Observer – Page 2 – Windhoek Observer

19 Dec

Defence & education ministries dispel military deployment to schools rumours

ObserverNational News

Stefanus Nashama The Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture has dismissed claims circulating on social media that it requested the deployment of military personnel to replace private security services at schools. Rumours spread through various WhatsApp groups over the past week suggested that the Ministry of Education had approached the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs to assign Namibian Defence Force (NDF) members to guard schools. The allegations further claimed the request was awaiting approval. Speaking to the Windhoek Observer on Wednesday, Sanet Steenkamp, Executive Director of the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture, categorically denied the claims, emphasizing that…

19 Dec

Businessperson, community activist awaken to the reality of capitalism

ObserverOpinions

Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro A local businessperson in the conservation and tourism sector, in an opinion article in The Namibian newspaper of December 6, 2024, headlined, “Breaking the Silence on Conservancies and Tourism Versus Mining,” took issue with threats posed by mining activities to the environment. Not long after the said article, who sounded like a community activist, a native and resident of the Kunene region, in the ancient and/or pre-colonial Ohopoho, today’s Opuwo, featuring on the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC)’s Omurari FM daily current affairs programme, Keetute. Who last Thursday, 12 December, 2024, also raised concern, albeit of a different nature,…

19 Dec

Walvis Bay welcomes financial injection brought by Q7000 rig

ObserverObserver Money

Niël Terblanché The marine industrial complex situated in Walvis Bay welcomed the Q7000, a semi-submersible vessel, which docked on 16 December for maintenance and repair work before its deployment to Brazil's oil fields. The vessel is currently stationed at Berth 8 at the harbour, where it will undergo hull cleaning operations to comply with international maritime environmental standards. The Q7000 arrived from Western Australia and is scheduled for a ten-day stay in Walvis Bay. During this period, specialized underwater vacuum cleaning technology will be employed to remove marine life such as barnacles and mussels from the hull. The extracted organisms…

19 Dec

SMEs benefit from swiping machine

ObserverObserver Money

Martin Endjala In the digital transformative world, innovative ways of doing business have become a prerequisite for many Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to navigate the demands of high-tech payment and cash withdrawal systems. Papa G, who owns Papa G’s Chicken in Grysblock, Windhoek, narrated his experience with a Portable Point of Sale (POS) commonly known as a swiping machine, describing it as convenient for his customers. He told the Windhoek Observer this week that some customers do not walk around carrying money, and the convenience of him having a swiping machine has been a game changer. “Trust me if…

19 Dec

Law enforcement ready for a safe holiday period

ObserverNational News

Niël Terblanché As Christmas approaches, law enforcement agencies in the Erongo region have stepped up efforts to ensure safety and security for both residents and visitors. Erongo regional police commander, Commissioner Nikolaus Kupembona, assured the public of a well-coordinated safety strategy. “ We are ready to ensure law and order, but we need the public’s cooperation to make this festive season crime-free,” he said. He added that holidaymakers from across Namibia and abroad can look forward to celebrations in the coastal towns, supported by robust safety measures. According to Kupembona, the regional command has implemented a comprehensive safety plan, including…

19 Dec

Determination for the procurement of new power generation projects announced

ObserverObserver Money

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Ministry of Mines and Energy has approved the 2024 ministerial determination for the procurement of new power generation projects, in line with the National Integrated Resource Plan (NIRP) of 2022. In a statement issued on Thursday, the minister of mines and energy, Tom Alweendo said the determination serves as a strategic guide for NamPower and the broader Electricity Supply Industry (ESI) in the development, procurement, and execution of critical energy projects. The minister emphasised that the determination reflects the government’s commitment to enhancing energy security and advancing energy independence through sustainable power generation. The initiative is expected…

19 Dec

Swakopmund set for water safety and drowning prevention marathon

ObserverSports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Mekenificent Business Hub, in collaboration with the Swakopmund Municipality and other partners, is organising the Water Safety and Drowning Prevention Marathon to raise awareness about ocean safety and prevent drowning incidents. The event’s second edition will take place in Swakopmund on December 21, under the theme “A Safer Coast.” The inaugural marathon was held in Windhoek in 2023. Mekenificent Business Hub founder, Meke Namindo on Thursday said the event is a festive fun run or walk to raise awareness of keeping the ocean safe and preventing drowning, which can increase during the holiday season. “We are committed to…

19 Dec

Sisa Namandje invests N$300 000 in football

ObserverSports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Prominent lawyer, Sisa Namandje, through his law firm Sisa Namandje & Co., has invested N$300 000 to the Namibia Football Association (NFA) for the development of third-division football leagues nationwide. The sponsorship agreement was signed and handed over to the NFA on Thursday at the Sisa Namandje & Co. head office in Windhoek. The N$300,000 sponsorship will be distributed over three years, with N$100,000 allocated for each year. The first instalment will be disbursed in January 2025. NFA President Robert Shimooshili expressed gratitude for the contribution, highlighting its importance in nurturing football at the grassroots level. “The third…

19 Dec

De Beers reduces sightholders allocations

ObserverObserver Money

De Beers has stripped around 10 sightholders of their rough-diamond allocations for 2025 and is planning to offer fewer goods overall, market insiders told Rapaport News. Those companies will retain their sightholder status, but the miner will not give them a consistent allotment of supply because they did not buy enough in 2024, the sources said. Several of them are in mining countries such as Botswana, where rough purchases and polished production have slumped this year, they added. The total value of allocations next year will be 20% to 30% lower than this year, according to the sources’ estimates, reflecting…

19 Dec

Tumas has 30-year life of mine

ObserverObserver Money

CHAMWE KAIRA Deep Yellow Limited, which is developing Tumas project in the Erongo Region has said that in total 73.8 million pounds of uranium oxide will be produced over a total life of mine of 30 years. Commenting on the milestone Deep Yellow Managing Director/CEO Mr John Borshoff commented: “This major ore reserve upgrade continues to confirm the upside potential of the Tumas project. We now have a reserve with a 30-year Life of Mine expectancy with potential to increase this by a further five to 10 years with further work in the coming years. All of this augers very…