President Dr. Nangolo Mbumba has opened the first decision-making Cabinet for the year, imploring the Cabinet to prioritise the timely execution of development projects.

President Mbumba said the first Cabinet meeting is taking place against the backdrop of the passing of the late President Geingob, whose footprints will remain indelible in the annals of the country's history.

He urged the executive to pick up where the late Geingob left off and take the country forward.

Namibia's Cabinet has approved the introduction of contactless microchip identity documents.

Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Dr. Peya Mushelenga, said during his weekly Cabinet Briefing that the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security has now been directed to consider the introduction of digital ID documents that would comprise all national documents.

Among other Cabinet decisions, Dr. Mushelenga also stated that additional funding for critical activities and interventions to strengthen health systems has been approved.

National power utility, NamPower’s debt collection plans have been cut short after Cabinet intervention.

NamPower was due to affect Stage 2 of power cuts on Monday and Tuesday this week, between 17H00 and 21H00.

Cabinet, however, directed the power utility not to continue with its debt collection plan, saying that the line ministries would meet and discuss the huge debt owed to Nampower by local authorities and NORED.

Nampower last week defied the Cabinet directive and forged ahead with the power cuts.

NamPower has issued a statement clarifying why it defied a Cabinet directive instructing the power utility not to forge ahead with the power cuts it executed on Monday.

NamPower Managing Director Simson Haulofu confirmed that the company received the communication on the Cabinet Directive from the Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises, which directed it not to forge ahead with the planned power cuts, on Monday.

NamPower switched off electricity to several defaulting local authorities and NORED on Monday.