National News – Page 183

09 Jun

NSI presents strategic roadmap for Green Hydrogen

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Niël Terblanché The Namibia Standards Institution (NSI) recently convened a diverse group of stakeholders to strategize on the country’s transition to greener energies to move towards sustainable development, The focus of the discussion was the development of a comprehensive regulatory framework for green hydrogen, aimed at boosting investor confidence and aligning Namibia with global energy markets. Eino Mvula, the chief executive officer of NSI, emphasised the pivotal role of the institution in setting standards that will underpin the growth of the renewable energy sector. “Our goal is to foster economic growth and position Namibia as a leader in renewable energy…

09 Jun

Namibia and South Korea sign investment partnership

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Niël Terblanché Namibia has taken a step towards enhancing its international investment landscape by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with South Korea's Trade Investment Promotion Agency. The Namibian Cabinet approved and signed this agreement during last week's inaugural South Korea-Africa summit in Seoul. The summit, a landmark event, brought together representatives from 48 African nations, including 25 African heads of state. The summit's discussions centred on enhancing trade, technology, and investment ties between South Korea and the African continent. According to Eino Mvula, chief executive officer of the Namibia Standards Institution (NSI), the MoU is a crucial development in…

09 Jun

Walvis Bay announces an increase in rates and taxes

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Niël Terblanché Residents of Walvis Bay will face increased utility costs after the town's budget for the upcoming financial year is approved. The Walvis Bay Town Council has greenlighted a budget that includes tariff hikes of 5% for water and 2.5% for sewerage, refuse, rates, and taxes. Richard Hoaeb, the chairperson of the management committee, presented the budget, which totals N$566 million, during a council meeting on Thursday. According to Hoabeb, the budget outlines both expected revenue and expenditure for the new financial year, with each amounting to approximately N$566 million. “This balanced approach adheres to the line ministry’s requirement…

09 Jun

Uninterrupted education and cultural integration needed in remote areas

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Niël Terblanché The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Science, Information and Communication Technology, and Youth Development recently convened a series of meetings with key stakeholders to explore strategies for ensuring uninterrupted access to education, particularly in remote regions. These discussions also highlighted the importance of integrating arts, culture, and heritage into the national education system. During the engagements, the committee focused on the pivotal role of network coverage in providing consistent educational opportunities to students in remote areas. Adequate network coverage is essential for bridging the educational divide, allowing students to access digital learning resources and participate in online classes,…

09 Jun

Expiring voter cards must end

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Martin Endjala Paulus Mbangu, a National Council member of parliament, says the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) needs to do away with voter cards that expire. He said that numerous unnecessary expenses, such as expiring cards, continue to constrain the ECN budget. “This issue of having voter cards that expire must come to an end. Why should they expire when the person has already qualified to vote? Why should that power expire?” said Mbangu. According to him, it makes no sense whatsoever, Mbangu is adamant that voter cards must remain permanently valid. Mbangu stated that only in special scenarios should…

09 Jun

Geingob was a crusader for effective governance

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Martin Endjala The late third President Hage Geingob's legacy is his crusade for effective governance. These were the remarks of Vice President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah during the Hage Geingob Memorial Lecture under the theme “His Legacy Lives On," held in Ongwediva, Oshana region, over the weekend. “President Geingob dedicated six decades of his life to serving Namibians. I do believe that the conversation we are starting here in Ongwediva will be the beginning of an appraisal of the rich heritage President Geingob left behind as a crusader for effective governance. I am confident that we have enough material to locate the…

09 Jun

PDM motivated by SA elections to garner votes

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Martin Endjala The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) president, Mchenry Venaani, says the recent South African elections served as a beacon of hope in gunning for votes. Venaani made this statement over the weekend during its mega rally in Opuwo. “Look to our neighbours in South Africa, where the recent election has shown us a beacon of hope. The ANC's dwindling support, coupled with the rise of opposition voices, demonstrates a clear desire for change among the electorate, with the governing ANC recording only 40.18% of the vote. “South Africa has done it, and now it is up to us to…

09 Jun

High electricity tariffs detrimental to business and households

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Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Namibia Local Business Association (NALOBA) has raised concerns regarding electricity tariff increases, which it says are detrimental to businesses and households alike. NALOBA vice president Peter Amadhila, in an interview with the Windhoek Observer last week, said that electricity has become unaffordable in Namibia, affecting every economic activity for strategic growth. “Electricity is no longer affordable in Namibia, both for domestic and international businesses, and it is a key component of every economic activity for strategic growth. The main cause has been attributed to the failure to implement previously initiated capital projects such as the development of…

09 Jun

Disruptive Namib Mills employees dismissed

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Stefanus Nashama Namib Mills eventually dismissed more than 26 employees for unlawfully blocking the entrance to the company’s premises and threatening to shut down its operations in March. Social activist Michael Amushelelo, who led the efforts, confirmed this on Thursday. Despite their dismissal, Amushelelo insisted that he was not responsible for the workers' job losses. He accused institutions such as the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation, and the Labour Commission of failing to protect workers' interests. “The suspended employees were all eventually dismissed. My actions are not the reason why workers lose their jobs; employees lose their…

07 Jun

Namibia steps closer to greater transparency

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Niël Terblanché Namibia's commitment to fostering an open and transparent budgeting system has yielded positive outcomes, according to the recently launched Namibia Open Budget Survey 2023 Report. The survey, part of the International Budget Partnership’s (IBP) global initiative, evaluates the accessibility, comprehensiveness, and timeliness of budget information across 120 countries. The Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises, Iipumbu Shiimi, stressed the significance of budget transparency in enhancing democratic processes and promoting economic stability during the report's launch. "A growing body of evidence shows that countries with more open budgeting systems have stronger democracies, greater equity, and better development outcomes," Shiimi…