Idu

As the battle to occupy the vacant Swapo presidency seat grows increasingly bitter, the three candidates, Hage Geingob, Jerry Ekandjo and Nahas Angula have each baptized themselves as the candidate to unite the party and protect it from splitting apart.
Although the unity being preached is not quite visible on the ground, the rhetoric tells a different story.

The Swapo Party fundraising gala dinner held in Windhoek on Wednesday evening raised over N$1.6 million.

HAGE

Namibian elections: the sands are shifting – slowly





AFRICA / ELECTIONS / OPINION

Namibian elections: the sands are shifting – slowly

BY HENNING MELBER · 27TH NOVEMBER 2019



Namibia’s South West African People’s Organisation (Swapo) has performed exceptionally well as a governing party among the liberation movements of sub-Saharan Africa. All contemporary liberation movements that subsequently became governing parties remain in power. But none has managed to retain a similar degree of support since independence.

The first democratic elections for a constituent assembly took place under the supervision of the United Nations in November 1989. Since then elections for a national assembly and the country’s president have been held every five years.

The last poll was held in 2014 when Swapo scored 80% of the votes. Its presidential candidate, Hage Geingob, came close to 87% of the votes.

One does not need prophetic gifts to predict which party will win in the upcoming elections. Despite some setbacks, such as the failures to live up to the anti-corruption and pro-poor policies promised, Swapo will remain the dominant party. But there might be a reversed trend for the first time in 30 years. For both the party and its presidential candidate the scores could decline.

For three decades Swapo’s grip on power has held firm. Its patriotic narrative remains rooted in the official discourse and daily political culture. Two of its liberation struggle era slogans were: “One Namibia, one nation” and “Swapo is the nation and the nation is Swapo”.

These translated into the false equation that the party is the government and the government is the state. But the electorate gradually changes, and those born after independence from South Africa on March 21, 1990, have become a relevant factor.

Geingob’s increased appeals to national unity indicate that these mantras might be showing signs of erosion. Tirades in the social media show disrespect for those in power

Angola has recorded two positive cases of coronavirus (Covid-19), the country’s health minister confirmed on Saturday.

Ms Silvia Lutukuta told journalists the two cases were recorded in two Angolan nationals who were in Portugal and arrived in Angola on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.

The new developments came as Angolan authorities on Wednesday arrested a medical doctor who spread on WhatsApp an audio claiming there had been a positive coronavirus case in Benguela province.

The rumours arose after a Chinese national was admitted in Benguela General Hospital. Medical officials at the facility said the case is not positive.👺

The health director in Benguela province Mr António Cabinda denied the claims.

You can protect yourself and help prevent spreading the virus to others if you:

Do

Wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds, with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub

Cover your nose and mouth with a disposable tissue or flexed elbow when you cough or sneeze

Avoid close contact (1 meter or 3 feet) with people who are unwell

Stay home and self-isolate from others in the household if you feel unwell

Don't

Touch your eyes, nose, or mouth if your hands are not clean

AIR Namibia this afternoon announced the temporary suspension of its flights, domestic and regional routes, from 27 March to 20 April 2020.

The airline spokesperson Paul Nakawa said the long haul flights (international) remain suspended since 14 March and further updates will be communicated.

Nakawa said the latest development is in alignment with the country's travel restrictions aimed at curbing the further spread of the Covid-19, as directed by president Hage Geingob yesterday.



Namibia yesterday recorded the seventh case of coronavirus.

“As part of the essential services, Air Namibia remains available to offer air transport through charter flights for humanitarian purposes, as well as offer airlift of pharmaceutical supplies, consumables, among others,” he said.

Nakawa said Air Namibia has introduced flexible rebooking options for travellers who need to change their travel dates.

All tickets purchased for travel up to 30 April 2020 would be offered one free change to a new travel date until 31 December 2020.

Customers may change their bookings online or email the airline at [email protected].

“Air Namibia joins the world in fighting Covid-19, a global health pandemic. The safety of our passengers, staff and the nation at large remains at the heart of our operations,” Nakawa stated.

Partial lockdown in effect from Friday
News - National | 2020-03-24
by Arlana Shikongo

Partial lockdown in effect from Friday

NAMIBIA will be on a partial lockdown with effect from Friday this week until 16 April in an attempt to curtail the further spread of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

The 21-day lockdown will apply to the Khomas and Erongo regions specifically, and the country's borders will also be closed for travellers.

This was announced on Tuesday afternoon at a media briefing during which president Hage Geingob laid out measures that will be implemented around the country.



"Today Cabinet met and received briefings on the status of Covid-19 in Namibia and deliberated on the next necessary measures to strengthen detection, testing, quarantine, isolation and contact tracing, to mitigate the further spread of this deadly virus,” Geingob said.

Health minister Kalumbi Shangula during the same briefing announced that internal travel restrictions will apply with respect to the Khomas and Erongo regions during the 21-day lockdown.

Former health minister Bernard Haufiku, who has been appointed as the coordinator of Namibia's efforts to combat the pandemic, during the briefing clarified that during the lockdown of Khomas, Rehoboth and Okahandja are assumed to be part of the region, so that commuters in the two towns would still be allowed to travel to and from Windhoek.

Roadblocks to ensure compliance with the lockdown will be placed south of Rehoboth and just north of Okahandja.

Shangula also detailed that ports of entry at Oshikango, Katwitwi, Wenela, Buitepos, Ariamsvlei, Noordoewer, Lüderitz and Walvis Bay will be closed to people.

Furthermore, the parliament will be suspended for 21 days from Wednesday, 25 March.

Namibia has now recorded seven positive cases of the virus, which includes three Namibians – one of which is suspected to be a local transmission – and four foreign nationals. This tally includes the Romanian couple which were the country's first two positive cases and who have since recovered.

The national response measures as detailed by Shangula will include a travel ban that is extended to all countries for a period of 30 days, and applies to all Namibians and permanent residents.

However, accommodation will be made for "special circumstances". Shangula said: “Certain persons coming into Namibia will be considered and approved by the relevant institutions, depending on the nature of travel to be undertaken, and the criticality of such mission to the national interest and safety and security of the Republic of Namibia.”

Sun

Namib is🇳🇦🎁The Central Bank of Namibia announced yesterday that it will launch a commemorative banknote on the 21st of March.



“The Bank is pleased to announce that it will launch a commemorative banknote on 21 March 2020. The commemorative banknote will be introduced in celebration of Namibia’s 30th Independence Anniversary.



Further details on the envisaged launch and issuance of the commemorative banknote will be communicated to the members of the public in due course.”✨



Outraged by what is considered a waste of resources, Namibians retorted that “We have money to print a N$30 note for 30 years of independence, meanwhile our schools don’t have water or electricity”.



According to Bank of Namibia, “The issuance of commemorative banknotes is a common practice among central banks all over the world. Commemorative banknotes and coins are normally issued by central banks to commemorate national events which are deemed significant to a country or to a central bank. Namibia’s currency symbolises independence, national pride and national heritage.🎖🎊

🇳🇦 At first, what is now Namibia was the German colony of Southwest Africa, but following World War I, it came under control of South Africa, as arranged by the League of Nations. Even after many years rolled by, however, South Africa refused to give up administration of Namibia, claiming the people of that region wanted to remain under their oversight.

But soon, a guerrilla group (SWAPO) arose and challenged South African rule in Namibia. They objected to apartheid and other unpopular aspects of South African policy. Soon, they won a major victory at Omugulugwombashe, and yet, the war did not end. It dragged on for 24 years.

By 1988, the conflict had largely ceased, but it wasn’t until two years later in 1990 that South Africa officially ended the war and granted Namibian independence on 21 March.

On Independence Day, the people of Namibia take to the streets to celebrate their hard-won independence. There are parades and a host of other celebratory events, and many people get off work to attend the celebrations.