National News

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Rundu Rural Constituency Councillor Paulus Mbangu has criticised the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare for excluding unemployed rural residents from benefiting from the Basic Income Grant (BIG). The grant, introduced to alleviate poverty among struggling families, targets Namibians aged between 18 and 59. Its implementation has largely been concentrated in urban areas, angering rural communities. Mbangu likened the ministry’s urban-focused approach to apartheid-era policies, arguing that it discriminates against rural residents and fosters negative perceptions of the government. “The ministry’s urban-centric policies are no different from apartheid policies, as they ignore the unique challenges…

Martin Endjala The Namibia Security Labour Forum (NSLF) and the Security Association of Namibia (SAN) have implemented a resolution aimed at bringing fairness and sustainability to the security industry. The wage order, which comes into effect on 1 January 2025, introduces critical changes designed to uplift the standard of living for security company employees. Dhiginina Uutaapama, president of SAN, said on Friday that the revised minimum wages ensure fair remuneration aligned with the cost of living and respect. “It also emphasises the vital role security officers play in safeguarding our communities,” he said. Uutaapama added that the changes will improve…

Martin Endjala On average, 436 deaths have been recorded each year on Namibian roads over the past three years This is according to Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVA) Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, John Haufiku, who made the revelation on 13 December during a road safety campaign sponsorship acknowledgement event in Windhoek. The campaign, launched last month in the Oshikoto region, is a collaborative effort between the National Road Safety Council, Roads Authority, the Namibian Police, and the Road Fund Administration. From 1 January to 7 December, 2 925 crashes have been recorded, resulting in 5 297 injuries and 385 fatalities.…

Allexer Namundjembo Suspended members of the National Youth Council (NYC) board issued an ultimatum to youth minister Agnes Tjongarero, demanding their immediate reinstatement after what they describe as an unjust suspension. Former chairperson Eva Awases, along with Simon Taapopi, Josef Petrus, Melinda Mogotsi, Rozaline Joseph, and Viviane De Koe, were suspended on Friday over allegations of fund mismanagement and other irregularities. In a letter addressed to Awases, the minister cited several reasons for the suspension, including disregard for ministry directives, failure to adhere to procurement procedures, non-disclosure of conflicts of interest, and misuse of council funds. The suspended board members…

Niël Terblanché On Friday, the Electoral Court of Namibia ruled in favour of the Independent Patriots of Change (IPC) and the Landless People’s Movement (LPM), granting them conditional access to inspect electoral materials from the National Assembly elections. The ruling, handed down by a panel of High Court judges Nate Ndauendapo, Orben Sibeya, and Beatrix de Jager, permits the parties to review specific electoral information on 18 and 19 December. The court order ensures that while the IPC and LPM can access election data, any sealed electoral material, as specified under the Electoral Act, remains strictly off-limits. In their ruling,…

Niël Terblanché Namibia’s progress in combating HIV/AIDS and the integration of mental health into healthcare services was reinforced during the commemoration of World AIDS Day 2024 in Rundu on Friday. Dr Kalumbi Shangula, the minister of health and social services spoke at the vent in the Kavango East region and said the country has made great strides to eliminating AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. Shangula said that the country stands among the global leaders in addressing the epidemic. "We now stand at the cusp of ending AIDS as a public health threat by the year 2030," he…

Niël Terblanché President Nangolo Mbumba officially commissioned two medium transport aircraft, known as Y-9E, into the Namibian Air Force at the Grootfontein Air Force Base on Friday. The state-of-the-art aircraft, manufactured to Namibia’s specifications by the China Aeronautic Technology and Import Corporation (CATIC), represents a significant step forward in the country’s defence capabilities. In his capacity as the commander in chief of the Namibian Defence Force, Mbumba lauded the adoption of the new aircraft as a vital milestone in Namibia’s efforts to modernize its military. “The acquisition of these medium transport aircraft will go a long way in improving and…

Niël Terblanché The commissioning of two major water infrastructure projects, the Henties Bay Extension and Upgrade Phase 1 and the Kuiseb-Collector 2-Swakopmund Pipeline Replacement Phase 3, strengthened Namibia’s efforts to enhance water security and support socio-economic development. The event, held in Henties Bay on Friday brought together government officials, stakeholders, and local communities to celebrate this achievement. Calle Schlettwein, the minister of agriculture, water and land reform during the launch, extolled the vital importance of these projects. “These projects are a demonstration of our commitment to ensuring that all Namibians, especially those in our central and coastal regions, have reliable…

Niël Terblanché Swakopmund achieved another milestone in addressing housing challenges with the launch of a transformative housing development project in the DRC informal settlement. The minister of urban and rural development, Erastus Uutoni officially launched the National Informal Settlement Upgrading Project (ISUP) aimed at addressing the housing backlog and providing decent and affordable shelter countrywide in Swakopmund on Friday. The ISUP was first launched in Windhoek as a Pilot Project and has so far delivered 744 houses, and is set to be rolled out countrywide. The minister said a total of 803 new houses will be constructed in DRC informal…