National News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Ministry of Health and Social Services has committed to repairing infrastructure at Tsumeb State Hospital after the facility flooded twice, first on 8 February and again last week, disrupting healthcare services. The health ministry’s executive director, Ben Nangombe, confirmed that the ministry is working with the Tsumeb Municipality to address the underlying issues that led to the flooding. Nangombe has indicated that improving drainage around the hospital and nearby areas is being prioritised to avoid further disruptions. "The situation is under control, and we are working with the municipality to resolve the problem. We are addressing the…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja  Residents of Gobabis in the Omaheke region have expressed anger over the decision to hold the regional memorial service for the late founding president Sam Nujoma at Buitepos, a border post between Namibia and Botswana, instead of in Gobabis. The event was on Tuesday, with buses transporting attendees from Gobabis to Buitepos. Sike Kandjimi, a resident of Gobabis, questioned why the service isn't held in a place where the majority can attend easily. “People want to be free to walk to a venue nearby, not travel over 100 kilometres. The requirement to register with councillors for transport is…

Ester Mbathera  Former Ghanaian President John Agyekum Kufuor described the late Founding President of Namibia, Sam Nujoma, as a visionary leader and freedom fighter who left a lasting impact on Namibia and Africa. Kufuor made the remarks during a memorial held in honour of Nujoma in Accra, Ghana, on Friday.  “Dr Nujoma was more than just a political leader. He was a towering figure of strength and resilience, whose unwavering commitment to the liberation of his people epitomised the essence of African unity and self-determination,’ he said. According to Kufuor, Namibia emerged as a symbol of hope and stability in…

Allexer Namundjembo Opposition regional councillors in the Erongo region have accused the office of the governor of failing to consult them on the drafting of the programme for the state memorial service for the Founding President Sam Nujoma.  The memorial service will take place on Tuesday in Walvis Bay at the Kuisebmond stadium.  Walvis Bay Rural constituency councillor Donatus Tegako, a member of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), said that he was not invited to discuss the programme.  “The program was not discussed with regional councillors. It is the governor’s thing. They probably drafted it with the Swapo regional…

Allexer Namundjembo The 4th General Assembly of the African Seismological Commission (AfSC) is taking place in Namibia for the first time.  The three-day event, currently underway, has brought together seismologists from across Africa to discuss, collaborate, and improve regional seismic monitoring. Key topics include Namibia’s seismological network and a review of earthquake events in various African countries. Penda Ithindi, the executive director of Namibia’s Ministry of Mines and Energy, spoke at the opening of the Assembly yesterday at Avani.  He highlighted the growth of the AfSC since its launch in 2014. Ithindi emphasised the importance of seismology in addressing regional…

Niël Terblanché Farmers’ frustration over escalating stock theft and an inefficient criminal justice system took centre stage at a public hearing convened by the National Assembly’s Parliamentary Standing Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs on 13 February. The four leading agricultural unions joined forces to voice their concerns in parliament, urging authorities to take decisive action to address the growing crisis that threatens the sector’s sustainability. The Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU), Namibia National Farmers’ Union (NNFU), Namibia Emerging Commercial Farmers’ Union (NECFU), and the Previously Disadvantaged Commercial Farmers’ Union (PDCFU) presented a unified front in their submission to the committee.…

Staff reporter  The National Theatre of Namibia (NTN) has announced an extension for auditions for the Blended Voices – A Namibian Choral Celebration competition, giving choirs across the country more time to participate.  The audition deadline has been pushed to 26 February, while the competition itself has been rescheduled to 26 April. This national choral event offers choirs the opportunity to showcase their talents and compete for a grand prize of N$50,000. NTN aims to provide a platform for choirs to explore and reinterpret Namibian music, blending traditional and contemporary styles. According to NTN Public Relations Officer Desiree Mentor, the…

Niël Terblanché A United Kingdom-based investment firm Appian Capital Advisory LLP has announced the acquisition of a majority stake in Emesco Energy’s 5.4 MW photovoltaic installation near the Rosh Pinah Zinc Mine. The deal sets the stage for an expansion that will more than triple the plant’s current capacity to 16.3 megawatts, supplying the mine with cleaner and more cost-effective energy and is a substantial boost to the country’s renewable energy sector. In its statement announcing the takeover, Emesco managing director Rinus Strydom stressed the importance of the initiative and expanded on the financial and environmental benefits of the plans.…

Allexer Namundjembo John Nakuta, Namibia’s Media Ombudsman, advised bigger political parties to learn from Martin Lukato when it comes to media engagement.  He said this last week during the launch of the final election media monitoring report.  “We saw how Martin Lukato of the NDP worked. Due to financial constraints, he didn’t have much media coverage, but the little coverage he received single-handedly made people aware of him, and people voted for him. He is now coming to parliament next month. He is now known, and we have learnt from the media that he’s been around for a decade and…