Page 31 – News Stand

08 May

Nationwide tree-planting initiative launched to celebrate Nujoma

info_e12wt4csNational News

Niël Terblanché The government has called on citizens to plant trees throughout May. The tree planting initiative is in honour of the late founding president, Sam Nujoma’s birthday on 12 May. The initiative was launched in collaboration with the Sam Nujoma Foundation, the Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Emma Theofelus, said on Thursday. Theofelus said that it would serve as a tribute to Nujoma’s long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable development. Nujoma, who passed away on 8 February 2025 at the age of 95, was not only a key figure in Namibia's liberation but also a strong advocate…

08 May

GRN plans upgrades to roads, rail, and aviation

info_e12wt4csObserver Money

Chamwe Kaira Minister of Works and Transport, Veikko Nekundi, stated that his ministry aims to ensure the 2025/2026 budget delivers a modern and reliable transport infrastructure within its N$2.7 billion. The transportation development programme will include the construction of feeder and access roads, upgrading gravel roads to bitumen standard, road rehabilitation, and the development and maintenance of state-owned aerodromes. Nekundi highlighted the completion of several major projects, including the rehabilitation of 58km of the Windhoek-Okahandja road, transforming it into a dual carriageway from Brakwater to the intersection of Okahandja-Karibib and Okahandja-Otjiwarongo roads. He also mentioned the completion of Phase 1…

08 May

Netball Namibia hopes that planned stadiums will include netball courts

info_e12wt4csFeatured, Sports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Former Netball Namibia president Rebecca Goagoses hopes the planned construction of sports stadiums in all 14 regions will include netball courts. This follows the announcement by Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture, Sanet Steenkamp, that N$35 million has been allocated to build stadiums in each region during the 2025/26 financial year. Steenkamp said the stadiums will meet Confederation of African Football (CAF) category two standards, and each will have 10,000 seats. Goagoses, who currently serves as acting Netball Africa president, has long raised concerns over the lack of proper netball courts in Namibia. She urged…

08 May

Namibia joins global call for clean hands on World Hand Hygiene Day

info_e12wt4csNational News

Niël Terblanché An earnest call for clean hands to remain at the core of healthcare delivery in Namibia was made as the country joined the world in commemorating World Hand Hygiene Day on Thursday. The event took place with the theme "It Might Be Gloves." It’s Always Hand Hygiene”. The occasion served as a gathering point for health professionals, development partners, and government officials to reaffirm their commitment to infection prevention and patient safety. The Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Esperance Luvindao, while addressing the gathering, described hand hygiene as more than a routine procedure but a tangible…

07 May

No clear stance on genocide under Merz

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Justicia Shipena The election of Friedrich Merz as Germany's chancellor implies that there is no longer a straightforward declaration or commitment to confront the genocide deal, says political analyst Henning Melber. Melber cautions that even simple symbolic actions, such as the unified proclamation against genocide, may not be realised under Germany's new administration. Merz was voted as Germany's future chancellor on Tuesday after winning a second Bundestag vote. While the previous "Ampel" coalition, which included the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Green Party, and the Liberal Party, explicitly committed to completing the joint declaration on genocide committed during Germany's colonial…

07 May

Rail upgrade tender requirements exclude local businesses – Naloba

info_e12wt4csNational News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Namibia Local Business Association (Naloba) says a recent government tender under the Transport Infrastructure Improvement Project (TIIP) Phase II could block local businesses from participating due to a high bid security requirement. The tender, issued by the Ministry of Works and Transport on 15 April, is for the supply of 48 48kg/m rails and turnouts. It forms part of the upgrade of railway lines between Otjiwarongo and Tsumeb and between Otavi and Grootfontein. The project is funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and follows the bank’s 2015 procurement framework through the open competitive bidding (international) method.…

07 May

N$12.2 billion health budget targets e-health expansion

info_e12wt4csNational News

Allexer Namundjebo The Ministry of Health and Social Services has placed digital systems at the centre of its N$12.2 billion allocation for the 2025/2026 financial year. The goal with the allocation is to modernise healthcare and improve its accessibility, especially in remote areas. Health Minister Dr Esperance Luvindao presented the health vote in the National Assembly. She said the ministry is addressing long-standing service gaps through investment in digital infrastructure. “We are deliberately investing in digital health infrastructure to close service delivery gaps, particularly in remote and underserved areas,” Luvindao said. “Digitisation is no longer optional. It is essential for…

07 May

Havana and Hakahana are under police watch as crime increases

info_e12wt4csNational News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Namibian Police have changed their approach to tackling crime in Windhoek by rezoning the city to improve operations in areas like Havana and Hakahana, where criminal activity is increasing. Deputy Commissioner Chrispin Mubebo confirmed the move as part of broader efforts to address safety concerns and ongoing robberies near unfinished roads and infrastructure. “We have rezoned the City of Windhoek to make sure that our strategies are effective,” said Mubebo. “Operations are ongoing within the city and Khomas Region as a whole to ensure the safety of all people.” Police are investigating several robbery cases, including one…

07 May

GRN plans 10 000-seater stadiums across all regions

info_e12wt4csFeatured, Sports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture has set aside N$35 million to build sports stadiums in all 14 regions. Each stadium will have a seating capacity of 10,000. Minister Sanet Steenkamp made the announcement in Parliament on Tuesday while motivating the ministry’s N$1.2 billion budget for the 2025/2026 financial year. She stated that the Confederation of African Football will build the stadiums to meet category two standards. Each regional capital will have a facility to give young people across the country access to proper sports infrastructure. This follows after President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah announced in…

07 May

No medicine crisis at Rundu Hospital, says health ministry

info_e12wt4csNational News

Niël Terblanché A complete stock-out has not occurred at Rundu Intermediate Hospital, according to the Ministry of Health and Social Services, which has dismissed reports of a medicine and supply crisis as inaccurate. Responding to claims published in a national daily under the headline “Rundu Hospital Crisis: No medicine, no bandages, no malaria test kits,” the ministry’s executive director, Penda Ithindi, said the article contains “several factual inaccuracies” regarding current stock levels. He acknowledged occasional challenges in the sustainable supply of certain items but said these do not amount to a crisis. “The low levels reported earlier had already been…