President calls for dignity, justice and equality

President calls for dignity, justice and equality

Niël Terblanché The dual celebration of Human Rights Day and Namibia’s Women’s Day will go down in history not only because serves as a reminder of the progress made in the country’s journey toward justice and equality and the ongoing collective effort needed to secure a brighter future for all, but also because the nation elected its first female head of state. On Tuesday, Namibia joined the global community In commemoration of International Human Rights Day under the theme “Our Right, Our Future, Right Now”. President Nangolo Mbumba in a special message to the nation reflected on the strides made…
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Walvis Bay hosts Sherpa meeting

Walvis Bay hosts Sherpa meeting

Niël Terblanché Namibia is poised to make history as it will for the first time ever host the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy (Ocean Panel) representatives, known as Sherpas while the world struggles to find solutions to the triple planetary crisis of climate change, marine pollution, and overfishing. The event in Walvis Bay starts today and it will also be the first time the gathering of the Sherpas will take place on African soil. The Ocean Panel, established in 2018, comprises 19 world leaders committed to sustainably managing 100% of the ocean areas under national jurisdiction. Representing countries…
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Namibia calls for global action on biodiversity conservation

Namibia calls for global action on biodiversity conservation

Niël Terblanché Namibia strengthened its role as a global leader in biodiversity conservation, setting the stage for transformative action to protect the planet for generations to come while it welcomed delegates from across the globe for the 11th Plenary of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) in Windhoek on Tuesday. The gathering is aimed at addressing the interconnected crises of biodiversity loss, climate change, and ecosystem degradation while launching two landmark reports that promise to shape the global conservation agenda. Pohamba Shifeta, Namibia’s Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, explained the importance of the Nexus Assessment…
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Fly Etosha faces setbacks but makes progress

Fly Etosha faces setbacks but makes progress

Allexer Namundjembo The launch of Fly Etosha Airways, initially slated for last year, has encountered significant delays due to a combination of geopolitical tensions and financial challenges. While the airline had been poised to fill the void left by the closure of Air Namibia, unforeseen global events and complex negotiations have pushed back its launch timeline. In an interview with the Windhoek Observer, captain William Ekandjo, the founder of Fly Etosha Airways, said the beginning of last year saw promising developments, fuelling optimism for the airline’s imminent launch. However, the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, coupled with ongoing conflicts in…
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MTC revenue grows by N$3.2 billion in 2024

MTC revenue grows by N$3.2 billion in 2024

Martin Endjala Namibia’s Mobile Telecommunication Limited (MTC) on Monday announced a revenue growth of 5.58%, or N$3.2 billion for the just-concluded financial year end of 2024. It was a significant improvement compared to the N$3 billion in revenue for 2023. MTC’s managing director, Licky Erastus, made the announcement during the company’s annual financial performance review for the year ending 2024. Erastus attributed the revenue growth to increased demand for high-speed data connectivity, new innovative products and services, growth in roaming, and most importantly, a dedicated customer-centric staff that believes in creating a memorable experience for customers. MTC recorded growth of…
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Diamond sales generate N$1.4 billion

Diamond sales generate N$1.4 billion

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Namib Desert Diamonds (NAMDIA) generated a total of N$ 1.4 billion from the sale of 191 426 carats of diamonds in 2024. NAMDIA’s Public Relations and Communications Officer, Beverley Coussement told the Windhoek Observer newspaper during an interview over the weekend that the company despite challenges faced by the global diamond industry in 2024—marked by subdued demand due to economic headwinds and shifting consumer spending patterns—remained resilient and is navigating through tough times to meet its mandate. “There is growing optimism driven by increased demand for responsibly sourced diamonds and a renewed focus on sustainability across the value…
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Gondwana produces another batch of future tourism leaders

Gondwana produces another batch of future tourism leaders

Niël Terblanché Through its rigorous training and focus on real-world application, the Gondwana Collection’s Go4Gold Academy lived up to its reputation as a trailblazer in leadership development. The spirit of leadership and innovation took centre stage in Windhoke recently when Gondwana celebrated the accomplishments of its 2024 Go4Gold Academy participants. The event was the culmination of a transformative year-long leadership development journey for 11 rising leaders within the organisation. Programme leader Ume Goldbeck said the Go4Gold Academy is an intensive initiative aimed at equipping participants with the skills to navigate complex challenges and drive meaningful change. According to Goldbeck, the…
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Construction of new SME stalls in Omaruru nears completion

Construction of new SME stalls in Omaruru nears completion

Martin Endjala Entrepreneurs in Omaruru are looking forward to the completion of the construction of new stalls in the mini marketplace for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The Omaruru municipality’s chief executive officer, Sindongo Valentinus told the Windhoek Observer last week that the construction was already 80% complete. He said the stalls will house different small business operators that will enable the community to trade efficiently, effectively, and safely. “At the moment, vendors are selling along the road, which can be dangerous for them. Although few vendors are operating on the side of the market, the majority are opting to…
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From protests to progress

From protests to progress

This year, Human Rights Day resonates with profound significance for Namibia. The echoes of 1959, when the women of the Old Location rose against apartheid's dehumanising policies, find a modern parallel in the struggles faced by women in the digital realm. Just as the Namibian women of the past fought for dignity and justice, today’s battlefields include the online spaces where their rights are challenged by technology-facilitated gender-based violence and harmful innovations like deepfake technology. Yet, this Human Rights Day is also a time for celebration. On the cusp of the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,…
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Most private sector companies still exclusive paradises of whites

Most private sector companies still exclusive paradises of whites

“The practice of racial discrimination and the practice and ideology of Apartheid…..shall be prohibited and by an Act of Parliament such practices, and the propagation of such practices, may be rendered criminally punishable by the ordinary Courts by means of such of such punishments as Parliament deems necessary for the purposes of expressing the revulsion of the Namibian people at such practices.” Read Article 23 of the Namibian Constitution, titled Apartheid and Affirmative Action. This provision has been meant to eliminate, if not totally do away with, the exclusion of the indigenous, meaning the Africans, from the mainstream economy. This,…
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