insert_link Africa World Food Programme can only secure 20% of drought aid for Southern Africa The United Nations World Food Programme has secured only 20 percent in drought aid for Southern Africa. This is approximately N$ 1.5-billion of its almost eight-billion-target, to address the drought in seven affected countries. The region has been hit hard by the El Niño weather pattern and faces its worst drought in decades. Despite donor support, the WFP can only provide aid to 5.9 million of the 27 million people […] todayAugust 7, 2024 8
insert_link 2 4 Business / Economics Finance Minister tables Income Tax Amendment Bill The Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises, Iipumbu Shiimi has introduced the Income Tax Amendment Act of 2024 in the National Assembly. The Act provides tax relief to individuals and non-mining companies by amending Schedule 4 of the Income Tax Act of 1981, which addresses tax rates. Shiimi had announced in the February 2024 national budget that all taxpayers would receive relief by adjusting the tax tables by N$50,000, exempting […] todayAugust 7, 2024 327 4 2
insert_link Business / Economics Mining expo focuses on expansion opportunities The 11th edition of the Mining Expo & Conference 2024 is underway in Windhoek, bringing together industry experts in the mining sector. Speaking at the event, Zebra Kasete, Vice President of the Chamber of Mines and Managing Director of Dundee Precious Metals in Tsumeb, highlighted that the surge in the uranium sub-sector is driving expansion opportunities in the mining industry. During the opening of the expo on Wednesday, […] todayAugust 7, 2024 37
insert_link Namibia Several suspects arrested in connection with student’s death Matheus Sheehama, a 24-year-old student reported missing in Walvis Bay, was found dead at Independence Beach on 6 August 2024. According to the Namibia Press Agency, the body was discovered by passers-by behind the Navy Base. Sheehama had been missing since 27 July after attending a party where he was allegedly assaulted by a group of men following a dispute involving his girlfriend’s brother. Suspects have been arrested and denied […] todayAugust 7, 2024 28
insert_link Health / Medical WHO warns of rising COVID-19 infections and potential new variants COVID-19 infections are up worldwide, including at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games where over 40 athletes have tested positive, the UN World Health Organisation warned on Tuesday. WHO experts are also concerned that more severe variants of the coronavirus may soon be on the horizon as wastewater surveillance also suggests the circulation of the virus is between 2 to 20 times higher than current figures indicate. COVID-19 is still very […] todayAugust 7, 2024 34
insert_link Namibia Education Ministry warns of school dropout crisis The Executive Director in the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture, Sanet Steenkamp, has warned that school dropouts remain a concern in Namibia and across Africa. Moreover, a survey conducted by the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) with community-based organizations revealed that 41 percent of respondents cited socio-economic factors as the primary reason for school dropouts. According to the Namibia 2011 census, at least 103,768 children were out of […] todayAugust 7, 2024 58
insert_link Namibia MVA CEO urges road safety following major bus accident The Chief Executive Officer of the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVA), Rosalia Martins-Hausiku, has urged drivers to exercise vigilance and responsibility on the roads. Her call to action follows a severe early morning collision on Tuesday 6 August 2024 between an Intercape bus and an Iveco passenger bus on the Otavi-Otjiwarongo road, resulting in multiple casualties. In a media release issued by the MVA on Wednesday, the fund […] todayAugust 7, 2024 64
insert_link Uncategorized Political analyst warns of tense political climate in Namibia With Namibia preparing for elections on 27 November 2024, we contacted political analyst Prof. Dr. Henning Melber, a Senior Research Associate at the Nordic Africa Institute in Sweden, for his opinion on the country's current political climate. Prof. Melber describes the political atmosphere as highly competitive and tense, noting an increase in inappropriate tactics and the spread of fake news. He highlights that the electorate faces appeals to prejudices and […] todayAugust 6, 2024 52
insert_link Namibia Oshana forum discusses anti-corruption strategy Governor of the Oshana region, Elia Irimari has addressed the Oshana Regional Forum. The Governor pointed out that corruption undermines economic development, erodes trust in public institutions, and hinders social progress. His remarks were made in the context of discussing the implementation of the 2024 National Anti-Corruption Strategy and Action Plan. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) completed an evaluation of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy and Action Plan 2016-2019. The strategy […] todayAugust 6, 2024 42