The Namibian government will inject close to N$700 million into the cash-strapped Air Namibia for operating expenses in the new financial year.
The amount as stated in the national budget is the largest bailout yet for the airline.
It is projected that the airline will receive over N$2 billion from state coffers over the next three years, which includes N$730 million for the 2017/18 financial year and N$756 million for the 2018/19 financial year.
Read more about More bailouts
A Congolese doctor, contracted by the Namibian ministry of health, has been arrested after it emerged that he was working for a private practice while on official leave from his government job.
The doctor, who hails from the Democratic Republic of Congo, was identified as Jean Paul Masasa Ilunga.
He was caught doing work on the side by Health Minister Bernhard Haufiku’s personal assistant, who with his police brother posed as patients.
Read more about Doctor nabbed for moonlighting
The Namibia Financial Institutions Union (Nafinu) yesterday said that workers at Agribank Namibia and Letshego Financial Services Namibia would resort to demonstrations or strikes should various alleged unfair labour practices and other issues remain unresolved.
Asnath Zamuee, general secretary at Nafinu, said the “surprise” re-advertisement of the CEO position at Agribank, where the minimal qualification was lowered from a master’s degree to a bachelor’s degree, plus a list of alleged unfair labour practices at Letshego, were at the centre of their grievances.
Read more about Nafinu threatens strike at Agribank, Letshego
Two passionate mountain-bikers from opposite sides of the globe and separated by 10 000km will team up to compete in the legendary Absa Cape Epic.
Piet Swiegers, the 48-year-old Namibian veteran cross-country mountain-bike champion from Aus, will join 55-year-old Swedish masters mountain-bike champion Atle Hansen, from Hölö, Sweden, to cycle the Cape Epic, which takes place on March 13-20.
And, if past achievement is anything to go by, the team will provide stiff competition to other riders in their category.
Read more about Fire and Ice team up for the Cape Epic
In remembrance of Raymond van Schoor and to promote cricket in Namibia, Zandré la Cock and her trustees, national player Sarel Burger and the president of Cricket Namibia (CN), Richard Frankle, have launched the Raymond van Schoor Cricket Foundation.
The foundation is a charitable organisation that raises funds to help young, talented Namibian cricketers to follow their dreams and live out their passion while leaving a long-lasting legacy for Van Schoor, who died last year.
Read more about Foundation in honour of Van Schoor launched
Namibia’s former International Boxing Organisation (IBO) All-Africa welterweight champion Bethuel ‘Tyson’ Uushona has promised his fans a great fight on March 26.
Uushona, who will exchange blows with Ghanaian Justice Addy, was speaking at a press conference held by the Salute Boxing Academy.
The Governor’s Boxing Bonanza is scheduled for March 26 at Eenhana in the Ohangwena Region.
Uushona recently joined the academy after parting ways with Nestor Tobias’s Sunshine Boxing and Fitness Academy.
Read more about Tyson promises night to remember
The game between Civics and Rundu Chiefs, which will be screened live by the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) on Saturday, will be a showcase of good football.
That is the view of the two MTC Namibia Premier League (NPL) sides’ representatives, who addressed the media yesterday at the Namibia Football Association (NFA) offices.
“We are teams that both believe in playing the ball on the ground and so the clash will be quite exciting,” said Rundu Chiefs spokesman Malakia ‘Jomo’ Simaho.
Read more about ‘Ball-playing’ NPL teams promise great spectacle
Asnath Zamuee, GS of Nafinu, highlights the issues and proposed steps. Read the full story in today's Namibian Sun newspaper.
Namibia Professional Boxing and Wrestling Control Board (NPBWCB) secretary-general Joe Kaperu says there is no problem with staging two fights on the same day.
The administrator was responding to questions that arose after the board sanctioned two boxing events scheduled for the same evening.
Both the MTC Nestor Sunshine Boxing Academy and Salute Boxing Academy will stage fights on March 26 - the former at the Windhoek Country Club and the latter at the Eenhana Sports Complex.
That is no problem, Kaperu says.
Read more about We have the capacity to stage two events - Kaperu
Oshakati-based Young Chiefs got tracksuits and bags, which they will be able to use during the remainder of their MTC Namibia Premier League (NPL) games.
Businessman Olavi Iita, who owns several buses, said it was to show his appreciation for the team that he made the sponsorship.
“I want the team to be at a semi-professional level by attracting more sponsors as well as players to be part of the team,” he said.
The outfits cost N$50 000, he said. Iita also made two buses available to transport Young Chiefs’ supporters to this weekend’s league games.
Read more about Young Chiefs get outfit boost
The management of the Rosh Pinah Zinc mine yesterday failed to strike a wage deal with the Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN).
During yesterday’s meeting the union yet again rejected the proposed 5.5% salary increase and refused to return to the negotiating table until the zinc and lead producer came up with a better offer.
The MUN initially demanded a 12.5% salary increase across the board, but was willing to settle for 10% - an increase that the mine’s management insists it cannot pay in the current economic environment.
Read more about No deal between union and Rosh Pinah Zinc
The vice-chairperson of the TransNamib board, Elize Angula, has taken issue with an allegation that she is trying to convince the rest of the board to pay out a handsome settlement to suspended chief executive officer Sara Naanda because the two are allegedly friends.
An email sent anonymously claims that the two women are “good” friends and that Angula, instead of recusing herself from discussions confirming Naanda’s dismissal, wants to push for a settlement to benefit Naanda.
Read more about Angula denies meddling in TransNamib settlement
Government’s commitment of N$2 billion dollars for the construction of a new parliament building this financial year has caused public uproar.
This is despite National Assembly Speaker Peter Katjavivi strongly defending the N$1.4 billion increase from what was initially projected for this year when the budget was presented last year.
Katjavivi said that was justifiable. He said the figure of N$638 million was originally projected based on the fact that the new building was going to house the National Assembly alone.
Read more about Katjavivi catches flak over new parliament
The economic crisis in neighbouring Angola has had far-reaching implications for the Namibian economy.
At least eleven sectors including retail, tourism, accommodation, transport, construction, education, banking and healthcare have experienced a rapid decline, mainly due to Angola’s economic crisis.
As the economy of Africa’s second-largest oil producer continues to nosedive, the Namibian market, which relies heavily on Angolan consumers, is fighting its own battles.
Read more about Crisis of epic proportions
Namibia is the most tolerant country in Africa, but homophobia still divides the country, according to data released by Afrobarometer.
“When compared with similar national data across Africa, Namibia emerged as the most tolerant country,” stated the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), which is the Afrobarometer partner in Namibia alongside Survey Warehouse.
Namibia was followed by Malawi and Burundi while the least tolerant countries were Niger, Tunisia and Morocco.
Read more about Namibians most tolerant in Africa
President Hage Geingob yesterday gave the local media a 6.5 out of 10 rating following an informal meeting with editors from publishing and broadcasting houses at State House.
“You are doing your job. I always say that one job I would never take is to be a journalist… It is a dangerous job. The press can improve and we can all improve,” he said.
The meeting was initiated by the presidency and it was a platform for editors to consult and interact with the president and selected cabinet ministers.
Read more about Geingob gives media 6.5 out of 10
