Page 67 – News Stand

22 Jun

Electric vehicles spark new direction for auto market

info_e12wt4csObserver Money

Justicia Shipena Rising fuel prices and concerns about the environment are pushing the need for better support for electric vehicles (EVs) in Namibia. A May 2025 report by Simonis Storm Securities says investing in home chargers, smart electricity pricing, and public charging stations could help more people switch to EVs. This call for investment comes as new vehicle sales in Namibia slowed in May. A total of 1,011 units were sold, down from 1,243 in April and 1,320 in March. Despite the 18.7% month-on-month drop, sales increased by 4.7% year-on-year from 966 units in May 2024. The report, compiled by…

22 Jun

Homecoming cheers for UAE Cup winners

info_e12wt4csSports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Debmarine Desert Jewels on Sunday received a warm welcome back home at the Hosea Kutako International Airport. The national netball team won the inaugural United Arab Emirates (UAE) Netball Tournament after defeating Singapore 62–53 in the final on Saturday. The tournament, held in Singapore from 15 to 21 June 2025, saw Namibia dominate the group stage. They beat Kenya 41–33, the UAE 69–48, and the Republic of Ireland 57–38, while drawing 49–49 in an earlier match against Singapore. Following the draw, team captain Anna Kasper called on the nation to back the team. “To the fans, I…

22 Jun

Young athlete seeks funds to compete in Europe

info_e12wt4csSports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Young sprinter Ndawana Haitembu is seeking N$40,000 to compete in the 2025 European Athletics season, which runs from 12 to 26 July across cities in Belgium and the Netherlands. Her manager, veteran sprinter Roger Haitengi, said Haitembu needs N$25,000 for international travel and N$15,000 for accommodation. The 22-year-old is scheduled to compete in four championships during the season. On 12 July, she is expected to run the 100m and 200m races at the Moore-Guldensporenmeet in Kortrijk, Belgium. Winners will receive €1,000 (approximately N$20,000) for first place, €600 (N$12,000) for second, €400 (N$8,000) for third, €300 (N$6,000) for fourth,…

22 Jun

Bank Windhoek red run returns

info_e12wt4csSports

Staff Writer The 2025 edition of the Bank Windhoek Red Run has returned with a total prize pool of N$60,000. The event will take place on Saturday, 9 August, at the Ramblers Sports Club in Windhoek. Organised in partnership with the /Ae //Gams Sports Club, the event offers race distances of five kilometres, ten kilometres, and 21.1 kilometres. The first 1,000 participants to register will receive a free Bank Windhoek Red Run t-shirt. This year’s event is themed “Run with Heart, Run with Love” and will be a timed race, with a strict cut-off finish time of 11:30 on race…

22 Jun

Access to information: What’s all the fuss about?

info_e12wt4csOpinions

Jennifer Pogisho In an age where knowledge is power, the right to access information has taken centre stage in conversations about governance, democracy, and development. But is the growing emphasis on Access to Information (ATI) justified or is it just another buzzword? Far from being a new or trendy concept, the right to information is deeply rooted in international human rights law. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) affirms it as “the right to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media.” Similarly, Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights reiterates the significance…

19 Jun

Health ministry burns N$54 million in dubious deals

info_e12wt4csMain

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Ministry of Health and Social Services spent over N$54.8 million through irregular emergency and direct procurement, despite laws limiting these methods to exceptional situations. This is according to the latest audit report by Auditor General (AG) Junias Kandjeke. The report shows the ministry used emergency procurement to buy goods and services worth N$19.2 million, even though these items were already listed in its procurement plan. Under the Public Procurement Act of 2015, this method is allowed only during disasters or wars or when lives or the environment are in danger. The AG’s office found that the ministry…

19 Jun

Shitana questions banks’ fitness certificates over lack of toilets

info_e12wt4csNational News

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Affirmative Repositioning (AR) member of parliament Fredrick Shitana has proposed that commercial banks be required to provide public ablution facilities or risk losing their fitness certificates. Speaking during a parliament session on Wednesday, Shitana questioned why some businesses that serve the public for long hours are required to have public toilets to obtain a fitness certificate. He asked why commercial banks seem to be exempt from this requirement. “To obtain a fitness certificate is to ensure that those institutions meet the acceptable standards of health and safety. In order to allow them to conduct business, certain categories of…

19 Jun

Cholera forces five into isolation at Opuwo

info_e12wt4csNational News

Justicia Shipena The ministry of health and social services has declared a cholera outbreak in the Opuwo District of the Kunene Region following confirmation of locally transmitted cases. Health minister, Dr Esperance Luvindao, made the announcement on Thursday during a media briefing in Windhoek. She said eight suspected cases had been reported as of 18 June 2025. Six of these, including one death, are from the same household. Two other suspected cases were identified in Opuwo and Otjimuhaka village. Preliminary tests for those two came back negative. Confirmatory tests for the first two cases were conducted by the National Institute…

19 Jun

New 100 MW solar facility to go live by June 2026

info_e12wt4csNational News

Niël Terblanché NamPower has officially broken ground on the 100 MW Sores|Gaib Power Station, which will be Namibia’s largest solar power facility. The station is being constructed 33 kilometres northwest of Rosh Pinah. NamPower managing director Kahenge Haulofu said the project is a major step toward expanding local electricity generation and reducing the country’s dependence on imports. “Our country has abundant sun, and we are ready to seize the opportunities that renewable energy offers,” he said. The name “Sores |Gaib”, meaning “Power of the Sun” in Khoekhoegowab, was chosen through an internal competition. Haulofu said the name honours Namibia’s heritage…

19 Jun

‘No student will be left out of free tertiary education’ – Ballotti

info_e12wt4csNational News

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The deputy minister of education, Dino Ballotti, has assured the public that the planned free tertiary education at state institutions will not disadvantage students enrolled at private institutions. Ballotti made the remarks on Thursday during the first meeting of the Task Force on Free Tertiary Education in Public Institutions, held in Windhoek. He said funding should follow the student and not the institution, as the aim is to support Namibian learners regardless of where they study. “While our focus is on public institutions, it is vital to ensure that students enrolled at private institutions are not unjustly disadvantaged,…