City rejects debt write-off for pensioners

City rejects debt write-off for pensioners

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The City of Windhoek has rejected demands for an unconditional write-off of debts owed by pensioners, citing financial risks and current council policy. This follows a petition from the Khomas Ratepayers and Residents Association, which called on the municipality to cancel all pensioner debts and address ongoing concerns about land servicing and water access. City spokesperson Lydia Amutenya said debt cancellations must follow the framework approved by the council in 2023.  “Granting an unconditional write-off of pensioner debt is not permissible under current council resolutions. It would compromise our ability to honour payments to critical service providers such…
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Central valley to undergo GH2 impact assessment in September

Central valley to undergo GH2 impact assessment in September

Justicia Shipena The strategic environmental and social assessment (SESA) for green hydrogen production in the country’s central valley is set to begin in September. The contracting for SESA is expected to be finalised this month.  “We are at the end of the procurement process. Hopefully this week we are going to open some financial envelopes and see what that looks like, and we hope to be contracting in August so that it can start in September,” said Eline van der Linden, head of impact and ESG at the Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme (NGH2P), during a press briefing on Friday. The…
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Leaders worry over NamPost grant deal

Leaders worry over NamPost grant deal

Allexer Namundjembo Political leaders have expressed mixed reactions to the government’s decision to appoint Namibia Post Limited (NamPost) as the official distributor of social grants. Last week, the ministry of finance announced that NamPost would take over the distribution of all social grants across Namibia, replacing private contractors as part of efforts to centralise public service delivery through state-owned entities. The Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement welcomed the appointment.  AR spokesperson George Kambala called it a progressive and strategic move that aligns with the movement’s goal of returning control of essential services to public institutions.  “This shift provides an opportunity to…
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IPC accuses U.S. of fabricating jihadist threats

IPC accuses U.S. of fabricating jihadist threats

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) has accused the United States of fabricating a jihadist threat along the Namibian-Angolan border to justify foreign military involvement and destabilise the country. The party claims the alleged threat serves U.S. interests under the guise of providing security support. IPC member of parliament and shadow minister of defence and veteran affairs, Aloisius Kangulu, dismissed the claims of a jihadist threat as false.  “The narrative of a ‘Jihadist’ threat between Namibia and Angola is a dangerous and fabricated lie. America cannot be allowed to play cowboy policeman of the world when there are…
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Voters begin registration for November elections

Voters begin registration for November elections

Justicia Shipena The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) today begins supplementary voter registration ahead of the regional council and local authority elections set for 26 November. The registration period will run from 4 to 19 August in all regions.  Over the weekend, the ECN announced it had deployed voter registration teams across the country in preparation for the 2025 elections.  According to a media release issued on Saturday, registration will take place from Monday to Saturday, between 08h00 and 19h00. The ECN has established 4 233 registration points across all constituencies and local authorities.  These include schools, community centres, and…
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Namibia, wake up: The reparations fight is your fight too

Much is being said about the reparation talks between Namibia and Germany. To the casual observer, it might seem as though the process has come a long way. After all, Germany has admitted wrongdoing and even recognized the atrocities committed against the Nama and Ovaherero people as genocide. Some consider this progress. But let’s be honest, it is not. It is a carefully worded statement, a hollow concession designed to appease rather than truly atone.What happened in Namibia between 1904 and 1908 was genocide, by every moral and legal definition. Tens of thousands of Nama and Ovaherero were slaughtered, driven…
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President calls for consistent sports funding

President calls for consistent sports funding

Erasmus Shalihaxwe President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has urged the business community to provide long-term support to national sports teams for national sports teams instead of one-off donations. She made the appeal on Saturday evening during a fundraising gala dinner for the Brave Warriors, the national football team. “The support for national teams should not only be a one-off but a joint commitment to ensure Namibia excels on all platforms. The Federation of International Football Association (FIFA), in particular, faces challenges that require consistent effort, unwavering dedication, and substantial resources, she stated.  The Brave Warriors are four matches away from a possible…
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Socio-economic growth war with public and private ownership

Socio-economic growth war with public and private ownership

Efraim Shimbali  Namibia and Africa at large, has suffered a huge socio-economic dilution. To understand this dilution, one ought to dig deep to the roots of Africa’s historic community pre-colonialism. Communities of empires with a single head of governance and control. A background of social inclusion and economic ownership of togetherness as well as exchange of possessions without being bias. Gone are the days of investment through sharing. Days of kings or queens receiving economic assistance from the community, and when bad days approach, the palace rescues. Many will recall how Africans went to war with kings and queens only…
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NAMIBIA’S RECLASSIFICATION AS A MIRROR, NOT A STIGMA

NAMIBIA’S RECLASSIFICATION AS A MIRROR, NOT A STIGMA

Tio Nakasole Every year, the World Bank Group classifies the world’s economies into four income groups: low, low-middle, upper-middle, and high. These classifications get updated each year on 1 July, based on the previous year’s Gross National Income (GNI) per capita, expressed in U.S. dollars using the Atlas method. Based on the generous numerical definition of the World Bank's 2024 gross national income (GNI) per capita, economies are divided differently among income groups.  Using the World Bank Atlas method, income calculated per annum is low income, $1,145 or less; lower middle income, $1,146 to $4,515; upper middle income, $4,516 to…
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Namibia’s Wealth Shift: A new generation, a new legacy

Namibia’s Wealth Shift: A new generation, a new legacy

Veruscka Gertze Namibia stands at the tip of a new generation; one where wealth built up by baby boomers and older Gen Xers is starting to pass on to the next generation. But this is not simply an issue of wealth changing hands. It's an issue of changing how wealth is managed, protected, and used according to new values, new family dynamics, and modern realities. Once, most families focused on building wealth in the form of assets like real estate, retirement funds, and businesses.  That's still true, but how families are handling their wealth is evolving. With greater financial sophistication,…
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