Category: General

Windhoek – The Bank of Namibia, following its Monetary Policy Committee meeting on December 4 and 5, 2023, announced on Wednesday the decision to keep the repo rate unchanged at 7.75 percent. This decision aims to preserve the peg between the Namibia Dollar and South African Rand and bolster the domestic economy.
According to Namibia Press Agency (NAMPA), the nation’s GDP growth for 2023 is estimated to have decreased to 3.9 percent from 7.6 percent in 2022, primarily due to slower growth in primary industries.

The country’s annual inflation rate, which averaged 6.0 percent in the first ten months of 2023, showed a slight increase from 5.9 percent in the same period of 2022. The rise in consumer price inflation was mainly influenced by higher costs in food, housing, and miscellaneous goods and services. Despite this, the average inflation rate is expected to gradually reduce to 5.9 percent in 2023 and further to 4.8 percent in 2024, from 6.1 percent in 2022.

Governor !Gawaxab also highlighted a slowdown in the growth of Private Sector Credit Extension (PSCE), which fell to 1.8 percent in October 2024, compared to 2.8 percent in August 2023. This decrease is attributed to reduced demand in other loans, advances, and overdrafts, along with net repayments in the mortgage category. Additionally, Namibia’s merchandise trade deficit slightly narrowed by 1.0 percent to N.dollars 31.7 billion during the first ten months of 2023, as export earnings grew faster than import payments. The stock of international reserves stood at N.dollars 49 billion as of November 30, 2023, a decrease from N.dollars 52.4 billion at the end of October 2023, predominantly due to higher net commercial bank outflows.

Tsumeb – The Tsumeb Municipality, along with the Road Fund Administration (RFA) and Roads Authority (RA), signed a three-year Memorandum of Agreement on Tuesday to refurbish key roads in the town that have fallen into disrepair. The RFA CEO, Ali Ipinge, at the signing ceremony in Tsumeb, reiterated his organization’s dedication to contributing to the development and expansion of Namibia’s road network by aiding local authorities in the upkeep of their urban arterial roads and streets.

According to Namibia Press Agency (NAMPA), the RFA will allocate N.dollars 19.9 million in 2024/25 and N.dollars 20 million in 2025/26 to assist in rehabilitating Hage Geingob Drive, a 2.1-kilometer road leading into Tsumeb from Otavi. Additionally, Namutoni Road, spanning 6.8 kilometers and connecting Tsumeb to Oshivelo, along with Dr. Sam Nujoma Drive in the Tsumeb central business district, will benefit from this initiative.

The funding, derived from road user charges, will continue the RFA’s practice of supporting urban road improvements. The RFA collected N.dollars 2.3 billion in revenue, with N.dollars 1.04 billion coming from the fuel levy. Over the past two and a half years, the RFA has doubled its funding allocations to local authorities, increasing from N.dollars 104 million to N.dollars 216 million, showcasing a commitment to enhancing urban road infrastructure.

Conrad Lutombi, CEO of the Roads Authority, expressed through a representative that this collaboration with the RFA and Tsumeb Municipality would significantly improve the quality of life for residents in the area and enhance the condition of the roads.

Opuwo – The Opuwo Town Council, in a recent meeting at the town council chambers, re-elected its councillors to their existing positions, maintaining the current leadership structure. The election, held on Tuesday, saw Rosa Mbinge-Tjeundo, a councillor from the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), retain her position as mayor after receiving an unopposed nomination from her party colleague, Kaare Lucuis Mupya.

According to Namibia Press Agency (NAMPA), Kasipo Kakondo, also a PDM councillor, will continue as Mbinge-Tjeundo’s deputy. In addition to these appointments, Kaare Lucuis Mupya was re-elected as the chairperson of the management committee. PDM’s Forester Matjiru Tjijahura and Swapo veteran Wilhelmine Nashihua also maintained their roles as additional members of the management committee.

The council will also see ongoing contributions from Swapo members Victorino Simon and Ruth Nderura, who will persist in their roles as regular council members. The swearing-in ceremony for the councillors was conducted by Opuwo district magistrate Eden Kuneni Amutenya.

In her acceptance speech, Mayor Mbinge-Tjeundo expressed her dedication to serving the residents of Opuwo. She emphasized her commitment to operate with diligence and integrity, focusing on unity and collaboration. The mayor acknowledged the challenges faced by the town, including issues related to water, land, and housing. She expressed confidence in the resilience of the Opuwo community to overcome these challenges and transform them into opportunities for growth and development.

Mbinge-Tjeundo further stated that her tenure as mayor would be characterized by transparency, accountability, and inclusivity. She vowed to work tirelessly to improve the quality of life for all residents and to ensure that Opuwo remains a community that its inhabitants are proud to call home.

Windhoek – A 29-year-old man was taken into custody on Monday following the death of a 35-year-old woman, after a post-mortem examination revealed she had been raped and murdered. The incident occurred at Ignatius Loyola Street in Katutura, Windhoek.

According to Namibia Press Agency (NAMPA), spokesperson for the Namibian Police Force, the victim, identified as Eveline Gariseb, and the suspect were drinking at her house before moving to his home. “The deceased was reportedly picked up by her male friend, and they had drinks at his room before going to sleep,” Muronga explained. Initial reports indicated that the suspect found Gariseb unresponsive the next morning and alerted the landlord, who then called an ambulance. The subsequent police update on Tuesday confirmed that the post-mortem concluded Gariseb was raped and strangled to death, with internal neck injuries evident.

The suspect now faces charges of murder and rape and is being held at the Katutura Police Station. The police are continuing their investigation into the case.

Tses – A 29-year-old man, Joseph Hamajo, accused of raping a 16-year-old girl in Tses, was denied bail in the Keetmanshoop Magistrate’s Court on Monday. The case was presided over by Magistrate Erich Dandu.

According to Namibia Press Agency (NAMPA), Dandu denied bail citing the early stage of police investigations and the risk of the accused interfering with State witnesses. The case has been postponed to 28 December 2023 for further investigation and to allow Hamajo time to acquire legal representation. He informed the court of his intention to seek legal aid. The State’s case was represented by Elyza Mucheka. The incident reportedly occurred between 22h30 and midnight on Friday at the Aukamp residential area in Tses, where Hamajo allegedly lured the girl to his room with the promise of food and then raped her. He threatened her to remain silent about the incident before escorting her back home. Hamajo, who was arrested on Sunday, will remain in custody at the Keetmanshoop police holding cells until his next court appearance.

Kavango West – A man, whose age remains undisclosed, was arrested on Sunday for allegedly biting his girlfriend on the finger and thigh in Kaguni village, Kavango West Region. This arrest was part of a daily crime report issued by the Namibian Police Force on Tuesday.

According to Namibia Press Agency (NAMPA), The police report stated that the girlfriend suffered injuries from the bites. The suspect also reportedly threatened to stab her with an okapi knife and panga. He has been arrested on charges of attempted murder, assault through threatening, and causing gross bodily harm. The police are continuing their investigations into the incident.

In a separate and unrelated incident, the police also reported an attempted murder at a fuel service station in Nkurenkuru. An unidentified man was stabbed with a bottle early Sunday morning around 02h40, resulting in serious injuries. No arrests have been made in this case, and police investigations are ongoing.