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Allexer Namundjembo If the government does not respond to magistrates’ demands and the nationwide strike continues, the swearing-in of office bearers who will emerge victorious from the regional and local authority elections may be delayed or halted. In a letter to President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Affirmative Repositioning leader and member of parliament Job Shipululo Amupanda says the absence of magistrates will stop newly elected leaders from assuming office. This week, the Magistrates and Judges Association of Namibia (MJA) issued a formal strike notice to finance minister Ericah Shafudah, justice and labour relations minister Fillemon Wise Immanuel, the Magistrates Commission and the…

Renthia Kaimbi Former Landless People’s Movement (LPM) member and independent candidate in Keetmanshoop Vernon Coleman says the confrontation with LPM leader Bernadus Swartbooi began after Swartbooi insulted him. Coleman told the Windhoek Observer that Swartbooi called him a ‘c*nt’, which led him to confront him [Swartbooi]. He said he spat on Swartbooi and reacted because Swartbooi had repeatedly referred to him as a drug dealer at campaign rallies. The incident took place in Keetmanshoop yesterday. Two years ago, LPM terminated Coleman’s membership with immediate effect, hours after he led a protest against LPM Keetmanshoop Urban Constituency councillor Joseph Isaack. The…

Renthia Kaimbi Walvis Bay Urban Constituency councillor Deriou Benson raised concerns about the Independent Patriots for Change's (IPC) requirement that office bearers contribute 10% of their salary to the party before leaving the party to join Swapo.  His move took place yesterday during a Swapo door-to-door campaign in Narraville, Walvis Bay.  Benson’s move comes only days before Wednesday’s local and regional elections.  It happened one day after the IPC held a campaign event in Walvis Bay with party president Panduleni Itula on Saturday. Sources say his exit is a major setback for the IPC in Walvis Bay. They claim he…

Justicia Shipena  Landless People's Movement (LPM) leader Bernadus Swartbooi says he plans to appeal directly to United States President Donald Trump for help, arguing that LPM members are facing political persecution in Namibia. At a press conference in Keetmanshoop on Thursday, he announced that he intends to write to Trump, urging him to intervene and assist the party as its members endure what he described as torture, inhumane treatment and severe distress. Swartbooi further claimed that LPM members are living under constant pressure and fear and accused Namibian security forces of behaving like occupying forces. “We have no choice but…

Renthia Kaimbi The ghosts of the Namibian Competition Commission (NaCC) fine may have been among the pressures that pushed Bank of Namibia (BoN) governor Johannes !Gawaxab to take an early resignation, one year before his term ends.  In May last year, the NaCC issued a N$1 million fine against !Gawaxab, Ismael Gei-Khoibeb and Gamma Investments for carrying out a merger without the commission’s approval. The penalty followed reports that !Gawaxab was facing allegations of selling businesses and shareholdings in a major insurance company to family and friends, despite publicly claiming he had disposed of those interests to “unrelated parties". That…

Allexer Namundjembo Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader McHenry Venaani says he once petitioned former president Hage Geingob for the government to consider dropping charges against those convicted in the Caprivi treason case.  He said he tried to open back-channel talks through Frans Kapofi when he was minister of presidential affairs to negotiate an amnesty, but the state did not show interest.  Kapofi served as the minister of presidential affairs under Geingob’s administration from 2015 to 2018.  “I attempted to initiate direct, silent talks between the government and former MP Geoffrey Mwilima. I spoke to president Geingob via the then-minister of…

Justicia Shipena  The United Kingdom (UK) plans to remove fast-track visa services for Namibian diplomats and VIPs as part of a penalty system aimed at countries that do not take back people the UK classifies as illegal migrants and foreign criminals. Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are also listed under the planned measures.  The UK says the three countries have refused to repatriate more than 4 000 unauthorised immigrants and offenders.  If cooperation does not improve within a month, the restrictions will escalate to a full visa ban on all citizens. UK home secretary Shabana Mahmood announced…

Renthia Kaimbi Details of a Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) bailout intended to rescue the Ongopolo copper mine in Tsumeb in the early 2000s have resurfaced.  Residents and sources now allege that former executives acquired multi-million-dollar company properties for almost nothing during liquidation. More than N$100 million in government support, including GIPF funding, had been injected into Ongopolo Mining and Processing Ltd under former managing director Andre Neethling in an attempt to revive the collapsed mine. Court documents filed in 2005 showed that Ongopolo owed Standard Bank N$95 million, backed by a government guarantee.  The documents also showed that GIPF…

Justicia Shipena  The National Assembly has put on hold a proposal that seeks to shift key powers under the Petroleum Act from the minister of industries, mines and energy to the President.  The amendment would give President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah authority to grant, renew, or revoke oil and gas exploration licences and production rights. The move was shelved after interim minister of industries, mines and energy Frans Kapofi asked the house on Wednesday to allow him to table a bill on it as urgent.  The speaker of the National Assembly, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, would have had to adjust the order of the…

Justicia Shipena and Shellygan Petersen  Former prime minister Nahas Angula yesterday told the Windhoek Observer that President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is “taking a big risk” by assuming direct powers over the licensing of the oil and gas sector.  Angula’s concerns originated from the decision by the executive to move the powers given to the minister of industries, mines and energy under the Petroleum Act to the office of the President.  The transfer of these powers includes the authority to grant, renew, or revoke oil and gas exploration licences and production rights.  Angula said the decision shifts critical responsibilities away from specialised…