Churches and civil society groups are urging the Namibian government to provide citizens with monthly basic income grants by raising taxes. They have called for a Basic Income Grant of 100 Namibian dollars (US$11) to alleviate poverty.

A church-sponsored pilot project to provide a basic income to residents of a Namibian village has increased school attendance and employment while decreasing the poverty-related crime rate.

A leader of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia says a move by a human rights group to bring former president Sam Nujoma before the International Criminal Court in The Hague might result in public violence or even civil war.

The leader of the Council of Churches in Namibia has expressed concern about environmental problems that could be created if the uranium-rich southern African country accepts an offer by Russia to help build floating nuclear power plants.

Namibia's Lutheran bishop Dr Zephania Kameeta has stressed the commitment of civil society to the fight against poverty in the country, rejecting criticism that a proposed Basic Income Grant (BIG) they are advocating would encourage people to become overly dependent.

After being separated for decades along ethnic lines by a history of colonialism and apartheid, Namibia's three Lutheran churches are moving towards unity following an announcement that they have established a combined church council- writes Rodrick Mukumbira for Ecumenical News International(ENI).