National News

Moses Magadza in Gaborone, Botswana The 5th edition of the Southern African Regional Students and Youth Conference on Sexual and Reproductive Health (SARSYC V) ended in Gaborone, Botswana, on Friday, with the delegates challenging authorities to act on health issues affecting them. In a communiqué dubbed the "Gaborone Declaration," which was adopted at the conclusion of a three-day conference held from 17-19 July 2024, the participants urged SADC member states to promptly address the issue of new HIV infections among young people and key populations. They emphasised the importance of strengthening domestic funding and expanding comprehensive, youth-friendly sexual and reproductive…

Niël Terblanché The Khomas Region activated the National Symbols Campaign last week. The campaign aims to promote national identity and unity among all Namibians. The deputy minister of information and communication technology, Modestus Amutse, launched the campaign, saying it is an important milestone in the country’s journey towards national cohesion. "Our national symbols - the flag, the coat of arms, the national anthem, and the presidential standard - serve as powerful reminders of our shared history, values, and aspirations. These symbols bind us together as one nation and one people. We must uphold and celebrate these symbols, for they represent…

Niël Terblanché The police in the Erongo Region called upon the public to assist in identifying a woman who died suddenly on Friday at Independence Beach in Walvis Bay. Chief Inspector Ileni Shapumba, the head of the community affairs division of the Namibian Police in the Erongo Region, extended the request after the woman’s body was discovered at about 18:30 at the public facilities at the beach. According to Shapumba, the unidentified woman was observed walking to the beach and sitting alone on a bench for a while. “She later went closer to the water at the shore, came back…

Niël Terblanché The Namibian Airports Company (NAC) has confirmed that Namibia’s two international airports, Hosea Kutako and Walvis Bay, were unaffected by the recent global information technology (IT) outage that disrupted airline operations worldwide. Dan Kamati, the NAC spokesperson, in a statement issued on Friday, reassured travellers that all scheduled flights to Namibia’s international airports continued without any issues. International media outlets reported that the global IT outage, which began early Friday, caused significant disruptions across numerous international airports. The incident, attributed to a software update issue with systems like Amadeus and Sabre, affected airlines' check-in and boarding processes, leading…

Martin Endjala Namibian procurement laws allow the state to use various procurement methods it deems necessary under various conditions, as long as they are soundly justified. Frederico Links, a researcher for the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), made this statement in response to criticism about the government's awarding of tenders to August 26. “In the case of having to complete a job abandoned by a contractor, GRN is well within its rights and within the law to give the job to a state entity to complete,” he explained. Last week, the Ministry of Health and Social Services announced that…

Stefanus Nashama Independent presidential candidate, Ally Angula has accused the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform of squandering taxpayer money on unused infrastructure in green schemes. Angula, who is on a campaign trail in the Kavango East region, accused the ministry of constructing a forestry office where no one is stationed or working. “The Ministry of Agriculture is a total failure. We cannot even grade them because they are wasting money on renovations when no people are utilising this infrastructure,” she said. Since its construction six years ago, the office has undergone several renovations. Angula demanded accountability for the…

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Imms Nashinge, the spokesperson of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) said the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has not only breached the Electoral Act but also violated Article 10 and Article 18 of the Namibian Constitution. Nashinge said the ECN has discriminated against other political parties by meeting Swapo’s secretary general, Sophia Shaningwa, President Nangolo Mbumba, and some other senior government officials at State House on Tuesday. The Presidency’s spokesperson, Alfredo Hengari defended Shaningwa's presence at the meeting, saying she was there in her capacity as a Cabinet member. Nashinge said Shaningwa is a member of parliament…

Niël Terblanché The government’s mass registration outreach programme, aimed at providing national documents to residents across the country, is nearing its conclusion. Over 94 317 individuals have already benefited from this initiative, which started on 5 February and will conclude on 31 July. The program provides a variety of services, including birth certificates, identity documents, duplicates, and citizenship applications, which target all 121 constituencies. Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security, Lucia Witbooi, while discussing the matter in Parliament earlier this week, said no applicant would be turned away without their details being recorded. She said that this…

Niël Terblanché PowerCom held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new telecommunications tower in Mupini village in the Kavango West region on Thursday. Emma Theofelus, Namibia's Minister of Information and Communication Technology, who inaugurated the tower, explained the project's significance for the region and the nation. "This tower represents far more than just the construction of a physical structure; it is a giant leap forward in Namibia's digital journey, opening up a world of opportunity for the people of Rundu and the Kavango Region," she said. Theofelus stressed the ministry's commitment to transforming Namibia into a digitally inclusive nation. Initiatives such…