Opposition parties in Namibia reject Gerson Sindano's appointment to ECN, demand full documentation
via The Namibian2 min read
Several opposition parties in Namibia are refusing to approve Gerson Sindano's appointment as Electoral Commission of Namibia ECN chairperson, demanding that parliament provide all documentation supporting his nomination. Sindano is currently an ECN commissioner, with his term set to expire in June 2027. The term of the current ECN chairperson ends on September 16. Affirmative Repositioning AR member of parliament Job Amupanda has filed an urgent High Court application to prevent parliament from voting on Sindano's appointment and the approval of other commissioners. Amupanda's affidavit requests that members of parliament receive interview minutes, applicants' score sheets, and the selection committee’s recommendations before any vote, arguing that lawmakers cannot make an informed decision otherwise. Opposition leaders, speaking at a joint press conference, stated they would not be rushed into approving nominees while questions about the recommendation and nomination process remain. They also expressed concerns about Sindano’s past role as a personal assistant to Swapo’s secretary general, suggesting it could compromise public confidence in the ECN's independence. Popular Democratic Movement president McHenry Venaani emphasized that the opposition's stance aims to protect parliamentary integrity and ensure constitutional procedures are followed. Official opposition leader Imms Nashinge accused National Assembly speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila of allowing unfair treatment
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
England will play Norway in a World Cup quarter-final in Miami, featuring a matchup between Harry Kane and Erling Haaland. The winner will advance to face either reigning champions Argentina or Switzerland in the semi-finals. Kane has scored six goals for England, while Haaland has netted seven for Norway, whose run included eliminating Brazil. England received a boost with the return to training of Declan Rice, Marc Guehi, and Reece James. The match in Miami is expected to be played in high temperatures. Argentina, aiming to be the first country since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back World Cups, has shown some vulnerabilities in the knockout rounds. Lionel Messi, who turned 39 during the group stage, has been crucial for Argentina, and will be looking to add to his record 21 World Cup goals. Switzerland, led by Granit Xhaka, is seen as a well-organized team that could challenge Argentina in Kansas City. In other news, Spain defeated Belgium 2-1 to secure a spot in a semi-final against France, with Mikel Merino scoring the winning goal in the 88th minute after a goalkeeping error.
Must ReadNamibia is preparing for a potentially severe drought, as the Enso forecast indicates a strong likelihood of a Super El Niño event. El Niño, characterized by a warming of the ocean surface, directly correlates with dry seasons and droughts in Namibia. The probabilities for a strong El Niño are high, suggesting a severe drought is likely. This follows a very strong El Niño in 2024, which led to a national state of emergency and was described as the worst drought in 100 years. During that period, the Hardap Dam's capacity dropped to 5.5% in December 2024, and crop production was 56% lower than in 2023 and 70% lower than in 2022. The government also permitted the culling of wild animals for drought relief. The upcoming El Niño is expected to last from October to March 2027, coinciding with Namibia's critical planting and rainy season, raising concerns for water security and crop farmers.
Award-winning Namibian theatremaker Ndayola Ulenga, recently honored with the Namibian Theatre and Film Awards’ best directing prize for her adaptation of 'The Wasp', is set to begin a master’s of fine arts in professional acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art Lamda in September. Ulenga, who describes music as her first language, honed her craft through ballet and drama from a young age. After earning a bachelor of social science degree with a major in drama and a postgraduate diploma in management and marketing from the University of Cape Town, she initially worked in marketing and advertising while seeking opportunities in the arts. Her career has since flourished, with her filmography including 'The Funeral' and 'Penda’s Dilemma'. She gained significant recognition with 'Stories from Childhood', later reworked into 'Koko', a semi-autobiographical solo performance that explores her Namibian identity and family history, presented in collaboration with Owela Live Arts Collective Trust. Ulenga recently participated in the International Forum at the Berliner Festspiele’s Theatertreffen, the world’s largest German-language theatre festival, where she noted the primary difference between Namibian and German theatremakers was resources, not talent. She aims to use her upcoming studies at Lamda to advocate for Namibian and African artists on an international stage, emphasizing the importance of stories as natural resources for national development. Ulenga is curren