a bid to revive tourism

Namibia launches Etotha Carnival in a bid to revive tourism

Niël Terblanché Namibia is gearing up to host its very first Etotha Carnival, an initiative that emerged as a response to rejuvenate the nation’s tourism sector, which suffered a significant setback due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Romeo Muyunda, spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, unveiled the ambitious plan. He remarked that a collaborative effort involving the Ondonga Traditional Authority, Namibia Tourism Board, and other pivotal stakeholders is already underway to ensure that the carnival, slated for July 2024 will be an overwhelming success. Drawing inspiration from the challenges posed by the pandemic, the event’s primary objective is…
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MAWLR warns against illegal land deals

MAWLR warns against illegal land deals

Niël Terblanché The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR) issued an urgent notice, alerting Namibians against partaking in unauthorized land sales, particularly on designated resettlement farms. The appeal comes after a series of reported illicit land allocations, sales, and occupations on specific farms in the Oshikoto Region. Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata, the Executive Director of the ministry said they have identified the farms involved in these illicit dealings as Chudib-Nuut No. 1137, Urwald Farm No. 1150, and Tsintsabis No. 881. She indicated that all the farms are located approximately 62 kilometres north of Tsumeb along the Tsumeb-Katwiti road and have…
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Trust fund misses 100 percent sanitation goal

Trust fund misses 100 percent sanitation goal

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Trust Fund for Regional Development and Equity Provision has not met its ambitious 100 percent target for delivering basic sanitation and municipal services in the towns of Helao Nafidi and Divindu. This was highlighted in Auditor General Junias Kandjeke’s report for the financial years ending March 31, 2021, and 2022, which was presented to Parliament last month. Overseen by the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development, the Trust Fund offers financial support to local authority councils to implement development initiatives. Kandjeke noted that the shortfall emerged from a procurement procedure that began but was subsequently cancelled. “The…
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Education Ministry to regulate entry requirements for teaching profession

Education Ministry to regulate entry requirements for teaching profession

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Ministry of Education, Arts, and Culture is drafting an Act of Parliament intended to elevate the status of teaching in Namibia. This Act will set the professional prerequisites for entry into the teaching profession and outline the standards to which all teachers must adhere. During the World Teachers’ Day celebrations in Outapi, themed “The teachers we need for the education we want: The global imperative to reverse the teacher shortage,” Education Minister Anna Nghipondoka announced this initiative. She also shed more light on the numerous challenges confronting the teaching sector while stressing the need for decisive action.…
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Electricity generation up 33.8%

Electricity generation up 33.8%

Chamwe Kaira Good rains have seen Namibia generating more local electricity in the past year. Local generation of electricity rose substantially on an annual basis largely due to higher water inflow into the Ruacana hydro-power plant. The local generation of electricity increased substantially by 33.8% annually during the second quarter of 2023. Bank of Namibia data attributed the increase partly due to improved water inflow into the Ruacana hydro-power plant during the 2022/23 rain season, resulting in a decline in imports of electricity by 12.1%. The units of electricity consumed increased by 17.1% during the second quarter, reflecting increased demand,…
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Namdia’s properties loss N$8m in value

Namdia’s properties loss N$8m in value

Namib Desert Diamonds (Pty) Ltd (Namdia) has disclosed that its two properties in Windhoek were revaluated by an independent property valuator, resulting in a fair value loss of N$5.5 million for Erf 336, Klein Windhoek, and a fair value loss of N$2.5 million for Erf 337, Klein Windhoek. In terms of the revaluation of remainder of Erf No. 336 Klein Windhoek, Namdia said in the current period, this property had a market value of N$30.1 million as determined on 5 April 2023 by an independent property valuator, Ngonyofi Property Investments CC, resulting in a fair value loss of N$5,495,000 in…
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Diamond production reached 617 780 carats in Q2

Diamond production reached 617 780 carats in Q2

Chamwe Kaira Diamonds production rose on a yearly basis by 8.8% to 617 780 carats during the second quarter of 2023, Bank of Namibia data revealed. The rise was attributed to more carats mined onshore owing to ongoing expansion of the mining area at the land operations as well as more carats mined offshore ascribed to additional output from the Benguela Gem, operated by Debmarine Namibia. The central bank said production of uranium rose on a yearly and quarterly basis during the second quarter, predominantly ascribed to base effects resulting from fewer water supply interruptions experienced during the quarter. Uranium…
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