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Importers owe NamRA more than N$1 billion in taxes

Importers owe NamRA more than N$1 billion in taxes

Niël Terblanché The Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) issued an urgent call for taxpayers to settle deferred import Value Added Tax (VAT) accounts, revealing that more than 5 000 entities owe the state more than N$1 billion. NamRa’s spokesperson, Yarukeekuro Ndorogaze, in the notice issued on Monday, said that the February 2025 review by NamRA found that 5 182 taxpayers had outstanding VAT on imports. Of these, 187 accounts with debt ranging between zero- and 90-days total N$30 million, while the remainder – involving 4 995 accounts – have been outstanding for more than 90 days. Ndorokaze cautioned that continued non-payment…
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Paralympic funding frozen over governance issues 

Paralympic funding frozen over governance issues 

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Funding for the Namibian National Paralympic Committee (NNPC) from the Ministry of Sport is on hold due to non-compliance with governance requirements. The Namibia Sports Commission’s (NSC) chief administrator, Fredy Mwiya, informed the committee’s secretary general, Michael Hamukwaya, of the decision during a consultative meeting held two weeks ago. “The current board term of office has expired. Hence their involvement to run the affairs has ceased, and funding from the ministry has been put on hold as the federation is non-compliant,” reads the minutes of the meeting seen by the Windhoek Observer. The meeting was also attended by…
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Reimagining Brand Namibia

Reimagining Brand Namibia

Lazarus Jacobs In his farewell speech at the inauguration of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, outgoing President Nangolo Mbumba reflected on Namibia’s long journey:   "It has been a long journey filled with trials and tribulations, but just as our struggle for independence… has paid dividends, likewise the struggle for gender justice, spearheaded by the brave women of Namibia and their allies across the international community."   Shortly after, President Nandi-Ndaitwah made history as Namibia’s first female head of state. Recognizing the significance of this moment, she appointed Lucia Witbooi as the nation’s first female vice president—making Namibia the only country in…
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Poor road conditions delay emergency medical services in Omusati

Poor road conditions delay emergency medical services in Omusati

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Emergency medical services in the Omusati region have been severely affected by the poor condition of the Okahao-Amwaanda gravel road, especially the 15-kilometre stretch between Okahao and the Indira Gandhi Clinic. Health officials have confirmed that ambulance response times are significantly delayed. In some cases, pregnant women have been forced to deliver at home due to the impassable state of the road. Senior medical officer Okahao district hospital  Nghishikushitya Mutilifa, confirmed that the road’s condition has caused dangerous delays in emergency response efforts. “The ambulance cannot go there, and other off-road vehicles have to move at a very…
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City Police cracks down on child beggars

City Police cracks down on child beggars

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Windhoek City Police, in partnership with social services and other stakeholders, are developing a plan to address the growing presence of child beggars at intersections in Windhoek. This follows a recent incident in which a young boy narrowly escaped serious injury while begging at a busy intersection in the central business district. City Police spokesperson Marcelline Murapo said the dangers posed by high-traffic areas and the ongoing efforts to tackle the issue.  She said that while Windhoek municipal bylaws impose a N$500 fine for loitering, begging, or obstructing streets, the City Police are prioritising rehabilitation over punishment.…
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Health minister vows direct action to eliminate TB

Health minister vows direct action to eliminate TB

Niël Terblanché The minister of health and social services, Dr Esperance Luvindao, has committed to intensifying the country’s efforts to eliminate tuberculosis (TB), describing it as a national priority.  Speaking at the World TB Day commemoration held in Tsandi on Friday, Luvindao said the country must act urgently to end the spread of what remains the world’s deadliest infectious disease. “In 2024 alone, 8 360 people were diagnosed with drug-susceptible TB and 292 with drug-resistant TB. It is a public health concern that, according to WHO estimates, up to 33% of people with TB remain undiagnosed,” she said. She also…
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MEFT struggles to locate crocodiles in Etaka Dam

MEFT struggles to locate crocodiles in Etaka Dam

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Officials from the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) are struggling to locate crocodiles in Etaka Dam following a recent attack on a man. The officials cited the reservoir’s size and thick vegetation as major obstacles. Omusati regional governor Erginus Endjala said the dam, which stretches over 13 kilometres, is difficult to search due to heavy shrubbery in the water. “The Ministry of Environment is trying to locate the crocodiles, but identifying their exact location is very difficult because the reservoir stretches over 13km and has a lot of shrubs in the water. At this point, all…
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The nationalists’ voice

"Namibian nationality is a national treasure – it is not for sale" Lazarus Kwedhi  Namibian nationality is not for sale at any price. It cannot be tampered with or handed out indiscriminately to satisfy or protect any individual or group at the expense of native Namibians. Any action that compromises Namibia’s sovereignty is, fundamentally, an act of treason. Nationalists are conservative and deeply patriotic. They are not surprised—though they are troubled—by those who argue that an offspring born in Namibia to foreign parents is a Namibian citizen, as stipulated in Article 4 of the Namibian Constitution. This provision grants such…
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E-invoicing system set to modernise tax administration

E-invoicing system set to modernise tax administration

Niël Terblanché The Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) has pledged its continued support in ensuring that the government’s fiscal agenda is adequately resourced, following the recent tabling of the national budget by the Minister of Finance and Social Grants Management, Ericah Shafudah. NamRA’s commissioner, Sam Shivute, commended the Minister’s presentation of the N$106.3 billion national budget for the 2025/2026 financial year and reaffirmed the agency’s role in securing the funds necessary for delivering on the country’s policy objectives. He said that NamRA remains fully aligned with the government’s drive to mobilise domestic revenue in a manner that strengthens the national economy.…
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New Deputy Judges-President appointed at High Court

New Deputy Judges-President appointed at High Court

Niël Terblanche President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, last week, appointed two Deputy Judges-President of the High Court while acting on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC). According to a statement by the Judiciary, Justice Shafimana Ueitele and Justice Johanna Sophia (Hannelie) Prinsloo will assume their new roles on 1 April 2025. Justice Ueitele has served as a High Court Judge since 1 July 2012 and is currently acting on the Supreme Court Bench, where he has served since January 2021. Justice Prinsloo has been a High Court Judge since July 2017 and was appointed as an acting Judge of the…
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