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Namibia pension fund assets

Namibia pension fund assets

Robert McGregor Namibia is one of the few countries with pension fund assets exceeding GDP (106.6% of nominal GDP in 2024). These long-term savings are highly regulated, both in terms of what they may be invested in and where they may invest. Following changes gazetted in August 2018, Namibian pension funds have been required to invest at least 45.0% of their total assets in Namibia since 31 March 2019. This requirement, however, was only met by the end of March 2021. Despite a large ‘domestic savings pool’, Namibia's investable universe is constrained. The size of these savings has led to…
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HPV vaccine only in private facilities

HPV vaccine only in private facilities

Allexer Namundjebo The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine has arrived in Namibia and is currently available only in private healthcare facilities.  The Ministry of Health and Social Services is finalising plans to roll out the vaccine nationwide through public health facilities. Walters Kamaya, the ministry’s public relations officer, confirmed the vaccine’s availability in the private sector.  “The HPV vaccine is available in the private sector, and the government is currently determining a date to launch it in the public sector,” he said. This comes as the ministry postponed a media engagement that coincided with the vaccine’s arrival at Hosea Kutako International…
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PG accused of prejudicing Hengari trial

PG accused of prejudicing Hengari trial

Allexer Namundjembo The ongoing case involving former agriculture minister Mac-Albert Hengari has raised concerns about Prosecutor General Martha Imalwa's conduct.  Defence lawyers accused her of interfering with the judicial process through public comments about the case. During Tuesday's court session, lawyers for Hengari and co-accused Simon Hango said Imalwa’s remarks to the media affected the fairness of the trial. Lawyer Kadhila Amoomo said Imalwa overstepped by commenting on the alleged victim’s condition in a media interview.  “There is one hand in the court and one hand in the media,” he said.  Amoomo argued that such actions move the case from…
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CoW and PowerCom partner to install CCTV cameras

CoW and PowerCom partner to install CCTV cameras

Justicia Shipena The City of Windhoek and PowerCom Namibia signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to support the city’s goal of becoming a smart city by 2027. The agreement signed on Tuesday follows the Municipal Council of Windhoek’s approval last month of a project to upgrade streetlights in the Central Business District as part of urban renewal efforts. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Windhoek Mayor Ndeshihafela Larandja said the city is committed to leading technological transformation in Namibia.  She said the partnership with PowerCom will help improve service delivery, infrastructure, and economic opportunities. “This partnership aligns perfectly with our vision…
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Namibia and Uganda sign judicial cooperation pact

Namibia and Uganda sign judicial cooperation pact

Niël Terblanché Namibia and Uganda have strengthened judicial cooperation with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between their judiciaries.  The agreement was signed on Tuesday during the official visit of Uganda’s Chief Justice, Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny-Dollo, to Namibia. At the Supreme Court in Windhoek, Namibia’s Chief Justice, Peter Shivute, called the MoU a milestone reflecting a shared vision.  “This is a vision of judiciaries that learn from one another, that innovate together, and that strive continuously to improve the quality of justice for the people we serve,” he said. The visit followed a series of exchanges between the…
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MTC reroutes internet traffic during WACS fix

MTC reroutes internet traffic during WACS fix

Allexer Namundjebo Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) has confirmed that three of its internet links through the West African Cable System (WACS) will be affected by ongoing maintenance. To keep services running smoothly, MTC has rerouted internet traffic through backup channels.  The WACS maintenance, set to run from June 1 to 16, includes repairs, upgrades, and technical checks on the 14,000-kilometre undersea fibre-optic cable that connects several African countries to Europe. WACS is a key part of Namibia’s international internet connection. Although such maintenance is routine, it may lead to slower internet or brief disruptions in areas that rely on the…
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Report reveals language marginalisation at Auas Primary

Report reveals language marginalisation at Auas Primary

Hertta-Maria Amutenja A report on Auas Primary School has raised concerns about the sidelining of Khoekhoegowab, even though most learners at the school speak the language. The report, compiled by a group of teachers, says leadership and staffing choices have weakened the presence of Khoekhoegowab in the school.  It highlights that the Head of Department (HOD) post for Khoekhoegowab in the junior primary phase has been vacant for nearly three years.  In the senior primary phase, the position has not been filled for over ten years. “This has left a critical leadership vacuum in curriculum implementation, teacher guidance, and pedagogical…
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Tech to boost African heritage conservation

Tech to boost African heritage conservation

Niël Terblanché A regional workshop hosted in Windhoek has brought together African heritage professionals to explore how digital technologies can transform the preservation and management of World Heritage sites. The event, which started on Tuesday, is organised by UNESCO in partnership with the Namibian government and supported by the Government of Flanders in Belgium. Eunice Smith, UNESCO Head of Office and Representative to Namibia, described the workshop as a response to the increasing threats faced by heritage sites across Africa, including climate change, urbanisation and conflict. “Our repeated periods of prolonged drought followed by devastating floods over the past few…
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Shame is not a shelter: Why silence protects perpetrators and harms survivors

Pefimbo Shipunda In the wake of yet another series of brutal acts of violence against women and children in Namibia, a painful truth confronts us: while perpetrators may commit the violence, it is silence that sustains it. Shame is a powerful force in our communities. It silences victims, shields abusers, and prioritises reputation over justice. It tells survivors to keep quiet, not because they are wrong, but because speaking out might bring “dishonour” to their families. It urges communities to downplay what they know and families to “deal with it privately”, often by suppressing the voices of those most harmed.…
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Chinese book donation deepens cultural ties

Chinese book donation deepens cultural ties

Niël Terblanché The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China will donate 174 books to the National Library of Namibia to promote cultural and educational exchange between the two countries. The official handover ceremony will take place at the Ministry of Education Resource Centre in Windhoek. The Chinese ambassador to Namibia, Zhao Weiping, will present the books to Erastus Haitengela, the executive director of the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Arts, and Culture. According to the ministry, the donation aims to strengthen cultural ties, promote knowledge sharing, and build mutual understanding between China and Namibia. The donated books cover topics…
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