National News – Page 156

11 Sep

MP pushes for N$100 000 fine on farmers neglecting road safety

info_e12wt4csNational News

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), has proposed a fine between N$80 000 and N$100 000 for commercial farmers who fail to maintain a proper fence to keep animals away from roads that ends up causing road accidents. The proposal was made by Nico Smit while contributing to the Roads Bill debate in parliament on Tuesday. He said families are losing their loved ones and vehicles because of road accidents caused by animals that are supposed to be kept inside the fence but are allowed to roam freely on national roads. “There must be a fine for commercial and…

11 Sep

Rukoro group dragged to court for illegally seizing NUDO offices

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Erasmus Shalihaxwe Kadhila Amoomo, who represents the National Unity Democratic Organisation (NUDO), has formally cautioned Barry Rukoro and six others to refrain from calling themselves the party leaders and interfering with party leadership activities. Additionally, Rukoro's team received instructions to stop using the party letterhead or risk legal action. According to summons documents seen by the Windhoek Observer on Wednesday, the defendants (Rukoro and others) unilaterally seized the plaintiff's (NUDO) rental premises at Clemence Kapuuo Street, Windhoek, between August and September 2024. The lawyers claim that the group incorrectly assumed leadership. Under a lease agreement between the plaintiff and the…

11 Sep

LPM concerned about land allocation delays and maladministration

info_e12wt4csNational NewsJoyce Muzengua

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Landless People’s Movement (LPM) has raised concerns about delays and administrative challenges in the allocation of farming units to cooperatives, following the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform's announcement regarding Farm Kunibes No. 88 last month. Joyce Muzengua, the head of the human rights desk of the LPM, expressed concerns about the ministry's handling of the land allocation process, citing systemic maladministration. “One would definitely look at the time of application as to when these applications were done and how long it took for them to approve these applications. Contemporary applications are done over two to…

11 Sep

NEFC launches manifesto

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Hilarius Hamutenya The Namibia Empowerment Fighting Corruption party (NEFC) will launch its first-ever election manifesto during its congress in Windhoek. The party was established in 2020 by Kenneth Iilonga, its founding president. Iilonga participated in the Local Authority and Regional Council election in 2020 in Walvis Bay. He contested as the candidate for the Walvis Bay Urban Constituency which was won by Deriu Benson of Independent Patriots for Change (IPC). Iilonga said his party’s manifesto will include people with disabilities. ”We did not see people with hearing challenges being nominated in the list of parliament despite we have so many…

11 Sep

Serious concerns about Health Professions Bill in its current form

info_e12wt4csNational NewsKalumbi Shangula, Popular Democratic Movement

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Popular Democratic Movement’s (PDM) member of parliament, Nico Smit, said the current form of the Health Professions Bill raises significant concerns that could hinder the effective practice of healthcare professions rather than support it. Smit was speaking in Parliament on Tuesday while contributing to the proposed health professional bill debate, which was introduced by Minister of Health and Social Service Kalumbi Shangula recently. Smit stated that the bill presents several critical areas of concern that require a deeper evaluation to ensure the legislation effectively supports and regulates Namibia's healthcare professionals without imposing unnecessary barriers or compromising professional…

11 Sep

Namibian youth urged to drive digital transformation

info_e12wt4csNational NewsNational ICT Summit

Niël Terblanché Namibia is making good progress in its journey towards becoming a digitally inclusive society and through sustained collaboration and investment in ICT infrastructure and human capital, the country is ready to unlock the potential of the next generation of innovators. The eighth National ICT Summit held in Windhoek concluded on Wednesday with a call for young Namibians to take centre stage in the country’s digital transformation journey. The Deputy Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Modestus Amutse, stressed the essential role that the youth must play in shaping Namibia's future within the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector,…

11 Sep

Maritime Museum inaugurated in Lüderitz

info_e12wt4csNational NewsFluksman Samuehl, Lüderitz Waterfront Development Company, Namibia’s maritime history, President Nangolo Mbumba

Niël Terblanché A landmark achievement in preserving Namibia’s maritime history was realised on Wednesday when President Nangolo Mbumba officially inaugurated the Namibian Maritime Museum in Lüderitz. President Mbumba stressed the museum's importance in documenting the role the ocean has played in Namibia's development. "Our coast, stretching 1,572 kilometres along the Atlantic Ocean, has been central to trade, exploration, and cultural exchange for centuries. This museum stands as a resource for discovering our rich maritime history and understanding the ocean’s economic significance," he said. He said that the new facility is more than a repository of historical artefacts, the museum will…

11 Sep

Namibia and Kenya focus on trade and cooperation

info_e12wt4csNational NewsTripartite Free Trade Agreement (TFTA)

Niël Terblanché Namibia and Kenya are both seeking greater leverage in regional and continental opportunities for improved economic growth, trade, and regional integration. The Namibia–Kenya political and diplomatic consultations held in Windhoek earlier this week resulted in a joint communiqué in which the countries stressed their commitment to deepening their bilateral relations, with a strong emphasis on economic cooperation and increased political engagement. The consultations related to a broad array of mutual interests were hosted by Namibia's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Peya Mushelenga, and Kenya's prime cabinet secretary and cabinet secretary for foreign and diaspora affairs, Musalia…

10 Sep

VP tells Junior Legislators to be a good influence on peers

info_e12wt4csNational NewsJunior National Council.

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Vice-President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah encouraged junior national council members to strive to promote good moral, ethical and professional values by influencing their peers to avoid bad social behaviour such as drug or alcohol abuse and abstain from unsafe sex. She was speaking during Tuesday's official opening of the third session of the Junior National Council. She said social ills have a detrimental effect on young people’s education and their future. They should remember that the government aims to create a knowledge-based society. She added that this goal can only be achieved when learners, teachers, and parents take education seriously.…

10 Sep

Namibia and Botswana slash roaming charges

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Niël Terblanché In an effort to enhance regional cooperation and reduce communication costs, Namibia and Botswana have announced a major reduction in roaming charges for cross-border communication. Calls within Botswana that previously cost Botswana Pula (BWP) 7.28 per minute will now be reduced to BWP1.85 per minute, a decrease of 75%. Similarly, calls to Namibia have dropped by 64%, from BWP10.48 to BWP3.80 per minute. Data usage costs have seen even greater reductions, with the cost per megabyte dropping by over 90%, from BWP19.41 to BWP1.85. This development follows high-level discussions between Namibia’s Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT)…