Page 252 – News Stand

17 Sep

LPM accused of interrupting UNAM engagement

info_e12wt4csNational News

Stefanus Nashama The Landless People’s Movement (LPM) attempted to disrupt the University of Namibia’s (UNAM) engagement with student societies and clubs at the main campus. On Tuesday, UNAM spokesperson, Simon Namesho said this following the altercation between the LPM Youth Command on Monday which led to the arrest of Michael Amushelelo. “Registered student societies and clubs with political affiliations were scheduled to engage with university management Monday morning. However, non-student members of the LPM political party attempted to join the engagement and conduct political activities on campus without authorisation,” he explained. Namesho said the interruption by LPM members left the…

17 Sep

Japan and Malaysia enhance Namibia’s drought relief efforts

info_e12wt4csNational NewsEl Niño-induced drought, Mohamad Rameez Yahaya, World Food Programme

Niël Terblanché The government of Japan has announced a generous contribution of approximately N$9 million to assist the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Namibia with the provision of much-needed drought relief aid. According to an announcement in this regard, the aid will strengthen the Namibian government's emergency response efforts to support drought-affected populations and children at risk of malnutrition, as per a statement released on Tuesday. The vital contribution comes after Namibia declared a state of emergency in May 2024 due to an El Niño-induced drought. The WFP’s efforts, supported by Japan’s donation, will provide essential food commodity…

17 Sep

Namibia launches ID Week on Identity Day

info_e12wt4csNational NewsUnited Nations Sustainable Development Goals

Niël Terblanché To strengthen its dedication to providing all Namibians with proper identification documents the government has launched Identity Week to ensure that everyone will have legal identity by 2030. The goal is in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Identity Week was launched during this year's commemoration of Identity Day on Monday. The campaign will focus on the importance of civil registration and the inclusion of all citizens in the nation’s formal identity systems. The ministry of home affairs, immigration, safety, and security launched a nationwide mass registration programme earlier this year. In a statement, Etienne Maritz,…

17 Sep

PwC to host discussions on tax amendments

info_e12wt4csNational NewsNamRA, PAYE deductions, PriceWaterhouseCoopers

Ester Mbathera and Erasmus Shalihaxwe PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC), a provider of business advisory services, will host a series where experts will discuss the tax amendment update in greater detail. The recent tax amendments, gazetted on 16 September, aim to provide tax relief to individuals and businesses while broadening the tax base, signalling a shift in the country's fiscal policies. The amendment follows extensive consultations with stakeholders and is part of the government's ongoing efforts to stimulate economic growth and enhance revenue collection. According to PwC, the increase in individual tax thresholds, along with the reduction in corporate income tax rates, is…

16 Sep

Amushelelo arrest ignite debate over Unam’s political ban

info_e12wt4csMainKauna Shikwambi, Landless People’s Movement, Ndumba Kamwanyah

Stefanus Nashama The Namibian Police briefly detained Michael Amushelelo, a member of the Landless People's Movement (LPM), after his arrest at Unam’s main campus in Windhoek on Monday. He was released a few hours later. Amushelelo and a group of LPM Youth Command members were protesting the university's ban on political activities on campus. The youth demanded a discussion on the matter with the university’s management, which resulted in the arrest. Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah suggested that the police could have handled the situation better instead of making an arrest. “As a security apparatus, the police should be careful that…

16 Sep

Namibia’s millionaire population expected to grow by 2033

info_e12wt4csNational NewsAfrica's Wealth Landscape

Martin Endjala By 2033, there will likely be more millionaires in Namibia than in any other African country. This is according to a recently released report on Africa's Wealth Landscape for 2024. The reports suggest that over the next decade, countries such as Namibia, Mauritius, Morocco, Zambia, Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda are all expected to experience a growth in millionaires above 80%. The report also projected Namibia's growth in high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) to exceed 85% by 2033. “The country's inclination towards offering residence by investment, coupled with its resource-rich economy and strategic location, is expected to attract global investors,” the…

16 Sep

Metcalfe accuses Walvis Bay’s leadership of corruption and mismanagement.

info_e12wt4csNational NewsRedForce Debt Management CC

Martin Endjala and Ester Mbathera Prominent lawyer, Richard Metcalfe has accused the Walvis Bay municipality of corruption, mismanagement, and failure to adhere to municipal laws. Metcalfe targeted the recent settlement agreements between the municipality and RedForce Debt Management CC, alleging that the agreements condone illegal financial practices that burden residents while benefiting politicians. “Such settlement agreements condone the extortion of illegal levies and fees from customers of Walvis Bay Municipality, tailored tender documents and the ignoring of the Walvis Bay municipality Credit Control Policy,” said Metcalfe. According to him, dishonourable politicians are to blame for the municipality's problems, not RedForce.…

16 Sep

Pollution most likely doomed beached whale near Walvis Bay

info_e12wt4csNational NewsAtlantic Ocean, Ocean Conservation Namibia, Pelican Point peninsula

Niël Terblanché A sad incident unfolded over the weekend when a pelagic fin whale, a species rarely seen near shore, washed up on the Pelican Point peninsula near Walvis Bay. Despite valiant efforts by members of the public to return the whale to the Atlantic Ocean, the animal, appearing emaciated, could not be saved. Marine conservation experts believe pollution, specifically the ingestion of plastic, may have contributed to the whale's condition and eventual death. Naude Dreyer, from Ocean Conservation Namibia, stated that it is suspected that the whale’s inability to feed for an extended period likely led to its frail…

16 Sep

Swapo election manifesto not generated by ChatGPT

info_e12wt4csNational NewsComputable General Equilibrium, Social Accounting Matrix, Swapo Party Youth League’s (SPYL

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Swapo Party Youth League’s (SPYL) secretary general, Ephraim Nekongo has stated that the party’s election manifesto, which was launched over the past weekend, was generated by a Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model and not ChatGPT. In a statement he issued yesterday to defend the party, Nekongo stated that the CGE model was calibrated using the 2019 Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) for the Namibian economy, employed to simulate and estimate the potential impacts of proposed youth employment strategies. ‘’The CGE model, a widely recognized tool for ex-ante policy evaluation, allows for comprehensive analysis across sectors and agents in…

16 Sep

Windhoek residents file lawsuit over water and electricity disconnections

info_e12wt4csNational NewsCity of Windhoek

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Several Windhoek residents have filed legal action against the City of Windhoek, accusing the local authority of wrongful disconnection of water and electricity services. According to the residence, this is done without prior notice and with improper billing practices. According to court documents, the residents, including occupiers of properties across Katutura, claim that the city has unlawfully cut off basic services, despite some of them utilising pre-paid systems or making efforts to settle outstanding bills. Katutura resident, Elizabeth Beukes claims her water and electricity were disconnected in November 2023 due to alleged arrears of over N$400 000. The…