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City police crack down on Yango drivers over permits

City police crack down on Yango drivers over permits

Hertta-Maria Amutenja City police have issued warnings to Yango drivers, highlighting their lack of proper transport permits as a violation of municipal regulations. Several drivers have reported that when they can't produce the necessary permits, police pull them over and threaten to issue tickets. Yango is an international app-based ride-hailing service that already operates in many countries across Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, including Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon, Senegal, Zambia, Angola, Congo Brazzaville, the DRC, Mozambique, and Algeria. Imene Nicodemus, a Yango driver, shared his experience, explaining the difficulties drivers face. "The problem with police officers is…
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Justice for Captain Hans finally served

Justice for Captain Hans finally served

Niël Terblanché Four men have been convicted for the 2016 robbery and murder of Hans Jörg Möller, or Captain Hans, as he was fondly referred to, bringing closure to a case that has gripped the Namibian community for eight years. High Court Judge Dinnah Usiku delivered the verdict on Monday, finding Panduleni Gotlieb, David Tashiya, David Shekundja, and Elly Hinaivali guilty on multiple charges, including murder, attempted murder, housebreaking with intent to rob, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and possession of a firearm and ammunition without a license. Captain Möller, a well-known businessman in Walvis Bay, was fatally shot in his…
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Walvis Bay councillors told to stay out of Redforce matters

Walvis Bay councillors told to stay out of Redforce matters

Martin Endjala The Walvis Bay community requested that three local authority councillors stay out of discussions and meetings regarding Redforce Debt Management (Redforce). On Tuesday, the residents during a mass protest action presented a petition in which they aired their grievances against the management of the municipality and Redforce. They said they do not trust Richard Hoaeb, the management committee chairperson, and two committee members, Olivia Andrews and Buddy Bramwell. “We demand that they recuse themselves from discussions and meetings relating to Redorce until this matter is concluded in a satisfactory manner. We have no confidence in the three councillors,”…
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Klazen criticises former fishermen’s unreasonable demands

Klazen criticises former fishermen’s unreasonable demands

Niël Terblanché The Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Derek Klazen, has criticised the demands of former fishermen as unrealistic, citing their refusal to accept jobs other than sea-going positions while demanding higher wages and benefits. Klazen made these remarks in response to questions from the Popular Democratic Movement’s (PDM) Mike Venaani during a parliamentary session focused on the challenges, sustainability efforts, and future plans for Namibia's fishing industry. Klazen stressed that the ministry launched a socio-economic relief programme in 2020 to support former fishermen who lost their jobs due to retrenchments, strikes, or misconduct. The minister, however, expressed concern…
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‘Stop calling us Fishrot children’

‘Stop calling us Fishrot children’

Martin Endjala In the quiet, isolated village of Omuntele, about 50 kilometres from Ondangwa, Joel Shikongo lives a life shrouded in the shadows of a tarnished legacy. His father, Petrus Shikongo, once a proud fisherman, lost his job in 2018 as a result of the infamous Fishrot scandal that rocked the Namibian fishing industry. “They call him Fishrot because of what he built when he was working in the fishing industry," he said. This nickname is a cruel reminder of his father's association with the Heinaste freezer horse mackerel vessel, now forever linked to corruption and deceit. "They say he…
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Mbumba should be ashamed of praising Brave Warriors – former MP

Mbumba should be ashamed of praising Brave Warriors – former MP

Stefanus Nashama Former Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) member of parliament, Johannes Martin says President Nangolo Mbumba should be ashamed of praising the performance of the Brave Warriors in the final of the Cosafa Cup 2024. He said this during an interview with the Windhoek Observer over the weekend, concerning the underdeveloped sports facilities. “I am shocked to see the President praising the Brave Warriors for making it to the final. Yes, it is something worthy of praise, but if I were him, I would be even more ashamed to speak about the performance of the boys when, looking back home,…
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Leading green hydrogen with strategic partnerships and cutting-edge research

Chris Movirongo Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing the global community, but it also presents a once in a lifetime opportunity for significant economic growth and expansion. For countries like Namibia, the climate emergency presents a chance to take control of its future energy needs and secure economic prosperity. As well as being an environmental imperative, decarbonation through the replacement of fossil fuels is the pathway to a stronger, more resilient economy and nation. It provides plentiful low-cost green energy and enhanced global competitiveness and diversifies the economy to future-proof it for a carbon-counting world. Namibia holds…
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SADC-PF launches five-year strategic plan

SADC-PF launches five-year strategic plan

Moses Magadza The SADC Parliamentary Forum has set ambitious goals aimed at advancing the collective interests and development of the organisation’s Member Parliaments within the Southern African region by 31 December 2028. The secretary general of the SADC PF, Boemo Sekgoma, said this when she presented the Forum’s new strategic plan (2024-2028) at the 55th Plenary Assembly hosted by the Parliament of Angola in Luanda from 1 to 7 July. The Plenary Assembly is the highest policy-making and deliberative organ of the SADC-PF. With a budget of slightly more than US$37,4 million over the five-year period, Sekgoma said the plan…
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SADC PF regional workshop on climate resilience set

SADC PF regional workshop on climate resilience set

Moses Magadza The SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF), in collaboration with its partners, will this week convene a regional workshop on "Fostering Sustainable Futures: Integrating Climate Resilience in Southern Africa." At least 50 delegates are expected to attend the two-day workshop from 9 to 10 July in Windhoek. The SADC PF is organising the workshop in partnership with the International Conservation Caucus Foundation (ICCF) and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS). Rachel Mundilo, the Programme Manager for the SADC PF’s Standing Committee on Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resources (FANR), said the workshop aligns with strategic Goal 4 of the new SADC…
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Time is running out to register for November elections

Time is running out to register for November elections

Niël Terblanché The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has stressed the importance of timely voter registration for the upcoming Presidential and National Assembly Elections scheduled for the end of November. Peter Shaama, the Chief Electoral and Referenda Officer at the ECN, last week, announced that there will be no extension window beyond 1 August for voters to register while also urging all eligible Namibians to take immediate action. He indicated that since the commencement of the General Registration of Voters (GRV) on 3 June, a total of 676 390 Namibians have registered as voters. This includes registrations both within the…
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