National News

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs has asked the Ministry of Justice and Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to fast-track the implementation and operationalisation of the Whistle-Blowers Protection Act, 2017. The law aims to protect public members who wish to report corruption and provide evidence. The committee's report to the National Assembly last week recommended that the Office of the President and Office of the Prime Minister, in partnership with the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Finance, and Public Enterprises, should provide the ACC with legal tools to effectively combat corruption. The committee has also directed…

Niël Terblanché The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has called for a united and coordinated effort to tackle the increasing impacts of chronic droughts and intense flash floods that are exacerbating land degradation across the region. Boemo Sekgoma, Secretary-General of the SADC Parliamentary Forum, stressed the critical role that members of Parliament must play in addressing these urgent environmental issues. Delivering her message under the theme "United for Land: Our Legacy. Our Future," Sekgoma outlined SADC's strategic plan, which underscores the commitment of regional parliaments to develop measures for tracking and assessing vulnerability to drought. The plan aims to strengthen…

Erasmus Shailhaxwe National Assembly secretary, Lydia Kandetu has extended an invitation to social justice activist Michael Amushelelo to attend a meeting with the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs to discuss a petition demanding the creation of the Unemployment Fund. On Monday, Kandetu wrote to Amushelelo to inform him that the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs had taken his petition into consideration during its meeting on 13 June. The committee decided to invite him to a consultative meeting to learn more. According to Kandetu, the meeting, which is scheduled for 20 June at the Parliament…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Pijoo Nganate, the Governor of Omaheke Region has highlighted a rise in malnutrition cases among children, with recent reports revealing an increase. According to Nganate, the region recorded 300 cases of malnutrition from January to June 2024 which led to 263 hospitalisations, 26 deaths, and 9 readmissions. Malnutrition claimed the lives of 45 children last year, with 132 cases reported. Speaking at a high-level meeting addressing uranium mining impacts in the Stampriet transboundary aquifer system on Monday, Nganate stressed the urgency of addressing malnutrition in Namibia. “More needs to be done to address malnutrition issues. For an independent…

Niël Terblanché Erastus Uutoni, the Minister of Urban and Rural Development, handed over 119 new houses to residents of Swakopmund. This marks the final phase of the completion of 319 houses that had been left unfinished for years due to a legal dispute. The housing project, which saw 505 units stand uncompleted for several years, was revitalised following a legal resolution between the main contractor and its sub-contractors. In October 2022, the ground was broken again to resume work on the 319 commenced-but-uncompleted houses. The newly appointed contractor, New Era Investments, along with the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development,…

Niël Terblanché Namibia is set to host the prestigious Aviation Development (AviaDev) Africa Conference next week in Windhoek. The Namibia Airports Company (NAC) has announced that the event is set to boost tourism and the aviation sector and will take place from 19 to 21 June. Dan Kamati, the NAC's spokesperson indicated that the vent will be drawing global aviation industry leaders to Windhoek and that the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works and Transport, John Mutorwa is set to inaugurate the conference. "Over 35 airlines and 400 participants, the highest number ever for an AviaDev conference, have confirmed…

Niël Terblanché A petition demanding the immediate implementation of a Universal Basic Income Grant (BIG) has been submitted to the Minister of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication, and Social Welfare, Doreen Sioka. The petition was handed over to Sioka on Saturday in Windhoek to highlight a universal, unconditional basic income grant of N$500 per month for all Namibians up to the age of 59. The group sees this as a possible solution to redressing the high poverty, unemployment and inequality rates in Namibia. The petition, which has garnered 3 589 signatures. The handover was preceded by a demonstration where petitioners, predominantly…