National News

Mallex Shipanga Following President-elect Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s electoral victory on 3 December, it is still unknown whether Swapo’s job creation promises will come to fruition during her presidency. An economist, Helana Mboti explained the economic implications of the job creation promises that are not kept. “I will not comment on Swapo’s ability, but on the economic need as a whole,” she said. Mboti emphasized quality over quantity. “While ambitious job creation targets are possible, it's crucial to prioritize quality over quantity. We need to consider the sustainability of these jobs and their impact on people's lives,” she said. Mboti also explained…

Mallex Shipanga The Namibia Media Professionals Union (Nampu), Namibia Media Trust (NMT), and Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Africa (FesMedia) hosted a Human Rights Day event on December 11, themed “Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now.” The gathering held on Wednesday, brought together human rights activists, journalists, and policymakers to reflect on Namibia's human rights challenges, focusing on media freedom and freedom of expression. The chief advocate of the office of the Ombudsman, Ingrid Husselmann, addressed attendees and focussed on the intersection of human rights and social justice. “Our constitution enshrines these principles of equality, non-discrimination, and freedom. But is that a reality? Inequality…

Allexer Namundjebo The Landless People’s Movement (LPM) has emulated the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) in filing legal action to gain access to election materials following the recently concluded elections. The IPC submitted a court application on Monday, requesting permission to inspect the contents of electoral materials related to the elections. While the IPC has announced alliances with various political entities such as the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), the Body of Christ, the Republican Party (RP), and the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) to challenge the election outcome, the court documents indicate that IPC is the sole applicant in…

Niël Terblanché Namibia celebrated another leap forward in the development of vital infrastructure with the official opening of the 170-kilometre road between Gobabis and Aminuis. The road, upgraded to bitumen standard, was inaugurated by President Nangolo Mbumba on Wednesday. Speaking at the event in the Omaheke Region, Mbumba said that the road is set to transform access to services, stimulate local economies, and strengthen regional integration. He also reiterated the government's commitment to enhancing the country's road network as a cornerstone of development. “This road is a demonstration of our vision to reduce transportation costs and stimulate local economies by…

Niël Terblanché In an effort to advance wildlife conservation and rural development, the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism announced newly appointed members of the Game Product Trust Fund (GPTF) board. Environment minister, Pohamba Shifeta made the announcement and added that the fund was specifically created to play a key role in harmonizing the coexistence of humans and wildlife in Namibia. Established under the Game Product Trust Fund Act of 1997, the GPTF is a vital mechanism that ensures revenue from wildlife-related activities is reinvested into conservation and rural development projects. “The fund supports wildlife conservation, communal conservation, and rural…

Niël Terblanché Namibia is hosting the 38th High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy in Walvis Bay. The event brought together international experts, policymakers, and stakeholders to address the challenges and opportunities of sustainable ocean management. The event, which started on Wednesday and will conclude on Friday is expected to produce robust discussions on the critical role of oceans in global prosperity and Namibia's leadership in marine conservation. Opening the event, Derek Klazen, the minister of fisheries and marine resources, said the Benguela Current that flows past the Namibian coast is a national treasure and the cornerstone of the country's…

Martin Endjala In response to the persistent drought in Namibia, First National Bank has launched a drought relief initiative to support the agricultural sector. Sepo Haihambo, the bank’s commercial chief executive officer, said that the initiative aligns with the Bank of Namibia’s recent policy changes aimed at promoting economic and financial stability amid the ongoing drought. “FNB Namibia is pleased to offer loan moratoriums, loan restructuring, and emergency funding with preferential terms to qualifying farmers and agricultural clients affected by Namibia’s drought,” said Haihambo. The move follows the Bank of Namibia’s new determination requiring banks to implement drought relief measures.…

Mallex Shipanga Legal experts from Namibia’s Society of Advocates have raised objections to the “Definition of Spouse Bill,” which was passed in July 2023. The society is arguing that the bill contravenes the Namibian Constitution. In a statement issued on 3 December, the president of the Society of Advocates, Natasha Bassingthwaighte addressed the bill. She explained that the constitution does not allow the parliament to pass this law. “The constitution specifically states that parliament shall not make any law that abolishes or abridges the fundamental rights and freedoms conferred by the constitution and that any law that does so is…

Martin Endjala TransUnion Namibia’s country manager, Lara Enslin has urged consumers to avoid taking on additional debt during the festive season, emphasising the importance of maintaining a good credit score. In an interview with the Windhoek Observer on Wednesday, Enslin advised individuals to avoid maxing out credit facilities and to monitor their credit usage. She recommended keeping credit utilisation below 35% of the limit and prioritising the repayment of outstanding balances. “So if you check the credit limits on your loan accounts, credit cards, and overdrafts, see how much you owe on each. You plan to maintain a healthy amount…

Stefanus Nashama Matheus Mhani, the presiding officer for the Windhoek Rural Constituency during the 2024 presidential and national assembly elections, has denied allegations of election rigging involving 500 000 ballot papers reportedly filled in favour of Swapo. The allegations, circulating on WhatsApp and other social media platforms, accuse Mhani, a member of the Namibian Police, Gidein Shino, and the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) officials of plotting to manipulate results. "Those are false allegations. I am not the author. I do not know who is trying to use my name in connection with things that are not true. Even the…