Staff Reporter PRESIDENT Nangolo Mbumba has officially commissioned two brand new medium transport aircraft, known as Y-9E, into the service of the Namibian Air Force. “The acquisition of these Medium Transport Aircraft will go a long way in improving and enhancing the Namibian Defence Force’s operational capacity and readiness to respond at short notice to any situation that might require the involvement of our soldiers, both during peacetime and wartime emergencies,” President Mbumba said. He revealed that the aircraft were built to the Namibian Defence Force’s specifications by the China Aeronautic Technology and Import Corporation (CATIC) in the People’s Republic of China, highlighting this as a symbol of the longstanding partnership and friendship between the two nations. “Namibia values its all-weather friendship with the People’s Republic of China. Therefore, the
Author Archives: Staff Reporter
Nov
Staff Reporter NAMIBIA’S road infrastructure has been rated the best in Africa for 2024, according to a survey conducted by Statista, a global data and business intelligence platform. The Roads Authority (RA) revealed that Namibia achieved an index rating of 5.57 on a scale from 1 (lowest) to 7 (highest) for road quality and extensiveness. This placed the country ahead of Egypt and Benin, which scored 5.53 and 5.00, respectively. “Namibia has remarkably improved road quality, safety, and accessibility. Our roads now set a standard for design and sustainability that supports the safe and efficient movement of people, goods, and services across the nation,” said Dr Conrad Lutombi, RA’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Lutombi thanked the Government, the Road Fund Administration, local authority municipalities, road users, and all other stakeholders
Nov
Staff Reporter THE Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Pohamba Shifeta, called for honest engagement with the developed world on climate financing commitments as outlined in the Paris Agreement. “There is no need to beg, but we are simply asking the developed world to honour its commitments under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement. These are the only international instruments that keep us together for the common purpose of realising a greener future,” Shifeta said. He made these remarks at the sixth high-level ministerial dialogue on climate finance, part of the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The event is taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 11 to 22 November 2024. Shifeta emphasised that climate finance must be delivered on
Nov
Staff Reporter THE Namibian police in the Omusati Region have reported two separate cases of rape in which two female victims, both aged 14, are learners at the same school in the Anamulenge constituency. In the first case, the victim was raped at a water point in the Okahwa Kamayau village at an unknown time and date in October. The incident was reported to the police by the victim’s biological father. According to the police, the suspect is known but not arrested yet. The second incident occurred in the Outapi town on Sunday when the victim was allegedly pulled into a room and raped by an unknown suspect. The case was reported to the police by the victim’s biological mother.The victims in both cases are aged 14 and attend the
Nov
Staff Reporter NAMIB Desert Diamonds (Pty) Ltd (NAMDIA) has announced the launch of its new Client Registration campaign, aimed at providing clients with privileged access to Namibian rough diamonds through a sourcing experience that emphasises fairness, transparency, and reliability. Beverley Coussement, NAMDIA’s Public Relations Communications Officer, revealed that the campaign will run from 4 November 2024 to 31 January 2025. She added that the initiative aligns with NAMDIA’s mandate of price discovery and its goals of expanding its global reach. Photo for illustrative purposes only. “NAMDIA seeks to onboard vertically integrated international diamond buyers and manufacturers in key markets globally. It also focuses on prominent figures in the luxury industry, such as high-end manufacturers, traders, jewellers, and exclusive diamond sourcing professionals. Prospective clients are encouraged to apply,” Coussement said. She
Nov
Staff Reporter THE United States (U.S.) Embassy in Klein Windhoek, completed and inaugurated last year, has been recognised as the Best Project in the Government Building category by Engineering News-Record (ENR) in its Global Best Projects competition. ENR explained that the Global Best Projects Awards aim to celebrate the most innovative and impactful construction projects worldwide, emphasising resilience and ingenuity in overcoming complex challenges. BEST GOVERNMENT BUILDING: Photo of United States (U.S.) Embassy in Klein Windhoek. Photo: U.S. Embassy Namibia. “This esteemed recognition highlights the exceptional design and construction efforts behind the embassy, which reflects the United States’ commitment to fostering strong diplomatic relationships worldwide through the built environment,” the U.S. Embassy said. The embassy explained that ENR’s judges examined 120 projects this year, and from these, 35 projects from