Lawyer Dirk Conradie wishes he had never held the meeting that caused his arrest back in 2012. He testified last week that he meant to help black economic empowerment during talks with advertising company directors. Conradie served as board chairman for the mobile phone company MTC when the meeting happened. The gathering took place just before MTC needed to decide about a N$60 million advertising contract. His case started in 2016 when he denied all charges against him.
Prosecutors claim Conradie promised to help the ad company win if they accepted Sara Damases as a business partner. He first claimed Damases called him about the meeting, but later admitted he sent her to request it. Conradie denied sharing any board information with...
The Environment Ministry will spend N$45 million to protect animals and natural areas. Minister Indileni Daniel announced this during her N$727 million budget talk last week. The money aims to save elephants, rhinos, and pangolins from hunters who kill them illegally. Workers counted animals from planes and vehicles in community areas. Teams also captured more than 200 rhinos to remove their horns for safety.
The ministry moved some animals to create jobs through tourism businesses near protected areas. Officials set aside N$51 million for tourism growth and gaming rules. Visitor numbers rose from 169,565 during COVID-19 to 863,872 last year. Another N$33 million will fix old buildings and build new ones in parks. The ministry plans to...
The Agriculture Ministry asked Parliament for N$2.57 billion to spend next year. Minister Inge Zaamwani-Kamwi presented this budget on Thursday, with N$2.57 billion for daily needs and N$515 million for building projects. The money aims to help food growing and land sharing through new programs. The largest amount, N$1.49 billion, goes to farming growth. Land reform receives N$23 million.
The ministry plans to develop more animal vaccines against diseases like foot-and-mouth disease and finish setting up meat equipment at Ongwediva Plant. Last year, officials helped almost 80,000 grain farmers through dry-land crop programs. They gave 840 goats to 40 families and supported 529 chicken farmers. The ministry bought eight farms covering...
A Nampower manager appeared in court Friday after a deadly car crash that killed Pauline Idipo. David Mbidi faces charges of causing death through dangerous driving. The prosecutor asked to delay the case until July 23 for further investigation. Mbidi told the judge he needs a new lawyer because LegalWise said his first choice does not work with them. The court extended his bail but warned him not to leave town without telling police.
Police reports show Mbidi crashed into Idipo's car from behind at high speed on February 7. The sedan driver suffered serious injuries and went to the hospital. Officers found Mbidi sitting alone in the passenger seat of his vehicle. He claimed someone else drove his car but ran away after the crash...
Parliament members approved a 398 million dollar budget for the National Assembly last Friday. This budget doubles the previous amount of 196 million dollars. The new money gives 363 million for daily operations. It saves 5 million for development projects. Chief party representatives met with Deputy Speaker Phillipus Katamelo to resolve earlier disagreements.
The approval came after much debate about limited resources. Many lawmakers felt the money was not enough for their needs, so they refused the budget plan during the April sessions. The finance committee started reviewing their complaints about office space problems. Some members wanted better facilities before voting yes.
Lawmakers settled their differences during a short...
People who live in the Brenden Simbwaye settlement need better living conditions. They lack toilets and must use open areas where snakes bite them and thieves attack them. Women often scream for help when robbers target them near the trash dump where they relieve themselves. Streets remain dark at night because power lines do not reach this area. The single working water tap serves everyone because the second tap broke years ago.
Community leader Abner Kotokeni asks for basic facilities like northern-style pit toilets. He reported problems to both the city office and local councilor Nestor Kalola without success. The city promised light towers near the school last May, but residents see little progress. Officials say they plan to...
Namibia Breweries Limited shows mixed results despite claims of recovery. Money experts at Simonis Storm question if things look better than they really are. The brewing company made more money last term, with earnings up 94 percent. They paid dividends again after stopping payments before. But cash problems continue under the surface for the beer maker.
The company struggles to turn extra sales into actual profit. Their debt keeps growing as they expand into new drinks. Adding more products has brought in money, but failed to make the business stronger overall. The company remains stuck with tight profit limits despite selling many more products. Experts suggest people should view the company gains with caution.
The Kurdish rebel group, PKK, announced it will stop fighting Turkey after 40 years. The banned group started fighting in the 1980s for a separate Kurdish state, but later changed to seek more rights for Kurdish people. PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan urged the group to end armed struggle from his prison cell. He has stayed locked up alone since 1999 in an island jail near Istanbul. The conflict between PKK fighters and Turkish forces killed more than 40000 people over four decades.
Turkey, the United States, Britain, and the European Union all label the PKK as terrorists. The group said it finished its main goal, and future progress must come through peaceful politics. Ocalan wrote that democracy offers the only way forward for Kurdish...
Police arrested an officer who shot a truck driver at the Onhuno roadblock in Ohangwena early Monday. The national police spokesperson said Eliud Hamukwaya stopped at the checkpoint where officers asked for his license and weighbridge papers. Hamukwaya showed only his license. Officers told them to park on the roadside, which started an argument. They requested the drivers return to the weighbridge.
The passenger allegedly entered the truck and drove toward another officer, who ran away fearing harm. The arrested officer fired his gun at Hamukwaya, who died immediately. The victim was 38 years old, according to police reports. The 43-year-old sergeant will appear in Ohangwena court on Tuesday. Police continue their investigation into...
