Page 314 – News Stand

21 Aug

PDM’s Hamata pushes for leadership continuity

info_e12wt4csNational NewsHidipo Hamata, Popular Democratic Movement

Stefanus Nashama A member of the Popular Democratic Movement’s (PDM) central committee, Hidipo Hamata, is advocating for the party members to give the current top six leaders another term. In an interview with the Windhoek Observer on Wednesday, Hamata said the upcoming election requires PDM to maintain the current leadership to navigate and ensure the party’s continuity, leveraging their necessary experience and strategic insight. “As our party approaches the upcoming national congress in the Zambezi region, I strongly urge all delegates to endorse the current top six leaders for another term. The forthcoming election is a pivotal moment for the…

21 Aug

Character witnesses testify in mitigation of Dippenaar’s sentencing

info_e12wt4csNational NewsSwakopmund Regional Court

Niël Terblanché Jandre Dippenaar’s legal team and the state prosecutor are set to present arguments for mitigation and aggravation of sentencing before Magistrate Gaynor Paulton at the Swakopmund Regional Court when the pre-sentencing portion of the murder trial continues on Thursday. This comes after two witnesses testified on behalf of Dippenaar's character in mitigation of sentencing Wednesday. In June, Magistrate Paulton convicted Dippenaar on six counts of murder, one count of reckless and negligent driving, and one count of driving a vehicle without a valid driver's license in a trial that continued for almost ten years. The guilty verdict stems…

21 Aug

Omaheke governor refutes claims of 800 hunger deaths

info_e12wt4csNational Newscases of malnutrition, Pio Nganate

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Omaheke regional governor, Pio Nganate has refuted reports that 800 people died of hunger in the region over the past two years. Nganate reported that during the specified period, malnutrition resulted in 139 fatalities. He said that in the 2022/23 financial year, there were a total of 554 new cases of malnutrition, and 15 malnourished patients were successfully treated. “When it comes to deaths due to malnutrition in the same period under review, 13 cases were recorded out of the total number of 554 new cases and this translates to 2.3%. Malnutrition deaths due to integrated management of…

21 Aug

Hippos saved by decisive action

info_e12wt4csNational News

The Niël Terblanché The Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism has successfully intervened to rescue a group of hippos stranded on dry land in the Salambala Conservancy in the Zambezi region. The severe drought caused a significant decrease in water levels in the floodplains of the major rivers that flow through the region, leaving the pond where the hippos had been making their last stand for months reduced to mud that did not protect them from the sun. Romeo Muyunda, the ministry’s spokesperson, said on Wednesday that by May 2024, the situation had become critical, prompting immediate action from officials.…

21 Aug

CoW needs N$308 million to extend Kupferberg dumping site lifespan

info_e12wt4csNational NewsAna-Beatriz Martins, Kupferberg landfill site, Queen Kamati

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The City of Windhoek (CoW) needs to commit approximately N$308 million to extend the Kupferberg landfill site's lifespan and create more dumping sites to deal with the ever-growing city waste. The capital city’s mayor, Queen Kamati, made this revelation on Wednesday during the stakeholders' engagement workshop for the European-funded project to improve solid waste management. Windhoek and the free Hanseatic city of Bremen are jointly implementing the project. She said the municipal area's rapid population growth has led to a surge in monthly waste generation, thereby placing pressure on the available airspace and lifespan of the existing landfills.…

21 Aug

MICT and LifeLine/ChildLine Namibia unite to protect children from cyber attacks

info_e12wt4csNational NewsDr. Audrin Mathe, LifeLine/ChildLine Namibia

Niël Terblanché Namibia’s Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) has signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with LifeLine/ChildLine Namibia in a concerted effort to enhance the safety of children online. The new partnership, signed in Windhoek on Wednesday, aims to intensify public education on cybersecurity, with a particular focus on equipping children with the knowledge to navigate the digital world safely. Dr. Audrin Mathe, the executive director of MICT, stressed the importance of this collaboration, stating that the partnership will strengthen the National Cybersecurity Strategy and Awareness Raising Plan 2022–2027, which was adopted by the Cabinet. “Cybersecurity requires…

21 Aug

The State of Decoloniality in Namibia

info_e12wt4csOpinions1884-1885 Berlin Conference, Colonialism in Africa, Roman-Dutch common law

Tomas Nashongo Decoloniality, a response to the lingering effects of colonialism, seeks to emancipate societies from the pervasive influence of colonialism and its lasting impacts. As defined by Ndlovu- decoloniality involves the deepening of decolonization efforts in regions that endured the slave trade, imperialism, colonialism, apartheid, and neocolonialism. The concept not only aims to liberate these regions from colonial rule but also to detach them from entrenched Western ideologies and influences. This essay examines the state of decoloniality in Namibia by exploring the transition from colonialism to decoloniality and analyzing the remnants of colonialism within the country's power structures, knowledge…

21 Aug

The Urgency of Building a Nation Brand for Namibia: How Brand Namibia can improve its global competitiveness to attract investment and tourism

info_e12wt4csFeatured, OpinionsVictoria I. Shimweefeleni

Victoria I. Shimweefeleni Often, when the term “brand” or “branding” is mentioned, it is mistakenly narrowed down to a specific attribute like a logo, name, design, or even a social media post, packaging, or signage. Although the term brand encompasses numerous definitions, in essence, a brand serves to communicate a unique narrative to customers or target market, foster trust, shape perceptions, and cultivate relationships with them. This makes branding imperative, as it elevates the offering, presenting an opportunity to differentiate it apart from its rivals. Let’s talk nation branding Just as products and services can be branded, so too can…

20 Aug

Paragon expands operations across Africa

info_e12wt4csMainDesmond Amunyela, Paragon Aviation Services

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Paragon Aviation Services, the company currently managing ground handling services at the Hosea Kutako International Airport, has announced its expansion into other African countries. Paragon’s executive director, Desmond Amunyela said the company currently operates duty-free stores at Victoria Falls International Airport and Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Zimbabwe and Lusaka International Airport in Zambia. Zambia has invited the company to expand services to a secondary airport at Ndola in the copper belt areas. Amunyela said there are plans to expand into other countries such as Angola, South Africa, Rwanda, and South Sudan. “We are doing a few…

20 Aug

MUN accuses Swakop Uranium of undermining workers’ rights

info_e12wt4csNational NewsMineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN), Phillipus George Ampweya

Niël Terblanché The Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN) has strongly condemned what it describes as a calculated attempt by Swakop Uranium’s management to undermine the union's independence and integrity. Phillipus George Ampweya, the union’s general secretary, accused the company of engaging in union-busting activities that violate both the Namibian Labour Act and the fundamental principles of democratic industrial relations. In a statement, Ampweya expressed grave concerns over Swakop Uranium's alleged interference in the union's internal processes, labelling it a direct attack on the union's inherent organisational rights. Ampweya claimed that by instructing the national structure on how to restructure the…