🇳🇦NamibiaSouthern Africa
Namibian MPs question N$600,000 'liquor' budget for mines boards, ministry clarifies as sitting allowances
via The Namibian5 min read
Namibian parliamentarians have raised concerns over a N$600,000 budgetary allocation for 'liquor' within the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy. Affirmative Repositioning parliamentarian Ester Haikola-Sakaria questioned the expenditure during recent budget debates, highlighting ongoing shortages in hospitals and inadequate learning conditions for children. She urged verification of the allocation in the 'Estimates of Revenue, Income and Expenditure 2026/27–2028/29' document, page 251. Independent Patriots for Change shadow minister for industries, mines and energy Ferdinand Hengombe also criticized the allocation, calling it an extravagance that burdens taxpayers amidst economic challenges. However, minister of industries, mines and energy Modestus Amutse clarified that the N$600,000 is not for beverages but for board sitting allowances related to processing liquor license applications. He explained that the word 'liquor' caused confusion and that board members meet across regions to address license application backlogs and other liquor-related issues. The ministry is allocated N$826.7 million for the 2026/27 financial year, and estimates for 2027/28 indicate this amount could rise to N$2 million over two years for the same purpose.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has appointed former ambassador Wilfried Emvula as the chairperson of the National Governing Council NGC of the African Peer Review Mechanism APRM in Namibia. The council, comprising 10 members including the chairperson, will serve from February 1, 2026, to January 31, 2030. Emvula's previous roles include deputy minister of trade and industry, Swapo member of the National Council for the Erongo region, and ambassador to France, Ethiopia, the African Union, the Economic Commission for Africa, and permanent representative to the United Nations. President Nandi-Ndaitwah stated that the NGC's establishment aligns with article 19 of the APRM Statute 2020, aiming to provide strategic oversight and ensure transparency, credibility, and national ownership of the APRM process. She emphasized that the inauguration of the third National Governing Council reaffirms Namibia’s commitment to strengthening governance and contributing to Africa’s Agenda 2063. The APRM is seen as crucial in supporting the administration's priority areas by identifying governance reforms for national development. The appointments reflect confidence in the members' expertise, integrity, and commitment to good governance. Other council members include former ambassador to China Elia Kaiyamo, economist Salomo Hei, Betty Schroder, Sauna Kaakunga, Roseta Nawases, Naita Hishoono, Rosemary Nalisa, justice activist Uhuru Dempers, and Hakusembe Hakusembe.
Telecom Namibia has initiated a phased infrastructure upgrade program, scheduled to run through 2026 and into early 2027. The initiative aims to bolster network resilience and improve service reliability. According to Telecom Namibia chief executive Stanley Shanapinda, the program involves upgrading core routing systems, decommissioning unstable international connectivity routes, and accelerating broader network modernization efforts to ensure more stable and continuous service delivery. Shanapinda also mentioned the acceleration of major transformation programs, including fixed-mobile convergence and billing platform modernization, to reduce reliance on aging systems and strengthen service continuity. These upgrades are designed to address structural challenges such as aging infrastructure and the need for improved system integration, resilience, and automation. Telecom Namibia plans to invest over N$2.3 billion in the coming years to expand and upgrade its national telecommunications infrastructure. This investment will support the expansion of fibre-to-the-home and business services, strengthen the national fibre backbone, upgrade mobile networks from 3G to 4.5G, prepare for 5G, and enhance international connectivity via the Google Equiano subsea cable. Additional funding will be allocated to billing systems, customer self-service platforms, cybersecurity, cloud services, and backup power solutions. RMB Namibia has provided a N$405 million social loan to Telecom Namibia to
Flooding along the Kunene River has destroyed crops in several Epupa villages and cut off the clean water supply to Otjimuhaka Primary School, affecting hundreds of pupils. Epupa constituency councillor Kuuoko Tjimutambo stated that villages like Okozongombe, Otjamaungu, and Otjimuhaka have had crops washed away, impacting farmers who rely on vegetable gardens for food and income. The damage to Otjimuhaka Primary School's water supply poses serious health and sanitation risks for pupils and staff, forcing them to use unsafe river water. The school's garden is submerged, and the water pumping cylinder was washed away. Principal Elias Uusizi reported that the situation has worsened, with pupils now fetching water directly from the Kunene River. The Ministry of Health and Social Services donated water purification tablets during an assessment visit. Floods have also disrupted movement, leaving some pupils stranded at the school, particularly those crossing from Angola. Uusizi also highlighted concerns about food shortages impacting the school feeding program and inadequate infrastructure such as fencing, sanitation facilities, and lighting. The school, which accommodates about 300 pupils, urgently needs clean water interventions, including boreholes and purification systems, and improved infrastructure. The flooding follows an urgent warning from NamPower to residents along the Kunene River due to heavy rainfall in southern Angola, with NamPower opening a second floodgate at the
Must ReadSwapo is experiencing internal division following an unsuccessful attempt to evict former freedom fighters who have been camping at the party's national headquarters since October last year. The group is demanding answers regarding funds they claim were given to the party to assist exiled Namibians returning home before independence. The urgent application by Swapo to obtain a court order for their eviction was struck off the Windhoek High Court's roll by judge Gabriel Komboni. Former Swapo secretary general Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana questioned the legitimacy of the legal action, stating that such a decision should have been made by the party's central committee, not the politburo. She emphasized that the central committee has never approved taking freedom fighters to court and sought to know who authorized the legal action. Swapo deputy secretary general Uahekua Herunga stated that the decision was made by the politburo, which manages the party's daily affairs, while the central committee acts as the policymaker. Swapo stalwart Nahas Angula suggested that the party should negotiate with the group, who he believes are in social distress, rather than pursuing legal action. He also denied claims that the United Nations gave money directly to Swapo for ex-combatants, suggesting any such funds would have gone to the United Nations high commissioner for refugees. Swapo's court application sought to declare the occupation of its headquarters unlawful and to order the eviction of the