GOBABIS – For 26-year-old Gracell Goeieman, farming is more than just early morning errands in the kraal, cattle branding sessions and livestock herding; it is a profound natural calling and a pathway to create inter-generational equity. For a sector that has for centuries been male-dominated, Gracell is breaking down barriers and through hard work, discipline...
Author: Otniel Hembapu (Otniel Hembapu )
End of famine … Namibia removed from hunger list
Kaviveterue Virere Otniel Hembapu The Namibian government has officially concluded its nationwide drought relief programme for the 2024/25 period. In a ministerial statement delivered to Parliament last Thursday, Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare announced the end of the programme, which was launched in response to one of the most severe droughts in the country’s history. The...
Namcor plot thickens …as ‘toothless’ ACC bites eight
For far too long, the Anti-Corruption Commission was everyone’s punching bag, all bark and no bite, naysayers perennially argued. For many, the ACC inspired little to no confidence in fighting corruption, with some accusing the anti-graft body of only going after ‘small fishes [ordinary Namibians]’ while ‘big fishes [well-connected individuals and their proxies]’ were left...
Namibia breaks hunger chains … govt’s drought efforts lauded
Improved climate conditions, government policy and strategic interventions as well as strong drought-mitigating strategies played a crucial role in Namibia’s reclassification as a hunger hotspot. Namibia has since been removed from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations and the World Food Programme (WFP) 2025 lists of the World Hunger Hotspots. The...
ACC’s night of long knives
Former Namcor managing director Immanuel Mulunga was arrested yesterday for, among other things, his role in a N$53 million transaction between Namcor and military contractor Enercon in 2022 – a deal that appears to have been a poisoned chalice, New Era has learnt. The transaction, which would have allowed the national oil parastatal to take...
Drought food theft rocks Otjozondjupa
The distribution of much-needed drought relief food to the most hard-hit communities in the Otjozondjupa region was recently disrupted after officials were caught red-handed with stolen consignments of drought aid. The value of the stolen consignments is yet to be made public as police investigations are underway. However, Otavi constituency councillor George !Garab yesterday confirmed...
Agricultural output remains low as imports hit 100m …reduced harvest, poor marketing cited
Namibia’s agricultural overall output remains low, as the country imported cereal grains worth about N$100 million during the first quarter of this year. This marks an increase of 66.3% when compared to the N$587.3 million recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2024. Since the start of the year, Namibia has imported maize valued at N$659.2...
No state funerals until 2026 … as Cabinet approves Nujoma Day
Cabinet has extended the moratorium on all state and official funerals until March next year, pending a comprehensive review of the criteria and processes followed when granting such state-sponsored funerals to various individuals. At its 11th meeting on Tuesday, Cabinet approved for the moratorium to officially run from 16 June until 31 March 2026. A...
Asoli’s Kauandenge clings onto Nudo
Former National Unity Democratic Organisation secretary general Joseph Kauandenge has refused to surrender his Nudo membership card despite forming a new political entity. Kauandenge, who recently founded the Association for Localised Interests (Asoli) movement, said his new affiliation has no bearing on Nudo’s political activities. Kauandenge officially resigned as Nudo secretary general in April but...
Ngurare enters Meatco’s kraal
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare has written to the Ministry of Finance to demand answers on the reported 400 missing cattle from the troubled Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco). The Premier’s missive through the Secretary to Cabinet, Emilia Mkusa, was directed to the executive director of the finance ministry, Michael Humavindu, who was given until last...