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Nyasha Nyaungwa and Ester Mbathera  U.S.-based marine scientist Dr. Vincent Pieribone has warned against the risks of pollution and overexploitation of Namibia’s offshore ecosystem due to oil and gas exploration, fishing, and diamond mining activities. Pieribone, who serves as the co-CEO and Chief Science Officer of OceanX, a global ocean exploration nonprofit that operates the OceanXplorer - a research and media vessel for multifaceted scientific missions -said in a recent interview that Namibia’s vast and largely inaccessible coastline, rich in marine resources, is at risk of severe environmental degradation. He cautioned against the potential damage caused by extractive industries such…

Hertta-maria Amutenja  The Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN) and the Namibian Revolutionary Transport Union (NARETU) have raised concerns over changes to employment conditions following the implementation of the national minimum wage (NMW) on 1 January. MUN general secretary, George Ampweya, said some employers have opted to adjust existing employee benefits instead of complying fully with the NMW. "Some employers would say, yes, let's look at existing benefits, for example, trying to cut allowances to compensate for wage increases. This is causing difficulty, as employees must choose between keeping their jobs or losing benefits," Ampweya said. He stated that the fuel…

Allexer Namundjebo, Julia Heita , Hertta-Maria Amutenja  Namibia stood still in grief on Saturday as the nation laid to rest its founding father, Sam Nujoma, at Heroes’ Acre.  A profound silence fell over the country as the Namibian Defence Force's (NDF) honoured him with a solemn 21-gun salute, marking the final farewell to a leader who shaped the destiny of a free Namibia. Thousands of mourners filled the capital, Windhoek, their faces etched with sorrow and singing in unison the liberation ‘Sema ouli peni,’ calling on Nujoma to raise the national flag. Nujoma was silent forever.  A visibly sad President…

Ester Mbathera  The body of founding president Sam Nujoma will arrive in Windhoek on Thursday after a series of regional memorial services held across the country.  The arrival marked the final leg of a nationwide memorial tour that allowed the public to pay their respects to the late leader.  These services took place in Etunda, Eenhana, Rundu, Katima Mulilo, Grootfontein, Walvis Bay, and Keetmanshoop. Nujoma’s body will arrive at Hosea Kutako International Airport (HKIA) from Keetmanshoop.  A street procession will follow the arrival, starting at HKIA and moving through designated routes in Windhoek.  The procession will start at 8h30, passing…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The death of a five-year-old child in Otavi has reignited discussions about the effectiveness of Namibia's traffic law enforcement.  Clemesia Hanes lost her life when an unlicensed driver, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a yard, killing her and injuring three other children.  The driver did not possess a valid license and was reportedly intoxicated at the time of the accident. Road safety activist Felix Tjozongoro has called for Namibia’s traffic law enforcement to be removed from the Namibian Police and placed under the Ministry of Transport, citing ineffective enforcement…

Ester Mbathera  The Namibia Industrial Development Agency (NIDA) has reported that its cost-to-income ratio remains high, with expenses surpassing income. The agency’s executive consultant and chief financial officer, Julius Nghikevali, revealed this during the release of NIDA's six-year abridged annual report for the financial years 2018/2019 to 2023/2024, released on Monday in Windhoek. “That is a picture that any business would need to change and that is a key focus area for us,” he said. Despite the challenges, NIDA has achieved a 30% growth in total assets from 2019 to 2024, primarily due to investment properties. “The investment property aspect…

Ester Mbathera  In 1999, Catherine Kaunda, the oldest child of Zambia's founding president, Kenneth Kaunda, became homeless after a High Court ruling declared her father stateless.  This decision affected his children and grandchildren. Catherine lived in South Africa at the time when the Thabo Mbeki administration offered her only refugee status. She was eventually given a seven-day ultimatum to leave the country. "Nujoma was God-sent. My father arranged with Nujoma to take me in. I had no travel documents to come to Namibia. It was all arranged by Uncle Sam. I am now a citizen of Namibia. This is my…

Niël Terblanché Looming adverse weather conditions threaten to disrupt these commemorations, particularly in the northern regions of the country at the time when the mortal remains of Founding President Sam Nujoma started a tour of seven regions to allow Namibians in rural areas to pay their final respects. A series of regional memorial services have been organized to honour Nujoma’s legacy.  The Namibian Meteorological Service (NMS), in collaboration with the Office of the Prime Minister, issued a public weather warning on Wednesday. The NMS advisory forecasts moderate to heavy thunderstorms over the coming weekend in the Kavango East, Kavango West,…

Erasmus Shalihaxwe and Ester Mbathera The remains of the late Founding President Sam Nujoma have begun the journey to their final resting place, and the nation has paid its last respects. The remains arrived early on Thursday morning at State House, where President Nangolo Mbumba officially sanctioned their departure to the regions. Former President Hifikepunye Pohamba and former First Lady Penexupifo Pohamba were among the dignitaries who arrived to pay their respects. The Namibian Defence Force (NDF), led by the Chief of the Defence Force, Air Marshal Martin Pinehas, is overseeing the solemn procession. The journey began with a brief…