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Ministry of Mines’ National Energy Survey underway: Staff Reporter THE Ministry of Mines is undertaking a comprehensive National Energy Survey and Affordability Study in partnership with the World Bank. This study began on 7 October 2024 and is anticipated to finish on 11 November 2024. According to the ministry, the study aims to gather essential data to support informed decision-making and effective policy implementation. “The study, which will be carried out nationwide, aims to assess socio-economic conditions, identify development needs, and provide a robust evidence base for formulating policies and programmes aimed at poverty reduction and sustainable development by expanding universal access to energy,” the ministry explained. Photo: Ministry of Mines’ National Energy --- The Ministry of Mines outlined that the study encompasses various assessments, including household surveys to examine energy access and affordability at the household level; community and public institution surveys to evaluate energy access in communities and facilities such as schools and health centres. “Furthermore, it will also include enterprise surveys to evaluate energy access in the manufacturing, service, and agro-processing sectors, as well as an off-grid solar market assessment to understand the supply and demand dynamics of the off-grid solar market,” the ministry said. The ministry urged selected households to participate in the study and assist the field team by providing honest responses to survey questions. For transparency and trust, the ministry assured that data collectors and enumerators would carry name tags and identification letters verifying their identities, roles, and purpose in this exercise. The post Ministry of Mines’ National Energy Survey underway appeared first on Informanté.

President Ramaphosa to host President Mbumba of Namibia for a working visit - The Presidency: President Ramaphosa to host President Mbumba of Namibia for a working visit  The Presidency

England boss Borthwick has no qualms over starting Slade against All Blacks: England coach Steve Borthwick said Henry Slade was in “fantastic condition” after selecting the centre to start against New Zealand in Saturday’s opening November international despite less than an hour of competitive action so far this season. Slade will face the All Blacks after just 55 minutes on the field for Exeter following shoulder surgery, with the 31-year-old only making his comeback against Harlequins on Sunday. Slade, however, is a key figure in England’s ‘blitz’ defence and Borthwick believes the 65-times capped midfielder is ready for the challenge of facing the All Blacks again after his side were twice narrowly beaten during a two-Test series in New Zealand in July. “Sladey is a really important player for us,” said Borthwick after announcing his team on Tuesday. “He’s an experienced Test match player and he’s in fantastic condition. “With the shoulder surgery he’s had, he’s been able to be run. He’s as fit as I’ve ever seen him. “He feels in great shape. He’s a player who is energised and he’ll go really well on Saturday.” – Spencer starts – Meanwhile the absence of the injured Alex Mitchell has paved the way for scrum-half Ben Spencer to make his first Test start. All of six previous caps, including a brief appearance in the 2019 World Cup final, have come off the bench but Spencer’s form with Bath this season means he will at last be involved from the kick-off. “He’s such an experienced player,” said former England captain Borthwick of Spencer. “He knows how to deliver on the biggest of stages and that’s important. He’s a calm guy and a leader with his club.” Borthwick added flanker Ollie Chessum will miss the whole of a November programme that also includes fixtures against Australia, South Africa and Japan after the Leicester forward, set to feature at blindside flanker, underwent knee surgery on Monday. Chandler Cunningham-South fills the vacancy, with Sam Underhill not even among the replacements after featuring in the back row in all of England’s previous eight Tests. Borthwick said Underhill’s absence was down to an early season ankle operation, which the England coach said had limited his effectiveness for Bath. “When you have an ankle surgery you can’t be on your feet and so much of Sam’s game is that constant work rate, particularly in defence,” said Borthwick. Veteran playmaker George Ford provides fly-half cover after Marcus Smith was given the No 10 shirt. England are seeking a first Twickenham win over New Zealand since 2012. “We’re excited for the challenge of playing against one of the best teams in world rugby,” said Borthwick. “We’ll need to be accurate, keep our discipline and maintain a level of intensity throughout the match, from the first whistle to the final moment.” New Zealand, who thrashed Japan 64-19 in Yokohama last weekend,…

Napoli extend lead at top of Serie A with win at AC Milan: Napoli grew their lead at the top of the Serie A table to seven points with a 2-0 win at AC Milan on Tuesday. Antonio Conte’s resurgent side wrapped the match up inside the first half, courtesy of an early Romelu Lukaku goal and a sensational strike by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Napoli sit on 25 points, with champions Inter Milan on 18 but with the chance to reduce the gap when they visit Empoli on Wednesday. A third defeat of the campaign leaves AC Milan in eighth place, 11 points behind the leaders. Belgian striker Lukaku scored his fourth goal of the season since joining the 2023 Italian champions in the summer when he broke the deadlock on five minutes. He raced onto a pass from Frank Anguissa, held off a defender and slotted coolly past Mike Maignan in the AC Milan goal. Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret was forced twice into action before the half-hour to maintain his side’s lead. As the clock ticked down to half-time, Georgian winger Kvaratskhelia doubled the visitors’ lead. Picking the ball up on the left wing, he drove suddenly inside on his right foot past Youssouf Fofana and rifled a shot from distance into the far post beyond the dive of Maignan. Alvaro Morata thought he had given Milan a lifeline two minutes after the break with a powerful header. However, upon VAR review he was shown to have been offside in the build-up to the goal and it was disallowed. The hosts continued to search for a way back into the encounter and only a fine reflex save by Meret to deny Rafael Leao in the 83rd minute kept Napoli’s two-goal cushion intact. Earlier, goals in either half by Riccardo Orsolini and Jens Odgaard sent Bologna up to 10th in the table with a 2-0 win at Cagliari. Lecce climbed off the foot of the table by beating nine-men Verona 1-0 thanks to a Patrick Dorgu goal on 51 minutes. The away side lost Jackson Tchatchoua to a red card five minutes before half-time, then Reda Belahyane was given his marching orders inside the final 10 minutes for a second bookable offence The post Napoli extend lead at top of Serie A with win at AC Milan appeared first on The Namibian.

Manchester United target Amorim: Portugal’s next superstar coach?: Twenty years ago it was Jose Mourinho. Now it is Ruben Amorim who appears set to move from Portugal to the Premier League with a reputation as Europe’s next coaching superstar. Amorim has emerged as the favourite to take over at Manchester United following Erik ten Hag’s sacking. His club Sporting Lisbon have confirmed the English club’s interest. Amorim is 39, two years younger than Mourinho when he left Porto and took over a Chelsea side poised to dominate English football. Other coaches have come from Portugal with huge reputations, but not all have succeeded. Andre Villas-Boas, for example, failed to live up to expectations after following Mourinho’s path from Porto to Chelsea in 2011. But everything about Amorim — who was also linked to the manager’s job at Liverpool this year — suggests he could be something special, just as Mourinho famously claimed he himself was in 2004. As long ago as 2017 when Amorim confirmed his intention to become a coach, he told Tribuna Expresso: “I don’t know if I am going to be good or bad, but that is what I am going to be.” He had just quit playing aged 32 after injuries blighted a fine career. Amorim has made his name as a coach at Sporting, but he starred as a player for their Lisbon rivals Benfica, the club he has supported from birth. “I can see myself coaching Benfica, or one of the world’s biggest clubs. Obviously only time will tell and you need so much luck,” he said. Amorim began playing at Belenenses from the Lisbon suburb Belem best known for its custard tarts. He worked under Jorge Jesus there, reaching the Portuguese Cup final in 2007. In 2008 he joined Benfica, and a year later he was reunited with Jesus. Amorim mainly played at right-back as a team featuring David Luiz and Angel Di Maria romped to the title. The following season, Benfica were overtaken by Villas-Boas’s Porto and Amorim struggled with a knee injury. He needed a loan move at Braga to relaunch his career, and went back to Benfica, and Jesus, in 2013/14. Playing regularly in midfield, Amorim starred as they won a domestic treble and lost the Europa League final on penalties to Sevilla. His career never reached such highs again, and he ended his playing days in Qatar. – ‘Fanatical about winning’ – Amorim has described Mourinho, who managed United from 2016 to 2018, as his reference, but he admits Jesus -– now guiding Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia — marked him more than any other coach after he spent seven years under his stewardship. “It is funny, because as a player I had lots of problems with Jesus, albeit other players did too, because Jesus is a coach who wears you out,” Amorim recalled. “He is a real perfectionist. I worked with him for a long time and it is obvious that what I demand of players is quite similar to him.” Amorim, who appeared for Portugal at…

NATIONAL COSTUME 2.0: --- NATIONAL COSTUME 2.0: The Miss Namibia Organization has unveiled a new national costume for the reigning Miss Namibia, Prisca Anyolo, who has jetted off to Mexico to represent the country in the prestigious 73rd Miss Universe competition. The costume, inspired by the traditional attire of the people of northern Namibia, is a vibrant and culturally rich garment that reflects both historical significance and modern aesthetics. The dress is crafted from Odelela fabric, characterized by its striking red, blue, and pink stripes. The accessories, including lantern earrings, speak to the Namibian people in their homesteads. These earrings represent the beautiful light and sunlight that Namibia is known for, further enriching the cultural narrative of the attire. The outfit is adorned with a basket crown, a significant cultural symbol among the Namibian people. This crown not only enhances the beauty of the wearer but also signifies cultural pride and identity; the woven basket headpiece hails from the Zambezi, Kavango, and Aawambo people. Weavers harvest the local Makalani palm leaves and create vegetable-based dyes from flower petals and roots, using age-old recipes handed down from their ancestors that are eco-friendly for the environment. The ‘ehoro’ container, originating from the Otjiherero cultural group, is traditionally used to gather milk and animal products for use in the village. --- * * The post NATIONAL COSTUME 2.0 appeared first on Informanté.

Josua Maponga challenges Swapo to deal with land issue: Ester Mbathera Outspoken thought leader, Joshua Maponga has urged Swapo leaders to take immediate action on land reform, calling for a strategic approach to reclaim land from white ownership. Maponga to Swapo members during the public discussion of the party’s manifesto on Monday in Windhoek. “Swapo, hear me well. Stop acting like an opposition party. You are a ruling party; you are not an opposition party. Set the agenda items loud and clear and let the rest of the nation follow your agenda,” he said. He criticises the party for what he perceives as a lack of urgency in addressing the land issue, stating that strategies must go beyond the manifesto. “Beautiful strategies that are not implemented will rot on the shelf,” he added. He also criticised the current land distribution system, arguing that 70% of the country’s land is still in white hands. Maponga told the Swapo gathering that land reform in Namibia must be a priority, urging the ruling party to take decisive action. “What I’m challenging Swapo to do is stop correcting full stops and commas, look for your hands and implement what you have said you’re going to implement,” he said. He urged Namibia to adopt a more measured approach to land reform by focusing on the development of agricultural skills among the youth before taking further steps toward land redistribution. He emphasised that simply reclaiming land without adequately preparing the next generation to manage it would repeat mistakes seen in other countries. “Start a vigorous agricultural training programme for your youth. Stop talking about land. Stop. Just stop,” Maponga said. According to Maponga, this strategy would enable future generations to fully utilise the land once it is transferred. “Five years from now, ten years from now, your first graduates, you can begin to approach critical farmers and purchase those farms,” he said. Maponga also raised concerns about the continued existence of the Redline, which restricts the movement of goods between certain regions in the country. He questioned why, decades after independence, the country still has boundaries that limit economic activity within its own borders. “Even as we speak today, we still have the red line zones in Namibia where goods cannot move freely in a country, in a country we call a country. But you cannot cross over with avocados and beef. You cannot cross this line and you sit back and say. Who drew this line? A bunch of Boers and German guys who said, ‘no’, if you allow goods from the north to come down here, then the businesses of the south will die,” he questioned. Maponga urged the government to prioritise addressing the issue of the red line. According to him, removing these barriers would promote equality and allow all regions of Namibia to contribute to and benefit from the national economy. “We…

New divorce law criminalises publication of case details: Erasmus Shalihaxwe Namibia’s newly introduced Dissolution of Marriages Act, 2024 (Act No. 10 of 2024) now makes it a crime to publish details of divorce cases, with only a few exceptions. Gazetted on 24 October, the Act allows publication only for legal research, law reports, or when the court specifically grants permission. It is unclear whether the media is also restricted from reporting on these cases. The law is aimed at reducing the trauma associated with divorce, particularly for the individuals involved and their children. It encourages a “do-it-yourself” method for divorce proceedings, promoting privacy and easing the emotional burden on families. Under this system, courts can restrict public access to proceedings, ensuring that privacy is a primary concern. “Protection of Children’s Interests, courts will have the authority to review and enforce child custody and access arrangements to ensure they are fair and in the child’s best interest. “Access to divorce in regional magistrate’s courts; this change is intended to make the process more affordable and accessible, particularly for those who cannot afford high court proceedings,’’ reads the law. The new law also reintroduces the fault-based concept of forfeiture of patrimonial benefits. This means that a spouse who is deemed to have engaged in misconduct like adultery or domestic violence could forfeit their share of the marital assets. Even though the aspect has drawn criticism for potentially disadvantageous women and reintroducing fault into the divorce process. ‘’Irretrievable breakdown is the sole ground for divorce. This means that if one or both spouses claim that the marriage cannot be saved, the court will grant the divorce, possibly after a short waiting period to allow for reconciliation attempts. Joint Applications for Divorce: Spouses can now make a joint application for divorce if they both agree that the marriage has failed. This aims to reduce conflict and streamline the divorce process,’’ the bill states.

IPPR demands transparency on escalating ballot printing cost: Allexer Namundjembo The Institute for Public Policy Research Research (IPPR) associate Frederico Links has said the ECN should provide clarity on the costs of the contract for ballot paper printing. At the IPPR procurement tracker unveiling on Tuesday, Links said the cost escalation from what had been estimated to the eventual costs that will be paid is questionable. He said ECN, in a statement issued on 18 October, denied allegations of corruption regarding the award of the tender to South African printing company Ren-Form CC. He said the ECN said the total cost of the contract is N$6.2 million, which is double the amount that the ECN had estimated. “In its procurement plan, the ECN had estimated that it would cost about N$2 904 000 to print the ballot papers. The difference between these two figures is N$3 355 686, which itself is almost N$500 000 more than the ECN’s initial estimated costs of the ballot printing contract,” Links said. He added that the actual value is 116% more than what had been estimated. He also added that adherence to timelines and the cost of a contract also has a bearing on the conduct of the contractor. “In this instance, media reporting indicates that the contractor that was hand-picked by the ECN to print and deliver the ballot papers, Ren-Form, has struggled to meet deadlines and has been accused of inflating costs. Corruption allegations were made, but do not expect the Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate how the tender was awarded,’’ Links said. Graham Hopwood, IPPR executive director, has said the ECN electoral calendar, which was issued 10 days after the procurement plan in April, indicates that the procurement process for ballot paper printing services should have commenced on the first of August. “The invitation for bids and bids were only issued in September, about a month and a half later than what the annual procurement plan stipulates, and over a month later than what the ECN’s own electoral calendar states,” he said. Media Ombudsman John Nakuta has said the establishment of the Information Commissioner could’ve assisted all the stakeholders to get the necessary information about the ballot tender. “If anyone could have access to this information, then the general public will be updated on the process. If the ECN is not giving all the necessary information, then the general public will just approach the information commissioner for this information,” Nakuta said.

Absent MPs stalls mid-year budget review again: Allexer Namundjembo The much-anticipated midterm budget review has been delayed once more as National Assembly Speaker, Professor Peter Katjavivi had to adjourn Tuesday’s parliamentary session due to a lack of quorum. This is the second consecutive adjournment after Deputy Speaker Loide Kasingo postponed Monday’s sitting for the same reason. Only 47 members were present, along with three non-voting members of parliament, for the session, falling short of the quorum required to proceed. Political analyst Graham Hopwood explained that coordination between party whips and the Speaker’s office is essential to ensuring the smooth functioning of the National Assembly. “Members of parliament need to get serious and make sure they attend. The party whips should be able to arrange that a sufficient number of MPs are in the house for this key event without having to call everyone off the campaign trail.” Hopwood said. On Monday, the Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters’ deputy president accused SWAPO members of parliament of not prioritising parliamentary duties. The SWAPO party holds 63 seats in parliament, while opposition parties have a total of 33 seats. Harald Kambrude of the Landless People’s Movement (LPM), who was in the public galleries, voiced his frustration, accusing MPs of failing to serve the people. “The MPs are not serving the people,” he shouted from the gallery. Landless People’s Movement spokesperson Lifalaza Simataa said 50% of his party members were present. “The chief whip and another member were in attendance, ensuring we have at least 50% of our representation, while our two leaders, Aina Kodi, are on sick leave, and Bernadus Swartbooi is representing the Namibian parliament in South Africa for the Pan-African Parliament,” he said. Popular Democratic Movement leader, McHenry Venaani said he has instructed his party’s members of parliament to be present. “Due to campaigns, I have appointed Inna Hengari as our acting shadow minister for finance, who is ready to respond to the budget review,” he said. He further added that it is not acceptable for MPs to delay the country’s budget review, even during elections. “We are receiving salaries on behalf of the Namibian people, so I am urging the members of parliament to go and discuss house matters,” Venaani added.