National News – Page 336

26 Sep

Trustco Attains Environmental Clearance for Industrial Development

info_e12wt4csNational NewsEnvironmental Clearance Certificate for the Lafraz industrial township development., Trustco Attains Environmental Clearance for Industrial Development

Martin Endjala Trustco Property Holdings, a subsidiary of Trustco Group Holdings Ltd, recently secured the Environmental Clearance Certificate for the Lafraz industrial township development. This industrial initiative is strategically located just 7 kilometres from the central business district of Windhoek, on the remaining portions of Farm Nubuamis No. 37. Trustco Properties finalized the acquisition of the 302-hectare parcel in 2004 and has since successfully developed 83 hectares into industrially zoned areas, known as Lafranz Extensions 1, 2, and 3. Neville Basson, the Trustco Group Spokesperson, highlighted that this industrial advancement has sparked a myriad of job opportunities, propelling economic growth…

26 Sep

Namibia’s Cybercrime Bill undergoes redrafting

info_e12wt4csNational NewsNamibia’s Cybercrime Bill undergoes redrafting

Hertta-Maria Amutenja In a strategic move to bolster Namibia’s cybersecurity, the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology is rigorously revisiting the Cybercrime Bill. This redrafting adheres to the mandates of the Cabinet Committee on Legislation. Minister Peya Mushelenga, revealed yesterday that this progression aligns seamlessly with the Government’s wider strategies outlined in the Government Communication Strategy 2022 – 2027, which envisions nurturing an informed public discourse on crucial governmental endeavours and initiatives. The ongoing refinement of the Cybercrime Bill is an integral component of a comprehensive strategy to overhaul the legislative and policy frameworks governing the information and communication technology…

26 Sep

Readiness Support Programme enhances access to climate funding

info_e12wt4csNational NewsReadiness Support Programme enhances access to climate funding

Martin Endjala The Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia (EIF) recently orchestrated an inception meeting in Windhoek to discuss a programme, generously funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to the sum of N$ 6.1 million (USD 326,542). The Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme is designed to bolster access to climate finance for nations, facilitating the fulfilment of their Nationally Determined Contribution ambitions. In Namibia, this objective is attainable through the reinforcement of local institutions capable of serving as Direct Access Entities for the Green Climate Fund, thereby enhancing country ownership. Subsequently, national institutions including the Agricultural Bank of Namibia (Agri-Bank),…

25 Sep

Namibia set to boost economy with online tourist visa offer

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Niël Terblanché In an ambitious stride to revitalise the national economy, Namibia has initiated online tourist visa applications, a move set to lure more international tourists to its captivating landscapes and culturally rich destinations. The service became operational last Friday and represents the country’s broader endeavour to embrace digitalisation and enhance e-governance. Albert Kawana, the Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, spoke with optimism at the launch in Windhoek about the potential of the tourism sector to be a linchpin for economic resurgence. “I have no doubt that with the launch of the online tourist visa application, our…

25 Sep

Everyone in Namibia must remember where they were on Reference Night

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Niël Terblanché Every citizen and temporary inhabitant of Namibia should mark their calendar where they slept last night - Census Reference Night – because it forms an integral part of the Population and Housing Census. Alex Shimuafeni, the Statistician General of the Namibian Statistics Agency (NSA) stressed the importance of Census Reference Night because of the comprehensive nature of the census. “Every person within the borders of Namibia during the midnight of September 24, 2023, known as Census Reference Night (CRN), will be counted, irrespective of nationality, age, or social status,” he said. This inclusion ranges from newborn babies to…

25 Sep

Pastor allegedly refuses to pay employees who harvested grass for him

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Hertta-Maria Amutenja Nelson Daniel Haihambo, a pastor at House of Grace Ministry in Windhoek, is allegedly refusing to pay employees whom he recruited to harvest grass for his company, Grace City Investment, around Windhoek. Sarafina Andupula, one of the employees, stated she, along with approximately 50 others, was recruited at Havana informal settlement to harvest grass in July this year. However, after the work was complete, Haihambo reportedly ceased communication, not responding to text messages or answering his phone. “He came to our neighbourhood and recruited us to cut grass at Ramatex, promising to pay us N$2000 each at the…

25 Sep

Namibia seeks to end statelessness for social progress

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Stefanus Nashama Albert Kawana, the Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security, expressed that while Namibia is grappling with the issues of statelessness and undocumented citizens, the Ministry is devising and implementing new strategies to address statelessness to foster social progress. He conveyed these remarks at the commemoration of International Identity Day and the launch of the Online Tourist Visa Application in Windhoek last week. Kawana disclosed that the Ministry is in the process of drafting bills with the objective of preventing statelessness and regularizing the status of specified categories of stateless and undocumented persons. “I sincerely hope these…

25 Sep

Two Namibian long-distance trucks burn in Botswana after crash

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Erasmus Shalihaxwe Two Namibian registered long-distance trucks are confirmed to have burnt down in a road accident last week Friday at Bere on the Trans Kalahari Corridor (TKC) in Botswana. The accident involved five trucks and resulted in two drivers dead and one hospitalized. Ankwetse Odirile Hunda, the Trans Kalahari Corridor Marketing and Communications Officer, announced over the weekend that they are in constant communication with authorities in Botswana. The authorities have confirmed that the other two trucks are Botswana-registered. Unfortunately, the fifth truck burnt to ashes, and its registration and the identity of the driver are yet to be…

25 Sep

Walvis Bay comes into FlyNamibia’s focus

info_e12wt4csNational NewsWalvis Bay comes into FlyNamibia’s focus

Niël Terblanché FlyNamibia, the country’s only private airline, has marked yet another milestone with the inauguration of a new air route, connecting the integral ports of Walvis Bay and Windhoek in Namibia to Cape Town, South Africa. In an official statement, Andre Compion, the Managing Director of FlyNamibia, unveiled the airline’s innovative approach to establishing this route as a strategic link, thereby facilitating enriched travel options and contributing to regional growth and development. “We are excited to introduce this new route, underscoring FlyNamibia’s commitment to expanding our network and enhancing travel options for our passengers,” Compion said. The strategic schedule…

22 Sep

Namibia’s economy grew by 3.7 percent in the second quarter

info_e12wt4csNational Newsreflecting a slowdown compared to the remarkable 8.5 percent growth recorded in the same quarter of 2022., The Namibian economy showed a growth of 3.7 percent during the second quarter of 2023

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Namibian economy showed a growth of 3.7 percent during the second quarter of 2023, reflecting a slowdown compared to the remarkable 8.5 percent growth recorded in the same quarter of 2022. Namibia’s nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the second quarter of 2023 was N$58.6 billion, displaying an increase of N$7.3 billion compared to the same period in 2022. This is according to Alex Shimuafeni, Statistician-General and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA), who presented the economic performance report for the second quarter of 2023 this week. He, however, indicated that the real…