Namibians rejoiced at the weekend, when the extreme heat and dry conditions gripping the country were finally interrupted by some much-needed rain.
And promising rain conditions are being predicted over the greater part of the Namibian interior for the entire week.
As rain persists throughout the week, Namibians can also expect some relief from the hot temperatures that have been experienced recently.
Read more about More rain relief on the way
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for global action to protect and promote fundamental freedoms, in order to stop war and bloodshed that is causing millions to flee their homes.
Speaking ahead of Human Rights Day, which is celebrated on December 10 each year, Ban said the millions of refugees and internally displaced persons are a tragic product of the failure to promote and fulfil these freedoms.
He said that not since the Second World War have so many people been forced to flee their homes.
Read more about Human rights is about the refugees
While expressing his shock that 42% of Namibians are malnourished, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare Minister Zephania Kameeta says that hunger should be treated like a national emergency, just like the drought disasters often faced by the country.
Kameeta, who was speaking at a workshop on peri-urban agriculture in Windhoek yesterday, said one of the biggest reasons for poverty in Namibia is that projects decided upon are not being implemented, because “people do not want to work”.
Read more about 42% of Namibians go hungry
Deputy Minister of Land Reform, Bernadus Swartbooi says it is high time for the ministry to work out a plan on how long people resettled on farms should be helped.
A frustrated Swartbooi said this while addressing resettlement farmers at Farm Bernafey in the Hardap Region last week.
Swartbooi held a meeting with the farmers, where he asked them to provide reasons his office had received reports of infighting amongst the beneficiaries and why there was a lack of productivity at the resettlement farm located 30 km south-east of Stampriet.
Read more about Resettled farmers called to account
Not only are Brakwater plot owners up during the wee hours of the morning, because of frequent gunshots, they are also standing guard to make sure they are not robbed blind for the umpteenth time, since the rapid expansion of the Mix-settlement over past three years.
Plot owner Ron Claasen told Namibian Sun they have been writing letters of complaint to the City of Windhoek, asking for intervention, but have not yet received a response.
According to Claasen, he has lost items worth over N$100 000 this year alone, after his house was broken into.
Read more about Brakwater turns into warzone
Passengers booked with flyafrica.com have been left in the lurch, amid flight cancellations and uncertainty over whether ticketholders will be able to fly over the holiday period.
Last month, FlyAfrica Namibia was forced to suspend its services, after the airline’s Zimbabwe operations came to a halt.
Complaints about poor service and a host of other allegations against FlyAfrica are now pouring in day by day.
The low-budget airline has reportedly closed all ticket sales until January 17.
This applies to all routes it operates.
Read more about Uncertainty continues to dog FlyAfrica
Confidential government documents have revealed that media reports of collusion between Attorney-General Sacky Shanghala and businessman Paulo Shipoke - involving an alleged N$3 million bribe - are incorrect.
Minutes of an October 5 meeting indicate that Shanghala was not part of a gathering that negotiated a N$17.5 million settlement agreement with Shipoke’s Power-Oyeno Construction.
Read more about Shanghala bribery claims refuted
Fishermen on strike in Lüderitz and Walvis Bay have been interdicted by the Labour Court from inciting others to join their protest action.
This follows allegations by 12 affected fishing companies that the striking seafarers have been intimidating, harassing and assaulting colleagues, who do not support them or who were employed after the strike started on October 26.
The interim interdict, granted yesterday by acting Judge Petrus Unengu, does not stipulate that the striking fishermen should return to work.
Read more about Striking fishermen interdicted from inciting others
The mass disciplinary hearing of more than 180 Shoprite Checkers employees has been postponed until early next year, after the company’s first witness fell sick.
Uno Katjipuka, who is the workers’ legal representative, confirmed the postponement, saying the hearing will now run from January 18.
She said the first witness, Shoprite Namibia’s human resources officer Karen Smith, was not feeling well during her testimony on November 6, and could not continue.
The hearing, which commenced on November 2, follows workers participating in an unlawful demonstration.
Read more about Shoprite Checkers hearing postponed
Queen Martha Mwadinomho Kristiaan Nelumbu says she cannot believe it has already been ten years since she was chosen to succeed her late uncle Kornelius Mwetupunga Shelungu, as leader of the Oukwanyama Traditional Authority.
Speaking during a special ceremony held at Omhedi Palace in Helao Nafidi on Monday – marking the decade she has been at the helm of the tribal authority, the queen said her subjects had treated her with respect and she had received the needed assistance.
Nelumbu succeeded King Shelungu, who died on October 3, 2005.
Read more about Queen’s decade-long rule celebrated
Mensah-Williams was yesterday nominated unopposed to take over from Swapo stalwart Asser Kapere.
She has served as vice-chairperson, after joining the National Council as Khomasdal North Constituency Councillor in 1998.
She received a total of 4 121 of the 5 407 votes cast in her constituency during the November 27 regional and local government elections, where she was re-elected for a fourth time.
Read more about Margaret grabs top National Council post
Miss Namibia Steffi Van Wyk, who is competing at the Miss World pageant in China, will wear at least four outfits made by South African fashion designers.
At least three of Steffi’s gowns were designed by South African fashion designer Ernst Venske, while another South African Paul van Zyl also contributed.
Read more about Miss Namibia dressed by SA designers at Miss World
While many are celebrating the arrival of much-needed rainfall to Namibia’s drought-stricken shores, the homeless and destitute in the Windhoek are finding no joy in the supposed showers of blessing.
Among those who are facing increasing suffering because of the rain are the struggle kids camping inside the Swapo headquarters.
A visit yesterday by Namibian Sun revealed soaked blankets, clothes and mattresses.
Read more about Rain no blessing to the homeless
After serving only two years as the head of the Namibia Institute of Public Administration and Management (Nipam), Professor Joseph Diescho was yesterday shown the door, allegedly because of his weekly newspaper column that is perceived to be very critical of government and its operations.
The column, published in the New Era newspaper, is called Diescho’s Dictum.
Others say the institution’s board did not agree with the manner in which he was running it.
This comes just weeks after Diescho was forced out of a house he has been occupying as Nipam executive director.
Read more about Diescho’s Dictum leaves him jobless
Speaking yesterday during the sentencing of the men found guilty of high treason, murder and attempted murder in connection with secession attempt on 2 August 1999, Hoff said the conduct of law enforcement agencies at the time was irreconcilable with the fundamental human rights enshrined in the country’s constitution.
Hoff sentenced five of the men, whom he classified as political and military leaders, to a collective 90 years imprisonment for high treason, murder and attempted murder.
Read more about Judge lashes armed forces
Former permanent secretaries Erastus Negonga and Joseph Iita have obtained a court order interdicting and restraining government from permanently filling their posts.
This follows them obtaining an arbitration award in October that found their dismissals in April were procedurally and substantively unfair
Read more about Negonga, Iita block govornment
At least two ministers, a current MP and a former MP, as well as the head of a northern traditional authority are mentioned as “kingpins” involved in rhino and elephant poaching in the Etosha National Park.
The executive director of Namrights, Phil ya Nangoloh, said he has made these shocking findings during an independent investigation into the human rights implications of the rhino poaching affair during June and July this year.
Read more about Political figures named in poaching
