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Namibians living abroad will vote on 13 November

Namibians living abroad will vote on 13 November

Stefanus Nashama Namibians residing in foreign countries who are above the age of 18 will cast their votes for the presidential and national assembly elections on 13 November. This was confirmed by the spokesperson of the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), De Wet Siluka, on Wednesday. “The elections will take place in all Namibian diplomatic missions on 13 November,” he said. According to Siluka, ECN will deploy 35 teams to Namibia’s diplomatic missions abroad. “The ECN has established 567 registration teams that will be deployed locally, while 35 teams will serve at the Namibian Diplomatic Missions. Registration points will be…
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Nekundi did make remarks about “political graves” for opposition leaders

Nekundi did make remarks about “political graves” for opposition leaders

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Despite denying that he told Swapo supporters to bury opposition leaders, Windhoek Observer has obtained an audio recording of Deputy Minister of Works and Transport Veko Nekundi clearly stating that he wants to see the ‘democratic graves’ of both Panduleni Itula and McHenry Venaani. He was speaking at a Swapo rally in Emono village, Omusati region, over the weekend. “If we are saying in Emono, where we are, if there is anything breathing opposition parties, it must be buried. On November 27 November when the election results are released, I want to see Itula’s grave here. A grave…
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UNAM promotes Amupanda and Blaauw

UNAM promotes Amupanda and Blaauw

The University of Namibia (UNAM), on Tuesday, promoted Lesley Blaauw to full professor in political studies and social activist, Job Amupanda to associate professor from the rank of senior lecturer in the same department. At the age of 36, Amupanda became Namibia's youngest associate professor. City of Windhoek in its congratulatory message issued on Wednesday. Commended Amupanda, on his commitment to academic excellence and advancing political studies. "We at CoW are proud of his accomplishments and recognition he has achieved within the academic fraternity," read the message. Amupanda is a local authority councillor at the CoW. Report by Martin Endjala.
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Iran lost an outstanding leader – Mbumba

Iran lost an outstanding leader – Mbumba

President Nangolo Mbumba on Tuesday conveyed a message of condolence to the Republic of Iran, following the death of President Ebrahim Raisi. President Raisi passed away last Sunday as a result of a helicopter crash. "Words rarely suffice in comforting a nation when it has lost a leader. Consolation is a difficult offering to give for the despair that comes with mourning a President. An experience, we in Namibia are painfully familiar with," expressed Mbumba. He said the people of Iran have lost an outstanding leader. He described President Raisi as a leader who cared about the development and prosperity…
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Namibia requires a fit-for-purpose Oil and Gas blueprint

Namibia requires a fit-for-purpose Oil and Gas blueprint

Martin Endjala Namibia requires a forward-looking, fit-for-current and future-purpose Oil and Gas value blueprint and strategy. Jason Kasuto, the managing director of Monasa Advisory and Associates and chairperson of the Economic Association of Namibia, said this last week at the 2024 Africa Energies Summit in London. Kasuto emphasised the importance of using foresight tools like the Namibian Socio-Economic Assessment Model (SAM) to analyse the potential impact of future oil and gas spending across various sectors. “We must start with a thorough analysis of potential impacts across various sectors by applying socio-economic impact foresight tools such as the SAM, which is…
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SADC needs US$5.5 billion to assist El Niño victims

SADC needs US$5.5 billion to assist El Niño victims

Niël Terblanché The current chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), President João Lourenço of Angola, launched a regional humanitarian appeal of at least US$5.5 billion aimed at supporting more than 61 million people affected by the El Niño-induced droughts and floods across the region. The appeal seeks to mobilise resources from national, regional, and international partners in response to the devastating impacts of the El Niño phenomenon. The plan was unveiled during an extraordinary virtual summit of Heads of State and Government, targeting the augmentation of domestic resources in the affected SADC Member States. In his statement, Lourenço…
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ECN refutes allegations of corruption

ECN refutes allegations of corruption

Niël Terblanché The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has firmly denied claims circulating on social media regarding alleged corruption in the recruitment process for registration and polling officials for the 2024 General Registration of Voters (GRV) and the upcoming November elections. Peter Shaama, the ECN’s Chief Electoral and Referenda Officer, in a statement, addressed the allegations He stressed that the recruitment process adheres strictly to established policies and procedures, in line with the 2024 Electoral Calendar. "The Commission refutes misleading social media posts by a political activist alleging corruption in the recruitment process of registration and polling officials for the…
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A new dawn awaits Namibian salary earners

A new dawn awaits Namibian salary earners

Niël Terblanché In a significant move that promises financial relief for Namibian citizens and businesses, the government is nearing the implementation of the tax reduction and refund measures announced during the tabling of the 2024–2025 National Budget. These measures are currently with the legal drafters and are expected to become law by October. During his presentation of the National Budget in Parliament at the end of February, the Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises, Iipumbu Shiimi, revealed that salary earners would soon pay less tax. During a discussion at the Government Information Centre on Monday, Shiimi provided further updates, stressing…
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It’s a cooked story, I never and will never say such things – Nekundi

It’s a cooked story, I never and will never say such things – Nekundi

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Deputy Minister of Works and Transport, Veiko Nekundi said the article published by a local daily newspaper quoting him that he wants to see the political graves of opposition leaders is a cooked story. Nekundi is reported to have said that he wants to see the democratic burial of the Independent Patriots for Change’s leader, Panduleni Itula and that of the Popular Democratic Movement’s (PDM) leader, McHenry Venaani. He was speaking during a Swapo rally at the Emono village in the Oshana Region, where he allegedly informed the crowd that they should ensure that when the November…
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NDF stops allowance payments of aircraft technicians

NDF stops allowance payments of aircraft technicians

Martin Endjala The professional and danger allowances of aircraft technicians serving in the Namibian Airforce have been stopped without any justification. For lower-ranking airforce technicians, professional allowances start at N$1,800, and danger allowances start at N$1,090. The cessation of allowance payments has affected many members, especially those with houses and vehicles purchased with the aid of bank loans. On Tuesday, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs, Lieutenant Colonel Petrus Shilumbu confirmed that the payment of allowances was stopped for some members. “The deduction was done automatically by the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises. The Ministry…
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