Page 355 – News Stand

02 Jul

Pan-African Parliament advocates for free movement protocol

info_e12wt4csNational News

Stefanus Nashama The Pan-African Parliament has urged its members to engage their respective parliaments on the protocol of free movement across the continent. The Deputy Chairperson of the Permanent Committee on Trade, Customs and Immigration, McHenry Venaani, presented this report during the Pan-African Parliament session in South Africa on Monday. “Africa has the dream of attaining the highest levels of economic growth, and this can only be effective if there is free movement of people on the continent. Therefore, there is a need to pursue political and social stability at national, regional, and continental levels for the success of integration…

02 Jul

Support for resettlement farmers increased

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Niël Terblanché The Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform is negotiating with Agribank to increase the startup loan for resettlement farmers from N$200 000 to N$500 000. Deputy Minister Anna Shiweda said this in response to questions from Kennedy Shekupakela of the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) in the National Assembly. According to Shiweda, the goal of the proposed loan amount increase is to close gaps in the resettlement program and allow the ministry to provide better support for resettled farmers. "The ministry intends to increase the capacity of resettled farmers," she stated. She, however, also acknowledged that…

02 Jul

Land acquisition fund sparks new hope

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Erasmus Shalihaxwe The descendants of farm workers facing eviction from Okamuru Farm in the Omatako constituency near Waterberg have applauded the government for allocating N$50 million to acquire land for generational farm workers and possibly people stranded in corridors. The group's spokesperson, George Ampweya, claims that many families are facing eviction from what should be their ancestral land. He said this news is a beacon of hope for the children of generational farm workers facing displacement around the country. “As a direct beneficiary facing the threat of forced and illegal removal from a farm that once belonged to generations of…

02 Jul

CoW writes off N$55.7 million worth of debt amidst installation delays for prepaid water meters

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Hertta-Maria Amutenja Despite promises of progress, the City of Windhoek's (CoW) initiative to reduce the municipal debt of pensioners, the local authority has encountered delays in its implementation. To date, the CoW has written off a total of N$55.7 million across 13 372 accounts. "The pensioner debt write-off has commenced in batches, with nearly 3,000 pensioners already registered. Specifically for pensioners, there will be a 100% write-off on both the capital and interest on debt. This benefit will apply to 26 118 pensioners, with a total monetary value of N$223 million. Other residents will also benefit from a 50% write-off…

02 Jul

Ondangwa Stadium short of N$190 million

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Stefanus Nashama Ondangwa Town Council still needs N$190 million to construct a sports stadium. In an interview with the Windhoek Observer last week, The mayor of Ondangwa, Paavo Amwele revealed that so far, the council has made N$60 million available for this project. “This will be the biggest stadium in Namibia, and it will cost multiples of millions of dollars. Even more than N$250 million. But as time goes on, we will be able to have the correct estimated cost. The Town Council has put aside N$60 for the project, but we will need more funds,” he said. He said…

02 Jul

Namibia and Ghana strengthen bilateral ties

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Niël Terblanché The governments of Namibia and Ghana have convened in Swakopmund for the fifth session of the Joint Commission of Cooperation (JCC) to review and reinvigorate their bilateral ties. The executive director of the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, Ambassador Penda Naanda, officially launched the session and expressed hope that the positive exchanges between the two countries will result in increased cooperation between the two countries. The last meeting between the two countries of this kind took place in Ghana in 2022. Naanda pointed to the already excellent bilateral relations between Namibia and Ghana, noting significant growth in…

02 Jul

PDM condemns sexual exploitation of six-year-old boy

info_e12wt4csNational News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Office of the President of the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) has denounced the recent report of the sexual exploitation of a child that occurred in Otjomuise, Windhoek. A 44-year-old woman has been accused of luring a six-year-old boy into a toilet to perform sexual acts. She appeared in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court on Tuesday. The accused, Petronella Swartz, faces charges of rape and contravening the Combating of Immoral Practices Act 21 of 1980. According to police reports, the incident took place on Sunday between 14h00 and 15h00, when Swartz allegedly promised the boy N$5 to perform sexual…

02 Jul

GRN urged to limit borrowing

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Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Namibia Local Businesses Association (NALOBA) has criticised the government's reliance on foreign borrowing. NALOBA’s vice president, Peter Kanu Amadhila at the start of this week highlighted the national debt, which currently stands at N$153.8 billion, emphasising its potential impact on future generations. “It is irresponsible borrowing. Namibia is not supposed to be borrowing money from other countries,” he said. Amadhila said Namibia, which was once envisioned as a prosperous lender rather than a borrower, faces a concerning trend of prioritising borrowed funds over sustainable economic strategies. "Our country was supposed to be lending money to other countries!…

02 Jul

IMPORTED BLANKETS:

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According to the Namibia Statistics Agency, Namibia imported blankets valued at N$10.8 million in May.The blankets were mostly sourced from South Africa and China.The country also exported blankets valued at N$29 387. Report: Martin Endjala

02 Jul

Local content in oil & gas: a catalyst for shared growth

info_e12wt4csEnergy, Opinions

Ndapwilapo Selma Shimutwikeni In light of the recent oil and gas discoveries in Namibia, local content was a central focus at the recently concluded 6th edition of the Namibia International Energy Conference, which was attended by over 750 delegates from 46 nations. In the oil and gas industry, local content refers to the development of local industries, workforce, and resources to support the operations of international oil companies within a country. For Namibia, fostering ‘Namibian Content’ can significantly enhance economic growth, social development, and technological advancement. As highlighted by the World Bank, “Implementing effective local content policies can drive economic…