National News

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Politicians from different parties have criticised Sinomine Tsumeb Smelter for refusing entry to minister of justice and labour relations Fillemon Immanuel during a planned labour inspection on Monday. According to media reports, the Chinese-owned company demanded that the minister, his security team, and delegation undergo alcohol testing before being allowed in.  The company also instructed the minister’s bodyguards to surrender their firearms at the gate. Immanuel had  visited the smelter to inspect a voluntary retrenchment process that the Labour Ministry suspects violates labour laws.  He was accompanied by the labour commissioner and a workers’ union representative. The incident…

Allexer Namundjembo Namibia’s efforts to improve cancer surveillance have received international recognition with the inclusion of the National Cancer Registry (NNCR) in the newly launched Global Cancer Atlas. The Atlas, developed by the American Cancer Society, the World Health Organisation, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), offers a global picture of cancer trends, prevention, and response efforts. Namibia’s registry, endorsed by the African Cancer Registry Network (AFCRN), is notable for being fully initiated, funded, and managed by the Cancer Association of Namibia (CAN) “This international recognition affirms the global community’s trust in Namibia’s commitment to strengthening cancer…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Namibian government has approved poultry imports from the United States, allowing U.S. exporters to ship fresh, frozen, and chilled chicken to Namibia starting 1 July. According to the ministry of agriculture, water and land reform, the approval followed a veterinary risk assessment focused on animal and public health.  The ministry said the decision is based solely on sanitary standards and not linked to trade or economic policy. “The decision to allow imports is based on compliance with Namibia’s sanitary measures rather than on timing considerations,” said ministry spokesperson Simon Nghipandulwa. The import permits were issued under the…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Deputy minister of defence and veterans affairs Charles Mubita has revealed that 12 702 veterans of the liberation struggle are still waiting for their approved benefits, more than a decade after the programme began. Responding to questions from Nudo member of parliament Vetaruhe Kandorozu in the National Assembly last week, Mubita said the ministry has paid out N$2.52 billion to 13,398 veterans since the start of the programme in the 2011/2012 financial year. “Out of the 33,500 veterans, 13,398 have been paid at an amount totalling N$2,52 million, while 12,702 are yet to be paid,” he said. He…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The ministry of information and communication technology (MICT) has confirmed that the country's data protection bill is still under review by the cabinet committee for legislation. This comes as the ministry of home affairs, immigration, safety and security, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has announced plans to roll out the country’s first electronic identity card (e-ID).  The smart card stores biometric and demographic data and is designed to support identity verification across sectors such as healthcare, banking, education, and public services. Digital rights groups, including the Internet Society Namibia Chapter, have raised concerns about…

Allexer Namundjebo Namib Desert Diamonds (Namdia) has confirmed that  it carried out an emergency procurement process to upgrade its security systems and appoint a security consultant.  This follows allegations made by member of parliament and Affirmative Repositioning (AR) leader Job Amupanda. In a social media post, Amupanda accused Namdia of violating procurement procedures.  He claimed the company appointed a security consultant without formal qualifications and that the consultant’s son was involved in installing the new security system.  He also raised concerns about Namdia’s previous ties to Neldan, an Angolan-based company that, he alleged, had access to the company’s alarm reports.…