National News

Ovaherero chieftaincy battle costs reach N$10m 

Ovaherero chieftaincy battle costs reach N$10m 

Justicia Shipena The legal cost linked to the dispute over the Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA) paramount chieftaincy has reached an estimated N$10 million. This comes as the Herero chief of Ovitoto, Vipuira Kapuuo, continues his court challenge against professor Mutjinde Katjiua’s claim to the position of paramount chief. “The teams acknowledged the substantial financial costs associated with the ongoing legal battles. It is estimated that the collective legal expenditure has reached approximately N$10 million,” a joint statement issued on Thursday said. Kapuuo argues that under Ovaherero customary law, tradition and protocol, the chairperson of the Chief’s Council automatically becomes acting…
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Fuel stations ordered to refill vehicles only

Fuel stations ordered to refill vehicles only

Justicia Shipena  Refuelling into containers, drums and fuel cans is prohibited across the country for the next three months.  Industries, mines and energy minister, Modestus Amutse, announced the temporary restriction during a media briefing at the Government Information Centre in Windhoek on Thursday. Amutse said the move aims to stop panic buying and fuel hoarding following another sharp increase in fuel prices. “To support the continued availability of fuel across the country, service stations are directed, for the next three months, to only refuel directly into the customers’ vehicles. The filling of additional drums, cans, or other containers will not…
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Family appeals for help to save young stylist 

Family appeals for help to save young stylist 

Allexer Namundjembo  The family of 23-year-old Martha Uupindi is appealing to the public for financial assistance to help fund life-saving medical treatment in South Africa. Uupindi, a stylist and TVET student, was diagnosed in 2022 with very severe aplastic anaemia (VSAA).  VSAA is a rare condition in which the bone marrow fails to produce enough blood cells. The illness has forced her to pause her studies and step away from her beauty salon business, which employs five people. According to her brother, Goodman Uupindi, the diagnosis changed the family’s life completely.  Since then, Martha has depended on frequent blood transfusions…
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Namibia set to submit green investment plan in October

Namibia set to submit green investment plan in October

Justicia Shipena  Namibia is expected to submit its sectoral transformation investment plan (STIP) under the Climate Investment Funds Industry Decarbonisation Programme by October.  This is as the country pushes to unlock up to US$250 million (approximately N$4.7 billion) in concessional climate finance for low-carbon industrial development. The investment plan aims to attract concessional finance and boost support from development finance institutions, multilateral banks, and private investors. “This process is designed to help Namibia unlock catalytic concessional finance and crowd in further support from development finance institutions, multilateral development banks and private investors,” said Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme interim head Joseph…
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Home Affairs, NTB team up to improve visitor experience 

Home Affairs, NTB team up to improve visitor experience 

Justicia Shipena  The Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) and the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at improving customer service standards and strengthening cooperation in the tourism sector. The agreement was signed in Windhoek on Thursday during the launch of NTB’s national customer service excellence initiative, known as Welcome Host. The initiative focuses on improving service delivery across the tourism sector and creating better experiences for visitors entering Namibia. NTB chief executive officer Sebulon Chicalu said the partnership reflects a shared commitment to improving tourism services and positioning Namibia as a leading…
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RFIN urges caution as Fima takes effect 

RFIN urges caution as Fima takes effect 

Allexer Namundjembo The Retirement Funds Institute of Namibia (RFIN) has cautioned that the implementation of the Financial Institutions and Markets Act (Fima) must be carefully managed to avoid legal and operational problems in the financial sector. The act, together with the Namfisa Act, officially came into effect on 1 May after determinations by the finance minister and publication in the government gazette. The legislation introduces a new regulatory framework for the non-banking financial sector. Namfisa stated that the framework aims to enhance consumer protection, financial stability, and market confidence. RFIN, however, said some technical provisions under Fima have not yet…
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MTC appeals to corporate Namibia for internship support

Staff Writer Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) is calling on companies and institutions to create more internship opportunities for young Namibians through the Namibia National Internship Programme. The appeal follows a call made by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah during the University of Namibia (Unam) graduation ceremony last week, where she urged government institutions and the private sector to convert training budgets into internship and apprenticeship opportunities. MTC contributes N$2 million every year to the programme, which helps graduates and tertiary students gain workplace experience through paid internships. The Namibia National Internship Programme was launched in 2019 to address challenges graduates face when…
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NHP admits to delayed claim payments

Patience Makwele The Namibia Health Plan (NHP) has admitted that healthcare providers experienced failed claims processing and delayed payments. NHP said the disruptions followed the fund’s transition to a new managed care service system, which started on 1 April. NHP said the process caused operational disruptions that did not meet the fund’s expected standards. Last week, reports emerged that dentists under the Namibia Dental Association (NDA) stopped treating NHP members from 25 April because of delayed claim payments. NHP principal officer Dantago Garosas said the transition forms part of a plan to strengthen the fund’s long-term sustainability and improve healthcare…
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Venaani defends President’s right to hire and fire

Allexer Namundjembo Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader and member of parliament McHenry Venaani says President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has the constitutional authority to hire and dismiss senior officials without necessarily giving public explanations. Venaani made the remarks while responding to questions from the Windhoek Observer on Wednesday following the suspension of Joseph Shikongo as inspector general of the Namibian Police Force. “The President has the prerogative to fire and to hire at will without explaining herself,” Venaani said. He said critics calling for explanations may not fully understand the sensitive information available to the head of state. “A leader takes key…
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State House intruder case hinges on mental fitness

State House intruder case hinges on mental fitness

Patience Makwele The case of the naked State House intruder with a mental health condition does not automatically remove criminal responsibility, says legal expert advocate Paulus Nambili. Nambili said the court must first determine whether the accused is fit to stand trial. “The court first has to determine whether the accused understands the proceedings and can participate in his defence. That is why a mental evaluation has been ordered,” Nambili said. He said the outcome of the case will depend on that assessment. “Mental illness does not automatically remove criminal responsibility. The court will look at the extent to which…
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