Swakopmund is one of the preferred holiday destinations in the country, and with its pleasant weather, it is impossible to stay indoors. 

When the scorching sun comes out, many are drawn to the beach to cool off or enjoy activities such as volleyball and beach soccer.
However, safety at the beach is vital for those wishing to take a dive into the ocean. 

nbc's reporter Stefan |Uirab spoke to lifeguard Jonas Sheyavali.

Tourism is one of Namibia's fastest-growing industries, and as the holiday season approaches, thousands of tourists and holidaymakers, both local and foreign, will descend on the coastal town of Swakopmund.

nbc's coastal reporter Stefan |Uirab spoke to Anet Koetting, the manager of Atlantic Garden Boutique.

Amid the festivities, the public is warned not to relax their guard but to be on the lookout for criminals or scammers who up their game during this time of the year.

Safety and security are the number-one priorities of the Erongo Police at Swakopmund and Walvis Bay.

Erongo Governor Neville Andre joined the police and the neighbourhoodwatch during the ongoing "Festive Season Operation" at the two coastal towns.

The Mineworkers Union (MUN) has introduced an education and SME Fund, as well as legal protection, for its current and former members and their dependents.

Union President Ismael Kasuto says the aim is to ensure that the education, employment, and legal needs of miners and their families are covered.

Through the Namibia Miners Investment Trust, NAMIT, the Mine Workers Union, will finance the new benefits.

NAMIT owns shares in about 20 companies.  

To address the housing backlog, the government has handed over 4000 housing units since the inception of the Mass Housing Development Programme in 2014, up to July 2023.

The MHDP commenced with projects at 21 sites around the country.

Today, in addition to that number, an additional 89 recently completed houses were officiated by President Hage Geingob at Swakopmund.

Dina Namubes, who has been re-elected as Mayor of Swakopmund, emphasises the need for ongoing collaboration with all relevant parties to achieve the town's future objectives.

The election of office-bearers was delayed last month due to a tie between Namubes and Matthias Henrichsen for the mayoral position.

Both are part of the coalition of parties in the council, with Namubes representing the IPC ticket and Henrichsen from the Swakopmund Residents Association.

UNICEF Regional Director Etleva Kadilli has commended the Namibian government for championing children's rights.

The UNICEF Director, who paid a courtesy call on President Hage Geingob at Swakopmund, says prioritising education is the best strategy any government can adopt to ensure a bright future for the country.

President Geingob informed the UNICEF delegation that after independence, Namibia invested in the sector, but that success has now led to a high number of unemployed graduates.

The National Road Safety Council's yearly holiday season campaign kicked off today with a gathering of road safety stakeholders in Swakopmund, in the Erongo region.

The campaign runs from today until January 17, 2024, across the country, with a specific focus on the B1 and B2 highways.

There were 67 recorded deaths over the preceding holiday season, with over half of those deaths being linked to speed-related car rollovers.

The Erongo Governor says that the African continent is estimated to be losing about N$750 billion annually—money that could have been used for development through illicit financial flows and other forms of organised crime.

Neville Andre said this during the annual workshop of the heads of anti-corruption agencies in the SADC region.
Andre says that corruption is a global problem that is not unique to a single continent or region.

Businesses in Swakopmund are being urged to improve their security measures.

The directive was issued during a safety and security meeting aimed at addressing safety concerns in the town.

The town's mayor, Dina Namubes, says that while people feel safe wherever they live, work, or spend their free time, this is not the situation in Swakopmund.

Namubes notes that gang-infested neighbourhoods are becoming a growing concern for communities, with the safety of learners, parents, teachers, and tourists at stake.