TIG Post

Tag: Namibia

  • Namibia swears in first female president Nandi-Ndaitwah

    Namibia swears in first female president Nandi-Ndaitwah

    Nandi-Ndaitwah has been a dedicated member of the South West Africa People’s Organisation (Swapo), the party that has governed Namibia since it gained independence in 1990 after years of fighting against apartheid rule by South Africa.

    She joined Swapo at just 14 years old when it was still a liberation movement fighting against white-minority rule.

    Although the party has introduced reforms and improved the lives of many black Namibians, the effects of apartheid are still visible, especially in wealth distribution and land ownership.


    “Truly, land is a serious problem in this country,” she told the BBC ahead of the inauguration.
    “We still have some white citizens and more particularly the absent land owners who are occupying the land.”
    From freedom fighter to Namibia’s first female president

    Nandi-Ndaitwah says she fully supports the “willing-buyer, willing-seller” approach, meaning no one will be forced to sell their land.

    Namibia is a large country with a small population of three million people. Government data shows that about 70% of the country’s farmland is owned by white farmers. The 2023 census recorded 53,773 white Namibians, making up just 1.8% of the total population.

    Namibia is one of the most unequal countries in the world. According to the World Bank, its Gini coefficient was 59.1 in 2015, and poverty is expected to remain high at 17.2% in 2024. The country’s unemployment rate also increased from 33.4% in 2018 to 36.9% in 2023.

    Nandi-Ndaitwah believes Namibia should focus on processing its minerals instead of exporting raw materials. She also wants the country to invest more in creative industries and adjust its education system to match current economic needs.

    She is the second African woman to be directly elected as president, following Liberia’s Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. The only other female president in Africa today is Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu Hassan, who took office in 2021 after the former president passed away.
    Nandi-Ndaitwah wants to be judged on her merits, but she said that it was a “good thing that we as countries are realising that just as men [can do], women can also hold the position of authority”.

  • Namibians head to the polls on November 27

    Namibians head to the polls on November 27

    Namibians will head to the polls on November 27, 2024, to elect their leaders in a pivotal general election. Over 1.4 million registered voters out of the country’s population of more than 2.6 million are expected to participate in this democratic process.

    The elections come amid significant changes to Namibia’s electoral laws, which now allow public sector workers to contest National Assembly seats while on paid leave. Council members elected to the National Assembly are also required to resign their council positions before assuming office.

    The African Union Election Observation Mission (AUEOM), led by Uganda’s former Vice President Dr. Speciosa Kazibwe Wandira, is in Namibia to monitor the elections. The mission comprises 47 observers from across Africa, including Ghana’s former Electoral Commission Chairperson Charlotte Osei, who called for a peaceful and transparent process. “Hello Namibia! As we count down to a most historic election, we pray for a peaceful, fair, and transparent process. Let’s do this,” she wrote on social media.

    Namibia’s ruling SWAPO Party, which secured 63 of 96 seats in the 2019 elections, will face stiff competition from opposition parties, including the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) and the Landless People’s Movement (LPM). Smaller parties, such as the Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) and the All People’s Party (APP), are also vying to increase their presence in parliament.

    https://twitter.com/NamibiaToday/status/1859861382696665245

    The AUEOM observers have been deployed to all 14 regions in Namibia to assess voting, counting, and polling station operations. Their findings will be shared in a preliminary report on November 30, with a comprehensive report to follow within a month after the election results are announced.

  • We pray for a peaceful, fair, transparent elections in Namibia – Charlotte Osei

    We pray for a peaceful, fair, transparent elections in Namibia – Charlotte Osei

    Former Chairperson for the Electoral Commission in Ghana, Charlotte Osei, has wished the people of Namibia a peaceful election as they head to the polls in the coming days.

    She is a part of the election observation mission (AUEOM) announced by the African Union Commission (AUC) for the 27 November 2024 General Elections in the Republic of Namibia. A total of 1,467,604 registered voters out of a population more than that 2.6 million are expected to participate in the polls.

    “Hello Namibia! As we count down to a most historic election, we pray for a peaceful, fair and transparent process. Let’s do this,” she wrote in a post.

    https://twitter.com/char_osei/status/1859522964221280623?s=48

    At the invitation of the Government of Namibia and the Electoral Commission of Namibia, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, approved the deployment of the short-term AUEOM to assess and report on the conduct of the elections.

    The AUEOM is led by H.E. Dr. Speciosa Kazibwe Wandira, the  former Vice President of the Republic of Uganda. The Mission comprises of 47 short-term observers (STOs) drawn from ambassadors accredited to the African Union, officials of election management bodies, members of African civil society organisations, African election experts, human rights specialists, gender and media experts, and representatives of youth organizations.

    The observers are drawn from Benin, Central African Republic, Congo Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, The Gambia, Togo, Tunisia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Uganda. 

    The observers will be deployed to all 14  regions in Namibia where they will observe the election day procedures including the opening of polls, voting, closing and the counting processes at the polling stations.

    The AUEOM will base its assessment on the legal framework governing elections in Republic of Namibia, the OAU/AU Declaration on the Principles Governing Democratic Elections, the standards and obligations stipulated in the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG), and the International Declaration of Principles (DOP) for International Election Observation, among others.

    The Mission shall interact with state authorities, including, the Electoral Commission of Namibia, political parties, the media, civil society organisations and representatives of the international community based in Namibia and other election observation missions.

    The Mission will release a Preliminary Statement of its overall findings and assessment of the conduct of the elections on 30 November 2024 at a press conference in Windhoek, Namibia. A final comprehensive report will be released within one month from the date of announcement of final election results and will be posted on the AU Commission website.

    The Mission’s Secretariat is located at the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel, Windhoek, Namibia. 

    In the last election in 2019, the SWAPO Party of Namibia won a majority of seats with 63 of 96. Voter turnout was 61%. In October 2024, Namibia amended electoral laws to help public sector workers run for National Assembly seats. Changes include allowing public sector workers to utilize paid leave to participate in the National Assembly and giving public sector employees over the age of 55 who have been elected to the National Assembly the ability to retire early.

    Additionally, the amendment requires members of the National Council, regional councils, and local authority councils who have been elected to the National Assembly to resign from their council seats prior to taking office as assembly members. 

    The upcoming elections in Namibia will feature a range of political parties vying for parliamentary seats. The ruling SWAPO Party of Namibia (SWAPO), which secured 63 out of 96 seats in the last election, remains the dominant force. It is followed by the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), which won 16 seats, and the Landless People’s Movement (LPM) with 4 seats.

    Smaller parties, including the All People’s Party (APP), Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF), National Unity Democratic Organization (NUDO), Republican Party (RP), and United Democratic Front (UDF), each claimed 2 seats.

    The Christian Democratic Voice Party (CDV), Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP), and SWANU of Namibia (SWANU) secured one seat each. Meanwhile, parties such as the Action Democratic Movement, Affirmative Repositioning, Body of Christ Party, Congress of Democrats (CoD), Independent Patriots for Change, and others failed to win any seats in the previous elections, making this a critical opportunity to establish their presence in Namibia’s political landscape.

  • Namibian court overturns ban on same-sex acts; rights activist rejoice

    Namibian court overturns ban on same-sex acts; rights activist rejoice

    In a historic victory for gay rights activists, Namibia has declared laws banning same-sex acts between men unconstitutional.

    Although convictions for “sodomy” and “unnatural sexual offences”—remnants of colonial rule—were infrequent, these laws perpetuated discrimination and instilled fear of arrest among gay men.

    There are no existing laws in Namibia that prohibit sexual relations between women. While same-sex marriage remains illegal within the country, Namibia does recognize the unions of same-sex couples married abroad, provided one partner is not a Namibian citizen.

    Following the high court’s decision in Windhoek on Friday, members of the LGBTQ group Equal Namibia shared images of celebratory embraces in the courtroom.

    “Welcome to a new Namibia. A born-free Namibia,” the group said on social media.

    The term “born-free” was most famously used in neighbouring South Africa to describe the first generation of children growing up in the dawn of democracy after white-minority rule ended in 1994.

    ‘I no longer feel like a criminal’
    This court case was brought by a Namibian activist called Friedel Dausab, with backing from the British charity Human Dignity Trust.

    “It won’t be a crime to love anymore,” Mr Dausab said, reacting to the verdict. “I no longer feel like a criminal on the run in my own country simply because of who I am.”

    Expressing his feelings, he simply said he was “just happy”. The United Nations has also praised the ruling, describing it as a “powerful step” towards a more inclusive society that would enhance access to health services and HIV treatment.

    Amnesty International, fearing backlash from the ruling, has called on the Namibian government to safeguard the safety and dignity of LGBTQ individuals.

    The organization noted it had already observed instances of “alarming” and “threatening” rhetoric in the lead-up to the court case.

    Namibia, which was first colonized by Germany, achieved independence from South Africa in 1990 after a long and difficult war.

    In recent years, several African countries have repealed anti-LGBTQ laws, but South Africa remains the only nation on the continent where same-sex couples can marry and adopt children.

  • Gay rights advocates deems Namibia’s prohibition on homosexual unconstitutional

    Gay rights advocates deems Namibia’s prohibition on homosexual unconstitutional

    In a groundbreaking decision for gay rights advocates, Namibia has declared laws prohibiting same-sex acts between men unconstitutional.

    Convictions for colonial-era offenses such as “sodomy” and “unnatural sexual offenses” were infrequent but contributed to discrimination against gay men, who lived in constant fear of arrest.

    Namibia does not have laws explicitly banning sexual activity between women.

    Marriage between individuals of the same sex remains illegal in the southern African nation.

    However, if a same-sex couple marries abroad and one partner is not a Namibian citizen, their marriage is legally recognized.

    Following the announcement of the judgment at a high court in the capital city of Windhoek on Friday, campaigners from the LGBTQ group Equal Namibia shared photos of people embracing in court.

    “Welcome to a new Namibia. A born-free Namibia,” the group said on social media.

    The term “born-free” gained prominence in neighboring South Africa to depict the inaugural generation of children coming of age in the early days of democracy following the abolition of white-minority rule in 1994

  • “You have played your role and deserve a rest” – Mahama pays tribute to Namibian President Hage Geingob

    “You have played your role and deserve a rest” – Mahama pays tribute to Namibian President Hage Geingob

    Former President John Dramani Mahama has offered his condolences to the people of Namibia following the passing of their former President, Hage Geingob.

    Mr. Mahama, who is also the flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), visited the Namibian Embassy to sign the book of condolence. He emphasized the strong relationship between Ghana and Namibia.

    In a social media post, Mahama described the late Namibian President as a close friend. He pledged to continue working hard to uphold and strengthen the positive relations between Ghana and Namibia.

    Hage Geingob, Namibia’s president has died

    “We cherish the relationship developed over the years with the people of Namibia. President Geingob was a patriot and a freedom fighter.”

    “I remember with fond memories the conversations we had about the struggle for freedom from apartheid and the respect held for Ghana’s role in the liberation of Africa. It was a delight to share those moments with you and your wife during our summit in Malta. You have played your role and deserve a rest,” he added.

  • Mahama extends condolences to Namibia on passing of President Hage G. Geingob

    Mahama extends condolences to Namibia on passing of President Hage G. Geingob

    Former President John Dramani Mahama has extended his heartfelt condolences to the people of the Republic of Namibia following the passing of President Hage G. Geingob, hailing him as “a patriot and a freedom fighter.”

    In a statement released today, Mahama expressed his deepest sympathies to the people of Namibia and the family of President Hage Geingob. Writing in the book of condolence at the High Commission of Namibia in Ghana, Mahama also conveyed his sympathies to the Namibian community in Ghana and the High Commissioner.

    President Hage G. Geingob, aged 82, passed away on Sunday at the Lady Pohamba Hospital in Windhoek, Namibia, after a battle with cancer. His passing comes less than three weeks after it was announced that he would undergo treatment for the illness.

    Mahama recalled the strong and enduring relationship between Ghana and Namibia, reflecting on conversations he shared with President Geingob about the struggle for freedom from apartheid and Ghana’s pivotal role in the liberation of Africa. He fondly reminisced about their discussions during a summit held in Malta, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to share those moments with President Geingob and his wife.

    Madam Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, the Namibian High Commissioner to Ghana, described the late President as a true Pan-Africanist, emphasizing his dedication to the principles of unity and liberation across the continent. She announced that President Geingob would be laid to rest on Sunday, February 25, 2024.

    In honor of President Geingob’s memory, a memorial service is scheduled to take place at the Accra International Conference Centre on Saturday, February 17, 2024. The event will serve as an opportunity for dignitaries and members of the public to pay their respects and celebrate the life and legacy of the late President.

    As Ghana and Namibia mourn the loss of a revered leader, the outpouring of condolences from Mahama and others underscores the profound impact of President Geingob’s contributions to Africa and the enduring spirit of solidarity and unity he embodied.

  • All you need to know about Namibia’s late president Hage Geingob

    All you need to know about Namibia’s late president Hage Geingob

    President Hage Geingob passed away on Sunday at the age of 82 while receiving medical attention in Windhoek, making it a somber day for Namibia.

    When a nation’s leader passes away, it is a universally felt loss that cuts across political divides.

    Vice-President Nangolo Mbumba, who now assumes the presidency said “The Namibian nation has lost a distinguished servant of the people, a liberation struggle icon, the chief architect of our constitution and the pillar of the Namibian house.”

    President Geingob’s legacy is intricately connected to Namibia’s fight for liberation. Born in 1941 in a northern Namibian village, he bore witness to the tumultuous era of apartheid South Africa.

    Geingob, a trailblazer born into a diverse ethnic background, shattered barriers by becoming the first president of Namibia from a different ethnic group. This marked a departure from the majority Ovambo ethnicity that constitutes over half of the nation’s population.

    For numerous citizens, it’s not just the passing of a political figure; it signifies the conclusion of an era and the departure of an individual emblematic of stability and leadership.

    Here are what you should know about Namibia’s late President, Hage Geingob:

    Activism and exile

    Geingob was an anti-apartheid activist from a young age and spent nearly three decades in exile in Botswana and the United States while South Africa ruled the country. He returned to Namibia after independence in 1990.

    Political career

    Geingob played a crucial role in Namibia’s early years of independence, serving as the country’s first prime minister from 1990 to 2002. After a brief hiatus, he returned to the position of prime minister from 2008 to 2012 and served as the president of the ruling SWAPO Party.

    Presidency

    He became Namibia’s third president in the 2014 election where he won a huge majority, taking 87% of the vote. However, five years later, his support had decreased, and he won with 56% in the subsequent election. He was re-elected in 2019 and initiated ambitious projects, such as offshore oil and gas discoveries and a green hydrogen initiative.

    Health struggles

    He survived prostate cancer in 2014, underwent brain surgery in 2013, and had heart valve surgery in South Africa in June 2023. He announced a cancer diagnosis in 2024 and sought treatment in the U.S.

    End of presidency

    Hage Geingob’s death occurred a few months before the Namibian presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for November 2024. He would not have been eligible to compete in these elections due to completing the maximum allowed two-term limits.

    Lifestyle

    He is recognized for his passion for football, often attending high-profile games. He was a regular attendee at the Namibia Annual Music Awards (NAMAs) and was involved in musical activities during his youth, including singing in a choir and playing in a band.

  • President Geingob’s death prompts Namibia to enter state of mourning

    President Geingob’s death prompts Namibia to enter state of mourning

    Namibia’s new President, Nangolo Mbumba, said everyone in the country should be sad for a while because the previous President, Hage Geingob, died on Sunday.

    Geingob, who was 82 years old, passed away while getting treatment for cancer at a hospital in Windhoek, the capital city.

    The whole country will be sad from Monday until the President’s funeral, which has not been decided yet. This was announced by the ICT Minister in a public broadcast.

    The president has put together a group led by the prime minister to plan the funeral. Mushelenga said that the committee will make announcements after finalizing the arrangements.

    All the flags in Namibia and its foreign embassies will be lowered halfway until the funeral of the former president.

    The government says that schools will not close during this time, despite what some reports have said.

  • You were a dedicated servant – Akufo-Addo mourns Namibia President Hage Geingob

    You were a dedicated servant – Akufo-Addo mourns Namibia President Hage Geingob

    President Akufo-Addo has extended his sincere condolences to the people of Namibia following the passing of their President, Hage Geingob.

    In his message of condolence, President Akufo-Addo described the late Namibian President as not only a respected leader but also a dedicated servant to his people.

    He acknowledged Geingob’s tireless efforts, recognizing the indelible mark he has left on the country’s history. The condolences express a sense of solidarity and sympathy from Ghana to Namibia during this period of mourning.

    “President Geingob was not only a respected leader but also a dedicated servant of his people. His vision, commitment, and tireless efforts to advance the wellbeing of Namibians have left an indelible mark on the nation’s history,” an excerpt of his statement said.

    Namibia’s President, Hage Geingob, has passed away while receiving medical treatment at a hospital in the capital, Windhoek.

    Vice-President Nangolo Mbumba confirmed Mr. Geingob’s demise in a statement issued in the early hours of Sunday, February 4.

  • Namibia’s President, Hage Geingob, passes away at age 82

    Namibia’s President, Hage Geingob, passes away at age 82

    Namibia’s president, Hage Geingob, passed away early on Sunday at a Windhoek hospital, as announced by the presidential office.

    Geingob, who was first elected president in 2014 and was serving his second term, held the record as Namibia’s longest-serving prime minister and third president.

    His death comes as the country prepares for upcoming presidential and national assembly elections later in the year.

    In January, President Geingob had disclosed that he was undergoing treatment for cancer, following the discovery of “cancerous cells” during a routine medical check-up.

    “It is with utmost sadness and regret that I inform you that our beloved Dr Hage G Geingob, the president of the republic of Namibia has passed on today,” said a statement on Sunday from the acting president, Nangolo Mbumba.

    “At his side, was his dear wife Madame Monica Geingos and his children.”

    In 2013, Geingob underwent brain surgery, and in 2023, he underwent an aortic operation in neighboring South Africa. His medical care continued at Lady Pohamba Hospital in Windhoek until his passing.

    “The Namibian nation has lost a distinguished servant of the people, a liberation struggle icon, the chief architect of our constitution and the pillar of the Namibian house,” said Mbumba.

    “At this moment of deepest sorrow, I appeal to the nation to remain calm and collected while the Government attends to all necessary state arrangements, preparations and other protocols.”

    He announced that the cabinet would promptly assemble to initiate the necessary state arrangements.

    Hage Geingob, born in a village in northern Namibia in 1941, made history as the first president outside the Ovambo ethnic group, which constitutes over half of the country’s population. Engaging in activism against South Africa’s apartheid regime during his early schooling, Geingob was eventually forced into exile.

    Spending nearly three decades in Botswana and the US, he transitioned from the former to the latter in 1964. Throughout his time in the US, he staunchly advocated for Namibia’s independence, representing the liberation movement, Swapo, at the UN and across the Americas.

    Upon Swapo’s victory in the 1990 elections, Geingob assumed the role of prime minister, holding the position for 12 years before returning to it in 2012. In 2014, following another successful election for Swapo, Geingob became president.

    Despite facing challenges such as a recession, high unemployment, and corruption allegations during his first term, Geingob managed to secure a second term in 2019, although his share of the vote declined.

    His presidency was marked by the “fish rot” scandal, where WikiLeaks documents suggested government officials accepted bribes from an Icelandic firm for continued access to Namibia’s fishing grounds. Geingob faced criticism for contributing to a bloated administration and awarding contracts to foreign companies.

    Throughout his political career, Geingob held various ministerial and internal party positions. Health issues, including brain surgery in 2013 and heart valve surgery in South Africa in June 2023, marked his later years.

    Known for his passion for football, Geingob played in his youth, earning him the nickname “Danger Point.” He married three times (in 1967, 1993, and 2015) and had several children.

    “The drum, it is the heartbeat, and the bass, it is the backbone,” Barrett once said. “If the bass is not right, the music is gonna have a bad back, so it would be crippled.”

  • Namibia’s vice president says President is doing well after cancer diagnosis

    Namibia’s vice president says President is doing well after cancer diagnosis

    Namibian President Hage Geingob, 82, is reportedly in “good spirits” while undergoing cancer treatment, according to a senior official.

    Last week, the president’s office announced that a medical check-up had revealed the presence of “cancerous cells.” Although no additional details about his condition were provided, the statement assured that President Geingob would continue to fulfil his presidential duties.

    There have been increasing concerns about the president’s health, with reports suggesting that he acknowledged his frailty last year.

    In a statement, the vice president of the governing Swapo party, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, said Mr Geingob was in “good spirits” and receiving “good medical attention.”.

    She appealed to Namibians to allow the president and his family to focus on his recovery and healing process without engaging in speculation.

    President Geingob underwent an aortic operation last year, and in 2014, he disclosed that he had successfully battled prostate cancer.


    Namibia is scheduled to conduct presidential and parliamentary elections later this year.

    Swapo, the ruling party since the country’s independence in 1990, has selected Mrs. Nandi-Ndaitwah as its presidential candidate.

    Currently serving as Namibia’s deputy prime minister, she would become the nation’s first female president if she emerged victorious.

  • South Africa see victory in second game against Namibia

    South Africa see victory in second game against Namibia

    South Africa rebounded in the Africa Cup of Nations with a convincing 4-0 victory over Namibia.

    After a 2-0 loss to Mali in their opening match, Bafana Bafana secured their first win in the tournament.

    The scoring started early for South Africa as Percy Tau converted a penalty, and Themba Zwane added two more goals, completing a brace. Thapelo Maseko contributed a fourth goal in the second half.

    Namibia had a bright start, with Prins Tijueza testing the South African goalkeeper and an offside decision sparing Peter Shalulile’s missed attempt.

    However, momentum shifted when South Africa was awarded a penalty through VAR review for a handball by Riaan Hanamub. Percy Tau successfully converted the penalty this time, putting South Africa in the lead.

    Themba Zwane extended the lead with a well-applied finish after a delivery from Thapelo Morena. Zwane scored his second goal shortly before the end of the first half, virtually securing the win for South Africa.

    Substitute Thapelo Maseko added the final goal in the 75th minute, breaking the offside trap and scoring a shot that proved too challenging for Namibia’s goalkeeper. The 4-0 victory marked a strong comeback for South Africa in the Africa Cup of Nations.

  • Ghana-Namibia friendly to be played ahead of AFCON

    Ghana-Namibia friendly to be played ahead of AFCON

    In a strategic move to hone their skills ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Ghana is set to engage in a friendly match against Namibia.

    Notably, Namibia’s national football team has chosen the scenic Western Region of Ghana for its pre-tournament training, injecting an unexpected twist to the pre-AFCON preparations.

    Namibia coach Collin Benjamin has intensified the pre-tournament excitement by unveiling his 28-player provisional squad for the highly anticipated tournament in Ivory Coast.

    Placed in Group E alongside football powerhouses South Africa, Tunisia, and Mali, Namibia is gearing up for fierce competition.

  • Namibia upset about president’s children’s trip to Dubai for COP28

    Namibia upset about president’s children’s trip to Dubai for COP28

    Some people in Namibia are angry because they found out that President Hage Geingob‘s four children went with the government’s group to the COP28 climate summit.

    Six of the president’s family members were part of Namibia’s group in Dubai.

    President Geingob’s office said on Monday that his children went to the city, but they did not use government money for their trip.

    The office didn’t say how the rest of the family got paid.

    President Geingob and Madame Geingos used their own money to pay for their children’s flights and hotel stays. The Namibian Presidency announced this on Monday.

    “The people of Namibia and the media can be sure that no public money has been used for the first couple’s children. ”

    The president’s office said that the accusations were meant to harm his reputation and were motivated by politics. They are meant to take attention away from the great job President Geingob and the Namibian team did at COP28.

    However, some people in Namibia have said that the president’s response is not good enough. They think it doesn’t show that the President Geingob’s children and family paid for their own travel.

    Some people want the president to say why his family members went to COP28 and why they were part of the government group if their trip was paid for privately.

    “Do you think we are stupid. Why would they be on the delegates list if they weren’t part of it. Why is it important for them to be in Dubai with state delegates. ” a person from Namibia asked on X.

    Namibian MP Inna Hengari said that we are expecting a detailed report to be given in parliament.

    She was upset with the government for paying for the president’s family to travel, but saying they didn’t have enough money to pay for an MP and parliamentary official to go to COP28.

    Many people are upset about African governments sending a lot of people to COP28. They think it’s a waste of money.

    Some governments like Nigeria, Tanzania, and Kenya say that not all the delegates they send to meetings are paid for by the government. Some of them represent the media, charities, and private businesses.

  • TikTok nurses from Namibia being investigated for dancing at a clinic

    TikTok nurses from Namibia being investigated for dancing at a clinic

    Two trainee nurses from Namibia are in trouble because they made a video of themselves dancing in a health clinic and posted it on TikTok.

    The two people said they were happy and having fun because they helped a person have a baby safely, according to the local news.

    The privately owned Welwitchia Health Training Centre said the dancing was “unacceptable behavior” and called them in front of a panel to address it.

    The biggest student group in Namibia wants a just and equal opportunity to be heard.

    Charmaine Keandra and Smart Muranda are wearing their nursing uniforms and dancing in front of a bed that doesn’t have a patient.

    The Namibian newspaper said that the video was made two weeks ago at the health center.

    The person who was sick went to a special room where they had surgery. The surgery was successful and the baby was healthy. The mother was also healthy and doing well. “Later, since we were feeling joyful, we chose to create a TikTok video,” a student informed the newspaper.

    The student who put up the video, which lots of people talked about and shared, has now taken it down.

    The Welwitchia health centre wrote a letter saying that the two trainees did not follow the rules for students and made the institution look bad.

    The Student Union of Namibia (Sun) has accused the health institution of being unfair. They say that in the past, nurses were seen dancing the Jerusalem challenge on different platforms, but none of them were fired.

    Benhard Kavau, the president of Sun, said to the BBC that a nurse who feels happy is more likely to be effective at their job, regardless of the university’s rules.

    He said the two students should only be told and taught when to record videos, instead of being kicked out.

    MrKavau said the group is prepared to take legal action if our request is not taken seriously.

    The students had a meeting with the disciplinary committee on Friday, as informed by the union leader.

    The institution did not reply right away when the BBC asked for a comment.

  • Father sentenced to 20 years in prison for raping daughters in Namibia

    Father sentenced to 20 years in prison for raping daughters in Namibia

    A father has been put in prison after he sexually assaulted two of his daughters when they were younger than 13 years old.

    The 48-year-old person harmed his own kids before they got arrested in October 2014, in Namibia.

    His mom said she couldn’t believe he did such terrible things, but she said he loved his six children a lot.

    She also said at court that one of the people hurt was her father’s most loved child.

    The parent said, “My daughters haven’t forgiven him because they don’t want to talk about him. ”

    I have decided to forgive him, but I still remember and can’t forget what he did. I believe he should be punished and go to jail.

    The dad, whose name is not being revealed to keep the person being hurt safe, was given a punishment of 20 years in jail a month ago.

    According to The Namibian, the defense lawyer, Linus Samaria, tried to argue for a shorter prison sentence by saying that the girls did not have any physical injuries from the rape.

    Their mother told them how one of their sisters got pregnant and left school. It’s not known if the attacks had anything to do with the pregnancy.

    She said that she had to take out one of her children from their current school and enroll them in a different school in another part of the country. This is because the other kids at the school would make fun of her child, saying that she slept with her father.

    The prosecutor, Eric Naikaku, said that the person who is accused had power and a strong relationship of trust with the victims, and they used that to their advantage.

    The father has already been in prison for eight years and 10 months while waiting for his trial to finish.

    Judge Frans Anderson said: “We need to remember that society’s and the victims’ needs are more important than the accused person’s personal needs. ”

    This means we need to give a strict punishment that will discourage people from doing bad things, but we also want to help the person become better and change their behavior.

    ‘The accused can only be sentenced to direct imprisonment. ‘

    The father got 15 years in prison for two rape charges. However, 10 years from one charge will be served at the same time as the other.

    He was found not guilty of a third accusation of rape.

  • Man rapes defenseless neighbours and their 8-year-old sister in Namibia

    Man rapes defenseless neighbours and their 8-year-old sister in Namibia

    A man hurt three sisters who were weak and defenseless by doing terrible things to them. He abused them physically and sexually many times, while they were in their own house.

    A court heard that a man named Jackson Katjombe, who is 37 years old, attacked the siblings many times on their farm in the town of Otjimbingwe in Namibia.

    One person who was hurt was only 8 years old, while another was a 25-year-old woman who has disabilities and thinks like a child.

    She is not able to walk or use her arms, so she moves by crawling and using a wheelchair. She also gets help from her siblings.

    According to court documents, the third victim was 19 years old at the time and showed a small difficulty but seemed to be more mature emotionally.

    According to The Namibian, Katjombe would often focus on the sisters when their aunt had to go to Windhoek, the capital city. Their mom, who had HIV, was in the hospital there.

    Their aunt would ask neighbors and other family members to watch over the siblings when she was in the city, but there were times when the siblings were on their own.

    Katjombe, who lived close by, was found responsible for three acts of rape and two acts of physical assault in June.

    On Friday, he was put in prison for 35 years. The Windhoek High Court heard that he caused extreme trauma and nightmares for his victims.

    Katjombe, a father of three who tried to say he didn’t do anything wrong, would sometimes force his victims to watch him sexually assault someone else.

    In one attack, he put a pillow on the 19-year-old’s face and then she yelled and told her little sister to bite Katjombe.

    When the little girl was only eight years old, she tried to help her sibling by biting Katjombe on the back.

    This made it possible for the 19-year-old to escape and run to their uncle, but Katjombe took advantage of this opportunity to run away from their home.

    The young woman who cannot move easily told the court about a time when she was playing with a doll before Katjombe forced her to have sex against her will.

    Katjombe’s terrible actions became known when the sisters’ family members noticed that their behavior was different.

    They were very sad and would sometimes get really angry and stop eating. The eight-year-old girl refused to let anyone give her a bath.

    The sisters said that Katjombe frightened them by saying he would harm them if they told anyone about what happened. However, they eventually found the courage to talk about the difficult situation they were in.

    Katjombe was cleared of a charge of seriously hurting someone on purpose and three charges of scaring or threatening someone.

  • Namibian lawmakers visit PIAC politely to learn about managing petroleum income

    Namibian lawmakers visit PIAC politely to learn about managing petroleum income


    A delegation from the Upper House of Parliament in the Republic of Namibia recently visited Ghana to pay a courtesy call to the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC).

    The purpose of the visit was to gain insights into petroleum revenue management and its effective utilization for the benefit of Namibia’s citizens.

    Led by Mr. Elder Filipe, the Vice-Chairman of Namibia’s Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and Natural Resources, the delegation sought to learn from Ghana’s experience in managing revenues from petroleum resources.

    The visit was in accordance with Rule 159 of the National Council Standing Rules and Orders of the Namibian Parliament, which mandates the committee to address matters related to various sectors, including water, agriculture, land, environment, forest, mines, and energy.

    Mr. Filipe expressed Namibia’s interest in effectively exploiting its discovered hydrocarbons for the welfare of its people. Learning from other countries’ experiences, especially those with successful petroleum revenue management, is seen as crucial to getting it right from the outset.

    Namibia is considering setting up a committee similar to PIAC to ensure the responsible management and utilization of petroleum revenues to avoid the resource curse.

    The Namibian delegation commended Ghana’s progress in managing its petroleum revenues, which includes the establishment of appropriate laws and institutions governing the sector’s operations.

    In response, Professor Kwame Adom-Frimpong, Chairman of PIAC, stressed the importance of securing adequate funding for the Accountability Committee to ensure its smooth operation.

    He also encouraged the Namibian Parliamentarians to demonstrate genuine commitment to the work of the yet-to-be-established Committee, which would facilitate the implementation of its recommendations.

    Professor Adom-Frimpong extended PIAC’s readiness to provide technical support to their Namibian counterparts in promoting transparency and accountability in managing natural resources.

  • GITFiC CEO promotes AfCFTA in Namibia

    GITFiC CEO promotes AfCFTA in Namibia

    The Chief Executive Officer of Ghana International Trade and Finance Conference (GITFiC), Selasi Koffi Ackom, has visited Namibia upon the invitation of African Economic Leadership Council (AECL).

    During his visit, Mr. Ackom also had the opportunity to meet with various dignitaries to discuss matters concerning the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and related issues.

    According to a statement shared with the media, Mr. Ackom was present as a special guest of honor at the second Discover Namibia Intra-Africa Township Expo and Business Conference in Swakopmund.

    During this time, he took the chance to meet with important figures.

    At Namibia’s State House, Mr. Ackom was warmly welcomed by Ambassador Claudia Grace Uushona, the Executive Director to the President, and Daisry Mathias OBAL, the Presidential Advisor on Youth Matters & Enterprise Development.

    Discussions during this meeting focused on raising awareness and educating the Namibian community about AfCFTA, as well as exploring how the business community and educational structures in Namibia could benefit from the valuable content in GITFiC’s book on AfCFTA. The matter of Ghana-Namibia Trade Relations also came up during the discussions.

    During his visit, the approved book on AfCFTA, authored by GITFiC, was officially presented to President Hage Gottfried Geingob through his Executive Director.

    In addition to this, the official communique and action plans from the 7th GITFiC, which took place at the Royal Senchi in the Eastern Region of Ghana, regarding Africa’s prospects for a single currency, were also submitted to the Namibian Presidency. The meeting for this submission was facilitated by the African Economic Leadership Council, led by Councillor Hafeni Heinrich Heinrich Hafeni.

    Moreover, Mr. Ackom held a meeting with Conrade Dempsey, the Group Chief Executive of First Rand, the holders of First National Bank Namibia (FNB FNBNamibia). During this meeting, a mini AfCFTA book re-launch was organized at the bank’s Headquarters in Windhoek.

    Conrade Dempsey, who had previously obtained a copy of the book at the conference, highly recommended its content during the mini-launch. As a result, the bank ordered a substantial number of copies for their MSMEs and SMEs customers to support GITFiC’s efforts in sensitizing and educating the public about the African Continental Free Trade Area.

    The Africa Economic Leadership Council, under the leadership of Councillor Heinrich Hafeni, facilitated this initiative.

  • Campaigner in Namibia raise concerns on seal harvesting

    Campaigner in Namibia raise concerns on seal harvesting

    Conservationist Naude Dreyer has told the international media that the killing of seals in Namibia lacks justification.

    Namibia remains the sole country in the southern hemisphere that continues the practice of seal harvesting, and its annual culling is scheduled to commence on Saturday.

    Seal fur is primarily exported, and the government argues that culling the seal population is necessary to safeguard fish stocks. Certain East Asian countries also import seal penises, which some individuals consume in the belief that it enhances their virility.

    Quote Message: It’s 80,000 pups and 6,000 bulls every year.

    It’s 80,000 pups and 6,000 bulls every year.

    Quote Message: It was always sold to the fur trade but a few years ago the EU blocked the import of furs, so this market has crashed out completely.

    It was always sold to the fur trade but a few years ago the EU blocked the import of furs, so this market has crashed out completely.

    Quote Message: But the bulls are still being harvested, mainly for their genitalia which is being transported to the East.

    But the bulls are still being harvested, mainly for their genitalia which is being transported to the East.

    Quote Message: The market has changed completely but the [cull] quota still says the same every year.

    The market has changed completely but the [cull] quota still says the same every year.

    Mr Dreyer argues that some of the methods are cruel, and says the income from seal tourism would be far greater than the income from seal body parts:

    Quote Message: The practice itself is brutal and archaic. That is a very big part of the opposition – the fact that the pups are still being clubbed. But, that being said, the number of pups being killed in this practice are completely reduced – they are targeting a fraction of the number the quote has allocated.

    The practice itself is brutal and archaic. That is a very big part of the opposition – the fact that the pups are still being clubbed. But, that being said, the number of pups being killed in this practice are completely reduced – they are targeting a fraction of the number the quote has allocated.

    Quote Message: [Namibia’s coast] is one of the few places in the world were you can get so close to so many wild animals… You can come in and see 100,000 seals at one time.

    [Namibia’s coast] is one of the few places in the world were you can get so close to so many wild animals… You can come in and see 100,000 seals at one time.

    Quote Message: I do believe the economic benefit from the tourism aspect would be much huger than the actual harvest.”

    I do believe the economic benefit from the tourism aspect would be much huger than the actual harvest.”

  • 40 crocodiles to be sold by Namibia to lessen conflict

    40 crocodiles to be sold by Namibia to lessen conflict

    The local media has reported that Namibia has put 40 crocodiles up for sale to lessen confrontations between people and animals in the northeastern Kavango and Zambezi areas.

    Those interested in buying the reptiles are expected to submit their tender offers at the ministry of environment by 17 July.

    Ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said majority of the country’s wildlife “exists outside national parks”, which had made the regions “continue to experience concerning crocodile attacks on people and their livestock”.

    Buyers must prove that they have a suitable habitat for the animals and will incur the cost of capturing them.

    Those seeking to import them must have a permit from the respective country.

  • Namibia to sell crocodiles to address conflicts

    Namibia to sell crocodiles to address conflicts

    In an effort to mitigate conflicts between humans and wildlife in Namibia’s Kavango and Zambezi regions, the country has decided to sell 40 crocodiles, according to local media reports.

    Interested buyers are required to submit their tender offers to the Ministry of Environment by July 17th.

    Romeo Muyunda, spokesperson for the ministry, explained that a significant portion of Namibia’s wildlife exists outside national parks, leading to ongoing concerns regarding crocodile attacks on people and livestock in these regions.

    Prospective buyers must demonstrate that they have a suitable habitat for the crocodiles and will be responsible for the costs associated with capturing them. Importing the crocodiles will require obtaining permits from the respective countries involved.

  • 13 family members, including 9 children die from consuming poisonous porridge

    13 family members, including 9 children die from consuming poisonous porridge

    At least nine members of the same family have reportedly died after consuming poisonous porridge.

    The children were among 13 members of the same household that passed away after contracting acute food illness in Namibia.

    Authorities think the porridge turned hazardous when it was combined with a fermenting byproduct of a home-brewed alcoholic beverage.

    It’s believed that at least 20 family members ate the poisonous porridge.

    Three girls, age 6, and two other females, age 3 and 12, together with four boys, ages 2, 9, 13, and 14, all died in hospitals.

    The adult victims were as old as 33, according to the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation.

    Namibia’s Ministry of Health and Social Services confirmed the devastating incident happened in the Kavango East region in the far northeast of the African country on Saturday.

    Eight people remain in hospital, with five of those in a critical condition.

    A spokesman for the country’s ministry of health said: ‘It is reported that members of a household consumed a poisonous/toxic porridge made with pearl millet mahangu flour and added dried and pounded fermented sediment from homemade beverage/beer, locally known as mundevere.’

    The ministry says it conveys its ‘deepest sympathy and condolences to the bereaved family’, who live in the village of Kayove in the Nyangana district.

    They added: ‘All the patients are being monitored closely. Additional blood samples were also taken for alcohol poisoning testing. 

    ‘The Ministry of Health and Social Services has deployed a team of social workers to provide psychosocial support and counselling to the bereaved family. 

    ‘Officials from the ministry will provide health education to members of the community on food preparation practices and the dangers of mixing food with potentially contaminated materials.’

    Earlier this year, a dad spoke of how he was almost paralysed after eating a curry that gave him catastrophic food poisoning.

  • Finland returns Namibia’s historical sacred stones

    Finland returns Namibia’s historical sacred stones

    Finland has returned two fragments of sacred historical stones that were carried away by Finnish missionaries during the colonial period.

    The stones were taken from Ondonga, a traditional kingdom of the Ovambo people, in what is today northern Namibia.

    The fragments were handed over on Thursday by Finnish Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Jukka Salovaara to Namibia’s Education, Arts, and Culture Minister Anna Nghipondoka.

    They will be kept at the National Museum of Namibia and will eventually be returned to the Ondonga traditional community, local media reported.

    Visiting Finnish President Sauli Niinistö said the so-called “Ondonga Power Stone” is not only valuable to the Ondonga community but is also part of the community’s identity and heritage.

    President Hage Geingob said that the return of the stone should serve as an example to all those who “stole things from Africa”.

  • African airlines experience expedited comeback as tourism picks up – Report

    African airlines experience expedited comeback as tourism picks up – Report

    An association of African carriers said in a recent report that African air traffic has made a strong recovery and is almost back to pre-pandemic levels.

    As additional international routes and tourist destinations reopened, the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) reported that traffic in March increased by 94.8% over 2019 levels.

    It noted that domestic flights accounted for 37 per cent of the March traffic, with intra-Africa flights at 31 per cent and intercontinental travel at 32 per cent.

    Data also shows that the total number of intercontinental routes operated by African airlines have exceeded pre-Covid levels since October 2022.

    The association said that African airlines are on course to narrow their revenue gap in 2023.

    African airlines lost $3.5 billion in revenue in 2022 and $8.6 billion in 2021.

    The Covid-19 pandemic hit African hard as travel restrictions led to the grounding of aircraft. Some airlines, such as Air Namibia and Air Mauritius completely folded while others such as South African Airways and Kenya’s flag carrier, KQ needed big bailout funding from the state to keep flying.

    Others, like Ethiopian airlines converted their passenger jets into freighters to compensate for reduced passenger traffic.

  • Namibians cautioned against eating fishes from floodwater

    Namibians cautioned against eating fishes from floodwater

    Residents of a town in Namibia’s north have been advised not to consume fish that has been swept up by floodwater and is thought to be infected.

    According to officials cited in local media accounts, an epidemic of a fungal disease is thought to have killed the fish.

    The Ohangwena region, which is close to the border with Angola, has been receiving a lot of rain.

    Samples of the fish have been taken for analysis and residents will be informed at a later stage about when it’s to start eating fish again, chief fisheries biologist Elizabeth Ndivayele is quoted as saying.

    Residents told journalists that they had made a fortune from selling some of the fish.

  • Namibia drops Greek salad after VIP menu backlash

    Namibia drops Greek salad after VIP menu backlash

    The Namibian government has abandoned plans to provide extra meals to VIPs at the country’s independence day celebrations next week, including Greek salad after criticisms on social media.

    On Tuesday, the northern district of Omusati’s capital of Outapi will host formal celebrations to honor 33 years of independence.

    The suggested menu was leaked in a letter to the chairman of the committee planning the celebrations, Omusati Governor Erginus Endjala, which sparked a social media uproar.

    According to the letter, caterers were to be instructed to prepare the following:

    • For the public, the menu included potato salad, butternut, rice, fried beef and fish.
    • For the VIPs – such as foreign dignitaries – extras like Greek salad, steamed carrots, maize pap (porridge made from maize meal), mahangu pap (porridge made from millet flour), baked fish and game stew.

    The social outrage over the government’s perceived “elitist tendencies” was summed up in Wednesday’s headline in the Namibian Sun: “U-turn on ‘lords and peasants’ independence menu”.

    However, Mr Endjala told the paper that these had only been suggestions.

    “We have realised that the proposal was far-fetched from reality. The menu was revised and the public will now have more food than the VIPs,” he is quoted as saying.

    Audrin Mathe, a senior officer in the information ministry, told The Namibian that the government would be spending less than $134,000 (£112,000) for this year’s independence day celebrations.

  • Rhino poaching surges 93 percent in Namibia

    Rhino poaching surges 93 percent in Namibia

    Authorities say 87 rhinos were killed last year, up from 45 in 2021, with the majority of them stolen from the nation’s largest park.

    According to official government data, 87 rhinos were killed in Namibia last year, an all-time high compared to the 45 rhinos killed in 2021.

    The demand for rhino horn, which is valued in East Asia as a purported medicine and as jewellery despite being made of the same material as rhino hair and fingernails, has caused a decimation of the rhino population in Africa over the years.

    On Monday, Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said poachers killed 61 black and 26 white rhinos mainly in Namibia’s largest park, Etosha, where 46 rhinos were found dead.

    “We note with serious concern that our flagship park, Etosha National Park, is a poaching hotspot,” Muyunda said, adding that the ministry and law enforcement officials have stepped up efforts against wildlife crime in the park to curb poaching.

    The Southern African country is home to the only free-roaming black rhinos left in the world and also accounts for a third of the world’s remaining black rhinos.

    Rhino poaching has plagued Southern Africa for decades, especially in neighbouring South Africa and Botswana, leading to anti-poaching programmes, including strict policing and dehorning, or removing horns from the rhinos as a way of discouraging poaching.

    Namibia is also home to the second-largest white rhino population in the world after South Africa.

    The Save the Rhino Trust estimates there are about 200 free-roaming black rhinos in Namibia, mainly in the northeast.

    Meanwhile, elephant poaching in Namibia has declined over the years, from a high of 101 in 2015 to a low of four elephants poached last year.

  • Namibia edges closer to having first female president

    Namibia’s Deputy Prime Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is edging closer to becoming the country’s first female president.

    The 70-year-old has just been elected as vice-president of the governing party Swapo, which has been in power since independence in 1990 and has won every election with a large majority.

    This makes her the frontrunner to succeed President Hage Geingob, who will be stepping down, as Swapo’s presidential candidate for the 2024 elections.

    “We have now a female comrade who may take over the presidency of Swapo and also the presidency of the republic,” President Geingob said at the elective congress.

    Ms Nandi-Ndaitwah, who is minister of international relations and cooperation, beat Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila and Environment Minister Pohamba Shifeta.

     

     

    Source: BBC

  • Namibia to have first female president ?

     

    Namibia’s Deputy Prime Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is an inch closer to becoming the southwestern country’s first female president.

    Namibia’s ruling party on Monday (November 28) elected Nandi-Ndaitwah as its vice president, making her the frontrunner to lead the party into the country’s upcoming national elections in 2024.

    The 70-year-old edged out Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila and Environment Minister Pohamba Shifeta in the race for the No. 2 position in the South West African People’s Organization.

    President Hage Geingob, who is due to step down at the end of his current term, refused to endorse a successor as his predecessors had done.

    “We have made history by electing the first female president come 2024,” Geingob said in a speech Monday in the capital, Windhoek. “I would like to tell her your task going ahead is heavy.”, Bloomberg quoted in a report.

    Swapo has led Namibia since independence in 1990 and remains the country’s biggest political party, but its popularity has recently waned because of discontent over rampant unemployment and a graft scandal that led to the arrests of former cabinet ministers and businessmen linked to the party.

    The party lost its two-thirds majority in the National Assembly in the last general election in 2019, and Geingob’s share of the vote fell to just over 50%, from 87% five years earlier.

    Source: African News

  • Namibia pulls down statue of German coloniser

     

    Authorities in Namibia’s capital Windhoek on Wednesday took down and relocated a statue of a controversial German colonial officer following pressure from local activists.

    The monument commemorated Curt von Francois, a German army commissioner who has been credited with founding Windhoek — something local campaigners and historians dispute.

    The statue, which stood on a high pedestal outside municipal buildings, depicted von Francois in a military uniform with a moustache, a large hat, and holding a sword.

    “This moment is a recollection of dignity, our city has been white-washed,” Hildegard Titus, an activist with the A Curt Farewell movement that pushed for the statue’s removal, told AFP.

    “There is an emotional tie to the statue being taken down but it also has to do with historical accuracy”.

    The city council said the statue, which A Curt Farewell described as “a reminder of genocide”, will now be kept at the Windhoek City Museum.

    There it will be displayed with an explanation of the historical context, said Aaron Nambadi, a curator at the museum.

    “We as historians and curators were involved in this project to correct the false narrative that von Francois was the founder of the city,” Nambadi told AFP.

    Germany colonised Namibia from 1884 to 1915.

    Between 1904 and 1908, German settlers killed tens of thousands of indigenous Herero and Nama people between in massacres historians have called the 20th century’s first genocide.

    Germany acknowledged the genocide last year after lengthy, bitter negotiations.

    It promised more than one billion euros ($1 billion) in financial support to descendants of the victims, whom many Namibians argue were not sufficiently involved in the negotiations.

    Last month Namibia asked to renegotiate the terms of the agreement.

    The removal of von Francois’ statue comes two years after the statue of Cecil Rhodes, a British colonialist, was beheaded by activists at the University of Cape Town in neighbouring South Africa during protests sparked by the death of George Floyd.

     

    Source: African News

  • Namibia brings down statue of German colonial officer

    After a successful petition, the statue of a controversial German colonial officer in Namibia’s capital Windhoek was removed.

    It was erected in 1965 in front of what is now the municipal building to honour Curt von François, the city’s founder.

    Between 1889 and 1894, Von François served as a senior officer in the German colony of South West Africa (modern-day Namibia).

    In 1892, he was the commanding officer during the massacre of Hoornkrans, an operation against a rising Nama rebellion in which at least 80 people, mostly women and children, were killed.

    On Wednesday, local artists performed rituals to reclaim the land where the statue stood before workers took it down from its pedestal.

    Activist Hildegard Titus, who led the petition to take down the statue, told news site Namibian that she was “very excited”.

    She said Von François had “wrongly been called the founder of Windhoek” and that he was a symbol of “colonial oppression”.

    A crowd that had gathered to witness the event applauded as the statue was removed.

    The city of Windhoek spokesperson Harold Akwenye said the statue will be kept in the museum but will be “re-erected” once a new spot has been agreed on.

  • Namibia wants to renegotiate Germany genocide payment deal

    Namibia says it will ask the German government to renegotiate the deal it agreed last year for payment relating to the genocide of the Ovaherero and Nama peoples.

    In May 2021, the German government for the first time formally recognised the colonial-era atrocities.

    It is estimated that 60,000 Ovaherero, more than 80% of the ethnic group’s total population in the region, and 10,000 Nama, 50% of its population, were killed between 1904 and 1908.

    Germany announced financial aid worth over €1bn ($1bn; £870m) to descendants.

    But the deal has been criticised by the opposition as flawed. The allegation is that some of the affected communities were not consulted.

    Namibian National Assembly’s Vice-President Nangolo Mbumba reportedly said the request to review the deal was made in July following discussions in parliament.

    “The government of Namibia is awaiting a response from the German side on what we have proposed,” the AFP news agency quoted him as saying on Thursday.

    The Namibian newspaper quoted Esther Muinjangue, a deputy minister and head of the National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo) party, as saying that she was committed to fighting for justice for the affected people.

    She said she intended to raise the matter at a forthcoming conference in Germany next week for a renegotiation of the deal.

    “What we are saying is that the process was not fair, because members of the affected communities were not represented. So, what we are saying is start the process again, because it is not something new,” she is quoted as saying.

    Source: BBC

  • news Namibia asks to renegotiate genocide deal with Germany

    Namibia wants Germany back at the negotiating table to discuss the genocide agreement reached last year between the two governments.

    “Technical committees of Namibia and Germany discussed the issue and proposed that amendments be made to the joint declaration in the form of an addendum which was submitted to the German government,” Namibia’s vice president Mbumba told a meeting of traditional leaders in the capital Windhoek, on Thursday (Oct 27).

    No details of the changes being sought were given. Namibia now awaits a response from Germany.

    The request to review the deal was made in July following discussions in the Namibian National Assembly. The government was coming under mounting criticism from the opposition.

    Germany acknowledged in May last year that it had committed “genocide” in the southern African territory which it colonised between eighteen eithy four and 1915.

    After over 5 years of negotiations, Germany offered about a billion dollar in development aid spread over 30 years to benefit descendants of the Herero and Nama ethnic groups. Stressing it would be paid on a “voluntary basis” and that the agreement was not comparable to “reparations”.

    Many Namibians rejected the agreement, arguing that the descendants of the Herero and Nama had not been sufficiently involved in the talks.

    At least 60,000 Hehero and about 10,000 Nama were killed between 1904 and 1908.

    Source: African News

  • Namibia: Health ministry confirms 54 swine flu cases

    Namibia’s health ministry says it has confirmed 54 cases of swine flu out of 190 suspected cases.

    In a statement issued Wednesday, the foreign ministry said the central Otjozundjopa region and the area surrounding the capital Windhoek were the most affected, with 24 positive cases reported in each area.

    “The cases were reported mainly from Otjozondjupa region (24 out of 37 suspected cases), Khomas (24 out of 138 suspected cases), and Kavango East (6 out of 15 suspected cases),” the statement reads.

    The cases were reported from July 2022 to date. Some of the cases were also investigated for Covid-19, but tested negative.

    H1N1 influenza, also known as swine flu, is an acute viral respiratory infection in humans, often characterised by fever, headache, myalgia and other flu-like symptoms.

    The southern African country experienced a large-scale swine flu outbreak in 2009-10, when over 8,000 suspected cases were reported. During that outbreak, 102 people tested positive and one person died.

    Children, elderly people and pregnant women are considered high-risk groups, the health ministry said.

    Source: Africa news

  • CCBA leads extensive beaches and rivers clean-up across Africa

    Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) is leading extensive beach and river clean-ups across the African continent this month as part of the International Coastal Clean-up initiative to remove plastic waste from the environment and raise awareness of the need to recycle.

    Teams of volunteers supported by CCBA have rallied across Ghana, South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique, Zambia, Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia to collect plastic waste.

    Every year, on the third Saturday of September, volunteers around the world take part in the world’s biggest coastal clean-up, International Coastal Cleanup Day.

    CCBA leads extensive beaches and rivers clean-up across Africa

    “Food and beverage packaging is an important part of our modern lives, yet the world has a packaging problem, which we as CCBA, together with the Coca-Cola Company, have a responsibility to help solve,” said Tshidi Ramogase, CCBA Chief Public Affairs, Communication and Sustainability Officer.

    “To encourage more people to recycle more often, we’re investing to help people understand what to recycle, how to recycle, and where to recycle. As part of International Coastal Cleanup Day, we are working with local communities and NGOs across Africa to highlight this critical issue.

    CCBA leads extensive beaches and rivers clean-up across Africa

    “These clean-ups help shift attitudes towards littering and recycling, encourage environmentally responsible waste-management habits and motivate communities across the continent to recycle,” Ramogase said.

    In Namibia, Coastal Cleanup Day coincides with a national clean-up day so the whole country is involved, as well as the Ministry for the Environment. CCBA will be doing clean-ups over September in Windhoek, Otjiwarongo, Keetmanshoop, Walvis Bay and Oshakati.

    In South Africa, there are clean-ups in Enseleni, Richards Bay, Durban, Gqeberha, East London and Port Shepstone.

    In Ghana, CCBA subsidiary, Voltic partnered with the University of Ghana Plastic Recycling Project and Miniplast Limited to clean up Laboma Beach.

    CCBA leads extensive beaches and rivers clean-up across Africa

    In Zambia, CCBA partnered with the Siavonga City Council to conduct a clean-up exercise at Lake Kariba.

    In Ethiopia, CCBA joined forces with a youth-led organisation called Green Rotaract Concept and cleaned up the Little Akaki River in Addis Ababa.

    The team in Mozambique not only held a volunteer clean-up but also had an educational workshop with well-known environmentalist, Carlos Serra, to help increase awareness of the need to develop good recycling habits.

    Ramogase added: “While increasing recycling rates and using more recycled content in packaging is key, it is equally important to dramatically increase the collection of post-consumer waste and prevent it from ending up in rivers and oceans.

    “This requires a mass awareness campaign to shift consumer behavior. We’re bringing people together through programmes like beach and river cleanups and other ongoing local activities.”

    CCBA aims to help make the world’s packaging problem a thing of the past, working in partnership with Coca-Cola Company which launched a sustainable packaging initiative called World Without Waste in 2018.

    CCBA aims to help collect a bottle or can for everyone it sells by 2030, to make all its packaging recyclable and have 50% recycled content in its packaging by 2030, and make 25% of its packaging reusable by 2030.

    Source:myjoyonline.com

  • Namibian medic awarded for her passion for patients

    A Namibian doctor has been awarded for offering free online consultation to people during the coronavirus pandemic.

    Dr Esperance Luvindao won the Commonwealth Points of Light award for offering 44,000 sessions.

    “I am beyond thrilled and we are honoured to accept the award! Like I always say, we do not do the work in order to be awarded but to be awarded for doing the work we love is a different kind of blessing,” she said.

    Dr Luvindao is a senior medical doctor from Windhoek.

    She has done community service and has been outspoken on local media about patient care.

    Dr Luvindao worked in northern Namibia where her passion to reach out to marginalised communities started.

    She discovered patients were travelling 50km (31 miles) with a poor transport network to access medical centres.

    Dr Luvindao also started the “1 Step at A Time” initiative that helped purchase medical equipment for village health practices, reaching thousands of patients in remote areas.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Ho is such a clean city Namibia’s High Commissioner

    The High Commissioner of Namibia to Ghana, Selma Ashipala-Musavyi has commended city authorities and residents of the Volta regional capital, Ho for keeping the city neat and clean.

    The High Commissioner who is currently taking part in the 5th Volta Trade and Investment Fair being held at the Ho Sports stadium noted that not many cities on the African continent are as clean and serene as Ho.

    She said, “What I will take away from the Volta region is the fact that the region has high potentials for tourism but I think I should take this opportunity to commend the leadership and the people of Ho; I have never seen such a clean town -keep it up. It is very impressive and I think it is in the DNA of the people of Ho and I hope and pray that the rest of Africa can tap this from Ho to make our continent clean.”

    As part of the ongoing fair, a high-powered delegation of African diplomats led by the Volta/Eastern/Oti Chairman of the Association of Ghana Industries, undertook a tree planting exercise at the Ho Jubilee Park to reiterate their commitment to the promotion of the agenda of climate change.

    The High Commissioner of Namibia to Ghana, Selma Ashipala-Musavyi has commended city authorities and residents of the Volta regional capital, Ho for keeping the city neat and clean.

    The High Commissioner who is currently taking part in the 5th Volta Trade and Investment Fair being held at the Ho Sports stadium noted that not many cities on the African continent are as clean and serene as Ho.

    She said, “What I will take away from the Volta region is the fact that the region has high potentials for tourism but I think I should take this opportunity to commend the leadership and the people of Ho; I have never seen such a clean town -keep it up. It is very impressive and I think it is in the DNA of the people of Ho and I hope and pray that the rest of Africa can tap this from Ho to make our continent clean.”

    As part of the ongoing fair, a high-powered delegation of African diplomats led by the Volta/Eastern/Oti Chairman of the Association of Ghana Industries, undertook a tree planting exercise at the Ho Jubilee Park to reiterate their commitment to the promotion of the agenda of climate change.

    The South African High Commissioner to Ghana, Grace Jeanet Mason who was part of the delegation told the media that, the significance of the tree planting exercise is also to show solidarity and their support for environmental friendly human activities that will promote sustainable trade and investment on the continent in line with the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

    Source: kasapafmonline.com

  • Namibia’s ‘founding father’ contracts coronavirus

    Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho said Arsenal made it difficult for his side as they won 2-0 in the north London derby on Sunday, and congratulated Gunners counterpart Mikel Arteta after the match.

    Spurs took the lead just 13 minutes into the Premier League clash when Son Heung-min smashed home from outside the box.

    Harry Kane doubled his side’s lead when he ran onto a pass from Son and put it past Bernd Leno in first-half stoppage time.

    The win sees Tottenham return to the top of the table and Mourinho says it was no easy feat for his team.

    “It was a big game in every sense, not just because it was Tottenham-Arsenal,” Mourinho told Sky Sports.

    “I want to give words, congratulations to Mikel Arteta because he gave us a very difficult game. Tactically they were very good, very organized. They gave us problems, problems we were able to resolve. They have good tactical courage and incredible spirit. They are a good team and he is a good coach.

    “We were reading the game and making the changes to win it because 2-0 was in our hands against a great and difficult opponent but my boys did well today.

    “I am very happy with the result and the performance, but of course I want the team in the second half to play in a different way. In reality, you don’t always do what you want to do because your opponent forces you in a different direction.

    “You are winning 2-0, why would you expose your defensive block if you don’t have to? It was a very difficult game.

    “I can imagine tomorrow the headlines will be about them not being in a good position in the table, but I believe with these players and Mikel it will be Arsenal vs Tottenham again.”

    Tottenham have taken seven points from their last three matches in the league, beating Manchester City and drawing with Chelsea in the build-up to Sunday’s derby.

    “We grew up. I can imagine lots of people can imagine three matches in a row – against Manchester City, Chelsea, and Arsenal – would be a moment for us to drop points and go back to ‘normality’ but we didn’t go back to ‘normality’. We are there,” Mourinho added.

    “I believe one more week at the top of the table unless Liverpool wins by many [against Wolves].”

    While Son and Kane netted the crucial goals, Mourinho praised his star attackers for the work they do outside of the box, too.

    “Harry Kane clearing balls in the box, Sonny for the first 60 minutes as a winger and then a second striker – it is not just about scoring goals and being world-class players,” he said.

    “It is about being great guys and doing your best for the team.”

    Source: goal.com

  • Namibia’s president mourns legislator

    Namibia’s President Hage Geingob has sent condolences to the family of MP Mandela Kapere.

    Mr Kapere was a former Executive Chairperson of the Namibia National Youth Council.

    The cause of his death has not been reported.

    The president described the legislator as an “illustrious youth leader”.

    He tweeted that the late Kapere had played an important role of shaping the youth leadership in Namibia:

    Source: bbc.com

  • Namibia to sell 170 elephants to protect its wildlife

    170 elephants in Namibia will soon be giving-up their homes amid pressure from drought and territorial conflict with humans.

    The Pachyderms on sale would comprise entire herds in order to preserve the important social structure in elephant communities.

    The ministry says the elephants are being sold “due to drought and increase in elephant numbers coupled with human-elephant conflict incidences.”

    – Wildlife Export –

    For export purposes, the buyers must ensure that CITES requirements are met by both exporting and importing states for the trade to be authorised,

    The sparsely-populated semi-arid southern African country has been criticized of recent for shooting elephants to control overpopulation.

    According official estimates, Namibia is home to some 28,000 elephants.

    Last year the government offered for sale around 1,000 animals including 600 buffalo, 150 springboks, 60 giraffes and 28 elephants.

    Source: africanews.com

  • China ‘denies military presence in Namibia’

    The Chinese embassy in Namibia has denied reports of massive Chinese military presence in the south-west African country, the Namibian Sun newspaper reports quoting an embassy spokesperson.

    Helen Lu Hairong told the newspaper that there had been no talks between the Chinese and Namibian governments about China building a military base at the coastal town of Swakopmund.

    Some Namibian MPs have claimed that about 3,500 Chinese troops were receiving training in the country.

    The Defence Minister Peter Vilho, while responding to MPs concerns last week, said the reports “were confidential”.

    China recently denied claims of seeking to establish military bases in Kenya and Tanzania.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Namibia turns down German genocide reparations offer

    Namibia’s President Hage Geingob has said the offer for reparations made by Germany for mass killings in its then colony was “not acceptable”.

    German troops killed tens of thousands of Herero and Nama people between 1904 to 1908 in response to an anti-colonial uprising.

    It is thought that 75% of the Herero population and half of the Nama population died.

    The two countries started negotiations over reparations in 2015 and have so far held eight rounds of talks.

    President Geingob was on Tuesday briefed about the negotiations by the Namibian negotiating team led by special envoy Zed Ngavirue.

    “The current offer for reparations made by the German Government remains an outstanding issue and is not acceptable to the Namibian Government,” the president said in a statement.

    No details of the offer was given.

    Germany has agreed to apologise in principle but declines to accept the term “reparations”, while Namibia finds the terminology “healing the wounds” inadequate, the statement added.

    The president’s office tweeted photos of the meeting between President Geingob and Mr Ngavirue.

    <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Today, I received a briefing from Amb. Zed Ngavirue on negotiations with Germany about Genocide, Apology and Reparations. Diplomacy is about compromise and I commend Amb. Ngavirue on progress regarding the task assigned to him. We remain resolute in completing this key mission. <a href="https://t.co/UZzxsjsr8u">pic.twitter.com/UZzxsjsr8u</a></p>&mdash; Hage G. Geingob (@hagegeingob) <a href="https://twitter.com/hagegeingob/status/1293264256302043138?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

    Source: bbc.com

  • Two Namibian ministers resign following Al Jazeera investigation

    Two Namibian government ministers resigned following allegations of corruption and money-laundering in the Namibian fishing industry.

    The Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources Bernhard Esau and the Minister of Justice Sacky Shanghala were accused of receiving bribes in return for giving preferential access to Namibia’s rich fishing grounds to Samherji, one of Iceland’s largest fishing companies.

    Esau and Shanghala stepped down “following press and media reports in which allegations of corruption have been made against” them, presidential spokesman Alfredo Hengari said in a statement.

    The resignations came in the wake of a joint investigation between Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit, the Icelandic State Broadcaster RUV, and the Icelandic magazine Stundin based on leaked documents provided by the whistleblowing group WikiLeaks.

    Read:Lesbians and gays in Namibia want separate toilets

    WikiLeaks on Tuesday released the “Fishrot” archive, a database of more than 30,000 documents containing internal emails, memos, powerpoint presentations, and media provided by former Samherji employee-turned-whistle-blower Johannes Stefansson.

    Al Jazeera’s investigation exposed the roles of well-connected Namibians who facilitated Samherji’s entry into the industry.

    ‘Fishrot’
    From 2012, Icelandic fishing company Samherji made payments to businesses associated with Shanghala worth close to $10m, the investigation found.

    Shanghala had a swift ascent in Namibian politics, from being the chairman of the Law Reform and Development Commission, to being the country’s attorney general until becoming justice minister.

    Read:SA meat ban leaves Namibian shops empty

    The well-connected politicians appear to have fixed a bilateral fishing agreement with neighbouring Angola in order to provide the Icelandic company Samherji with greater access to Namibian fishing quotas.

    Samherji is one of the country’s largest fishing conglomerates with an annual turnover of more than $700m. The company sells its fish to supermarket chains such as Marks and Spencer’s, Carrefour, Tesco and Sainsbury’s.

    In a statement, Samherji said it took the allegations seriously and solicited the aid of an international law firm to investigate.

    “We are deeply shocked that Johannes Stefansson not only admits being involved in illegal activities, he is now also making allegations against colleagues. This is not how we do business. This is not Samherji,” Samherji CEO Thorsteinn Mar Baldvinsson was quoted as saying.

    Read:Ex-fugitive in Namibia sues police for N$12 million

    In a press release, Namibian President Hage Geingob thanked Esau and Shanghala for their “patriotism and contribution to the work of government”.

    Geingob appointed acting ministers to replace them.

    Following his resignation, Esau denied allegations of corruption and said “no one has presented [him] with any evidence of monies or favours that Bernhard Esau received” in exchange for “duties as a minister”.

    When Shangala was first confronted with evidence against him, he told Al Jazeera: “I have no recollection of money coming from any relationship with Samherji.”

    Al Jazeera’s investigation Anatomy of a Bribe will be released on December 1.

    Source: aljazeera.com

  • Ex-fugitive in Namibia sues police for N$12 million

    A prison inmate serving a 57-year sentence is suing the Namibian Police for N$12 million, claiming he was wrongfully accused of having escaped after he was found guilty of rape, armed robbery and assault in the Windhoek High Court in February 2016.

    In a civil claim lodged at the High Court in September, Charles Namiseb is alleging that a police constable released him from custody after he had been found guilty, and that this release violated his constitutional right to dignity and to not be subjected to cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment.

    He is also claiming that his alleged release from custody caused a delay in the finalisation of his trial, and that the police defamed his character when they issued an alert calling for assistance to re-arrest him.

    Read: Nigerians groan under taxes, bank charges

    Namiseb (37) is suing the minister of safety and security, the inspector general of the Namibian Police, police officers who held senior positions in the Khomas region in 2016, and the police officer who investigated his alleged escape from the Windhoek Central Police Station for N$10 million for having allegedly violated his constitutional right to dignity.

    He is also suing the named defendants for N$2 million for defamation of character.

    A government lawyer has given notice that the defendants will be opposing Namiseb’s claim.

    According to Namiseb, a police constable released him from custody in 2016, and also made entries in record books to indicate the reason for his release.

    In actual fact, however, Namibiseb was found guilty on three counts of rape, a charge of robbery with aggravating circumstances, and two counts of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm on 29 February 2016, and was ordered to remain in custody until a scheduled presentence hearing about two weeks later.

    In spite of that, he disappeared from custody on the same day that the verdict in his trial was delivered, and remained on the run until he was arrested in South Africa in May 2017.

    Following his arrest, he resisted extradition to Namibia, but was eventually sent back in July 2018.

    His trial in the High Court was concluded in May this year, when he was sentenced to an effective 57 years’ imprisonment. A week after that sentencing, Namiseb was found not guilty in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court on a charge of escaping from lawful custody.

    It is understood that his acquittal on that charge came after evidence indicated that a police officer had let Namiseb go free from the Windhoek Central Police Station.

    Read: South African boy, 12, charged with murder after shooting brother, 3, dead

    In his civil claim, Namiseb says he was charged with having escaped, despite evidence being available to indicate that he had been released from police custody.

    He is also complaining that after his arrest in South Africa, he was detained in Pretoria, and was deemed “a very dangerous escapee” by the authorities, and placed in custody with other detainees who were also regarded as dangerous.

    During his detention in South Africa, he “was exposed to dangerous detainees that resulted in a lot of sleepless nights, just to be sure to stay alive”, Namiseb claims.

    He also complains that while in custody in South Africa, he was treated “as a worthless fugitive and/or escapee”.

    Namiseb further states that an alert that the Namibian Police circulated through Interpol to appeal for assistance in tracing him and having him arrested defamed his character worldwide, caused him to be “tortured emotionally”, and also damaged his family ties.

    Namiseb filed his claim for damages against the police in person, without legal representation.

    A case planning conference for the matter is scheduled for 7 November.

     

    Source: www.allafrica.com