Page 443 – News Stand

15 Mar

NAU offers relief to farmers amid severe drought

info_e12wt4csNational NewsNAU offers relief to farmers amid severe drought

Niël Terblanché To mitigate the tangible possibility of the economic ruin of members amidst the ongoing drought affecting Namibia, the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU) has announced measures aimed at alleviating the financial burden on the nation’s farmers. During a meeting on 12 March 2024, the NAU Executive Council decided to offer a N$1,000 discount on the annual membership fee for its main members, recognizing the extreme hardships that the agricultural community is currently facing. The drought in Namibia has reached critical levels, with recent reports indicating that many regions are experiencing their lowest rainfall levels in years, leading to substantial…

15 Mar

Welwitschia Sovereign Wealth Fund grows by N$425 million

info_e12wt4csNational NewsWelwitschia Sovereign Wealth Fund grows by N$425 million

Martin Endjala President Nangolo Mbumba, yesterday said since the establishment of the Welwitschia Sovereign Wealth Fund, its investment returns have grown from the initial seed capital of N$262 million to N$425 million. The Fund was created in preparation for a bountiful harvest to come. Mbumba said this during the State of the Nation Address in the National Assembly. The Fund was launched in May 2022, by the late President Hage Geingob. Mbumba said Namibia’s economic trajectory is promising, with a projected medium-term growth forecast of between 3 and 4 percent. “President Geingob envisioned a Namibia free from hunger and poverty,…

15 Mar

Schlettwein calls for collaborative action for sustainable water supply

info_e12wt4csNational NewsSchlettwein calls for collaborative action for sustainable water supply

Niël Terblanché During the commemoration of World Wetlands Day and World Water Day 2024, held in Opuwo, Namibian Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, Calle Schlettwein stressed the urgent need for enhanced collaboration across sectors to ensure sustainable water access for the nation. Amidst growing concerns over severe drought condition brought on by climate change and the impact on water scarcity, Schlettwein’s stated that water management and conservation must be prioritized to secure the well-being of the population. “Access to water is a basic human right, essential for life, food production, cultural norms, provision of health, education, economic activities,…

15 Mar

Namcor drills Mopane-2X exploration to its designated depth

info_e12wt4csNational NewsNamcor drills Mopane-2X exploration to its designated depth

Martin Endjala National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor), has today announced that it has successfully drilled the Mopane-2ꓫ exploration well to its designated depth in Block 2813A (PEL83), Orange Basin, offshore of Namibia. With its ten percent carried interest, in conjunction with its partners Galp Energia (80 percent, operator) and Custos Energy’s 10 percent, drilling encountered a significant column with light oil in reservoirs of high quality. According to Namcor’s Interim Managing Director, Ebson Uanguta the AVO-3 exploration target, the AVO-1 appraisal target, and a deeper target were fully cored and logged. The AVO-1 appraisal target Uanguta said, found the…

15 Mar

Uutoni suspends entire Karasburg Town Council

info_e12wt4csMainUutoni suspends entire Karasburg Town Council

Martin Endjala Urban and Rural Development Minister, Erastus Uutoni has suspended the entire Karasburg Town Council, without remuneration or allowance, with immediate effect. The drastic action followed after the council defied the directives of the Local Authority Act as well as failing to comply with the directives of the Minister which he issued last year. The Minister’s decision is contained in the Government Gazette Notice released today, under Section 92(2) of the LA No 23 of 1992. As a result, the Minister has appointed the former Chief Executive Officer of the Aroab Village Council, Elize Laubscher as the administrator to…

15 Mar

Namibia Surpasses Australia in Population Density, Shifting Global Rankings

info_e12wt4csNational NewsNamibia Surpasses Australia in Population Density, Shifting Global Rankings

Nrupesh Soni This week, the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) unveiled census results revealing an unforeseen population count of 3,022,401, marking a pivotal moment as Namibia overtakes Australia in population density. This development repositions Namibia from the second to the third least densely populated country in the world, trailing behind Mongolia and Australia. The calculations conducted by the Facilit8 Namibia reveal that Namibia’s population density now stands at approximately 3.66 people per square kilometer. This figure slightly exceeds Australia’s density of about 3.46 people per square kilometer, highlighting the subtle yet significant demographic shifts occurring worldwide. These shifts hold extensive implications…

15 Mar

Kids selling wooden products in Windhoek streets disappear into thin air

info_e12wt4csNational NewsKids selling wooden products in Windhoek streets disappear into thin air

Stefanus Nashama Minors that have been spotted selling wooden products around streets and shopping malls of the capital city for months are nowhere to be seen anymore. The kids who are popularly believed to hail from neighbouring Angola, were mostly seen selling knobkieries, cups, and spoons while also begging for money and food from members of the public and motorists at traffic intersections around the city and other towns in Namibia. Hordes of these children attracted public attention with some calling on the Namibian government to come to their aid by providing them with shelter and education. Windhoek-based lawyer, Kadhila…

15 Mar

New oil discovery is a huge success for Custos Energy and partners

info_e12wt4csNational NewsNew oil discovery is a huge success for Custos Energy and partners

Niël Terblanché Custos Energy, in partnership with state-owned Namcor and Portuguese energy giant Galp Energia, announced their third light oil discovery in Namibia’s Orange Basin since the beginning of the year. This latest find is a significant development for the Namibian oil and gas sector and has once again accentuated the region’s growing reputation as one of the world’s most promising areas for hydrocarbon exploration and eventual extraction. According to Knowledge Katti, Chairman and CEO of Custos Energy, the new discovery is clear evidence of the potential of the oil block and is also a significant achievement for the partners…

15 Mar

Motion to approve electoral commissioners sparks debate in Parliament

info_e12wt4csNational NewsMotion to approve electoral commissioners sparks debate in Parliament

Niël Terblanché A motion brought forward by Swapo Chief Whip in the National Assembly, Hamunyera Hambyuka, has ignited fervent debate within the Namibian Parliament. The motion, presented without notice, urges consideration and approval of Gerson Tjihenuna and Pius Iikwambi as commissioners of the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), nominated by the President under Section 6 of the Electoral Act for a five-year term. At the heart of the motion is the aim to ensure fairness, impartiality, and transparency in election processes, crucial pillars of democratic governance. Hambyuka underscored the importance of approving the nominated members, citing their relevant experience and…

15 Mar

Government cautioned to plan strategically for population increase

info_e12wt4csNational NewsGovernment cautioned to plan strategically for population increase

Martin Endjala Public Policy Analyst and International Relations Expert, Dr Marius Kudumo, says that the government needs to wake up to start formulating plans and policies that speak to the needs of the growing population to avoid future catastrophes in its developmental agendas. Kudumo said the announcement of the Census Preliminary Population report on Wednesday by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA), highlights a huge concern for the country and a call for immediate interventions to address resource allocations. “Surveys such as Census are conducted to give us data, and information so that it informs evident base policy-making and allocation of…