Observer – Page 20 – Windhoek Observer

05 Nov

Dismantling of NamPost and Telecom to be concluded in December

ObserverMain

Ester Mbathera Intensive preparations are underway to complete the dismantling of Namibia Post and Telecom Holdings (NPTH) by December. The company confirmed this in its 2022/23 financial report, released on Tuesday. “In the next financial year, NPTH will progress towards the successful dismantling of the holdings company, which we anticipate will be concluded by December 2024, as per the approved dismantling plan,” reads the report. This process was initiated following a Cabinet decision in July 2014. The Dismantling Act (Act No. 7 of 2020), passed and gazetted in August 2020, formalised the process. This Act required the NPTH Board to…

05 Nov

Learners camp in Bwabwata National Park as hostel construction delays drag on

ObserverNational News

Allexer Namundjembo The construction of Ndoro Memorial Combined School’s hostel, which began in 2016, remains incomplete, leaving students without adequate accommodation eight years later. The school accommodates pupils from pre-primary to Grade 11, living at Omega 3 and nearby villages in Bwabwata National Park. The school lacks proper accommodation for learners, with the hostel expected to address this issue. During a visit by the Windhoek Observer last month, learners, especially Grades 9 and 11, were seen camping in the open while preparing for their national exams. The school principal, Sipopo Linus, said the construction of the school’s hostel started in…

05 Nov

Telecom continues to make loses

ObserverNational News

Ester Mbathera Telecom Namibia made a loss of N$12.3 million before tax in the 2022/23 fiscal year compared to a profit of N$51.9 million in the previous year. This was reported in the Namibia Post and Telecom Holdings (NPTH) 2022/23 financial report released on Tuesday. According to the report, Telecom Group’s financial performance was impacted by the challenging economic environment, rising inflation and interest rate hikes, local and international supply chain constraints, volatile exchange rates, and increasing competition in the telecommunications market. The company reported a loss of N$1.2 billion in 2021/22, attributing this to outdated and redundant billing systems…

05 Nov

UNAM expands Katima Mulilo campus to enhance wildlife conservation

ObserverNational News

Niël Terblanché The University of Namibia (UNAM) has taken a step in strengthening the country’s wildlife conservation efforts within the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA) with the expansion of its Katima Mulilo Campus. The extension is a demonstration of the country’s commitment to developing skilled human resources that can sustainably manage and protect the country's rich biodiversity for future generations. President Nangolo Mbumba inaugurated the Department of Wildlife Management and Tourism Studies on Monday. He said the facility is another milestone in Namibia's efforts to build capacity in human resources dedicated to wildlife conservation. "In the past, we struggled…

05 Nov

Suspended LPM councillors take charge of Karasburg

ObserverNational News

Martin Endjala Municipal councillors of the Landless People’s Movement (LPM) have returned to work and have taken over the administration of the Karasburg Town Council on Monday. Mayor Maria Veldskoen, Gregorius Ruhl, Josef Witbooi, and Fransiskus Skeyer, were suspended earlier this year. Veldskoen confirmed their return to the office with the Windhoek Observer, citing the recent court order that found the suspension of the entire Karasburg council by Erastus Uutoni, the Minister of Urban and Rural Development to be illegal. “We did not encounter any hostility. It was a smooth transition so far and now we must work hard to…

05 Nov

Works ministry urged to prioritise rural road infrastructure

ObserverNational News

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The National Council has recommended that the Roads Authority and Road Fund Administration under the Ministry of Works and Transport, recognise and prioritise both towns and rural road infrastructure. The recommendation is to ensure that connectivity in rural areas is positioned around rural development centres to grow the rural economy. The National Council standing committee on transport, infrastructure, and housing, which released a report this week and recommended it to parliament, advocates for allocating more financial resources to rural road infrastructure during the four stages of the budget cycle. This is to ensure sufficient funding to address the…

05 Nov

Namibia sets sights on enhanced public service delivery

ObserverNational News

Niël Terblanché Namibia is sending a delegation from the Public Service Commission (PSC) to the 6th General Assembly of the Association of African Public Service Commissions (AAPSCOMS) in Nairobi as part of its ongoing commitment to improving public service delivery. The assembly in Kenya will start today and serve as a key platform for sharing innovative strategies and practices among African public service leaders. In a statement issued on Monday the Public Service Commission’s spokesperson, Chalo Chainda said this year’s assembly, themed “Driving Public Service Delivery Transformation through Innovation and Technology,” aims to address the pressing need for reforms in…

05 Nov

Aid from Qatar set to alleviate drought hardship

ObserverNational News

Niël Terblanché The people of Namibia are hopeful that acts of kindness will continue to eventually overcome the challenges they face because of the drought. In this regard, the State of Qatar has extended a hand to the people of the country who are battling the effects of the severe drought conditions. Qatar donated 58 000 boxes of essential food items such as rice, tuna tins, soya beans, and cooking oil which were handed over to Erongo Regional Governor, Neville Andre at Namport in Walvis Bay on Tuesday. Andre expressed deep gratitude towards Qatar for its timely assistance. In his…

05 Nov

Nandi-Ndaitwah lauds agricultural innovation

ObserverNational News

Niël Terblanché Vice President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah embarked on a two-day familiarisation tour of the green schemes in the Kavango East and Kavango West regions in an effort to strengthen the country’s agricultural production. On Monday, Vice President Nandi-Ndaitwah re-commissioned the cold-pressed sunflower oil production facility at the Shadikongoro Green Scheme. The sunflower oil production facility was revived this year after its closure in 2021 due to a lack of finance. According to a report by the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation, the vice president said that the cultivation of sunflowers and the use of a press to diversify and add value to…

04 Nov

NGH2P and NAMCOR defend Swapo rally presence

ObserverMain

Allexer Namundjembo The Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme (NGH2P) and the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR) have defended their participation in a recent SWAPO event, clarifying their roles and rejecting allegations of political bias. NGH2P’s spokesperson, Jona Musheko explained that their attendance was aimed at raising awareness about the benefits of green hydrogen for youth, entrepreneurs, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs), without any political endorsement. According to Musheko, the engagement was nonpolitical and focused on informing the public about the potential of green hydrogen. “The invitation to participate at this rally presented a valuable opportunity to address a broad…