National News – Page 105

09 Oct

Katjavivi to lead delegation to Inter-Parliamentary Union in Switzerland

info_e12wt4csNational News149th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly

Erasmus Shalihaxwe National Assembly Speaker Peter Katjavivi will lead a delegation of parliamentarians to the 149th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly, taking place in Geneva, Switzerland, from 13 to 17 October. On Wednesday, the information division of the parliament announced that Katjavivi's attendance at this assembly will be his final international parliamentary event in his capacity as Speaker of the National Assembly. “On the latter, the IPU has made diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the Middle East crisis and this has laid the groundwork for parliamentary diplomacy during the upcoming assembly. The IPU Committee on Middle East Questions, which consists of 12…

09 Oct

Namibian Navy celebrates 20 years of service

info_e12wt4csNational NewsMinistry of Defence and Veterans Affairs

Niël Terblanché The Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs has announced a two-day celebration to mark the 20th anniversary of the Namibian Navy, set to take place from 10 to 11 October at Walvis Bay. The celebration today will again remind the nation of the navy’s mandate to continuously safeguard the nation’s maritime interests and contribute to regional stability. Colonel Petrus Shilumbu, spokesperson of the ministry, extended an invitation to the public, encouraging attendance at the various events planned to showcase the navy’s capabilities. He indicated that the festivities will commence with a street procession starting at JC Harris Park…

09 Oct

Agriculture ministry wants to unlock Neckartal Dam’s potential

info_e12wt4csNational NewsKharas Region

Martin Endjala The Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform is working to revive the Neckartal Dam situated in the Fish River in the Kharas region because the N$5.5 billion investment has yet to reach its full potential. The dam was constructed to provide water for irrigation and generate electricity for the national grid. The project now faces criticism from the public for its slow progress and failure to address key agricultural needs in the region. Last year, the ministry announced that it would require an additional N$2 billion to complete the construction of the second phase of the dam…

08 Oct

GRN accused of being reluctant to make tough economic decisions

info_e12wt4csNational News

Ester Mbathera The government's reluctance to implement crucial reforms is overshadowing the promising economic recovery. This is according to the latest Namibia Quarterly Economic Review (QER) for Q3 2024, compiled by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR). The IPPR criticised the government for delaying the implementation of legislative reforms, such as the National Equitable Economic Empowerment Bill (NEEEB), the Namibia Investment Promotion Act (NIPA), and the Minerals Act. The report claims that leaders have passed down the reforms to one another. “On economic policy, the past two terms have been characterised by dithering, uncertainty and confusion and the sound…

08 Oct

White rhinos sold to US buyers amid public outcry over wildlife ownership

info_e12wt4csNational NewsBush Camp, Kifaru Luxury Lodge, Romeo Muyunda

Ester Mbathera Forty-two white rhinos purchased from Kifaru Luxury Lodge and Bush Camp near Outjo departed from Namibia on Tuesday afternoon aboard a Boeing 747. The rhinos will be airlifted from Hosea Kutako International Airport to Texas, USA. The export of the rhinos comes barely two weeks after 63 giraffes and an unknown number of camels were also sold to foreign nationals. The rhinos were sold by Jaco Muller from Kifaru Luxury Lodge and Bush Camp, who confirmed the sale to Kosmos 94.1 News. “The animals were bought from me by a wildlife trader who had an American agent, and…

08 Oct

ECN faces harsh criticism over ballot paper tender

info_e12wt4csNational NewsBen Mulongeni

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Former Swapo think tank member and political analyst Ben Mulongeni has strongly criticised the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), describing it as an "incompetent body led by incompetent people." “Judging from the way they de-registered those two political parties without enough ground and lost the case, and now not having ballot papers ready a few weeks before special elections, the only conclusion one can make about ECN is incompetence,” said Mulongeni. His remarks come in light of the ECN's failure to secure a company to print and deliver ballot papers just weeks before the upcoming special elections. “ECN…

08 Oct

Spread of misinformation about Pact for the Future condemned

info_e12wt4csNational NewsPact for the Future, Republican Party

Niël Terblanché The Namibian government has issued a stern rebuke of allegations made by Republican Party President Henk Mudge regarding the recent adoption of the Pact for the Future at the Summit of the Future during the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The assertions, which Mudge claims call into question the sovereignty of Namibia, have been labelled as false by the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation. According to Penda Naanda, the executive director of the ministry, the Pact for the Future covers a broad range of global issues, including sustainable development, peace and security, climate change, digital…

08 Oct

ACC advocates for strengthened governance

info_e12wt4csNational NewsAnti-Corruption Commission

Niël Terblanché Namibians must remain resilient and dedicated to the principles of good governance and rededicate themselves to the fight against corruption and at the same time promote transparency, accountability, and integrity. The Director-General of the Anti-Corruption Commission, Paulus Noa made this call during the official start of a regional forum held with key stakeholders of the Omusati region on Tuesday. He reaffirmed Namibia’s commitment to fighting corruption through the implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy and Action Plan (NACSAP) 2021-2025. Noa said that the forum is a critical step toward promoting good governance and ensuring accountability in all sectors…

08 Oct

Mbumba pushes for climate action and genocide reparation talks in Germany

info_e12wt4csNational NewsHamburg Sustainability Conference, Olaf Scholz

Niël Terblanché President Nangolo Mbumba called for the reform of the global financial architecture to better serve the interests of the Global South while participating in the Hamburg Sustainability Conference. At the conference, Mbumba and German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz held high-level bilateral talks where both reaffirmed the deepening relationship between the two nations. The discussions between the two heads of state covered a broad range of topics central to both Namibia's domestic agenda and global efforts to address critical issues, including Namibia-Germany relations, green hydrogen development, and the ongoing drought in Namibia. Namibia's devastating drought was another key topic. Mbumba…

07 Oct

Plan to strengthen healthcare system refined

info_e12wt4csNational NewsMinisterial National Health and Social Welfare Conference, Universal Health Coverage

Niël Terblanché The minister of health and social services, Dr Kalumbi Shangula, laid out the government’s strategic roadmap for reinforcing the country’s healthcare and social services infrastructure at the Ministerial National Health and Social Welfare Conference on Monday. The week-long conference, held in Windhoek, seeks to assess the state of healthcare delivery and social services while making recommendations for improvement.While officially opening the conference, Shangula described the conference as a platform for "unpacking the work that we do as a Ministry" and an opportunity to reflect on past successes and failures in order to craft actionable strategies moving forward. He…