National News – Page 391

03 May

Credit improvement needed to grow economy

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Martin Endjala Although the country’s economic recovery is in its early stages, credit growth will have to improve in order to support improved economic growth rates going forward. According to Economist Theo Klein, a myriad of other factors also needs to change in order to support higher growth, but prolonged negative real credit growth can limit growth. “Various factors would likely also have to change, whether it’s the mathematics behind internal models used to assess credit risk by banks or local businesses and entrepreneurs coming forth with better ideas that are bankable,” he said. Klein does not foresee higher interest…

02 May

New born baby murdered and dumped

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Hertta-Maria Amutenja Several murder cases were reported over the long weekend, including an incident reported on Saturday, in which the lifeless body of a new born baby boy was found dumped in the bushes. Police said it is unclear when exactly the baby was dumped, but the incident happened at Ogongo settlement in Omusati region.“It is alleged that the suspect hit a newly born baby boy on the head near the right ear with an unknown hard object which caused severe injury and resulted in the death of the baby. It is further alleged that the suspect dumped the body…

02 May

PM salutes workers on May Day

info_e12wt4csNational NewsPM salutes workers on May Day

Niël Terblanché Namibia managed to control the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic because of the dedication and commitment of essential workers. Prime Minister Saara Kuukongelwa-Amadhila, in her message to the workers of Namibia on International Workers Day said that in emergencies, workers serve at the forefront as the first lines of defence to save lives, provide essential services and ensure the productivity and profitability of enterprises. “During the fight against the pandemic, some workers succumbed to Covid-19 while in the line of duty. It is this dedication of the workers that is celebrated on this day. The first of May…

02 May

Revolutionary Union claims business and political elites captured unionists

info_e12wt4csNational NewsRevolutionary Union claims business and political elites captured unionists

Stefanus Nashama The newly established Revolutionary Union (RU) claims business people and political elites give instructions to ‘captured unionists’ who sell out the workers for political positions in the corrupt party and its government. The Union said this yesterday on Workers’ Day, indicating that sellouts and captured unionists are characterized by wage negotiations dictated at dinner tables where elites give instructions to captured unionists. The ‘corrupt party and government’ referred to by the RU is the SWAPO Party and the Government. The Union further said for the past 33 years, political freedom has been worse for the workers of Namibia.…

02 May

Shifeta excited about tourism sector amidN$ 132m worth of new park infrastructure

info_e12wt4csNational NewsShifeta excited about tourism sector amidN$ 132m worth of new park infrastructure

Staff Writer The Minister of Environment Tourism and Forestry, Pohamba Shifeta, has expressed his excitement about the tourism sector following the inauguration and handing over of park infrastructure and equipment in the Dorob and Skeleton Coast National Park in Namibia last week. This was made possible through the support of the German Government through the KfW Development Bank to the tune of N$132 million. The infrastructure and equipment will assist in the management of the National Parks in which they are situated and enhance biodiversity conservation. The infrastructure includes new park management stations constructed at Cape Cross, Ugabmund, Möwe Bay…

02 May

Agricultural sector continues lacklustre performance

info_e12wt4csNational NewsAgricultural sector continues lacklustre performance

Martin Endjala The agricultural sector of Namibia continues to underperform despite all sub-sectors of the industry expanding in output in 2022. During 2022, livestock farming increased by 1.2 percent, fishing increased by 2.3 percent and crop farming 4.3 percent in 2022, leading to the overall growth of 2.6 percent in the agricultural industry. The agricultural industry is a crucial component of any economy, especially in Namibia, as the industry has one of the highest potentials to absorb the abundant unskilled labour in the country and improve socioeconomic indicators such as poverty and unemployment. To this end, the urban population of…

02 May

Finance Minister Warns against tax defaults

info_e12wt4csNational NewsFinance Minister Warns against tax defaults

Martin Endjala Finance Minister Iipumbu Shiimi has warned people against defaulting on their taxes saying that taxpayers must be made aware that tax does not discriminate and that all eligible taxpayers should ensure that they pay their taxes or risk facing the law. Shiimi, during a Parliamentary session, responded to Namibians who voiced their frustration about high tax deductions while they are not eligible for benefits. Taxpayers were fuming and said that they won’t pay tax since they do not benefit from it. Shiimi said that the Namibia Revenue Agency is rounding up its compliance capacity and those found contravening…

02 May

May Day marks the start of the hunting season

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Niël Terblanché This year’s hunting season for game and birds has commenced on 1 May and will enable members of the public to hunt certain species of the game at the invitation of a farm owner, lessee of a farm, or a registered conservancy. Pohamba Shifeta, the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, in a statement, announced the official opening of the 2023 Hunting season and set out the rules that will regulate the activity in Namibia. According to the statement, huntable game species can be hunted for the period 1 May to 31 August in the case of commercial…

28 Apr

Lack of coordination caused the mass resignation of fishermen

info_e12wt4csNational NewsLack of coordination caused the mass resignation of fishermen

Stefanus Nashama Former Minister of Industrialization, Trade and SME Development, Tjekero Tweya said there was a general lack of coordination between the concerned ministries, fishing companies and the affected workers that resulted in the mass resignation of fishermen. Tweya presented the report to the Parliamentary Selection Committee of the National Assembly on the Mass resignation of fishermen employed under the Government Redressing Program in Walvis Bay from 1 to 5 November 2022. Tweya stated that lack of coordination could be perceived as the reason for the inability and inefficiency to address the challenges encountered in the implementation process of the…

28 Apr

NAB improves border control regime

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Martin Endjala The Namibia Agronomic Board (NAB) have intensified its border control regime by conducting regular compliance assessments for imports, exports and transit consignment to determine the status of compliance in the crop industry. According to NAB’s financial year 2022/23 report, the board announced the appointment of more border control inspectors at commercial ports of entry and exit in order to implement the strategic initiative. NAB has since then facilitated the clearance of consignments for importation, exportation and transit, in which satisfactory performance was recorded in relation to industry compliance with the regulatory framework. To date, the board has developed…