insert_link Namibia Karasburg Council suspended over mismanagement Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Uutoni, has suspended all seven councillors at the Karasburg Town Council with immediate effect due to persistent shortcomings in strategic direction, leadership, and accountability, among other reasons. The minister further accused the town council of dismissing the substantive CEO and other staff members without following due processes. todayMarch 18, 2024 15
insert_link Science & Technology AI bias: the organised struggle against automated discrimination varuna/Shutterstock By Philip Di Salvo, University of St.Gallen and Antje Scharenberg, University of St.Gallen In public administrations across Europe, artificial intelligence (AI) and automated decision making (ADM) systems are already being used extensively. These systems, often built on opaque “black box” algorithms, recognise our faces in public, organise unemployment programmes, and even forecast exam grades. Their task is to predict human behaviour and to make decisions, even in […] todayMarch 12, 2024 24
insert_link Local City of Windhoek provides clarity and context in response to the New Era Newspaper Article titled “City is broke: Kandjeke”. The City of Windhoek (City) has noted with concern the article published in the New Era newspaper on 19th February 2024. While appreciating the media's role in keeping the public informed, we find the headline and context provided sensational and unfortunate since such selective journalistic exploits have the potential to cause unprovoked panic among the entire chain of our stakeholders and residents alike. It is crucial for journalists […] todayFebruary 21, 2024 14
insert_link Africa Bridging the Data Trust Gap: 2024 RegTech Confab Set to Unlock Africa’s Economic Potential Data-Driven Transparency and Compliance in the Digital Financial Ecosystem in Africa. In an era defined by digital transformation, data has become the cornerstone of innovation and progress, particularly within Africa's burgeoning financial landscape. With Sub-Saharan Africa spearheading the global adoption of Mobile Money, boasting over 218 million active accounts according to GSMA's State of the Industry Report on Mobile Money 2023, the region stands poised to leverage […] todayFebruary 20, 2024 7
insert_link Business / Economics Mines and Energy Minister denies oil license corruption allegations Minister of Mines and Energy, Tom Alweendo has denied corruption allegations related to oil and gas licensing off Namibia's coast. The accusations were raised in a letter from Louis Beauvais, representing TotalEnergies shareholders, and addressed to company CEO Patrick Pouyanne. Economist Gabriel Erastus comments on the allegations. todayFebruary 1, 2024 66
insert_link Africa ‘We miners die a lot.’ Appalling conditions and poverty wages: the lives of cobalt miners in the DRC Labourers load sacks of cobalt onto bicycles at Mutoshi mine in July 2021. Roy Maconachie Roy Maconachie, University of Bath It was a cool, dusty morning in July 2021, when I first visited the Kamilombe cobalt mine in Lualaba Province in south-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Situated just outside Kapata on the south-west outskirts of Kolwezi, a mining town that has historically served as an important centre for copper and […] todayJanuary 31, 2024 4
insert_link Africa Nigeria has a democracy deficit – corruption and a lack of welfare policies are to blame By Fidelis Allen, University of Port Harcourt Democracy refers, at a minimum, to a political system that guarantees some involvement in decision-making. It gives citizens opportunities to choose and replace their leaders or representatives via free and fair elections. But that’s not all. Democracy also protects citizens’ socio-economic, political and cultural rights. Its success turns on its ability to bring changes to the living conditions of citizens. It […] todayJanuary 25, 2024 4
insert_link Namibia National Assembly launches 2023-2027 Strategic Plan The National Assembly on Thursday launched the 2023 to 2027 Strategic Plan in the capital. The National Assembly provides an important platform for members of parliament to discuss Government policy, propose new legislation, amend or repeal outdated laws, amend the Constitution, or discuss other topics of national interest. Speaking at the launch, Peter Katjavivi, Speaker of the National Assembly, said, “The National Assembly has been unwavering in its pursuit […] todayJanuary 19, 2024 17
insert_link Namibia Labour Commissioner raises concern about trade unions’ annual returns The Office of the Labour Commissioner has raised concern about limited annual returns by registered trade unions, saying out of 47 registered unions, only 12 have submitted their annual returns. Similarly, only three out of 17 employers’ organisations have submitted their returns, the Office of the Labour Commissioner said in a statement on Thursday. It said some of the trade unions and employers’ organisations that submitted returns provided […] todayDecember 22, 2023 6
Paying it forward: Kenyan coastal doctor Bashrahil Mohammed Mafudh has made it his life’s work to care for the most vulnerable in his community, at no cost.
