Namibia is hosting the inaugural Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART) congress.

Namibia, with a clear focus on promoting biodiversity conservation and sustainable utilisation of resources, adopted the SMART approach in all its protected areas to enhance monitoring in those areas.

The digital technology-driven Spatial Monitoring and Reporting tool has, for over a decade, supported tens of thousands of conservation practitioners in protecting wildlife.

4815 cases of gender-based violence have been registered with the police between April 2023 and January 2024.

The statistics were released by the Chief of Police, Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo, who said that the figures paint a grim picture and that that requires an urgent change of attitude in society.

Inspector General Joseph Shikongo further revealed that GBV cases have become the order of the day, particularly in some regions.

The Deputy Minister of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication, and Social Welfare, Bernadette Jagger, has called for more investment in women's leadership for a more just and equal society.

Jagger says there is a need for dialogue and to map out responsive ways to uplift women.

Bernadette Jagger also invited state-owned enterprises and the private sector to equally heed the call to invest in the empowerment of women.

The Deputy Minister also highlighted Namibia's progress in women's empowerment, pointing out the areas of economy, education, and politics.

The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development (MURD) says an elaborate process is underway before the Rent Control Board is tabled in the National Assembly.

In 2015, the Cabinet passed a resolution requiring the government to introduce measures to regulate the rental market with a view to preventing the current exploitation of tenants by landlords.

The Rent Control Bill, which is supposed to activate the Rent Control Board to address steep property rental prices, needs to be tabled in the National Assembly by the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development.

All eligible Namibians are expected to register afresh for the Presidential and National Assembly Elections.

The Electoral Commission of Namibia's Chairperson, Elsie Nghikembwa, has announced that the voters' cards that were issued since 2014 are no longer valid and will not be accepted at the November polls.

Nghikembwa also announced that this year's election will use manual ballot papers and not electronic voting machines.

The Chief Electoral and Referenda Officer of the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), Peter Shaama, outlined the schedule of the upcoming Presidential and National Assembly elections due to take place in November. 

Shaama says the calendar adopted by the ECN is aligned with the internationally recognised electoral cycle framework.

The 2024 Electoral Calendar and Democracy Awareness Campaign serve as a roadmap to assist the Commission in planning and executing all electoral-related activities.

Namibia will vote on November 27 to elect the president and members of the National Assembly.

The announcement was made by Urban and Rural Development Minister Erastus Uutoni.

Other key dates announced were dates for general voter registration, which will be from June 3 to August 1.

The nomination of independent candidates will commence on October 14, the nomination of political parties on October 16, and seafarers and Namibians abroad will vote on November 13.

Namibia seeks to propel itself in the realm of space science, technology, and innovation.

Higher Education Minister Dr. Itah Kandjii-Murangi on Wednesday announced a six-member Space Science Council.

The Council will advise the National Commission on Research, Science, and Technology (NCRST) on space science and technology-related matters.

The main function of the Council is to advise the NCRST on the development and implementation of a national space science and technology agenda in all relevant sectors. 

After Namibia's independence on March 21, 1990, the Apartheid South African government refused to relinquish control over Walvis Bay.

The harbour town, even after the lowering of the Apartheid regime's flag, was administered by the Western Cape Province of South Africa.

Four years later, in 1994, a deal was struck following negotiations between the new ANC-led government in South Africa and Namibia, and this saw the successful and peaceful re-integration of Walvis Bay on February 28, 1994.

Some who honour the late Dr. Hage Geingob have described the fallen statesmen as a leader who was decisive and would quickly reprimand those who stepped out of line.

Dr. Geingob, on various occasions, publicly showed disdain for corruption, and as chair of the decision-making Cabinet, he held no punches back.

His 2004 doctoral thesis is titled "Promoting Democracy and Good Governance," which reflected the strong values that he stood for when he assumed the highest office in 2015.