LUANDA – Namibian business leaders who attended the U.S.-Africa Business Summit in Angola last week said they are ready to drive job creation and growth but need stronger government support and better access to regional markets to succeed. Many local entrepreneurs say they struggle to attend high-level summits like this due to a lack of...
LUANDA, ANGOLA – President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has called on African nations to shift from being raw material suppliers to becoming global leaders in industrialisation, innovation and food security. Speaking at a high-level breakfast dialogue in her honour in Luanda last week, the continent’s only sitting female head of State laid out a powerful vision for...
Rudolf Gaiseb National Youth Service (NYS) has denounced allegations of tribalism and favouritism, with the shortlisting of intakes for its training programme. Two regional and local government leaders expressed deep dissatisfaction with the 16th NYS intake list. The list making rounds on social media, has also been slammed by civil society and youth. The members...
OUTAPI – Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare said Founding President Sam Nujoma was a true leader who believed deeply in the power of culture to ground and guide a people. “As he often reminded us, ‘A nation without culture is like a tree without roots.’ Indeed, through his leadership and vision, Olufuko was revived and recognised...
OPUWO – The newly formed political group, the Association for Localised Interests (Asoli), has announced that it will contest the local authority elections, targeting municipalities in the Khomas, Otjozondjupa, Erongo and Oshana regions. Recently registered with the Electoral Commission of Namibia, Asoli announced an ambitious plan to target the councils of Windhoek, Karibib, Swakopmund, Ongwediva,...
Monika Amunyela “Behaviour is taught; how you speak, address people and do things; children will immediately pick up on it. They are imitating us,” Windhoek community member, Jane !Owases said. Community members in Windhoek are alarmed by the number of high-rise crimes in Namibia. Following the death of three minors in the town of Okahandja...
Lahja Nashuuta The ministry of finance has endorsed the use of pension savings as collateral for aquiring home loans. This is part of government efforts to address housing challenges among public servants. Finance minister Ericah Shafudah announced the approval of the Pension-Backed Home Loan (PBHL) scheme, developed in collaboration with the Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory...
Dormant bank accounts, undisclosed financial statements, missing procurement documents, an unverifiable valuation roll, and lack of important supporting documents were some of the key mishaps that auditor general Junias Kandjeke flagged in an audit report for the Omaheke Regional Council, for the financial years 2021 and 2022. The report, which was shared with Parliament in...
Lahja Nashuuta Legal experts have raised serious questions about the extent of the Minister of Urban and Rural Development James Sankwasa’s authority over local and regional councils. They warned that recent interventions may be overstepping legal limits and threatening local democracy. Legal commentator Natji Tjirera said the Namibian Constitution and relevant laws prioritise the right...
Rudolf Gaiseb Half of the Namibian population, largely public servants – teachers, nurses – is crippled by debt and parents are forced to borrow, not to invest but to eat and survive. Popular Democratic Movement parliamentarian Inna Hengari raised the concern in parliament this week, highlighting the financial hardship and unsustainable debt levels citizens endure....