National News

NSFAF rejects 7 000 students

NSFAF rejects 7 000 students

Hertta-Maria Amutenja At least 7 946 students failed to acquire Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund(NSFAF) funding for the 2023 academic year. According to NSFAF Acting Chief Executive Officer, Kennedy Kandume, the fund received 30 124 applications however only 22 179 applications were eligible for funding. Compared to last year, the fund has increased the number of students it will be funding by 17 Percent. Kandume said the applications were rejected as some applicants did not adhere to the specifications and some applied despite not meeting the academic requirements of the fund. “Like any other application, some applications did not meet…
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Judge drops four charges against alleged serial rapist

Judge drops four charges against alleged serial rapist

Hertta-Maria Amutenja An alleged serial rapist won a partial victory after a Windhoek High court Judge, Dinah Usiku acquitted him on four out of the 23 charges he is facing. Gavin Gawanab is charged with three counts of rape, three counts of attempted rape, four charges of attempted murder and several counts of assault as well as assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, alternatively indecent assault, kidnapping, housebreaking with intent to rape and rape as well as crimen injuria. However, Gawanab has consistently denied the charges since the start of his trial. Gawanab was arrested in November 2018…
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Nahas calls for solidarity in social justice

Nahas calls for solidarity in social justice

Stefanus Nashama Retired Politician and Former Prime Minister, Nahas Angula, says social justice ought to be in solidarity with the poor and those in need of necessities. Angula said this yesterday in an interview with this publication while commenting on the current politics of Namibia. He described social justice as the way to go, as it provides solutions to the basic needs of the people. “I am still standing on the ideal of social justice, and that puts me in solidarity with the people who do not have jobs, children who beg in the street and those that are suffering,”…
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Lack of regulatory body hampers construction industry

Lack of regulatory body hampers construction industry

Martin Endjala With the lack of a sector council or regulator, the construction industry will continue to be negatively impacted by economic factors which will result in the sector not yielding any growth. According to Simonis and Storm Economist, Theo Klein, the situation is likely to persist and it will weigh on the profitability of local operators in the construction industry. “Apart from calling on more investor-friendly policies, since 2006 the Construction Industry Federation has argued for a construction council that would serve in the interest of local capacitation and effective regulation of the sector. This has however not been…
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Soldier quits army to become a teacher

Soldier quits army to become a teacher

Stefanus Nashama A former member of the Namibian Defence Force, Maria James (46), who served as a soldier for 18 years quit her job to pursue her passion for teaching. James decided to resign from the NDF about four years ago to study for an education degree at the University of Namibia. In an interview with the Windhoek Observer yesterday, James said that she graduated last week Thursday as a professional teacher after completing a four-year program in Education at the University of Namibia. She specialised in pre and junior primary education. “I want to pass my knowledge at the…
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Namibia invited to attend Russia Africa summit

Namibia invited to attend Russia Africa summit

Niel Terblanche Namibia could be represented at the highest level at an upcoming Russia-Africa summit that is slated to take place in St. Petersburg in July this year. The Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises, Ipumbu Shiimi, on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group conference in Washington, told Russian media representatives that a high-level government delegation will in all probability attend this very important summit.The finance minister told Sputnik that he might not be part of the delegation that will represent Namibia. "I believe Namibia will have a delegation because Namibia and Russia are…
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Itula against abortion

Itula against abortion

Martin Endjala The Independent Patriots for Change Leader, Panduleni Itula says that legalizing abortion could pose a danger to the nation as he opines that there hasn’t been adequate information to suggest why abortion should be legalized. Itula said that based on the numerous contributions he has heard so far, he has not obtained enough information as to why abortion should be legalized, adding that more information is needed on the subject matter in order to make an informed decision. Itula was speaking at a Public Hearing on Abortion held by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Gender Equality, Social Development…
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IPC to tackle public and political issues

IPC to tackle public and political issues

Stefanus Nashama The Independent Patriot for Change (IPC) says it is ready to tackle public issues and its internal political businesses as the party prepares for the 2024 national elections. The party’s National Spokesperson, Immanuel Nashinge on Monday, said this. IPC held a High-Level Consultative Planning meeting last week Saturday in Windhoek, under the theme “reorganisation for victory in 2024 and the role of a patriotic Namibia”. Nashinge said the consultative planning meeting looked at the issues of genocide and ancestral land with its concern on how the party can address the issues. He said the ongoing issue of high…
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ECB to announce new electricity tariffs before end of April

ECB to announce new electricity tariffs before end of April

Martin Endjala The Electricity Control Board (ECB) will announce itself on electricity tariffs before the end of April, with Nampower said to have applied for a 16.87 percent tariff increase. This was confirmed yesterday by the Electricity Control Board Public Relations Officer Ferdinand Molale, who informed this publication that the ECB endeavours to announce the 2023/2024 bulk electricity tariff before the end of April 2023. “The ECB, after studying the application, would make an announcement on the approved tariff. The ECB will endeavour to educate the public on tariff adjustment using various mass media channels”, Molela explained. When asked about…
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Uapingene calls for gender balance in Junior Councils

Uapingene calls for gender balance in Junior Councils

Martin Endjala The Mayor of the City of Windhoek, Joseph Uapingene has called for gender balance, citing its importance to recognize gender equality by 2030, in line with the United Nation’s Planet 50-50 goals. The Mayor made these remarks during the 24th official inauguration ceremony of the Junior Council for 2023 /2024 held last week in Windhoek. Since its inception in 1999, the Junior Council has been represented by 37 schools, including both private and government schools, in the Khomas Region. The Junior Council programme also includes two special schools for learners with visual and hearing impairments to equip the…
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