Young Africans and African Stars reach MTC Maris cup final

Young Africans and African Stars reach MTC Maris cup final

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Young Africans from Gobabis will face African Stars from Windhoek in the MTC Maris Cup final, with the match date yet to be announced.  Young Africans secured their place in the final by defeating the University of Namibia Football Club (Unam) 3-1 at the Mariental stadium on Saturday.  On the same day, African Stars beat Bucks Buccaneers 2-1 at the same venue to set up the final clash. Young Africans captain Ngaitone Kaindjee praised his team’s performance, noting that Unam focused heavily on defence.  “Unam were a pressing team, sitting back and concentrating more on defending, but we…
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50/50 gender policy faces reality check

50/50 gender policy faces reality check

Hertta-Maria Amutenja  The country’s 50/50 gender policy has been praised as a model for representation in governance, but questions persist about its impact beyond numerical achievements. Speaking at the #GapZero Manifesto on Gender Equality in Public Leadership event in Monrovia on Saturday, former First Lady Monica Geingos acknowledged the policy’s success in placing women in leadership roles but highlighted the ongoing challenge of achieving real influence.  “When women break barriers to assume leadership roles, they often face a surprising challenge—a lack of support from their female counterparts,” Geingos said, underscoring the need for solidarity in the fight for gender parity.…
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Keetmanshoop launch boys club to promote positive role models

Allexer Namundjembo The Boys Club Introductory Program was launched at Suiderlig High School in Keetmanshoop to address the challenges faced by young men over the weekend.  Andrea Robert, the event program facilitator, said the club serves as a safe space for boys to learn and redefine what it means to be responsible men. "We established the Boys Club as a space where boys could find their voice and strength," Robert said. He reflected on the importance of mentorship, particularly the absence of positive male role models, and urged local businesses to get involved. "A clarion call was made to businesses…
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Namibia improve on netball world ranking

Namibia improve on netball world ranking

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Namibia has improved its position in the latest World Netball rankings, moving from 19th to 18th place among 49 netball-playing nations worldwide.  According to World Netball, rankings are determined by points earned from match results and the strength of opponents. A team earns 50 points more than their opponent’s rating for a win and 50 points less for a loss. Since 1 July 2020, Namibia has played 26 international matches, accumulating 1 326 points. World Netball emphasises that a team must play a minimum number of international matches to earn an official ranking.  Currently, a team must play…
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GRN owes Oranjemund town council N$21 million

GRN owes Oranjemund town council N$21 million

Allexer Namundjembo The Oranjemund Town Council (OTC) is demanding N$21 million in unpaid rates and taxes from the government for two properties, including the land housing the Oranjemund Airport.  The Ministry of Works and Transport owns the land, but the council says it has not received payments since 2018. The land in question is Farm 166, where the airport is located, and an adjacent Farm 171, which is vacant. The council claims that the government owes N$15.7 million for Farm 166 and N$5.3 million for Farm 171, totalling N$21 million in unpaid rates and taxes.  Council chairperson for the management…
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Leprosy stigma fades in Zambezi region

Leprosy stigma fades in Zambezi region

Allexer Namundjembo For decades, leprosy, or Hansen’s disease’s deep-seated stigma, extended beyond death in the Zambezi Region. Those affected by the disease often faced exile, isolation, and indignity even in death.  Sibbinda Constituency Councillor Micky Lukaezi recalls the story of a man, a victim of leprosy, who was denied a traditional burial due to cultural stigmas associated with the disease.  “He was taken to the forest as it was against cultural beliefs to bury people suffering from the disease in the same way as others. The belief was that those with leprosy could not be buried in the same manner…
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New power stations increase energy security

New power stations increase energy security

Allexer Namundjembo Walvis Bay residents and holidaymakers have expressed growing concerns over the neglect of Independence Beach, particularly the unusable toilets, which they say pose an environmental hazard. Simon Paulus, a resident, voiced his frustration, urging the Walvis Bay Municipality to take immediate action. “The existing toilets are extremely dirty and now completely unused. This was supposed to be one of the best leisure spots, but it's disgusting to use the facilities here. We've even had to drive to Swakopmund to find cleaner options," Paulus said. Paulus pointed out that Independence Beach is becoming a hotspot for criminal activity. “For…
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Walvis Bay residents decry Independence Beach neglect

Walvis Bay residents decry Independence Beach neglect

Allexer Namundjembo Walvis Bay residents and holidaymakers have expressed growing concerns over the neglect of Independence Beach, particularly the unusable toilets, which they say pose an environmental hazard. Simon Paulus, a resident, voiced his frustration, urging the Walvis Bay Municipality to take immediate action. “The existing toilets are extremely dirty and now completely unused. This was supposed to be one of the best leisure spots, but it's disgusting to use the facilities here. We've even had to drive to Swakopmund to find cleaner options," Paulus said. Paulus pointed out that Independence Beach is becoming a hotspot for criminal activity. “For…
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Namibian Council for Property Valuers Profession inaugurated

Namibian Council for Property Valuers Profession inaugurated

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The minister of agriculture, water, and land reform, Calle Schlettwein, inaugurated the Namibia Council for Property Valuers Profession on Thursday.  The new council will regulate property valuers and ensure registered practitioners adhere to high ethical standards.  Schlettwein highlighted the rise in malpractices within unregulated valuation services and emphasised the government’s commitment to protecting the public and restoring the profession’s reputation. This was achieved by amending the Property Valuers Profession Act and establishing the council to oversee the regulation of valuers. ‘’There was a need to close some of the loopholes in the principal Act, and the required amendments…
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ScaleUp Namibia launched to enhance startup ecosystem

ScaleUp Namibia launched to enhance startup ecosystem

Niël Terblanché Entrepreneurs and innovators face significant challenges in commercialising their ideas and expanding beyond local markets, with limited commercialisation platforms, restricted access to funding, and a lack of structured support for startups. Recognising these challenges, the National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST), the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), and other stakeholders have launched ScaleUp Namibia (SUN), an initiative designed to accelerate startup growth and establish the country as a leader in innovation. The initiative was officially launched in Windhoek last week. The initiative takes Namibia in the direction of a knowledge-based economy.  ScaleUp Namibia is…
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