Namibia Roundup: Digitization strategy, German reparation, inclusive justice
Digitisation strategy
The Executive Director of Information, Audrin Mathe, has disclosed that the estimated cost of fully implementing Namibia's digital strategy over the next three years is approximately N$100 million. Mathe emphasised the conservative nature of these figures and mentioned that the strategy is currently in the crafting stage, involving consultations with end-users. Once finalised, it will undergo further scrutiny by the Cabinet. “The idea is to develop a programme that will pave the way for Namibia’s trajectory into the digital world. One of our missions is to have a digital government by 2030. Where we are right now, providing figures would be premature. What we are doing is that over the next three years, beginning the next financial year in April 2024, we have asked the Ministry of Finance to give us N$20 million [this year] and a total of N$100 million for the next three years so that we roll out gradually. At the end of the third mid-term budget, we will see how far we have gone in terms of rolling this out, and what other areas have not been covered. What we are doing is to maximise the potential of the terrestrial network to the level where we have enough information to go on satellite because we have engaged the government of Angola,” Mathe told New Era Live.
Green Revolution
The Bank of Namibia (BoN) has become a member of the Network for Greening the Financial System, a coalition of central banks and prudential supervisory authorities dedicated to promoting environmental and climate risk management in the global financial sector. The BoN cited Namibia's vulnerability to the adverse effects of climate change as a key factor influencing its decision to join the network. “Namibia, being disproportionately vulnerable to the effects of climate change, recognises the critical importance of aligning its financial system with green principles. As a semi-arid country facing recurring drought challenges, the negative impacts on food security and underlying macroeconomic risks are profound,” the BoN is quoted by the Namibian Sun.
Oil result
President Hage Geingob has expressed optimism about the specific outcomes expected from extensive offshore oil drilling in Namibia this year. The country's rich mineral resources have attracted global interest, particularly from the mining sector. The government is actively working to expedite the commencement of oil production, New Era Live reports. In his New Year's message, President Geingob highlighted that 2024 holds the promise of realising tangible outcomes, carefully planned and developed throughout the preceding year of 2023. “Many Namibians will recall the difficulties we experienced over the past years, starting with a global commodity crisis in 2015, which led to protracted declines in government revenue, affecting the implementation of the ambitious development and infrastructure manifesto the government had planned to implement in the noble pursuit of prosperity for all,” the President said.
Inclusive Justice
Deputy Chief Justice Petrus Damaseb took a significant step towards enhancing diversity and inclusivity in Namibia's judicial system by overseeing the swearing-in ceremony of two accomplished women in the legal field. Advocate Beatrix de Jager and Lady Justice Philanda Christiaan were sworn in as judges of the Namibian High Court, marking a historic moment for the country's judiciary, the Windhoek Observer has reported. Namibia's commitment to breaking down barriers and cultivating a judiciary that mirrors the diversity of its population is evident in the simultaneous swearing-in of these judges. Advocate Beatrix de Jager's appointment as an acting judge of the High Court of Namibia is a noteworthy achievement in her distinguished 19-year legal career. The appointments of Advocate Beatrix de Jager and Lady Justice Philanda Christiaan represent a significant stride in establishing a judicial system committed to upholding the principles of justice and equality for all Namibians.
German reparations
The Ovaherero and Nama communities are calling upon President Hage Geingob to demonstrate his commitment to addressing reparations for Germany's 1904–1908 genocide. The communities are advocating for legal action to be taken in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to seek justice and acknowledgement for historical wrongs. This call comes in the wake of President Geingob's rejection of Germany's support for what is deemed "genocidal" actions in Gaza, The Namibian reports. The Ovaherero Traditional Authorities (OTA) and the Nama Leaders Association (NLA) jointly issued a statement emphasising the need for assertive legal measures. “Hage Geingob, just as you support South Africa in taking Israel to the ICJ in support of the Palestinian people, support us, the Nama and Ovaherero people, in taking Germany to the ICJ for genocide committed by Germany against the Nama and Ovaherero people. Clearly, the Namibian government only supports Germany in exchange for little jacked-up financial resources to its wooed budget and the most laughable promises of economic spin-offs from ‘green’ hydrogen energy production.” The NLA spokesperson Sima Luipert further added, “While we welcome the position regarding Palestinian genocide, it will remain political rhetoric unless he returns to the 2006 Namibian parliamentary resolution. We hope the Presidency has now seen that Germany was never serious about truly and genuinely coming to terms with its colonial skeletons.”
