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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…

Renthia Kaimbi and Allexer Namundjembo Chief magistrates could earn a total package of about N$1.02 million per year, according to the proposed salary scales for magistrates across the country, detailed in a letter by the Magistrates Commission.  This includes an annual salary of N$653 212.49, bonuses of N$54 434.37, a housing allowance of N$153 816, and a car allowance of N$162 201. The deputy chief magistrate could take home a total package of roughly N$969 000 per year.  This includes a basic salary of N$625 642.81, bonuses of N$52 136.90, a housing allowance of N$142 104, and a car allowance…

Justicia Shipena Only 19% of Namibians aged 18 to 35 would choose to start their own business if given the opportunity. This makes the country’s youth the least entrepreneurial in Africa.  This is according to the latest Afrobarometer survey covering 38 African nations. The data stands in sharp contrast to Namibia’s youth population, which makes up 2.1 million of the country’s three million people, according to the 2023 Housing and Population Census by the Namibia Statistics Agency.  Despite their numbers, the survey shows that most young Namibians prefer the government as their employer. The survey asked the youth about their…

Allexer Namundjembo The High Court has found the chairperson of the Public Service Commission (PSC), Salmaan Jacobs, guilty of corruption in a case that dates back more than a decade. High Court judges Naomi Shivute and Marilize du Plessis delivered the judgement on Friday, ruling that Jacobs contravened section 43(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act of 2003, which prohibits public officials from using their position for personal gain. The case against Jacobs began with investigations in 2007, when he served as chief regional officer of the ||Karas Regional Council.  This followed allegations that he irregularly claimed allowances and approved payments to…