Judges, magistrates, and high-level legal officers gathered at the United Nations House in Windhoek for the second edition of the UNESCO training seminar on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Rule of Law UNESCO stated that the training drew on its Global Toolkit on AI and the Rule of Law and responded to growing global concern that many justice systems still lack structured guidance and training on the use of AI. “Participants examined key themes including AI ethics, judicial independence, data protection, algorithmic transparency, cybersecurity and the use of AI in evidence evaluation and judicial reasoning.” National Programme Officer for Education at UNESCO, Aina Heita-Kantewa, on behalf of the Head of Office and Representative to Namibia at UNESCO, Eunice Smith, said that AI is increasingly shaping decision-making environments across sectors. “These sectors include justice and encouraged participants to reflect critically on how these tools can be applied in ways that strengthen...

The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Communicators’ Network (APRM-CN) this week held a virtual meeting to finalise the Terms of Reference and chart a direction for the future, following its launch in November last year. Aligned with the fourth pillar of the 2025-2028 APRM Strategic Plan, the Network prioritises communications, advocacy and outreach as key enablers of the Mechanism’s mandate. The meeting focused the frequency of Network meetings and the inclusion of media practitioners to broaden outreach and strengthen engagement. Members agreed establish a Working Group tasked with finalising the Terms of Reference and developing a draft work plan for the 2026-2027 period. Participants also received an update on recent APRM communications initiatives, such as the launch of the weekly bulletin, “This Week @APRM,” which highlights key institutional developments and showcases APRM’s activities on its governance mandate. Opening the meeting, the APRM Chief of Staff, Mr Damien Thesee, stressed the...

By Dr Makemba Nelson – Director at Nesha Medical Practice. Health plays a vital role in contributing to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Namibia. GDP is the total value of all goods and services produced in a country over a specific period. A healthy population is more productive, works more efficiently and contributes positively to economic growth. Firstly, good health increases labour productivity. Healthy works are less likely to miss work because of illness and are able to perform their duties effectively. This leads to higher production in important sectors such as mining, agriculture, tourism, manufacturing and fishing, which are major contributors to Namibia’s economy. When employees are healthy, businesses experience fewer disruptions and can achieve higher profits, which increases the country’s GDP. Secondly, the healthcare sector itself contributes directly to the economy. Hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, laboratories and private medical practices create employment opportunities for doctors, nurses, pharmacists, technicians,...

The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has successfully translocated 575 animals from the Etosha National Park to various conservation areas across the country, such as the Kunene region. The translocation operation, valued at approximately N$6.7 million in total, was supported by N$2.7 million from the Conservation Travel Foundation (CTF), the non-profit conservation arm of ultimate.earth, through its Lion Recovery Fund. The operation forms part of the government’s efforts to restore wildlife population, and restore healthy prey populations to maintain ecological balance and support the mitigation of predator human conflict. Tristan Cowley, founder of the Conservation Travel Foundation emphasised the impact of partnerships in conservation. “Namibia’s conservation success has always been built on partnership. Government has created the framework that allows conservation to thrive, communities remain the custodians of these landscapes, and organisations such as CTF and the Lion Recovery Fund help mobilise additional support to strengthen these efforts,” he...

Okongo residents no longer need to travel to Eenhana or Nkurenkuru for essential mobile services since MTC this week opened its first Mobile Home there, taking its national footprint to forty stores. At the new Mobile Home customers can access a comprehensive range of services, including SIM card registrations and replacements, contract applications, account payments, account renewals, MTC Maris services, as well as buying recharge vouchers and other MTC products. Erasmus Nekundi Communications Practitioner, Erasmus Nekundi, said, “The people of Okongo had long called for a permanent MTC presence in the town, and we are pleased to have finally opened our new store that will serve the population of the town and adjacent communities. We have always maintained that access to telecommunication services is essential to socio-economic development, and increasing our customer touchpoints is well aligned with our mandate and customer-centric values.” The new outlet forms part of MTC’s Integrated...

Municipal tariffs have been increased by an average of 4% effective from 1 July, announced the City of Windhoek (CoW) on 16 July. The City said the adjustment will reflect on residents’ bills on 31 July. For more details on the approved tariff, the 2026/27 tariff booklet is available at https://www.windhoekcc.org.na/tariffs/. “Water, rates and taxes, sewerage, waste management, refuse removal and fire brigade levies have increased by an average of 4%” The municipality said the adjustment will help them to continue providing and maintaining essential municipal services and infrastructure for the benefit of all residents. “We thank you for your continued support and understanding as we work together to build a sustainable Windhoek.” The City added that the revised tariffs were approved by the City Council under Council Resolution No. 54/04/2026, in accordance with the Local Authorities Act as amended. “The approved tariffs were subsequently promulgated through publication in Government...

Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) this week announced that the Fish River Canyon hiking trail has officially re-opened on 17 July. NWR stated that hiking trails were closed because of heavy rainfall in the Naute dam catchment area, and the opening of the dam’s sluice gates, which caused dangerous flooding conditions downstream. “Following water assessment conducted by relevant stakeholder, the river’s water level and flow have been confirmed as safe and suitable for hiking.” The government’s accommodation manager urged hikers to exercise caution during river crossing, as rocks and other surfaces may still be slippery following recent high water levels. “We will continue to monitor the river condition closely to ensure the safety of all visitors.” NWR added that they are looking forward to welcoming hikers back to experience one of Namibia’s most spectacular natural wonders. “Thank you for your patience and understanding during the temporary closure.” The closure was implemented...

Recent successes recorded by the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) leading to tangible gains in its fight against financial crime were made possible through industry-wide coordination between government bodies and the Bankers Association of Namibia (BAN) working closely with its members, the local commercial banks. In the most recent financial year, the FIC froze N$96.6 million linked to suspected illicit activity, while also supporting the prosecution of 148 criminal cases. This shows that information generated in the financial system is increasingly translating into active law enforcement. Bankers Association Chief Executive, Dantagos Jimmy said their members are helping make this clampdown on crime possible through transaction monitoring, customer risk profiling and internal compliance frameworks. As an industry representative, BAN works closely with the Bank of Namibia and the FIC through working groups, guidance frameworks and information-sharing to improve consistency and effectiveness across the sector. “Our members are key to identifying illicit financial...

The fourth annual Southern African Regional Science Association (SARSA) Conference will be hosted from 22 to 24 July by the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), under the theme ‘Reimagining Regional Development Futures: Pathways to Inclusive, Resilient and Sustainable Growth in Southern Africa’. The University said the conference will bring together leading researchers, academics, policymakers, industry experts and postgraduate students from across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and beyond to explore innovative solutions to regional development challenges. They said the conference will provide a platform for discussion on urbanisation, climate change, inequality, migration and economic transformation. “We will also be diving into topics of governance, land administration, technology and artificial intelligence, with a strong focus on advancing inclusive, resilient and sustainable development across southern Africa.” The official opening ceremony will take place on 22 July at 09:00 on the Sixth Floor of the High-Tech Transfer Plaza Select (HTTPS)...

The Sikunga Fish Guards were joined by the Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF) who supported them on an aerial flyover of the Sikunga Fisheries Reserves, for a rare bird’s-eye view of the landscape they work hard to protect. The Nature Foundation said aerial surveillance provides a broader perspective of the reserve, complementing routine land and water patrols. “This makes it easier to cover large and hard to reach areas while supporting the detection of activities and potential threats that may go unnoticed from the ground.” They said the aerial surveillance also strengthens patrol planning, enhances monitoring and contributes to more effective management of the fisheries reserve. “By combining community led conservation with innovative monitoring approaches, we continue to support the sustainable management of Namibia’s freshwater resources, helping to safeguard biodiversity and people’s livelihoods that depend on healthy river ecosystems.” The reserve is a community managed conservation zone located along the Zambezi...