National News

Niël Terblanché In an effort to reinforce environmental conservation efforts, the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism has reiterated its commitment to discouraging the use of plastic shopping bags across Namibia, a policy aimed at mitigating the detrimental effects these items have on the ecosystem. Pohamba Shifeta, the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism shed light on the renewed effort during the inauguration of the Fourth Sustainable Development Awards He said that getting rid of plastic bags altogether is a significant step in the nation’s journey towards ecological preservation. The genesis of this environmentally conscious campaign dates back to 2019…

Ministry of Environment and Tourism earned N$9.3 million in 2022/2023 in 2022/2023 financial year from gaming and gambling activities. The ministry plans in the 2024/2025-2026/2027 financial years to secure approval for staff structure and budget in order to operationalize the Gambling Board of Namibia and Lotteries Board of Namibia. Tourism contribution to national GDP is estimated to reach a total N$46.8 billion during 2024/2025 – 2026/2027 financial years, according to the ministry. A total number of 1600 of applications for Environmental Clearance Certificates were received, of which 946 Environmental Clearance Certificates were issued for various activities. 150 sites were inspected…

The Ministry of Labour, Industrial relations and Employment Creation, achieved 48% of the targeted 67% of the prevention and settlement of industrial disputes, and workplace protection target in 2023. The ministry said a total of 4917 cases were handled through labour dispute resolution mechanism of which 2336 (48%) were resolved and 2 580 were still pending due to postponements. Conciliation remains the preferred method of resolving disputes, with 1 765 (76%) of the disputes resolved through conciliation, while 571 (24%) were resolved through arbitration, according to the ministry. The Employment Equity Commission received a total of 1 043 reports of…

Niël Terblanché A group of Namibian fishing industry workers have come forward with personal testimonies about the profound impact the notorious Fishrot corruption scandal has had on their lives. The Fishrot corruption scandal, which came to light following investigations into illicit dealings between several former Namibian government officials and representatives of the Icelandic fishing company Samherji, has had far-reaching consequences. The scandal centred around the exchange of lucrative fishing quotas for payments, severely impacting local companies like Namsov Fishing Enterprises, which saw their quotas slashed or eliminated from 2014 onwards. This led to the loss of at least 1,000 jobs,…

Niël Terblanché The nationwide manhunt for 30-year-old Nico Rabebe, a former Bank Windhoek employee accused of an audacious N$200 million theft, concluded with his arrest in Opuwo yesterday. Rabebe’s run from the law ended quietly at his girlfriend’s residence, where, in a surprising twist, he elected to turn himself in to investigators of the Namibian Police. Kunene Police Regional Commander, Commissioner James Nderura, confirmed the arrest took place early yesterday morning at about 07:00. The fugitive instructed his girlfriend to inform the police of his desire to surrender. This unexpected move brought an end to a saga that captivated the…