National News – Page 166

22 Aug

State requests severe sentence for Dippenaar

info_e12wt4csNational News

Niël Terblanché The state prosecutor in Jandre Dippenaar’s murder trial, Advocate Ethel Ndlovu, urged Magistrate Gaynor Paulton to mete out a custodial sentence for the convicted person while presenting her submissions in aggravation of sentencing on Thursday. Advocate Albert Strydom countered her arguments by arguing that, despite Dippenaar's conviction on six counts of murder, the extraordinary verdict warrants an extraordinary sentence. Advocate Strydom contended that his client became the first person in Namibian history to receive a murder conviction following a fatal motor vehicle collision. He went on to state that his client was convicted by society. “The advent of…

22 Aug

Defence ministry appoints commission to rebury liberation heroes

info_e12wt4csFeatured, National NewsPeople’s Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN)

Stefanus Nashama and Hilarius Hamutenya The minister of defence and veterans affairs, Frans Kapofi, commissioned a committee for the exhumation and reinterment of the remains of martyrs of the liberation struggle on Thursday. According to the minister, the committee will be headed by former commander, Major General Charles Namoloh, who led the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) on the battlefield. Other members of the committee include Colonel (retired) David Ndatipo, Ericas Ndalikokule, Apollo Bassenero, Elvis Handura, Penofina Eises and Timoteus Mashuna. “Several years ago, the government mandated the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs to ensure that the history…

22 Aug

Swapo boasts of decades of achievements ahead of November elections

info_e12wt4csNational NewsHilma Nicanor

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Over its 34-year tenure, the Swapo government has achieved significant progress in various sectors, from education and healthcare to infrastructure, social welfare, and poverty reduction. This was said by Swapo’s secretary for information and mobilisation, Hilma Nicanor on Wednesday while outlining the party’s upcoming activities in preparation for the Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for November. “It is difficult for one to ignore or distort the impressive achievements registered by the Swapo government in a country that suffered untold and despicable injustices perpetrated by successive colonial regimes,” said Nicanor. She also emphasised the party’s Swapo’s ability to…

22 Aug

MHAISS launches customer service charter

info_e12wt4csNational News

Stefanus Nashama The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security launched a Ministerial Customer Service Charter on Thursday to improve its service delivery to people. Home affairs minister, Albert Kawana said the charter aims to reaffirm the ministry’s dedication to delivering exceptional services to customers every day. “The purpose of this charter is simple yet profound: To reaffirm our commitment to providing exceptional services to our customers every day,” he stated. He said that by launching the charter, clients can make the most of the ministry's services. “They are the reason for the existence of our ministry. That is…

22 Aug

Shipwiikineni urges lawyers to defend social justice

info_e12wt4csNational NewsAina Kalimba, Electoral Commission of Namibia, Erich Chrismann Shivute, Joshua Vaino Martins, Petrus Ndeshipanda Shituula, Shipwiikineni

Martin Endjala Swapo member Reinhold Shipwiikineni has urged lawyers to stand firm in the pursuit of social justice and not abandon clients. Shipwiikineni's call follows the withdrawal of a letter to the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) by its Ondangwa-based legal representative, Nicky Ngula Attorneys, without consulting them. Shipwiikineni, Joshua Vaino Martins, Petrus Ndeshipanda Shituula, Erich Chrismann Shivute, and Aina Kalimba Angula allege that the Swapo party central committee's nomination of Nandi-Ndaitwah as presidential candidate is invalid because it violates Article 15(9) of the party's constitution. Ngula withdrew the group’s request to the ECN to not allow Vice President Netumbo…

21 Aug

Ally Angula blames Swapo for 34 years of economic disaster and broken dreams

info_e12wt4csNational Newsnational economic disaster

Stefanus Nashama Independent presidential candidate, Ally Angula has accused the Swapo-led government of causing a national economic disaster and financial struggle. Angula made this statement on Monday on her digital election campaign platforms. She believes that, economically, the past 34 years have yet to deliver a satisfactory life for most people. “The current administration led by the Swapo party has for 34 years slowly created an economic national disaster that has left way too many people out in the cold with no chance at earning an income,” she said. According to Angula, many regional capitals lack a manufacturing base to…

21 Aug

Experts urge funding for media fair 2024 election reporting

info_e12wt4csNational NewsChristian Keulder

Martin Endjala Several experts have called for increased funding for media personnel covering the 2024 national elections due to financial constraints. Christian Keulder, an independent researcher, said many media houses are grappling with the harsh reality of a lack of funds when covering news events across the country, with journalists resorting to only covering news in their immediate areas. On Wednesday, FesMedia organised a panel discussion on the role of media in promoting democratic elections in Namibia, during which he shared this information. Keulder is worried about the accuracy and coverage of the 2024 elections due to the circumstances he…

21 Aug

PDM’s Hamata pushes for leadership continuity

info_e12wt4csNational NewsHidipo Hamata, Popular Democratic Movement

Stefanus Nashama A member of the Popular Democratic Movement’s (PDM) central committee, Hidipo Hamata, is advocating for the party members to give the current top six leaders another term. In an interview with the Windhoek Observer on Wednesday, Hamata said the upcoming election requires PDM to maintain the current leadership to navigate and ensure the party’s continuity, leveraging their necessary experience and strategic insight. “As our party approaches the upcoming national congress in the Zambezi region, I strongly urge all delegates to endorse the current top six leaders for another term. The forthcoming election is a pivotal moment for the…

21 Aug

Character witnesses testify in mitigation of Dippenaar’s sentencing

info_e12wt4csNational NewsSwakopmund Regional Court

Niël Terblanché Jandre Dippenaar’s legal team and the state prosecutor are set to present arguments for mitigation and aggravation of sentencing before Magistrate Gaynor Paulton at the Swakopmund Regional Court when the pre-sentencing portion of the murder trial continues on Thursday. This comes after two witnesses testified on behalf of Dippenaar's character in mitigation of sentencing Wednesday. In June, Magistrate Paulton convicted Dippenaar on six counts of murder, one count of reckless and negligent driving, and one count of driving a vehicle without a valid driver's license in a trial that continued for almost ten years. The guilty verdict stems…

21 Aug

Omaheke governor refutes claims of 800 hunger deaths

info_e12wt4csNational Newscases of malnutrition, Pio Nganate

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Omaheke regional governor, Pio Nganate has refuted reports that 800 people died of hunger in the region over the past two years. Nganate reported that during the specified period, malnutrition resulted in 139 fatalities. He said that in the 2022/23 financial year, there were a total of 554 new cases of malnutrition, and 15 malnourished patients were successfully treated. “When it comes to deaths due to malnutrition in the same period under review, 13 cases were recorded out of the total number of 554 new cases and this translates to 2.3%. Malnutrition deaths due to integrated management of…