Observer

Ester Mbathera The absence of a minimum wage for the mining industry leaves room for companies to set wages as they see fit, creating disparities in worker pay and conditions. Currently, minimum wage laws only apply to construction, security, agriculture, and domestic work sectors. Maria Hedimbi, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations & Employment Creation said it is currently the responsibility of the employers and employees' representatives within a particular industry to come up with a collective agreement that outlines conditions of service, including minimum wages for their respective industries. “In the absence of a minimum wage…

Stefanus Nashama Concerns over the country’s outdated water and sewage infrastructure are gaining momentum as political parties express frustration over the lack of maintenance and modernisation. The Affirmative Repositioning (AR), Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF), and the Landless People’s Movement (LPM) are among the latest parties calling for immediate action and proposing long-term solutions. On Monday the All People’s Party (APP), the Body of Christ Party (BCP), the Congress of Democrats (CoD), and the National Empowerment Fighting Corruption (NEFC), voiced their concerns. AR spokesperson George Kambala accused the Swapo-led government of failing to implement proper plans to fix and maintain…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja In light of a recent incident involving a Namibian diplomat and his family, former Namibian ambassador Pius Dunaiski has highlighted the need for clear guidelines to address crimes committed by diplomats stationed abroad. The retired diplomat emphasised that while diplomatic immunity provides necessary protections, it can also complicate the pursuit of justice in cases where serious crimes are alleged. “It is a very difficult case because the embassy itself, as well as the people who live within the embassy, enjoy diplomatic immunity,” Dunaiski explained. “The host country cannot simply arrest anyone without consent from the Executive Director of…

Allexer Namundjembo The National Council Standing Committee on Home Affairs, Security, Constitutional, and Legal Affairs has invited experts in areas such as economists, and financial analysts to help unpack the budget and make the members of parliament understand it. The chairperson of the committee John Likando said the move should be a separate session before the budget is referred to the National Council. “Activities should be led by the standing committee on public accounts and economy to ensure that thorough consultations are conducted with the public and members of the National Council are taken through by the experts to ensure…

Niël Terblanché The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security dismissed allegations made by political activist Michael Amushelelo, who recently criticized the conduct of a ministry staff member for using a mobile phone while on duty. In a widely circulated social media post, Amushelelo implied that the employee's brief use of their phone demonstrated a lack of professionalism. Etienne Maritz, the ministry’s executive director, in a statement on Wednesday, refuted this portrayal, calling it a misleading and unfair attack on the integrity of its workforce. Maritz clarified that the use of mobile phones by its staff is often a…

Niël Terblanché The Public Service Commission (PSC) of Namibia recently took part in the 6th General Assembly of the Association of African Public Service Commissions (AAPSCOMS), held from 6 to 8 November 2024 in Nairobi, Kenya. Hosted by Kenya’s Public Service Commission, the conference brought together over 100 international delegates from 10 African nations, along with 200 local Kenyan delegates representing ministries, state departments, and independent offices. This year’s theme, “Driving Public Service Delivery Transformation through Innovation and Technology,” set the stage for a dialogue on reshaping public administration across Africa. Namibia’s delegation was led by PSC Chairperson Salmaan Jacobs…

Niël Terblanché The Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) hosted a well-attended stakeholder engagement session in Walvis Bay where 72 participants discussed the draft Customs Bond Management Policy. According to a statement issued by NamRa, the session on Tuesday was aimed at gathering feedback and refining the draft policy, which is an important step toward establishing clear guidelines and safeguards within Namibia’s customs industry. The Customs Bond Management Policy, currently in development, seeks to formalise the requirements for surety bond amounts under the Customs and Excise Act of 1998. This new policy aims to ensure that bonds are set at reasonable amounts,…

Martin Endjala The Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG) recently opened new roadside wellness clinics to support health and safety in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Angola, and Zambia. The clinics are along the Walvis Bay-Ndola-Lubumbashi Development Corridor (WBSLDC) in DRC (Kasumbalesa Border Post) and Zambia (Kasumbalesa Border Post), as well as in DRC (Lufu Border Post) and Angola (Luvo Border Post). According to the company, the expansion of the health infrastructure aims to improve access to essential health services for truck drivers, cross-border traders, and local communities who rely on these vital trade routes. This was done with funding…