National News

Niël Terblamché South Africa's parliament has re-elected Cyril Ramaphosa as the country's president after a groundbreaking coalition agreement between the ruling African National Congress (ANC) and opposition parties. The coalition deal, reached on Friday, is an important shift in South Africa's political landscape, reflecting the changing dynamics of South Africa's democracy. Namibia's President Nangolo Mbumba extended congratulations to Ramaphosa. President Mbumba in his congratulatory message stressed the shared history between Namibia and South Africa, emphasising their common struggle against apartheid and the ongoing commitment to nation-building and development. "I look forward to a continued fruitful working relationship and strengthening the…

Ester Mbathera The Prosecutor-General is pushing for a restraint order against Samherji employees suspected to be implicated in the Fishrot case under the provisions of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA) of 2004. Martha Imalwa on Thursday asked the High Court to secure and restrain the realisable properties of the Icelandic companies Esja Holding, Mermaria Seafood Namibia, Saga Seafood, Heinaste Investment, Saga Investment, and Esja Investment. The companies are represented by Samherji executives Ingvar Juliusson, Egill Helgi Arnason, and Adelsteinn Helgason, whom Imalwa also wants to have extradited to Namibia. Imalwa argues in her application that there are strong…

Martin Endjala The Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement has called on the government to find a sustainable way of creating permanent jobs. George Kambala, the spokesperson for the movement, was responding to an announcement made by the Directorate of Veterinary Services in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform. The announcement called for the recruitment of 30 casual labourers for the 2024/25 mass annual animal vaccination campaign and the maintenance of Okongo quarantine in the Ohangwena region. The vaccination campaign aims to mitigate Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). “Even though they are going to hire in all 14 regions, it's…

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Social commentators have criticised politicians who are promising to increase the old age grant. Ben Mulongeni, in an interview with the Windhoek Observer, said it is immoral and unethical to give the elders hope that is never going to materialise. ‘’Those are intentional lies, they are doing it to gain votes, and they should know that they are abusing old people by promising to increase the old age pension. They should know that it is immoral and unethical to lie to the elders. The finance minister already said that there is no money for increments, so why are…

Martin Endjala The Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform has announced the rollout of the 2024–25 drought support intervention for livestock farmers. The project has an estimated budget of N$130 million. This was announced by the ministry's executive director, Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata, in a document shared with titled Drought Support Interventions 2024/25 implementation modalities, seen by this publication, dated 31 May. Programmes such as livestock marketing incentives, subsidies for grazing leases, animal transportation to and from grazing, and animal feed purchasing will run from April 1 until 31 March 2025. Subsidy for fodder for farmers through ADCs and seed and…

Niël Terblanché President Nangolo Mbumba joined the Namibian nation and people from all over the African continent in commemorating the Day of the African Child. Day of the African Child is observed on 16 June in memory of the 1976 student uprising in Soweto, South Africa, who stood against an oppressive education system of the Apartheid regime. President Mbumba highlighted the historic significance of the Soweto uprising, where young South Africans courageously protested against the imposition of Afrikaans as the medium of instruction in schools, a policy aimed at undermining their cultural values and language. "On this day, more than…