The trend of replacing workers in the fishing industry with robotic machinery is a huge concern for the Trade Union Congress of Namibia (TUCNA).
Paulus Hango, the president of the union, says machinery is taking over the job of fish processing.
“Many employees do not work throughout the year anymore due to the effective capabilities of these hi-tech machines which are very fast.
Read more about Union worries about robots replacing people
Local rapper Diogene Ochs, known by his stage name D-Jay, spent the early hours of yesterday at the Wanaheda police station after he was accused of kidnapping an underage Windhoek girl.
D-Jay was questioned at the Wanaheda police station charge-office and was later released without being charged.
In a press statement later yesterday, D-Jay said the girl in question was later found by the police and also taken to the station.
Read more about D-Jay in kidnapping saga
Finance Minister Calle Schlettwein is not convinced that granting amnesty to tax defaulters is the solution to broadening the tax base.
Speaking at Friday’s annual budget review luncheon hosted by KPMG, Simonis Storm, Prime Focus magazine and the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI), Schlettwein said while it was necessary to restore the public’s willingness to pay taxes, granting amnesties was not necessary the solution.
Read more about Schlettwein will not entertain tax amnesty now
About two years ago more than 200 villagers were left on the streets, falling into the slumber of unemployment, idleness and alcoholism.
This became the state of Witvlei, situated 150 kilometres from Windhoek on the way to Gobabis, after its main economic activity, the Witvlei Meat abattoir, closed down due to bickering between the government and investors.
Sadly, the small village of about 5 000 people is now dominated by cuca shops, shebeens and street vendors selling food to travellers on the Trans-Kalahari Highway.
Read more about Witvlei: A sleepy village with big dreams
The Swapo Party Youth League’s (SPYL) Central Committee has compared a Facebook post by its economic affairs secretary Imms Nashinge to the controversial ‘Nyamu notes’.
Read more about SPYL compares Facebook post to ‘Nyamu notes’
A total of 34 poached rhino carcases have been discovered in Namibia since the beginning of this year of which 29 rhino carcases were discovered in the Etosha National Park.
These shocking statistics were revealed by the deputy inspector-general for operations of the Namibian police, Major General James Tjivikua, who yesterday reported on the progress made by the Joint Anti-Poaching Operation in Etosha National Park.
Read more about 34 rhino poached so far
The new mayor of Rehoboth, Christina Blaauw, says the town will have sufficient land to meet its needs for the next five years.
At a press briefing on Friday Blaauw said planning for
5 000 plots was complete and approved by the Namibian Townships Planning and Advisory Board (NAMPAB).
Harmonic Planning Consultants have also completed a pre-approval stage of over 600 erven in the upmarket area of Portion H.
Read more about Rehoboth council welcomes probe
At the age of 80, Benestus and Alfons Kahikumunu say obedience and avoiding conflict have kept them alive and together for so long.
The twins hosted a celebration a farm about 100 kilometres east of Gobabis in the Omaheke Region at the weekend.
They had a wealth of advice for the younger generation and also expressed concern over the division among the OvaHerero and OvaMbanderu communities.
They stressed that young people should work hard, whether they follow the academic or vocational route.
Read more about 80 years wise: The Kahikumunu twins
The immigration department is tightening surveillance at the country’s entry points to ensure that people entering Namibia from yellow-fever-endemic countries have been vaccinated against the viral disease.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) country representative, Professor Monir Islam, has reassured Namibians that there is no need for panic in the wake of reports of a fast-spreading yellow-fever epidemic in neighbouring Angola.
Read more about No need to panic over yellow fever - WHO
A farmer accused of shooting and killing a suspected poacher on the farm Otukaruno in the Okahandja District has been denied bail.
Okahandja Magistrate Masule Kwizi yesterday refused the bail application of Kai Rust, 43, who appeared in court on a charge of murder, three counts of attempted murder, possession of a firearm without a licence and possession of ammunition without a licence.
Read more about Bail denied to Okahandja farmer
The Windhoek High Court could not uphold the defence counsel’s objection that one of the accused in a prison sex scandal was not properly informed of his rights in that his bail application record could be used at the trial.
Judge Dinnah Usiku, after a trial-within-a-trial, ruled that the records of the bail proceeding in respect of Benedictus Afrikaner are admissible.
“It can be used against him during the trial,” she ruled.
Read more about Records of bail proceedings ruled as admissible evidence
There is a strong need for the government to look into establishing its own pharmaceutical plant, even if just for antiretroviral (ARV) drugs, Health Minister Bernhard Haufiku said yesterday.
He criticised the irregular and erratic tender and procurement processes which delay the procurement of drugs, saying a clear system to access medicine needed to be established.
According to him putting up a manufacturing plant is not easy but Uganda, which recently opened a pharmaceutical plant, is an example that it can be done successfully in Namibia.
Read more about Nam needs drug plant
A recent donation of computer equipment worth N$79 million from the Indian government will accelerate the government’s plans to replace the pink, yellow and green “health passports” with machine-readable cards.
This was announced by the Minister of Health and Social Services, Bernhard Haufiku, during a roundtable discussion between the ministry and India’s Indus Healthcare on Monday.
“We are still stuck with manual recording on the health passports which often disappear and then you must start all over,” he said.
Read more about India offers medical assistance
Namibia Media Holdings (NMH) in collaboration with MTC yesterday handed over N$50 000 to students who took part in an SMS competition linked to the 2015 Grade 12 results.
Ten students each received N$5 000.
NMH CEO Albe Botha said it was the company’s social responsibility to invest in the new generation.
“Thank you for allowing us to invest in you and we hope that all of you will contribute to the betterment of the country,” he said.
The 10 recipients were grateful for the help with their tuition fees.
Read more about NMH, MTC give financial aid to students
Pensioners in northern Namibia say the N$100 increase in their monthly pensions will make a difference in their lives.
Last week Thursday during the tabling of the 2016/2017 national budget, Finance Minister Calle Schlettwein announced that the monthly grant for pensioners would increase from N$1 000 to N$1 100.
Schlettwein said the grants were effective to address the poverty and vulnerability faced by senior citizens.
Read more about N$100 will make a difference
As part of the global “#We PROTECT children online” programme, Namibia made an urgent call to action last week and agreed on greater effort and innovation to identify and address child online sexual abuse.
Despite the significantly high risk of online sexual abuse faced by Namibian children with easy access to the internet, there are currently no regulations in place to deter, detect and address child online sexual abuse material.
Read more about Legal framework for online sex abuse
The government has not yet decided whether to buy the Erindi Private Game Reserve that was exclusively offered to the government at a price of about N$1.43 billion.
This was confirmed yesterday by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Lands and Resettlement, Chrispin Matongela.
He said although a valuation of the 70 000-hectare game reserve had been completed, a lot of administrative work still needed to be done before a decision would be made.
He said the acquisition of any farm involved a tedious and time-consuming process and legal implications.
Read more about No decision on Erindi sale
The controversial Kora All-Africa Music Awards are unlikely to take place later this month as initially billed, Namibian Sun has learned.
According to well-placed sources, the awards have been called off indefinitely following a high-profile meeting earlier this week. Organisers of the awards have been hard at work over the past few weeks trying to solicit enough funds to stage the event in Windhoek on March 20.
The event has not taken place for many years and recently its founder, Ernest Adjovi, announced that the awards would now be permanently held in Namibia.
Read more about Kora called off indefinitely
