National News

Niël Terblanché Gabriel Kanyanga, the Mayor of Rundu, has announced that the border town’s municipality is considering taking over the distribution of electricity to residents due to dissatisfaction with the current regional electricity distributor, Nored. Kanyanga expressed his concerns during a stakeholders' consultation meeting where Nored proposed tariff increase for 2024-2025 was presented. Kanyanga indicated that Nored's service delivery has been subpar, leaving Rundu in the dark despite the company generating revenue from electricity consumers. He stressed that the municipality does not benefit from the sale of electricity under the current arrangement. "We are looking into taking over the electricity…

Martin Endjala The Central Procurement Board of Namibia (CPBN) is busy studying the High Court ruling last week, which nullified the CPBN decision to award a N$1.3 billion pharmaceutical supply tender to Cospharm Investment Pty Ltd. CPBN spokesperson Johanna Kambala said this in response to questions about whether the board will re-run the tender process or possibly re-award it. “Kindly be informed that CPBN is busy studying the ruling and thus will only revert once consultations have taken place,” said Kambala. Businessman Shapwa Kanyama's Africure Pharmaceutical took Cospharm, the CPBN, and other bidders to court last year. Cospharm was to…

Monica Geingos's office, in collaboration with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN), will be building a new satellite #BeFree Community campus in Okuryangava, Windhoek. The former first lady’s office made this announcement on Saturday following her visit to Okuryangava, where she attended the #BeFree Building Communities event. A statement on her social media platforms states that the campus will provide the community with accessible, nonjudgmental healthcare and support services.The services to be offered will include primary healthcare, sexual reproductive health and rights services, a community library, horticultural services, and skills development and employment opportunities through a sanitary pad manufacturing…

Martin Endjala Gibeon residents are blamed for the village's sewage problem because they vandalized the pump station and stole electrical cables and the sewer pump. As a result, sewage water has been accumulating in residents' yards for the past week. Teo Nghilundua, a civil engineer and civil contractor for TJ Civil Technology Company, told the Windhoek Observer over the weekend that the main culprits contributing to the malfunctioning of the sewage structure in the village are the residents' behaviour. "The sewage issue cannot be blamed on the Gibeon Village Council or politicians, although often they are used as scapegoats. The…

Ester Mbathera Northern-based businessman Benjamin Hauwanga, alias BH, wants the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) to be led by business people and not heads of parastatals. Hauwanga made these remarks when he resigned from the chamber as a board member last week. He remains a member of the chamber. “It is disappointing to realise that the chamber is not catering to its members, the business community, thus, they are not really there to help the business community,” he said. The chamber's current leadership consists of six board members who are heads of parastatals, eight from the private sector,…

Martin Endjala The Affirmative Repositioning (AR) interim chairperson of the Hardap Regional Activists Council, David Kanu Kharuchab, has accused the Aranos Town Council of misconduct and corruption. Councillors Christine Jarson and Hans Baffrath face accusations after attending a meeting of the Association for Local Authorities in Namibia (ALAN) in Lüderitz during the recruitment process for a new Aranos Town Council CEO. Kharuchab alleges that the trip was unnecessary and that the councillors claimed travel allowances for vehicle hire but instead made use of lifts. “Jarson and Baffrath travelled to Lüderitz for the ALAN meeting, which was unnecessary. What impact were…

Niël Terblanché The United States government donated 14 tonnes of ready-to-use therapeutic food to Namibia's Ministry of Health and Social Services. This donation, valued at N$966,000, aims to address the effects of the drought and the resultant food insecurity situation in Namibia. According to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification Report, one in five Namibians regularly goes to bed hungry. The donation is part of a broader agreement between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Chevron. This partnership has committed N$5.7 million to support water access projects and N$1 million for emergency drought relief for the…

Stefanus Nashama The leader of the Landless People's Movement (LPM), Bernadus Swartbooi, has accused the ruling Swapo Party of using borrowed money to create job opportunities as a ploy in its election campaign. Speaking LPM rally in Ondangwa on Saturday, Swartbooi said that Swapo is investing funds into projects to appeal to the youth. “They are taking money that we do not have, borrowing that money, and putting it into projects, saying young people come, there are jobs,” he said. He cautioned voters against succumbing to manipulation and instead encouraged them to consider the future. Swartbooi also made the point…

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Republican Party leader, Henk Mudge says Chinese nationals living in Namibia have no regard for the country’s law and have turned it into their playground. He said once he is voted into office, he will grant them three months to leave Namibia. Mudge was speaking at the presidential candidates’ discussion that took place last Thursday in Windhoek. ‘’They made our country a playground. They are selling fake goods, which puts our people out of business, and this is all because of the protection they are getting from Swapo. So the only way to protect Namibian people and protect…

Niël Terblanché Fears that the tourism industry will be affected by a decision by the Cabinet to introduce visa requirements for certain countries have been allayed. Last week, the Cabinet announced that the executive had approved the implementation of visa requirements for nationals from 31 countries that have not reciprocated Namibia's favourable treatment of their citizens. According to Margaret Kalo, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security’s, Chief Public Relations Officer, the strategic decision is aimed at promoting fair and balanced diplomatic relations with these countries. Kalo, however, stressed that this measure is not intended to hinder legitimate…