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Allexer Namundjembo A new report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has found that widespread disinformation posed a serious threat to the integrity of Namibia’s 2024 national elections.  The report highlights the role of social media platforms, foreign influence, and artificial intelligence in spreading false information. Released on Monday, the report states that election-related mis- and disinformation campaigns were active throughout the year, spiking during the voting period and continuing afterwards.  WhatsApp was identified as the most widely used platform for spreading false content.  TikTok, for the first time, emerged as a major source of viral election-related material.…

Niël Terblanché Sixteen young Namibians have been selected to participate in the 2025 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders. The fellowship, part of the U.S. Government’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), brings together around 650 participants from across Sub-Saharan Africa for a six-week academic and leadership programme in the United States. The United States Embassy in Namibia said the programme aims to build leadership skills, support innovation, and offer hands-on learning through academic study, training, and professional networking. Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Alexis Haftvani said this year’s Namibian cohort includes professionals from Omaheke, Kavango West, Khomas, and Omusati…

Niël Terblanché The European Union (EU) and the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (Unicef) have announced a joint humanitarian contribution of about N$24 million to support Namibia’s drought response. The funding will target the regions most affected by the ongoing drought. The EU is providing €911,000 (around N$19 million) through its Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations Agency (ECHO).  Unicef is contributing an additional €228,000 (roughly N$5 million) from its own resources.  The announcement was made during a formal ceremony in Windhoek on Tuesday, attended by prime minister Elijah Ngurare. The aid will support life-saving services for around 86,000…

Niël Terblanché The Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority (Namfisa) has urged members of registered medical aid funds to actively participate in their upcoming annual general meetings (AGMs).  The authority warned that low turnout could weaken good governance and threaten the long-term sustainability of the healthcare financing sector. Namfisa’s chief executive officer, Kenneth Matomola, described AGMs as essential for accountability, where members can directly shape how their contributions are managed. “Medical aid funds exist to serve their members. The AGM provides a vital platform for members to make their voices heard, scrutinise decisions and ensure the fund is being run in…