Special voting for regional and local authority councils commenced in Oshana and Omusati regions, with seven officials per team servicing voters at two polling stations. The teams, led by Amon-Oiva Haimbangu, the regional electoral officer of the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), were ready to serve voters. The special voting in Oshana was conducted at the Oshakati police station in Oshakati-West and the Oluno Community Hall in the Ondangwa urban constituency.
Voting started at 7:00 AM and ended at an unspecified time. According to Ueituaravi Heuva, attached to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, voting began at 7:00 AM in various countries, with exceptions in places like New York, Washington, Cuba, and Brazil, which are eight hours behind Namibia. The diplomatic missions with the highest number of votes cast were in Cape Town, followed by Ondjiva in Angola.
The Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication, and Social Welfare has called on all regional and local authority councils and other stakeholders to assist with the rollout of the Conditional Basic Income Grant (BIG). The rollout began on Monday. This initiative aims to alleviate poverty and provide financial support to eligible citizens.
Namibia's agricultural sector, a key contributor to the country's economy, has seen a significant increase in table grape exports. The Namibia Grape Company (NGC) and global fruit exporter Cape-span have reported a 71% increase in exports, from 1.4 million cartons in 2017 to 2.4 million cartons this year.
The Social Security Commission (SSC) has expressed concern that some employers fail to contribute to the commission's fund, depriving employees of benefits. SSC Chairperson Markus Kampungu made the statement during a breakfast awareness campaign attended by stakeholders in Windhoek. Employers who do not comply with the requirements put their employees at a disadvantage.
Former fishermen Daniel Nailonga and Johny Nefungo, who lost their jobs due to the Fishrot corruption scandal, shared their experiences. The crisis had a severe impact on their lives, leading to emotional distress, frustration, and gender-based violence. Some fishermen have taken their own lives, highlighting the need for support and intervention.
The Southern African Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (SARPCCO) is hosting a workshop in Swakopmund to empower women police officers in the fight against transnational organized crime. The workshop aims to strengthen the knowledge and leadership skills of women in the police force. According to Simbarashe Manjera, the workshop will help address the underrepresentation of women in policing efforts.
Key points
- The special voting process in Oshana and Omusati regions was conducted smoothly, with seven officials per team servicing voters at two polling stations.
- Namibia's table grape exports have increased by 71% this year, contributing significantly to the country's economy.
- The Social Security Commission has expressed concern about employers who fail to contribute to the commission's fund, depriving employees of benefits.
