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Auditor-General flags Ondangwa town council for financial irregularities

Auditor-General flags Ondangwa town council for financial irregularities

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Auditor-General’s report for the financial year ending 30 June 2023 flagged multiple financial irregularities at the Ondangwa Town Council. The report, presented by Auditor-General Junias Kandjeke, highlights several breaches of the Local Authorities Act and International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS). Kandjeke noted that the council implemented a Subsistence and Travel Allowance Policy in September 2022 without the required approval from the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development, breaching the Local Authorities Act. According to the report, the council spent N$1.2 million on travel and accommodation between September 2022 and June 2023, without the requisite ministerial endorsement.…
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Mother arrested in connection with death of baby

Mother arrested in connection with death of baby

Niël Terblanché The Namibian Police detained a 24-year-old woman in Swakopmund on Thursday evening in connection with the death of a three-month-old baby. Ashley Mudimu, a Zimbabwean national, was wanted by the police following the discovery of her baby’s body, buried in a shallow grave near the naval base in Walvis Bay last week. She was arrested by undercover police officers, from whom she requested a lift to either Otjiwarongo or Windhoek, as she did not have money to pay for the journey. She was subsequently taken into custody. Mudimu’s apprehension came shortly after this appeal by the authorities to…
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NNN – Namibia will not follow Botswana’s political path

NNN – Namibia will not follow Botswana’s political path

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Swapo presidential candidate Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has dismissed comparisons between Namibia and Botswana's political landscapes. She made this statement over the weekend on her social media platforms, reassuring Swapo supporters not to be alarmed by the election results in neighbouring Botswana, where the opposition won by a significant margin. “The opposition in Botswana built a coalition aligned with the former President Ian Khama. The fight was between Masisi and Khama. None of that will happen in Namibia,’’ she said. According to Nandi-Ndaitwah, the opposition political parties in Namibia are fragmented like the wind of Alaska. In Botswana, the Umbrella…
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FAO unites with Eenhana town council for food security

FAO unites with Eenhana town council for food security

Niël Terblanché The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, in collaboration with the Eenhana Town Council, launched a landmark project aimed at enhancing food security and urban greening. Through the Green Cities Initiative, the FAO handed over a nursery facility to the town council complete with gardening tools, 900 fruit tree seedlings, 490 forestry seedlings, and other essential resources valued at N$633134 on Friday. The Green Cities Initiative, introduced by the FAO in 2020, focuses on transforming urban and peri-urban areas worldwide into greener, healthier, and more resilient spaces. At the handover event, FAO Representative Dr Qingyun…
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Windhoek-Okahandja dual carriageway promises economic growth

Windhoek-Okahandja dual carriageway promises economic growth

Niël Terblancé With improved infrastructure, Namibia is better positioned to grow its economy, enhance trade opportunities, and offer its citizens and visitors a safer and more efficient transportation network. President Nangolo Mbumba inaugurated the new Windhoek-Okahandja dual carriageway A1 freeway on Friday, reclassifying it from B1 to A1 in accordance with road classification standards. “The opening of this dual carriageway demonstrates our government’s dedication to creating robust infrastructure that supports economic activities, trade, and connectivity,” he said. The project, built at a cost of N$2.8 billion, is a major upgrade of the 71 km stretch between Windhoek and Okahandja and…
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NIDA’s road to recovery

NIDA’s road to recovery

Martin Endjala The Namibia Industrial Development Agency (Nida) is finalising its 2023/24 fiscal year report and addressing criticism over poor infrastructure, performance, and transparency. In August, National Council members suggested dismantling Nida due to its shortcomings, including a N$100 million abandoned crocodile farm in Kongola, Zambezi region. Acting CEO Richwell Lukonga assured that financial reports would be public by year-end and outlined the agency's strategic plan for 2024-2028. “These reports, which cover the financial performance of the agency, are expected to be made public towards the end of the year,” he confirmed. Nida is also focusing on sustainable livestock management…
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Fuel prices remain steady amid global uncertainty

Fuel prices remain steady amid global uncertainty

Niël Terblanché In a bid to offer some relief to Namibian consumers, the Ministry of Mines and Energy announced that fuel prices will remain unchanged for November 2024, despite rising international oil prices. The price of petrol will stay at N$20.25 per litre, while diesel 50ppm and 10ppm will remain at N$19.72 and N$19.82 per litre, respectively, in Walvis Bay. In a statement released on Friday, the ministry attributes the global uptick in oil prices to ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) decision to extend production cuts by 2.2 million…
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Leading the charge in Women’s Football

Leading the charge in Women’s Football

Katima Mulilo-born Candy Namataa Kulatau has carved an impressive path in Namibian sports, rising from a young football enthusiast to a leading figure in women's football and refereeing. Speaking about her journey, Kulatau shared insights into her career and the challenges she has faced. "I handle regional affairs as a regional convenor for athletics, NSSU, and as the Regional Chairperson for the Zambezi Women’s Football League," she explained. Despite her many responsibilities, refereeing has been her true passion. "Of all the responsibilities, I had chosen to referee as my favourite path." Her love for sports started early. “As I was…
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Namibia’s import bill stands at N$14.8 billion

Namibia’s import bill stands at N$14.8 billion

Martin Endjala The country’s import bill reached N$14.8 billion in January 2024, marking a 20.5% increase from N$12.3 billion in August, according to the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA). In September, export earnings rose slightly to N$9 billion from N$8.7 billion in August, resulting in a trade deficit of N$5.8 billion, up from N$3.6 billion the previous month. This translates to a trade deficit of N$5.8 billion during September when compared to the N$3.6 billion recorded in August. “Exports were revised upwards, increasing by N$12 million, while imports were revised downwards, with variations amounting to N$1 million,” read the report. In…
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Relative and absolute poverty in Namibia

Pierre Mare I wanted to write a light-hearted comment about relative poverty and mobile bandwidth but a couple of posts about people who have electricity yet can't afford to use it gave pause for thought. Also note pedestrians carrying water to their households, showing they can't afford that utility either (nor the taxi). Relative poverty, in a nutshell, is when people have potential access to utilities, products and services but can't afford them (relative to others) and make trade-offs. Absolute poverty is when people fall below the income level necessary for basic needs such as food, housing and healthcare. Namibia…
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