National News – Page 304

27 Oct

TAC gathers input for the preservation of retirement savings regulations

info_e12wt4csNational NewsTAC gathers input for the preservation of retirement savings regulations

Niël Terblanché In a significant move towards promoting transparency, accountability, and inclusivity, the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises has initiated a series of public consultations on proposed standards and regulations, including Regulation RF.R.5.10, known as the “Preservation of Retirement Savings Regulation.”According to Dr Manfred Zamuee, the Chairperson of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), these regulations are intended to be issued under Chapter 5 of the Financial Institutions and Markets Act, Act No. 2 of 2021. The first round of public consultations is slated to commence on November 13, 2023, and will kick off in the Kunene and Hardap Regions.…

26 Oct

Real poverty plagues the two Kavango regions says Kauandenge

info_e12wt4csNational NewsReal poverty plagues the two Kavango regions says Kauandenge

Stefanus Nashama Joseph Kauandenge, the Secretary-General of the National Unity Democratic Organisation, lambasted the government in Parliament last week for neglecting the two Kavango regions and allowing their inhabitants to suffer in abject poverty, which, he contended, was palpable. Kauandenge stated that the poverty in the two regions is so evident that one can already smell it upon entering a town like Rundu. He accused the Swapo-led government of doing nothing to address the issue and instead turning the residents of these regions into mere “voting cows.” However, a heated debate erupted when Faustina Caley, the Deputy Minister of Education,…

26 Oct

Critical raw minerals are key components of industrialisation

info_e12wt4csNational NewsCritical raw minerals are key components of industrialisation

Martin Endjala Critical raw minerals, vital components of Namibia’s industrialization drive, must be developed in a way that aligns with the country’s industrialization goals and enhances its capacity to add value where feasible. This assertion was made by Sikongo Haihambo, the Executive Director of the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade, during the European Union-Namibia business forum in Brussels, Belgium, held yesterday. “In the Namibian context, all minerals are crucial, and in 2021, we collaborated with the Ministry of Mines and Energy to establish a National Mineral Beneficiation Strategy. The guiding principles of our strategy revolve around value addition and fostering…

26 Oct

Namibia stops Chinese miner from transporting lithium ore

info_e12wt4csNational NewsNamibia stops Chinese miner from transporting lithium ore

Niël Terblanché Namibia’s government has instructed the Namibian Police to prevent the transportation of lithium ore by Chinese mining company Xinfeng Investments within the country. The action also prevents the export of raw materials from the Port of Walvis Bay and is in response to allegations that Xinfeng Investments is violating Namibia’s ban on the export of critical raw minerals. Namibia’s Mining Commissioner, Isabella Chirchir, issued a letter dated October 19th, instructing the Inspector General of the Namibian Police, Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo, to halt any trucks carrying raw lithium ore originating from Xinfeng’s Kohero mine, located near Uis about…

26 Oct

Home Affairs Ministry refutes allegations of election fraud

info_e12wt4csNational NewsHome Affairs Ministry refutes allegations of election fraud

Niël Terblanché The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security has responded forcefully to an article purportedly published by a Angolan newspaper, Para Portuguese, with the headline “Registration of Angolan nationals may backfire.” The article’s allegations of possible election fraud have been strongly refuted by Ettienne Maritz, the Executive Director of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Maritz addressed the claims made in the article, which suggested that Namibian officials crossed the border into Angola in September to issue Namibian identity documents to Angolan nationals at Ondjiva, specifically in the Tuviticha building. According to Maritz, the alleged purpose of this…

26 Oct

Amushelelo plans another protest against unemployment

info_e12wt4csNational NewsAmushelelo plans another protest against unemployment

Stefanus Nashama Social activist Michael Amushelelo announced this week his intention to organize a national protest against unemployment in the country. Amushelelo, who was recently released from prison a few weeks ago, informed the Windhoek Observer that the peaceful protest will commence once preparations are made, including seeking approval from the Namibian Police. He spent approximately seven months behind bars following his arrest by the Namibian Police on Namibia’s Independence Day celebrations for spearheading and organizing a protest of a similar nature. Despite being denied bail multiple times during his detention this year, he was acquitted of all charges and…

26 Oct

Namibia and EU join forces for Sustainable Development

info_e12wt4csNational NewsNamibia and EU join forces for Sustainable Development

Niël Terblanché In a historic address at the Inaugural Global Gateway Forum in Brussels, Namibian President Hage Geingob outlined a collaborative vision for a sustainable future, stressing the importance of green energy transition and green hydrogen in the global landscape. President Geingob’s remarks came during a Leaders Session at the forum, where leaders from around the world convened to discuss critical issues related to sustainability. The President recounted his significant meeting with Dr Ursula von Der Leyen, President of the European Commission, at COP27 in Sharm-El Sheikh, Egypt, last year. During this meeting, the two leaders signed a Memorandum of…

25 Oct

Namibia fully committed to a transparent partnership with the EU

info_e12wt4csNational News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja President Hage Geingob has affirmed Namibia’s commitment to fostering a transparent partnership with the European Union (EU) in the transition to cleaner energy sources, with a significant emphasis on green hydrogen and critical raw materials. The declaration was made during Geingob’s address at the EU-Namibia Green Hydrogen and Critical Raw Materials Business Forum under the theme, “Mobilizing Quality Investment and Value Addition for Green Growth in the EU-Namibia Partnership in Brussels, Belgium this week. “The collaboration with the EU is aligned with our National Development Plans, including Vision 2030, our National Industrial Policy, Growth at Home Strategy, the…

25 Oct

Pilchards will remain off-limits for commercial fishing

info_e12wt4csNational Newsdeclared during a recent Cabinet briefing that the moratorium on commercial fishing of pilchards will be extended for another year., Derek Klazen, The Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources

Niël Terblanché The Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Derek Klazen, declared during a recent Cabinet briefing that the moratorium on commercial fishing of pilchards will be extended for another year. This decision comes in light of the ongoing concerns regarding the health of the pilchard resource, which has not yet returned to a biologically sustainable state. The minister said that even if pilchards are incidentally caught as by-catch, it does not signify a full recovery of the species. Instead, he stressed the importance of relying on scientific research to determine the sustainable yield and biomass of the pilchard population.…

25 Oct

German funding will help communities affected by human-wildlife conflict

info_e12wt4csNational NewsGerman funding will help communities affected by human-wildlife conflict

Niël Terblanché The Zambezi Region of Namibia is home to lions, elephants, hippos, and crocodiles, and has been struggling with an increasing number of human-wildlife conflict situations that result in the loss of livestock, crops, infrastructure, and, tragically, human lives.In this regard, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has stepped in to support efforts aimed at mitigating these conflicts by contributing N$37 million in funding, grants, and equipment.The impoverished communities in the Zambezi Region are among the hardest hit by the relentless challenges posed by interactions with wildlife. Such incidents not only threaten their livelihoods but…