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Niël Terblanché In a major step towards modernising its operations, Namibia’s national rail transporter, TransNamib announced the acquisition of 23 new locomotives and the refurbishment of seven existing ones. This ambitious undertaking, announced last week, follows the successful securing of a N$2.6 billion loan from the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) and the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) in June last year. TransNamib’s chief executive officer, Desmond van Jaarsveld, during the announcement, described the initiative as essential for the state-owned company's future."We are going to procure 23 new locomotives and the rebuild of seven existing ones. When I say…

Stefanus Nashama Political analyst Sakaria Johannes has raised doubts about the transparency of the Namibian Police Force (NAMPOL) recruitment process. On Monday Johannes questioned whether the Inspector General of the Namibian Police, Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo can accurately assess the absence of backdoor recruitment practices. Shikongo, while addressing the 908 cadet constables undergoing training at the Ruben "Danger" Ashipala Police Training Centre in Ondangwa on Monday, reassured the public that the recruitment process had been conducted fairly and without favouritism. “The recruitment of police officers is done fairly without backdoor benefits,” Shikongo said. Johannes, however, expressed concerns about Shikongo’s ability…

Niël Terblanché Residents of Walvis Bay have expressed mounting frustration over delayed refuse removal services, citing broken refuse trucks as the root cause of the problem. Overflowing bins and litter scattered by animals and vagrants have become a regular sight, sparking complaints about the municipality’s slow response. “All the refuse removal trucks are broken. People are complaining about overflowing bins, and rubbish is being strewn all over by dogs and people. It feels like nothing is happening,” lamented a resident on a neighbourhood community social media group. To address the issue, the municipality resorted to using teams of workers equipped…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja President-elect Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah says she lacks direct knowledge of the issues central to the case of the Veterinary Corridor Fence, commonly referred to as the Red Line. Nandi-Ndaitwah on Saturday filed an urgent High Court application to set aside a subpoena requiring her to testify in the upcoming trial challenging the legality of the Red Line. In her founding affidavit, Nandi-Ndaitwah argued that the subpoena, issued on 16 January 2025, constitutes an abuse of court processes. She contends that the information sought is within the purview of the minister of agriculture, water and land reform. In her application,…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The new Marriage Act 2024 does not nullify same-sex marriages conducted or recognised before its enactment; it explicitly ends their recognition moving forward. This is according to human rights activist and Namibia Rights and Responsibility founder Phil ya Nangoloh, who was addressing confusion surrounding the recently enacted act. “There are reports making rounds in both traditional and social media implying that the new law expressly reverses the recent Supreme Court decision recognising same-sex marriages in Namibia. Such reports are not entirely accurate,” Ya Nangoloh said. According to him, the Act, which is not yet in force, expressly recognises…

Niël Terblanché The Namibian Police made strides in combating drug-related crime at the coast, with the arrest of several suspected drug dealers in Walvis Bay and Swakopmund over the weekend. The targeted operations, conducted by the police’s drug enforcement unit, resulted in multiple arrests and the confiscation of various illicit substances. According to the police's weekend crime report, the first major operation took place in Kuisebmond, Walvis Bay, on Friday. Members of the drug enforcement unit raided a house in Brandberg Street, where two Namibian men, aged 25 and 35, were apprehended. “The suspects were found in possession of 815…

Niël Terblanché Namibia’s reputation as a safe and stable travel destination has received a boost, with the country being ranked the fourth safest in Africa by Altezza Travel. The Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism (MEFT) hailed this recognition as a testament to Namibia’s peaceful nature, political stability, and well-developed tourism infrastructure. “This ranking not only enhances the country’s international image but also reinforces Namibia’s position as a prime travel destination,” said MEFT spokesperson Romeo Muyunda in a statement. He added that Namibia was placed behind Mauritius, Ghana, and Zambia in the rankings, which were compiled by Altezza Travel through…

Martin Endjala Newly elected political party members, who appear on the list of future parliamentarians face a dilemma of choosing between job security and serving in parliament while the court case in which opposition parties challenge the result of recent national elections is still ongoing. According to analysts and politicians, the situation has led some members to rethink whether they want to go to parliament or remain at their jobs. Political analyst, Henning Melber described the situation as tricky, which illustrates the shortcomings of the existing regulations. “At the moment, the election results are challenged in court. The outcome could…