For the first time since its founding in 1982, the Association of International Energy Negotiators (AIEN) has elected an African and a Namibian as its global president. Shakwa Nyambe, a legal expert in energy and natural resources, now represents over 3 000 professionals from around the world in shaping energy contract standards and negotiations. Speaking...
WALVIS BAY – Businessman Jose Luis Bastos has dismissed claims linking him to alleged irregular fishing dividend payments and a land deal involving the late Founding President Sam Nujoma. The allegations, published in the local daily of 24 and 27 June 2025, claim that Bastos paid fishing dividends from Emeritus Fishing (Pty) Ltd to Nujoma....
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....
Rauna Kalola SWAKOPMUND – People with disabilities, civil society and other members of the public this week convened in Swakopmund for the Erongo Regional Disability Networking Forum (RDNF). The event was hosted by the National Federation of People with Disabilities in Namibia, and Organizations of Persons with Disabilities(OPDs). The gathering highlighted ongoing challenges faced by...
NEW DELHI – Namibia-India relations are marked by deep historical ties, mutual respect and dynamic strategic engagement. India was among the first countries to champion Namibia’s independence at the United Nations as early as 1946. It hosted Swapo’s first foreign mission in New Delhi in 1986. New Era’s journalist Paheja Siririka (PS) engaged Namibia’s High...
Despite its obvious benefits, the noble initiative of subsistence crop farming, which enables a family to feed right off their own fields, has not been successfully replicated across the country. Many of us still rely on getting supplies from the shops for our daily needs ranging from maize meal to even a bulb of onion. This begs the...
Today, the world gathers once again to celebrate World Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSME) Day. This annual event, declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 2017, is more than just a symbolic occasion. It is a global call to recognise the indispensable role of MSMEs in job creation, economic growth, innovation, and sustainable...