Page 20 – News Stand

30 Jul

New labour agreement resets Rössing-MUN ties

info_e12wt4csNational News

Allexer Namundjembo Rössing Uranium has signed an updated Recognition and Procedural Agreement (RPA) with the Mine Workers Union of Namibia (MUN)—Rössing Branch Executive Committee. This marks the first full review of the agreement since before Namibia’s independence, highlighting the company’s efforts to align labour relations with current laws and practices. The process followed the Labour Act, 2007 (Act No. 11 of 2007), specifically Sections 67 to 69, which deal with trade union recognition and procedural agreements. Section 2(b) of the Act, which promotes sound labour relations as a base for economic growth, social justice, and industrial peace, also guided the…

30 Jul

Capricorn backs police training on victim support

info_e12wt4csNational News

Staff Writer The Capricorn Foundation has donated N$300 000 to the Response Action Based Organisation (RABO), which responds to cases of gender-based violence (GBV), suicide attempts, child abuse, and neglect. As a first responder, RABO helps transport victims to hospitals, police stations, or social workers and refers them for long-term support. The head of the Capricorn Foundation, Veripura Muukua, said the Foundation supports RABO through its vulnerability focus area. “As part of its vulnerability focus area, the Capricorn Foundation is a long-term partner of the Response Action Based Organisation. We are proud of our partnership with RABO and that, through…

29 Jul

Future of Business Conference set for August

info_e12wt4csObserver Money

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Nedbank Namibia will host its first-ever Future of Business Conference next month at Droombos in Windhoek. The event targets owner-managed businesses, emerging startups, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs), with a focus on leadership, communication, human resources, and information technology. The bank announced on Tuesday that the conference aims to equip Namibian entrepreneurs with practical tools and knowledge to grow their businesses and drive innovation. Keynote speakers will include Nedbank group chief executive officer Jason Quinn, Nedbank Africa Head of Marketing Tatiana Ndlovu, and Aurik Co-Founder Pavlo Phitidis. “Namibian businesses are the backbone of our economy, and their…

29 Jul

NPFL Forum charts new direction for football

info_e12wt4csSports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Namibia Football Association (NFA) and the Namibia Premier Football League (NPFL) have reaffirmed their commitment to establishing a self-managed top-tier league. This was confirmed at the NPFL Chairmen’s Forum held at Soccer House over the weekend. NFA interim secretary general Cassius Moetie announced on Tuesday that clubs discussed the transformation of the men’s premier league. A key outcome was the unanimous endorsement of three clubs promoted from the nationwide first division to the NPFL. The new clubs joining the 2025/26 season are Eleven Arrows Football Club from Walvis Bay, Life Fighters Football Club from Otjiwarongo, and Rundu…

29 Jul

Thirty schools compete in 2025 Netball League

info_e12wt4csSports

Staff Writer Thirty public and private schools from eight regions are competing in the 2025 Capricorn Schools Netball League, which is heading into its national playoffs this August. A total of 85 teams from Khomas, //Kharas, Hardap, Otjozondjupa, Kunene, Oshikoto, Omaheke, and Erongo regions are participating in the league. The competition, now in its ninth year, is sponsored by Capricorn Group and supported by the Namibia Schools Sport Union (NSSU). It includes players from under-12 to under-19 age groups and aims to promote growth, teamwork, and discipline through sport. “The Capricorn Schools Netball League is more than a series of…

29 Jul

Financial stress is the new normal

info_e12wt4csObserver Money, Opinions

Mignon du Preez For over half of Namibia's working force, pressure is an immediate reality and not a short-term phenomenon. 52% of Namibian employees report that they are under stress financially, according to the 2024 Old Mutual Financial Services Monitor. This is not just a figure; it is the choices, sacrifices, and unspoken battles fought on a day-to-day basis. There can be so many different kinds of financial stress. It's the fear that your pay cheque won't make it to the end of the month. It's the mental strain of saving for those rainy days against bills, groceries, and school…

29 Jul

The war on women—Dismantling misogyny…promoting women’s rights and empowerment at the workplace through policy reform

info_e12wt4csOpinions

Nsozi Mwazi Misogyny is hatred, contempt, or prejudice against women. It is a branch of patriarchy that fuels harmful societal and gender norms, placing women as inferior to men. This leads to women being treated as lesser beings, often exploited, undermined, ignored, disrespected, or ridiculed. There is a clear link between the rise of independent women who know their rights and the increase in misogyny. Women are targeted on social media and face growing online violence and harassment because of their success, beauty, or morals. Women’s achievements are frequently undermined and linked unfairly to ‘sexual favours,’ which is a form…

29 Jul

The youth fund: Dead on arrival?

info_e12wt4csEditorial, Featured, Opinions

The Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) recently launched the Youth Fund, a loan scheme meant to empower young Namibians to start businesses and create economic opportunities. Yet, the Fund sits idle, with “little to no uptake” from the very demographic it seeks to uplift. This scenario is both perplexing and revealing, pointing to deeper systemic flaws in how youth-targeted economic interventions are conceptualised and implemented in Namibia. The Youth Fund’s poor performance raises the fundamental question: was it designed with the realities of young Namibians in mind? Debt, particularly in the context of a weak job market and an unforgiving…

29 Jul

The silent crisis: Addressing the plight of the boy child and men facing mental health challenges

info_e12wt4csOpinions

Julia Nyanyukweni Alfeus In recent times, a concerning pattern has emerged across the Namibian region of Ohangwena and beyond: the rising number of men and boy children succumbing to depression and, tragically, taking their own lives. This month (July) alone, three teachers in Ohangwena made the heartbreaking decision to end their lives, adding to a growing tally that continues to rise. These devastating incidents underscore a silent crisis that demands urgent attention. Mental health remains a stigmatised and often neglected aspect of overall well-being, especially among boys and men. Cultural expectations often dictate that males should be strong, resilient, and…

29 Jul

NNN engineered needed economic, national, and sustainable goals

info_e12wt4csOpinions

Josef Kefas Sheehama The President of Namibia, Her Excellency Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, has my sincere gratitude for the excellent accountability report she delivered during her first ninety days in office. Prior to Vision 2030, Namibia launched its medium-term plan, the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6). Therefore, Namibia's degree of industrialisation is greatly influenced by how well or poorly this plan is implemented. The First Hundred Days of Her Excellency Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah's presidential administration was characterised by severe scrutiny, particularly when it came to cabinet resignations and emotive issues involving her cabinet members. Namibians express concerns about the administration's cohesion…