Blog – Page 395 – News Stand

19 Jun

Namibia seeks urgent assistance with drought crisis

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Niël Terblanché Namibia is grappling with one of the worst droughts in recent memory, prompting the government to seek urgent assistance to bridge a significant funding gap in its drought relief programme. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works and Transport, John Mutorwa, highlighted the severity of the situation during a joint coordination meeting with the country's development partners on Wednesday. Mutorwa stressed the dire need for additional resources to combat the devastating effects of prolonged dry conditions that have exacerbated food insecurity and strained the livelihoods of vulnerable communities across Namibia. He said that the Namibian government has committed…

19 Jun

NamPower fears potential electricity shortage

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Hertta-Maria Amutenja NamPower is monitoring a potential energy crisis following Zambia’s decision to recall 100 megawatts (MW) of electricity from the export market, which has raised concerns about Namibia's energy supply. Cornelius Mweetwa, Zambia's minister for information and media, announced this week that Zesco, the country's state-owned power utility, will recall at least 100 MW of electricity to meet local utilisation needs. Mweetwa emphasised that Zambia is currently contractually bound to supply the export market but is actively pursuing a smooth exit plan from these agreements. Namibia currently imports 120 MW of electricity from Zambia following a reduction in exports…

19 Jun

PDM concerned about Zambia’s decision to stop selling electricity

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The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) has expressed concern regarding the Zambian Cabinet's decision on Tuesday to recall 100 megawatts (MW) of electricity from the export market.The party’s Secretary for Information and Publicity, Hidipo Hamata said this move by Zesco, Zambia's state-owned power utility, is expected to impact Namibia's energy security and economic stability significantly.Namibia imports 180MW of electricity from ZambiaHamata urged the Namibian government to explore additional power imports from South Africa and Angola, called for diplomatic engagement with Zambia to seek a phased reduction in power exports and recommended convening an emergency energy summit to devise a comprehensive strategy.Reporter:…

19 Jun

National Council evaluates NamRA’s operation

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The National Council's Standing Committee on Public Accounts and Economy has begun evaluating the operations of NamRA.The committee will specifically examine customs and excise operations to evaluate their impact on business activities and the Namibian economy as a whole.It will also assess the efficiency, effectiveness, and applicability of taxation, revenue, and customs duties collection and examine the effective taxation of exports from the extractive industry.So far the committee covered the Omaheke, //Kharas, and Erongo regions.Reporter: Stefanus Nashama

19 Jun

Mining industry a bedrock of economy-Alweendo

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Mines and Energy Minister, Tom Alweendo, says the mining industry remains the bedrock of Namibia's economy.He was speaking at the Rössing Uranium 2023 sustainability and performance report launch, at Country Club Resort and Casino in Windhoek on Tuesday evening."The good performance of Rössing Uranium is not success in isolation but it is rather a part of a bigger mining industry that has a significant contribution to the Namibian economy," he said.He said the industry contributed N$6.4 billion in royalties and taxes in 2023.Rössing Uranium recorded a revenue of N$6.48 billion compared to N$4.48 billion in 2022.With a net profit of…

19 Jun

MVA Fund extends condolences to victims of Otavi-Otjiwarongo road accident

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The Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund has extended its sincere condolences to the families affected by the tragic car accident on the Otavi-Otjiwarongo road.The accident happened at around midday on Tuesday, about 20 kilometres from Otavi, claiming nine lives and causing multiple injuries.The Fund urged drivers to be vigilant and responsible, especially with the increased traffic flow due to the current school holidays.In the past week, 51 road crashes were recorded.MVA Fund's year-to-date statistics state that 1 282 crashes occurred which resulted in 2 362 injuries and 178 fatalities.Reporter: Hertta-Maria Amutenja

18 Jun

Luxury yacht Attila docks in Walvis Bay

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Niël Terblanché Namibia's ambitions to become a premier destination for luxury yacht tourism received a significant boost with the arrival of the magnificent 64-metre steel yacht, Attila, at the Port of Walvis Bay on Monday. The docking of such a magnificent vessel emphasizes the Namibian Ports Authority's (Namport) ongoing efforts to position Namibia as a regional hub for cargo as well as luxury yacht tourism, enhancing the country's international reputation and economic prospects. The Attila, a luxurious masterpiece owned by Mauricio Filiberti, an Argentinian entrepreneur and founder of Transclor, a leading water purification chemicals company, exemplifies the pinnacle of maritime…

18 Jun

Water supply at Ongaaka village restored

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Martin Endjala Following weeks without running water, the Ongaaka village in the Omuthiya Constituency, Oshikoto region, has had its water supply restored. Emilia Tobias, a member of the community member confirmed this on Tuesday. For several weeks, the village has been without water, forcing many community members to walk long distances to the nearest village to fetch water. She told Windhoek Observer that all taps are now running throughout the day, and she is grateful to all those who heard their cry and came to their aid. “Yes, the water is back, but it is not running fast and used…

18 Jun

Dausab calls for clarity in Namibian legislation

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Niël Terblanché Minister of Justice, Yvonne Dausab, emphasised the critical need for lawmakers to ensure that laws are clearly translated and understood before they are passed. She said this during the Commonwealth law reform training workshop in Windhoek, which focuses on enhancing legislative drafting and law reform, and was initiated in response to Dausab's request for technical assistance from the Commonwealth Secretariat. Dausab stressed the importance of simplifying legal language to aid in the comprehension of legislative objectives. “Simplifying law aids in comprehending the objectives of the legislation,” she said while also stressing that clear and understandable laws are essential…

18 Jun

Visit of UNGA President sets stage for SOTF

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Niël Terblanché The President of the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Dennis Francis, will visit Namibia from 18 to 21 June. This visit, at the invitation of Peya Mushelenga, Namibia's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, serves as a prelude to the much-anticipated Summit of the Future (SOTF) that Namibia will co-host with Germany on 22 and 23 September. Announcing the visit, Ambassador Penda Naanda, Executive Director of the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, stressed the visit’s significance and said that it is part of the President of the General Assembly’s outreach activities to various…