National News

Niël Terblanché Rundu Town Council is under significant pressure to improve its infrastructure while addressing substantial financial liabilities to its residents and utility companies due to escalating debt. The council currently owes NamWater an eye-watering N$229 million, with residents contributing to a debt of N$350 million in unpaid municipal charges. Bernadus Swartbooi, leader of the Landless People's Movement (LPM), voiced concerns at a recent campaign rally in Rundu. He stressed the necessity of constructing a new town council building to replace the current deteriorated facilities. Despite these infrastructure challenges, Swartbooi also highlighted pressing issues like food insecurity, underperforming agricultural schemes…

Martin Endjala Through its corporate social responsibility, Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) donated equipment worth N$65 000 over the weekend to the Otjiwarongo police and Motor Vehicle Funds (MVA). According to MTC’s spokesperson, John Ekongo, the donation made on Tuesday, aims to aid the police in the region to effectively execute its duty of enforcing law and order and to maintain traffic laws. The donated items include reflective jackets, a power generator, extension reels, road cones, foldable chairs and tables, and rubber touches amongst others. Ekongo said that despite having the world's best road network, Namibia is still one of the…

Stefanus Nashama The Minister of Education, Arts, and Culture, Anna Nghipondoka, says the recruitment process for the Namibia College Of Open Learning (Namcol) chief executive officer is nearing a conclusion. The minister also revealed that a formal submission has been made to the ministry by the board. Nghipondoka announced this in the National Assembly last week. “The said recruitment is at an advanced stage, with a submission from Namcol’s board having been made to my office via our executive director requesting the approval of the remuneration package for the new CEO of Namcol,” Nghipondoka said. The position became vacant in…

Niël Terblanché In a detailed statement, the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) has provided clarification surrounding the tragic death of Lubinda Samupwa in the Nkasa Rupara National Park, Zambezi Region, amidst rising community tensions and allegations of foul play. Romeo Muyunda, the MEFT’s spokesperson confirmed in the statement that a human life was tragically lost during an operation by the anti-poaching unit in the park on 7 April 2024. The death sparked significant controversy and threats of protest from the local community. They labelled the death as “suspicious” and directly linked it to the actions of the anti-poaching…

Niël Terblanché Officials from the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development (MURD) regional councils, and various government ministries are meeting in Swakopmund to evaluate progress, share insights, and address challenges in decentralising powers to local authorities. The minister of urban and rural development (MURD), Erastus Uutoni, during the official opening of the Consultative Decentralisation Forum at Swakopmund on Tuesday, said the event is a step further in the country's journey to enhance local autonomy and sustainable development in all regions. “The decentralisation process is key to achieving democratic governance, as it emphasizes subsidiarity and local autonomy. This approach aims not…

Niël Terblanché The Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism (MEFT) has stepped in to assist more than 200 hippopotamuses trapped in the mud of floodplains along the Linyanti and Chobe rivers in the Zambezi Region. After a decisive response to an environmental crisis, the ministry has assured the public that the situation is under control, with no immediate threat to the affected wildlife. Romeo Muyunda, a spokesperson of the MEFT, detailed the proactive measures taken since 2019, including installing a borehole and generator-powered pumps to supply water to the drying pond areas of the flood plains. He said that ever…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The parliamentary standing committee on gender equality, social development and family affairs stated that the abortion bill is still in progress. Despite three petitions submitted to the National Assembly in 2020, advocating for reforms to the Abortion and Sterilisation Act No 2 of 1975, definitive action is yet to be taken. The committee chairperson, Gotthard Kasuto, stated that the bill's finalisation is pending, and consultations are scheduled for next week. “The abortion bill is not yet finalised. The committee will meet next week to discuss the bill's completion. We are only left with consultations with the tertiary institutions…

Martin Endjala City of Windhoek (CoW) deputy mayor, Joseph Uapingene, said the city will stick with RedForce to collect its debts, despite calls from the Katutura Residents Committee (KRC) to abolish the plan. He said this on 22 April during a media briefing at the council chamber to address concerns raised by the KRC in a petition submitted last year and a letter dated 8 April, among other things. Uapingene said RedForce has proven more sustainable in collecting debts for the municipality than the previous system, which yielded no results. “It is imperative to note that the decision to appoint…

Niël Terblanché The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is intensifying its efforts to enable the Namibian government to better detect and manage outbreaks of contagious bovine pleuro-pneumonia (CBPP) in Namibia, The FAO in an announcement on its website over the weekend stated that the initiative to bolster animal health in the country is part of the agency’s broader strategy to support agricultural sustainability and disease resilience in the southern African region. CBPP, a severe respiratory disease affecting cattle, was recently identified in the Ncamangoro and Musese Constituencies of Kavango West. According to the FAO, local farmers reported symptoms…