Windhoek Observer – Page 391 – Windhoek Observer

05 Feb

MTC 4Life initiative continues to empower Namibian youth

Featured, Observer Money

Niël Terblanché Namibia’s leading digital innovation company, MTC, has reaffirmed its commitment to youth empowerment with the continuation of its MTC 4Life programme. The Corporate Social Investment (CSI) initiative aims to equip young Namibians with practical business and entrepreneurial skills to establish or expand their small and medium enterprises, ultimately helping to reduce unemployment. The initiative announced on Tuesday will provide 40 young entrepreneurs with a two-week training programme in various trades, including barbering, brick manufacturing, animation, carpentry, hairstyling, electricity and solar installation, upholstery, and welding. The training will be facilitated by qualified Namibian professionals. Upon completion, participants will receive…

05 Feb

Learners welcome NAMCOL enrolment extension

National News

Stefanus Nashama Learners have welcomed the decision by the Namibian College of Open Learning (NAMCOL) to extend its enrolment period for the 2025 academic year. The announcement was made on Wednesday by Freddy Kaukungua, NAMCOL’s marketing and information officer, who said that the extension was in response to the high demand from students looking to upgrade their qualifications following the release of the January 2025 exam results. Esther Elifas, who did not achieve passing marks in her Grade 11 exams last year, expressed her excitement about the extension. “Sometimes, learners may not be ready to register due to various reasons,…

05 Feb

New SADC PF and GIZ Project to enhance accountability and citizen participation

National News

Moses Magadza The Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) and the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) have concluded a joint planning meeting ahead of signing a Grant Agreement to launch a new project titled “Enhancing Accountability and Citizen Participation in Regional Integration through Regional Parliament.” The three-year initiative, backed by €1.4 million in funding from the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and the European Union (EU), aims to bolster democratic governance, promote gender equality, and strengthen regional integration across SADC member states. Speaking after the two-day meeting held on January 30-31 in Windhoek, Sheuneni Kurasha, Manager of the Programme on…

05 Feb

Swakopmund dog killers in big trouble

National News

Niël Terblanché Outraged residents of Swakopmund gathered in front of the Magistrate’s Court to protest against the granting of bail for three young men accused of killing a beloved pet dog and its sale for human consumption. Three of the four suspects made their first appearance before the court on Wednesday. The accused, Seth Skrywer (20), Lourens Nanub (18), and Mariando Bloedstaan (20), were released on bail of N$3 000 each, while a 12-year-old minor was placed under parental supervision. The case was postponed to 18 March. The accused persons were charged with theft, money laundering, and animal cruelty. The…

05 Feb

Cabinet left with few weeks to deliver

National News

Niël Terblanché President Nangolo Mbumba has called on the Cabinet to make the most of the few remaining weeks before the inauguration of the new administration. Speaking at the official opening of the first Cabinet meeting of 2025 on Wednesday, Mbumba urged the members to uphold transparency, accountability, and ethical leadership in delivering on their constitutional duties. “The official opening of the first Cabinet meeting of the year is not merely ceremonial. It is an occasion where we are all reminded of our constitutional obligation as members of the executive,” he said. He also reflected on the challenges of the…

05 Feb

Kanalelo part ways with African Stars

Sports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe African Stars Football Club are without a head coach following the sudden resignation of Fillemon "Ronnie" Kanalelo on Wednesday. The club announced that it had accepted his immediate departure and wished him well in his future endeavours. “We would like to inform the Okaserundu fans and football fraternity that action is being taken in this regard and further communication will follow in this regard,” reads the statement. African Stars chairman, Salomo Hei, confirmed to the Windhoek Observer that Kanalelo had stepped down but did not provide reasons for his resignation. Kanalelo joined the club in February last year…

05 Feb

No support for informal urban gardeners

National News

Stefanus Nashama Urban gardeners in informal settlements face an uphill battle with no direct support from the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform. The ministry’s spokesperson, Jennifer Paulus, told the Windhoek Observer last week when responding to calls for assistance from residents struggling to sustain their backyard gardens. “We do not have a hand in supporting gardening in the informal settlement. I think that is the responsibility of the Windhoek municipality,” she said. Wilhelmina Iikela, a resident of the Goreangab informal settlement, has brought attention to the challenges faced by urban gardeners in Namibia who make a living from…

05 Feb

SADC PF capacity building project posts impressive results despite COVID-19

Africa / World

Moses Magadza A project titled, “Strengthening Parliamentary Capacity in the Southern African Development Community” that the SADC Parliamentary Forum implemented from 2019 to 2023 posted impressive results despite the impacts of COVID-19, an official has said. Last week, Sheuneni Kurasha, the manager of the Programme on Democracy, Governance & Human Rights at SADC PF, highlighted some of the project’s successes. The project sought to enhance parliamentary capacity in the SADC region, with a vision of transforming the SADC PF into a fully-fledged Regional Parliament. This transformation was endorsed by the 41st SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government in August…

04 Feb

‘We are praying for the Nujoma family’ – Geingos

Main

Ester Mbathera Namibia’s former First Lady, Monica Geingos has extended her thoughts and prayers to the Nujoma family as they face a difficult time. Founding President Sam Nujoma has been hospitalised at Lady Pohamba Private Hospital since last week. Speaking at the remembrance service of her late husband, President Hage Geingob, at State House on Tuesday, she expressed her empathy and solidarity. “My heart and empathy are with the Nujoma family right now as they grapple with a lot of what we had to grapple with and we pray for them and we pray for the founding father,” she said.…

04 Feb

365 days of Mbumba’s presidency

National News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja President Nangolo Mbumba assumed office on 4 February 2024, following the passing of President Hage Geingob. At the time, he was the vice president of the country. On the same day that Geingob died, he was sworn in as Namibia’s fourth President. Mbumba reflected on that day during a remembrance service for Geingob at the statehouse on Tuesday. “Exactly 365 days ago, with tears in my eyes, I had to take the oath of office as the president of Namibia. After that, I told security and protocol the office of the president should remain closed and his cars…