The Namibian
N$122m fence under fire
EXPERTS are questioning the Central Procurement Board of Namibia’s cancellation of a competitive tender to award a N$122-million fence project using emergency procurement. Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah says the decision could expose the board to...
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LAID TO REST
... The casket carrying Norway’s late King Harald V was yesterday taken to the royal mausoleum in the crypt at Akershus Castle after a state funeral at the Cathedral in Oslo, Norway. Harald, who died on 28 August at the age of 89, was to be laid to...
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No Smoking!
THE Ministry of Health and Social Services has proposed a set of laws that will further limit space for smokers in public places. The new laws will prohibit smoking in “indoor public places, workplaces and public” and will extend to outdoor...
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Govt pulls brake on driving schools
THE Ministry of Works and Transport has unveiled 13 proposed requirements to tighten the regulation of driving schools, including compulsory formal training, testing and certification for instructors before they can teach learner drivers. The proposed...
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DEADLY ACCIDENT ...
Three people died in the Zambezi region after the vehicle they were travelling in crashed head-on with a truck on the Trans-Zambezi Highway on Saturday. Zambezi regional police commander commissioner Julia Sakuwa-Neo says the accident took place in the...
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‘Over our dead bodies’
■ Swapo deputy SG opposes removing speaker ■ Ouster requires united opposition plus 4 Swapo votes SWAPO says National Assembly speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-amadhila would be removed “over our dead bodies”. Swapo deputy secretary general Uahekua Herunga...
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NAUKLUFT TRAIL ASSESSMENT
... The Ministry of Environment and Tourism has completed an eight-day, 120-kilometre inspection hike of the Naukluft hiking trail to assess conditions and ensure the safety of tourists and local hikers.
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Govt wants no alcohol on National Prayer Day
VICE president Lucia Witbooi has urged Namibians, including alcohol outlets and gambling houses, to take a break and join a National Prayer Day on 12 September. The prayer day, which will take place across all 14 regions, will focus on behavioural...
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Beukes steps down as editor
JOHNATHAN Beukes has stepped down as editor of The Namibian with immediate effect. The Namibian thanks Beukes for his service and wishes him well in his future endeavours. We also thank you, our readers and advertisers, for your continued support of...
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US health data deal violates privacy – Govt Ministry says US Govt withdrew controversial clause
THE government has rejected a United States health data and specimen-sharing proposal, citing sovereignty and privacy concerns while seeking alternative funding for HIV programmes. Government officials last week told The Namibian the country’s...
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‘Critical moment’
The American government wants biomedical data of all patients that are being treated for HIV-AIDS and TB to measure the impact of their funding, Namibia says no. THE Namibian government and the United States (US) are racing against time to finalise...
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TEEN HERO
... President Netumbo Nandi-ndaitwah confers the status of hero on Cornelius Shimuaafeni (16) during Namibia’s 60th Heroes Day commemoration in Windhoek yesterday. Shimuaafeni saved ninemonth-old twins from a pond in the Omusati region in May.
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‘Beaten, wounded and abandoned’
AUGUST is a painful reminder for Lubango dungeon survivors, who say the month reminds them of the notorious killings and torture of Swapo Party members accused of being spies of the South African colonial regime during the liberation struggle. Lubango...
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BACK ON HOME SOIL
… Minister of education, innovation, youth, sport, arts and culture Sanet Steenkamp consoles a relative of one of the people whose remains arrived from South Africa on Friday. The government welcomed home the remains of Robben Island political...
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Contaminated jet fuel diverts flights to Angola
PASSENGER flights to Europe will have to stop in Luanda to refuel, after a consignment of contaminated fuel has led to jet fuel shortages in the country. The first disrupted route was Discover Airlines’ flight from Windhoek to Frankfurt on Wednesday...
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Govt urged to ditch Kavango water link project
THE Namibian Chamber of Environment (NCE) has urged the government to abandon plans to draw water from the Kavango River to supplement water supplies to Windhoek and central areas. The chamber warned that the river is already exploited by unmonitored...
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Child marriage robs Kavango
THE Kavango West education directorate has recorded four child marriage cases over the past two years. The latest occurred this year when a mother allegedly tried to take a girl out of school to marry her off to an older man. Education director...
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New pension plan to stretch pockets
BUSINESSES and workers face potential financial pressure over proposed compulsory contributions under a planned national pension fund amid ongoing consultations over final rates. Employers are warning that compulsory contributions could squeeze...
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Angola’s ‘penge ondola’ children
ON the cold and windy evening of 16 June, about 10 Angolans huddle around a fire in Windhoek’s Okuryangava settlement, waiting for a pot of rice to cook. It’s been a long day. They’ve been on the streets – begging – since six that morning. The fire...
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Schlabitz offers assets after N$250m loss
TROUBLED financial adviser Hanjo Schlabitz has offered to sell his house and shares to repay investors who have lost N$250 million after his business collapsed. These details come from a creditors’ meeting held by liquidator Wiam Schickerling at the...
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President opposes phosphate
PRESIDENT Netumbo Nandi-ndaitwah is reportedly less than pleased with the environment commissioner’s decision to give Namibian Marine Phosphate clearance to start mining for fertilisers in the Atlantic Ocean. The Namibian understands the president...
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Fishing body threatens to challenge marine phosphate mining permit
THE Confederation of Namibian Fishing Associations (CNFA) has threatened to challenge the validity of Namibian Marine Phosphate’s environmental clearance, citing unanswered information requests. Lawyer Sisa Namandje, representing the federation, wrote...
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Katti’s clearance reignites phosphate row
NAMIBIAN businessman Knowledge Katti’s Namibia Marine Phosphate has received the greenlight for its controversial Sandpiper marine phosphate mining project, with political parties and conservationists raising concerns over the decision. The...
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Ministers bossing CEOS
BUSINESSMAN Leake Hangala says Namibia’s new Cabinet ministers are young, brilliant and well-educated, but they often remind board chairpersons or parastatal leaders who is in charge. Hangala, who chairs the Namibia University of Science and...
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Entrépo faces uncertain future
MICROLENDER Entrépo, which had a payroll deduction arrangement for civil servants, is weighing its future after the government ended the deductions on which its business mainly depended. This comes as a result of a decision the Ministry of Finance...
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Retail workers ‘robbed’ of N$1.5m by employers
WHOLESALE and retail businesses owed workers more than N$1.5 million between April and June this year. The Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations told The Namibian yesterday that it recovered N$1.5 million during the three-month period linked to 1...
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Breastfeeding at work
DEPUTY health and social services minister Suzan Ndjaleka has called on employers in both the public and private sectors to introduce breastfeeding-friendly workplace policies, saying mothers should never have to choose between their careers and their...
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N$381m Windhoek road falls apart before handover
SECTIONS of Windhoek’s newly constructed N$381million Eneas Peter Nanyemba Road have begun to deteriorate before the project has been handed over to the City of Windhoek. The 6.1-kilometre dual carriageway road upgrade stretches from the western...
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Man accused of murdering girlfriend awaits trial dates
THE legal representation of a Windhoek resident accused of murdering his girlfriend by stabbing her 18 times with a knife will have to be confirmed before dates can be set for his trial. Murder accused Dencel Kapitako’s current defence lawyer, Rennie...
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‘Lead us not into municipal land’ More landless farmers want livestock kept in towns
Get your bumper edition of copy of our in FARMER Markus Aoxamub (58) says if the Gobabis municipality does not want him to keep his goats and donkeys in town, the government needs to give him a piece of land to farm. “I am willing to leave town,...
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Lawyer faces criminal case after death threat
He has not been arrested yet, because of pending evidential documents from the doctor, which should be presented by the complainant. A WINDHOEK-BASED lawyer and politician is facing criminal charges after allegedly assaulting and threatening to kill...
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Calls for MPS to work more hours
CIVIL society and some members of parliament (MPS) have called for the National Assembly to extend its sitting hours to properly discuss and pass laws. Parliament passed only the budget bill in 2025. Currently, the National Assembly sessions run from...
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‘Everything’s going up except salaries’ Unions to negotiate better pay
Get your copy of our bumper ‘Mining Magazine’ in Thursday’s edition of The Namibian. NEWS THOMAS Shilunga*, a finance clerk at an investment company, says the rising cost of living is making it hard to make ends meet – even for those with...
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Bid for oil and gas supply base at Lüderitz rejected
THE Namibian Ports Authority has rejected a proposal by a Ghanaian businessman and his Namibian partners to develop a N$4-billion oil and gas supply base at the Port of Lüderitz. The project was intended to support Namibia’s emerging offshore oil and...
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CONDOLENCES ...
President Netumbo Nandi-ndaitwah yesterday visited the family of the late Toini Hausiku, the widow of former deputy prime minister Marco Hausiku, to offer her condolences following Hausiku’s death on Sunday at the age of 73 after a prolonged illness....
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Windhoek is ‘boring’, tourists say
NEWS BUSINESS HOSPITALITY Association of Namibia (HAN) chief executive Gitta Paetzold says a number of tourists find Windhoek boring, saying the city does not have much to offer in terms of attractions. She was commenting on urban tourism within...
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PG targets property of fugitive Fishrot lawyer
ACTING prosecutor general Martha Imalwa has obtained a Prevention of Organised Crime Act property restraint order in respect of assets of fugitive lawyer Marén de Klerk valued at up to N$75.3 million. Imalwa is targeting assets valued at up to N$75.3...
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The Love Scam Empire
IN JUNE 2023, a young Namibian man spent two weeks in Windhoek learning how to pretend to be a rich woman so he could scam men over the age of 50 on the internet. The man, which the state has identified as Kambonde Nashitope, was recruited by a close...
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Stuck in traffic
ROAD users in Windhoek have voiced frustration over worsening traffic congestion, with many reporting that they spend hours on the road during peak periods, making it difficult to reach their destinations on time. Elisenheim resident Charmaine Nel...
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Church gives homeless a second chance
A WINDHOEK church is providing shelter, warm meals and hope to people experiencing homelessness this winter, with some residents describing it as a chance to rebuild their lives. Pastor Kenneth Linnon at Khomasdal Baptist Church in Khomasdal told The...
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Couple jailed on N$9.9m fraud, theft charges
A MARRIED couple who admitted guilt on more than 1 700 charges of fraud and theft involving a total amount of N$9.98 million were sent to prison for effective periods of 14 years and nine years, respectively, in the Windhoek High Court...
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2 600 nursing graduates fail exam to practise
MORE than 2 600 nursing and midwifery graduates have failed the national exam to practise in Namibia since last year, adding to widespread concerns about the quality of nursing training in the country. The figures, which the Health Professions...
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Pensioners’ millions gone
AT LEAST N$250 million belonging to Namibian pensioners and families has been lost after a Windhoek financial advisory firm risked their savings on foreign investments. After losing money overseas, Wealth Management Solutions (WMS) owner Hanjo...
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MOUNTING THE MOUND ...
An elephant sits atop a termite mound in the Ongava Game Reserve near the southern border of Etosha National Park. Elephants are known to break apart and consume mounds to ingest the nutrient-dense, mineral-rich clay.
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Zim court recognises SME Bank liquidation
THE High Court of Zimbabwe has recognised the liquidation of the Small and Medium Enterprises Bank in Namibia in a step that paves the way for the bank’s liquidators to recover the bank’s assets that may be in Zimbabwe. The news outlet New Zimbabwe on...
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Govt funding freeze ‘setback’ for sport
NAMIBIA’S sport bodies have slammed the government’s decision to suspend all financial support to recognised sport federations and umbrella organisations, describing it is an “undoubtedly serious setback”. Stakeholders say the decision threatens...
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State lawyers losing millions in medical cases
■ Chief medical officer demands 10 years’ payout records ■ Govt spent N$14.7m on medical claims between 2019 and 2024 ■ About N$5.5m spent over past year HEALTH minister Esperance Luvindao has raised concerns over delays in a nationwide medico-legal...
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Standard Bank top brass accused of self-enrichment
STANDARD Bank Namibia workers are threatening industrial action after wage negotiations collapsed this week, accusing bosses of rewarding executives while offering staff a mere 5% increase. If approved, the strike could disrupt services at one of...
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Independence Stadium consultant to pocket N$337m
■ Total estimated project cost – N$2 billion ■ Consultant to take 17.5% ■ Govt budgets only N$50 million initially ■ Govt yet to settle invoices worth N$66 million for 2025 A CONSULTANT advising the state on renovating Windhoek’s neglected...
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More than 100 Namibians want out of SA
Pius Dunaiski MORE than 100 Namibians living in South Africa, both legally and illegally, have voluntarily approached the Namibian high commission in Pretoria seeking repatriation to Namibia as a result of rising xenophobic tensions in the...
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Bail appeal fails in N$40m fraud case
A BAIL appeal of a woman facing charges of fraud and money laundering involving a total amount of N$40 million has been dismissed in the Windhoek High Court. In a judgement delivered yesterday, acting judge Marilize du Plessis said a magistrate who...
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Swakop snake park secures new den
THE Living Desert Snake Park, which has been operating at Swakopmund for three decades, has finally secured a new place after narrowly escaping closure due to the planned demolition of its current building. Co-owner Angela Curtis tells The Namibian...
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Urgent N$1b health tender blocked Committee says bypassing could expose process to abuse
THE health ministry’s procurement committee has blocked senior ministerial officials’ proposal to buy medicine worth N$1 billion without a public tender, warning that the urgent tender process could be abused. This decision points to a potential...
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From petrol attendant to ACC boss nominee
IN 1987, Bryan Eiseb pumped petrol on Friday nights at a service station at Katutura. The busiest shifts ran until the station closed at 22h00. “I enjoyed filling up vehicles, especially on Friday nights,” he says on his Linkedin account. Eiseb...
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Cheap car imports Namibia’s dilema
MOTOR industry stakeholders are divided over plans to relax Namibia’s restriction on importing vehicles older than 12 years, with calls for greater consumer protection alongside efforts to improve access to affordable vehicles. The government this...
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All 96 canyon hikers unhurt, ‘slightly traumatised’
ALL 96 hikers stranded in the Fish River Canyon since Sunday have been rescued after overflowing dams caused dangerous water levels downstream. ||Kharas regional police commander commissioner Marius Katamila yesterday said the police have successfully...
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‘Curse’ of the youth council
THE state-funded National Youth Council’s future is in jeopardy after violence and the electoral committee’s resignation forced the postponement of its Swakopmund general assembly this weekend. Critics are calling for the institution to be...
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Zambezi ‘food basket’ with rice from Korea
ALICE Sishango stares down into the pot of rice she’s cooking on the fire. “I’ve just put on this rice, and now it’s turned into pap. What rice has the government given us? We don’t know this rice,” she says. The rice is part of a 5 000-tonne...
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Health cancels N$45m orders
THE Ministry of Health and Social Services has cancelled pharmaceutical and clinical product orders worth N$44.8 million after suppliers allegedly failed to deliver medicines to the Central Medical Stores (CMS). The orders, which were extended to 12...
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Culture, apartheid blamed for men’s silent suffering
TRADITIONAL leaders and social commentators say cultural norms, historical injustices and societal expectations have contributed to many men remaining silent about abuse and emotional distress. These remarks come in the wake of a recent case in which...
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Speed humps defeat ‘purpose of highway’
ROAD transport experts have criticised the installation of speed humps on major highways around Windhoek, warning that the measure could increase accidents and congestion rather than improve road safety. The Roads Authority, in collaboration with the...
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NNN names relative as AG legal adviser
PRESIDENT Netumbo Nandi-ndaitwah has appointed a relative of hers, retired chief legal adviser Chris Nghaamwa, as an adviser to attorney general Festus Mbandeka. Presidential spokesperson Jonas Mbambo yesterday confirmed the appointment, saying...
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‘Baby Blue’ sells properties worth N$200 million
A PROPERTY development company owned by politically connected businessman Josef Andreas is selling 264 plots valued at N$200 million across the country, after years of concerns about his influence at Grootfontein and about speculative land...
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Nasan fuel stations run dry
AT LEAST four service stations supplied by Nasan Energies have run dry over the past few days. Fuel and Franchise Association chairperson Michael Ludeke says he is aware of at least three association members whose stations have run dry. The Namibian...
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NNN directs intelligence to screen health staff
PRESIDENT Netumbo Nandi-ndaitwah has ordered the Namibia Central Intelligence Service to run background checks on about 360 health ministry officials following allegations of fraud and corruption. The officials are mostly from the Ministry of Health...
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Hamutenya denies oil capture
BUSINESSMAN Mathews Hamutenya says he has no political connection to State House and has nothing to do with the recent government decision to award international oil trader Vitol the sole right to supply fuel to Namibia. Hamutenya, whose son Miguel...
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Nasan ‘forces’ clients into prepaid contracts
NASAN Energies will require upfront payments for fuel from the 52 service stations it bought from Vivo Energy, fuelling speculation that the company does not have the cash flow to afford normal operations. This is according to some of the 52 service...
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NNN picks booze fest over genocide event
PRESIDENT Netumbo Nandindaitwah’s absence from yesterday’s national Genocide Remembrance Day events has drawn sharp criticism from political and community leaders despite her active public schedule. The main event yesterday took place at Shark Island...
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