Alleged dubious registration of the RDP

Nampa reports- The Swapo Party Youth League is demanding the immediate dismissal of the country's Elections Director for allegedly registering the Rally for Democracy and Progress under mysterious circumstances. The demand is based on a newspaper story in a local English daily, in which Kanime was accused of being secretive about the new political party, which is headed by a faction that broke away from the ruling Swapo. Kanime is also said to have exchanged 'secret' letters with the leader of the new party prior to its registration. The SPYL members say they condemn Phillemon Kanime's 'dubious conduct' in registering the new party, which is headed by former Swapo-Party government Minister Jesaya Nyamu.

Domestics march Keetmanshoop

A small group of disgruntled domestic workers staged a protest march through the streets of Keetmanshoop on Tuesday to voice their discontent with the increasing spate of violent incidences in the town. The domestic workers, mostly employed in the former whites’ only Westdene residential area, noted that they are increasingly being targeted by criminals and hooligans on their way from and to work places. The Westdene residential area is separated from the town’s CBD by a dry riverbed posing a potential hideout for criminals. The march follows shortly after a resident of the Westdene residential area, Rachel Magda Maas, was brutally murdered in her house recently.

Mauritius expands economy

News 24 reports-Mauritius hopes to boost fisheries employment by 25%, or 3 000 more jobs, after investing more than $80million US dollars in the sector since 2005. The Indian Ocean island's traditional sugar and textile industries are facing stiffer competition from the gradual liberalisation of global trade. It wants to diversify its roughly 6.7billion dollar economy into other sectors. The island of 1.3 million attracted a record 900 thousand visitors this year and aims to welcome two million tourists a year by 2015.

Put a sparkle in Christmas for a mere 12-million bucks

Newsflash reports-For those who don't mind splurging a bit this holiday season, a Japanese department store is offering a Christmas tree with 400 diamonds for a cool 12-million Namibian dollars. Takashimaya department store chain is selling the tree - actually a small tower of preserved roses with a teddy bear - for the symbolic price to kick off its year-end sales campaign. Independent Online quotes the department store as saying the tree, which stands 40 centimetres high, features about 100 carats of diamonds from Southern Africa and Australia.