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Niël Terblanché Marginalized communities in Namibia, particularly nomadic groups, are facing severe difficulties in receiving essential food aid. Rebekka Namwandi, the Deputy Director of marginalized communities in the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication, and Social Welfare, reiterated the challenges in distributing food parcels to these communities. She added that the nomadic lifestyle of some communities has hindered the effective allocation and delivery of food assistance. In light of these challenges, Namwandi stressed the importance of utilizing various communication channels, including radio broadcasts, to inform these communities about the availability of food parcels. However, she also acknowledged the limitations of…

Niël Terblanché The Meat Board of Namibia is undergoing a significant transformation, including a change of name, to broaden its scope and responsibilities. The organization, historically focused on meat and related products, is expanding to include poultry and dairy, necessitating a new identity. The revised name, the Livestock and Livestock Products Board of Namibia (LLPB), or more concisely, Livestock Products Namibia (LPN), reflects this wider mandate. This change is not just in name but also in function. Livestock Products Namibia will henceforth oversee a more diverse range of animal products, including dairy, hides, and various livestock such as sheep, goats,…

Martin Endjala The Namibian Minister of Industrialisation and Trade, Lucia Iipumbu, announced plans for a new comprehensive regulatory framework to manage the burgeoning green hydrogen sector in Namibia. Speaking in Windhoek at Droombos during the conclusion of the European Union Twinning Project, the Minister emphasized the importance of the Synthetic Fuels Act in creating an enabling legislative environment for hydrogen projects. This act aims to ensure compliance with international standards in green fuel certification, health, safety, and environmental protection. This announcement follows a successful meeting between Namibian and German officials, where they agreed to work on an Institutional Partnership on…

Niël Terblanché In a proactive step towards economic development, the Swakopmund Municipality has launched a campaign focused on increasing employment opportunities, particularly for the youth and other vulnerable groups. Mayor Dina Namubes recently made courtesy visits to the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare and the Langer Heinrich offices in Swakopmund to foster job creation in the town. These visits highlighted a significant barrier: many vulnerable individuals lack access to smartphones or other devices, limiting their ability to use job portals and other technology-dependent platforms. Addressing this, Namubes stressed the need to diversify awareness channels, including the use of public…

Niël Terblanché The Mine Workers Union of Namibia (MUN) Rössing Branch Executive Committee (BEC) has successfully negotiated a three-year wage agreement with Rössing Uranium, securing salary increments for workers for the next three years. This agreement, effective from 18 January, applies to employees belonging to the bargaining unit in Grades 1 to 11 and those in the L Band. After successful negotiations earlier in January, it was agreed that employees in Grades 1 to 11 will receive a six percent increase in 2024, followed by another six percent in 2025, and seven percent in 2026. Employees in the L Band…