Blog

Justicia Shipena Prime minister Elijah Ngurare says youth-owned businesses financed under the newly launched National Youth Development Fund (NYDF) will be given up to 12 months before repayment begins. The fund offers startups between N$60 000 and N$200 000 at 2% interest, growth-phase enterprises between N$200 000 and N$1 million at 3% interest, and expansion enterprises above N$1 million at 4% interest.  “A grace period of up to 12 months will allow businesses to grow before repayment begins. There are no collateral requirements. Let this be clear. The criteria is that the youth fund must be clear and must be…

Justicia Shipena The Secretary General of the Namibia National Teachers’ Union (Nantu), Loide Shaanika, has told teachers to stop teaching subjects outside their field of expertise. Shaanika said teaching outside one’s training not only violates professional standards but also deprives learners of proper skills. “To stop teaching subjects you are not qualified to teach. It is not only to obey the instruction from your supervisor, but it’s equally disservicing the Namibian child in providing skills that you are not qualified or trained to provide,” she said on Monday during consultations on the Teaching Profession Bill and its regulations in Eenhana.…

Allexer Namundjembo The newly formed Lüderitz Ratepayers Association (LRA), led by former Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) member and former Lüderitz mayor Phillipus Balhao, will not contest this year’s regional and local authority elections.  This comes after the  association missed the Electoral Commission of Namibia’s (ECN) registration deadline. Balhao confirmed the setback and ruled out standing as an independent candidate in the regional elections.  “I don’t have any plans to contest as an independent candidate for the regional constituency council. I felt my efforts would be more impactful at the town council,” he told the Windhoek Observer on Monday.  Balhao…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Katutura Intermediate Hospital has received its first low-dosage lodox full-body X-ray machine, with calls for citizens to take ownership of the facility and protect it as a national health lifeline.  The N$13.2 million machine was donated by the Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund to the Ministry of Health and Social Services during an official handover in Windhoek yesterday. MVA Fund chief executive officer Rosalia Martins-Hausiku said the installation strengthens trauma care and urged communities to treat Katutura Hospital as a shared responsibility.  “Katutura State Hospital is more than a building – it is a lifeline. Citizens of Windhoek,…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Urban and Rural Development minister James Sankwasa has urged local authorities to fast-track land preparation and allocation to meet the government’s informal settlement upgrading targets. Speaking at a land handover ceremony in Outapi on Friday, his advisor Boniface Mutumba delivered the minister’s remarks, saying the ministry was financing land development but expected councils to align their execution plans with central government requirements. The ceremony marked the handover of Land Hold Titles to residents under the Flexible Land Tenure System (FLTS), aimed at providing secure tenure for urban residents living in informal settlements.  Sankwasa said the system was created…