National News

Niël Terblanché The Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises has announced the appointment of a new board of directors for the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR), effective from 1 July 2024. Iipumbu Shiimi announced the appointment of the new board on Friday. In his announcement, Shiimi stated that the new board is expected to bring stability and strategic direction to the company, which has recently been embroiled in multiple controversies and financial investigations. The minister said that the new board is tasked with navigating these complexities and restoring confidence in NAMCOR. The newly appointed board members are Florentia Amuenje,…

Niël Terblanché Namibia hosted a business and investment forum in Windhoek, during which enhanced trade and investment opportunities were discussed with Tanzania. Sectors identified for potential trade and investment included tourism, mining, infrastructure, finance, agriculture, and fisheries. The agricultural and fisheries sectors were particularly highlighted as promising areas for investment. The special forum is viewed as a substantial step in strengthening the economic ties between the two nations, with a long-shared history dating back to Namibia's liberation struggle. The forum highlighted the importance of fostering economic collaboration, with Namibia currently importing a range of products from Tanzania, including maize, rice,…

Martin Endjala The Swapo party secretary for information, Hilma Nicanor, says the party wants a landslide victory in the upcoming elections. Nicanor called on all party members, supporters and sympathisers to go out in numbers and register for voter cards, for the 2024 Presidential and National Assembly elections. In a statement dated 30 May, Nicanor directed party structures at all levels, in the regions, districts, branches, affiliates and wings to ensure they mobilise the members by encouraging them to go register from 3 June to 1 August. "Our collective and primary objective is to ensure a landslide victory for the…

Martin Endjala The Independent Patriots for Change’s (IPC) leader, Panduleni Itula, says that he does not want people to leave their political parties, but they should rather vote for change. He made these remarks during the launch campaign, titled "Go out and register to vote," over the weekend at Walvis Bay. “As I went through Okakarara, they asked me, Do you want us to leave our political parties and join the IPC? and I said no. Stay in the political party that you are; many of you have been there for many years. But go into that booth and vote…

Niël Terblanché Namibia's public procurement system is currently hampered by significant challenges, primarily due to a lack of accurate and accessible data. The Institute of Public Procurement Research (IPPR) revealed this issue during the launch of the latest edition of the procurement tracker, titled "Data Deficits Undermine Governance and Oversight." Frederico Links, an IPPR Research Associate, said that the existing system does not provide adequate data, mainly because the procurement policy unit lacks the necessary resources to effectively monitor and enforce compliance. He said research found that the absence of precise data is a major obstacle to ensuring transparency, accountability,…

Niël Terblanché Despite significant strides in financial inclusion, an estimated 78 percent of the Namibian population is now covered, but the benefits of these efforts have yet to reach many, particularly in rural areas. The Governor of the Bank of Namibia (BoN), Johannes !Gawaxab, highlighted this disparity at a recent symposium held at the Namibia University of Science and Technology’s campus in Eenhana. !Gawaxab pointed out that approximately 62 percent of Namibians, especially those in rural regions, still rely predominantly on cash for their income and payments. “This reliance often necessitates long and costly journeys to the nearest financial institution…

Niël Terblanché Namibia's Ministry of Health and Social Services plans to amend the Tobacco Act to include rules on nicotine products used for vaping. This legislative move aims to curb the growing use of electronic cigarettes and water pipes (hookahs) across the country. The amendment will also facilitate the development of a comprehensive tobacco strategic plan scheduled for launch later this month. Deputy Minister Dr. Ester Muinjangue stressed the urgency of regulating vaping products, despite existing legal frameworks to combat tobacco use in Namibia. "There is no safe form of tobacco smoke," Muinjangue said while emphasising the necessity of these…