National News

Niël Terblanché President Nangolo Mbumba is hosting President Mokgweetsi Masisi of Botswana for a working visit. The visit will be focused on strengthening the bilateral relations between the two countries and enhancing cooperation in various sectors. During the visit, Masisi will serve as the guest of honour at the Swakopmund International Trade Expo (Swaitex). This year’s Swaitex is aimed at efficient connectivity and resource beneficiation for sustainable growth in Africa. The expo at the coast will provide an opportunity for the leaders to engage with industry stakeholders and discuss collaborative initiatives aimed at the economic development of both nations. The…

Stefanus Nashama The Pan-African Parliament has urged its members to engage their respective parliaments on the protocol of free movement across the continent. The Deputy Chairperson of the Permanent Committee on Trade, Customs and Immigration, McHenry Venaani, presented this report during the Pan-African Parliament session in South Africa on Monday. “Africa has the dream of attaining the highest levels of economic growth, and this can only be effective if there is free movement of people on the continent. Therefore, there is a need to pursue political and social stability at national, regional, and continental levels for the success of integration…

Niël Terblanché The Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform is negotiating with Agribank to increase the startup loan for resettlement farmers from N$200 000 to N$500 000. Deputy Minister Anna Shiweda said this in response to questions from Kennedy Shekupakela of the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) in the National Assembly. According to Shiweda, the goal of the proposed loan amount increase is to close gaps in the resettlement program and allow the ministry to provide better support for resettled farmers. "The ministry intends to increase the capacity of resettled farmers," she stated. She, however, also acknowledged that…

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The descendants of farm workers facing eviction from Okamuru Farm in the Omatako constituency near Waterberg have applauded the government for allocating N$50 million to acquire land for generational farm workers and possibly people stranded in corridors. The group's spokesperson, George Ampweya, claims that many families are facing eviction from what should be their ancestral land. He said this news is a beacon of hope for the children of generational farm workers facing displacement around the country. “As a direct beneficiary facing the threat of forced and illegal removal from a farm that once belonged to generations of…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Despite promises of progress, the City of Windhoek's (CoW) initiative to reduce the municipal debt of pensioners, the local authority has encountered delays in its implementation. To date, the CoW has written off a total of N$55.7 million across 13 372 accounts. "The pensioner debt write-off has commenced in batches, with nearly 3,000 pensioners already registered. Specifically for pensioners, there will be a 100% write-off on both the capital and interest on debt. This benefit will apply to 26 118 pensioners, with a total monetary value of N$223 million. Other residents will also benefit from a 50% write-off…

Stefanus Nashama Ondangwa Town Council still needs N$190 million to construct a sports stadium. In an interview with the Windhoek Observer last week, The mayor of Ondangwa, Paavo Amwele revealed that so far, the council has made N$60 million available for this project. “This will be the biggest stadium in Namibia, and it will cost multiples of millions of dollars. Even more than N$250 million. But as time goes on, we will be able to have the correct estimated cost. The Town Council has put aside N$60 for the project, but we will need more funds,” he said. He said…

Niël Terblanché The governments of Namibia and Ghana have convened in Swakopmund for the fifth session of the Joint Commission of Cooperation (JCC) to review and reinvigorate their bilateral ties. The executive director of the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, Ambassador Penda Naanda, officially launched the session and expressed hope that the positive exchanges between the two countries will result in increased cooperation between the two countries. The last meeting between the two countries of this kind took place in Ghana in 2022. Naanda pointed to the already excellent bilateral relations between Namibia and Ghana, noting significant growth in…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Office of the President of the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) has denounced the recent report of the sexual exploitation of a child that occurred in Otjomuise, Windhoek. A 44-year-old woman has been accused of luring a six-year-old boy into a toilet to perform sexual acts. She appeared in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court on Tuesday. The accused, Petronella Swartz, faces charges of rape and contravening the Combating of Immoral Practices Act 21 of 1980. According to police reports, the incident took place on Sunday between 14h00 and 15h00, when Swartz allegedly promised the boy N$5 to perform sexual…

Niël Terblanché Namibian consumers will feel some financial relief after the Ministry of Mines and Energy announced a decrease in fuel prices. The price of petrol in Walvis Bay will drop to N$22.20 per litre, 50ppm Diesel to N$21.57 per litre, and 10ppm Diesel to N$21.67 per litre. Effective from 3 July, the downward adjustment of fuel prices follows a comprehensive review of the global oil market and local pricing dynamics, reflecting recent trends in oil prices and the Namibian Dollar's exchange rate. According to the energy ministry, a notable decline in oil prices to a four-month low, driven by…

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Swapo has launched information dissemination tools, which will be used to disseminate its election campaign messages. The party’s vice president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, said the platform will be used to inform voters about party policies, values, and agenda. “Above all, this website is an online platform for political mobilisation. Through this website, we can reach voters from the comfort of their homes. The Swapo party website vehicle will also carry various social media platforms, such as Facebook, X and TikTok, YouTube, Radio programs, Namibia Today newspaper, news updates, a calendar of events and many more,” said Nandi-Ndaitwah. The website…