Windhoek Observer – Page 447 – Windhoek Observer

02 Jul

MTC makes the connection in Otjinene

National News

Martin Endjala After 29 years in existence, Mobile Telecommunication Limited (MTC) widened its presence with a dealer shop concept in the Otjinene village, in the Omaheke region on Tuesday. John Ekongo, MTC’s corporate affairs manager, explained that apart from providing services to the people, the dealership concept also provides income for dealers to earn a commission from serving MTC clientele, especially in remote areas. “Before this new dealer shop, people of Otjinene and other adjacent constituencies used to travel hundreds of kilometres to Gobabis or Grootfontein to open a contract account. We are thus glad that this will not be…

02 Jul

Alcoholic beverages top exported commodities

National News

Martin Endjala Alcoholic beverages topped the list of commodities exported from Namibia, contributing 72% to the commodity trade in May. This is according to the Namibia Statistics Agency's (NSA) latest international merchandise trade statistics bulletin. Namibia exported goods worth N$5.4 billion and imported goods worth N$5.3 billion to and from other African countries. Exports to Kenya stood at N$10 million. Namibia imported goods valued at N$464 905, with the import basket mainly made up of men's or boys' clothing (47.4%) and telecommunications equipment (16.2%). In the analysis of the commodity of the month, the country imported blankets worth N$10.8 million…

02 Jul

Caltex re-enters Namibian fuel retail market

Energy, National News

Niël Terblanché Chevron Brands International LLC (Chevron), a subsidiary of Chevron Corporation, has announced its re-entry into Namibia’s retail fuel market through a long-term retail trademark licensing agreement with Bachmus Oil and Fuel Supplies (PTY) LTD (Bachmus). According to Juliana Loh, Chevron’s Senior Corporate Affairs Advisor, the new partnership marks the return of the Caltex brand to the Namibian fuel retail sector. Loh said that Chevron has appointed Bachmus as the licensee for the Caltex brand, entrusting them with the sale, marketing, and distribution of Caltex fuels across Namibia. This agreement aims to expand the Caltex-branded service station network throughout…

02 Jul

Masisi visits Namibia to strengthen bilateral relations

National News

Niël Terblanché President Nangolo Mbumba is hosting President Mokgweetsi Masisi of Botswana for a working visit. The visit will be focused on strengthening the bilateral relations between the two countries and enhancing cooperation in various sectors. During the visit, Masisi will serve as the guest of honour at the Swakopmund International Trade Expo (Swaitex). This year’s Swaitex is aimed at efficient connectivity and resource beneficiation for sustainable growth in Africa. The expo at the coast will provide an opportunity for the leaders to engage with industry stakeholders and discuss collaborative initiatives aimed at the economic development of both nations. The…

02 Jul

Pan-African Parliament advocates for free movement protocol

National News

Stefanus Nashama The Pan-African Parliament has urged its members to engage their respective parliaments on the protocol of free movement across the continent. The Deputy Chairperson of the Permanent Committee on Trade, Customs and Immigration, McHenry Venaani, presented this report during the Pan-African Parliament session in South Africa on Monday. “Africa has the dream of attaining the highest levels of economic growth, and this can only be effective if there is free movement of people on the continent. Therefore, there is a need to pursue political and social stability at national, regional, and continental levels for the success of integration…

02 Jul

Support for resettlement farmers increased

National News

Niël Terblanché The Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform is negotiating with Agribank to increase the startup loan for resettlement farmers from N$200 000 to N$500 000. Deputy Minister Anna Shiweda said this in response to questions from Kennedy Shekupakela of the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) in the National Assembly. According to Shiweda, the goal of the proposed loan amount increase is to close gaps in the resettlement program and allow the ministry to provide better support for resettled farmers. "The ministry intends to increase the capacity of resettled farmers," she stated. She, however, also acknowledged that…

02 Jul

Land acquisition fund sparks new hope

National News

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The descendants of farm workers facing eviction from Okamuru Farm in the Omatako constituency near Waterberg have applauded the government for allocating N$50 million to acquire land for generational farm workers and possibly people stranded in corridors. The group's spokesperson, George Ampweya, claims that many families are facing eviction from what should be their ancestral land. He said this news is a beacon of hope for the children of generational farm workers facing displacement around the country. “As a direct beneficiary facing the threat of forced and illegal removal from a farm that once belonged to generations of…

02 Jul

CoW writes off N$55.7 million worth of debt amidst installation delays for prepaid water meters

National News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Despite promises of progress, the City of Windhoek's (CoW) initiative to reduce the municipal debt of pensioners, the local authority has encountered delays in its implementation. To date, the CoW has written off a total of N$55.7 million across 13 372 accounts. "The pensioner debt write-off has commenced in batches, with nearly 3,000 pensioners already registered. Specifically for pensioners, there will be a 100% write-off on both the capital and interest on debt. This benefit will apply to 26 118 pensioners, with a total monetary value of N$223 million. Other residents will also benefit from a 50% write-off…

02 Jul

Ondangwa Stadium short of N$190 million

National News

Stefanus Nashama Ondangwa Town Council still needs N$190 million to construct a sports stadium. In an interview with the Windhoek Observer last week, The mayor of Ondangwa, Paavo Amwele revealed that so far, the council has made N$60 million available for this project. “This will be the biggest stadium in Namibia, and it will cost multiples of millions of dollars. Even more than N$250 million. But as time goes on, we will be able to have the correct estimated cost. The Town Council has put aside N$60 for the project, but we will need more funds,” he said. He said…

02 Jul

Namibia and Ghana strengthen bilateral ties

National News

Niël Terblanché The governments of Namibia and Ghana have convened in Swakopmund for the fifth session of the Joint Commission of Cooperation (JCC) to review and reinvigorate their bilateral ties. The executive director of the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, Ambassador Penda Naanda, officially launched the session and expressed hope that the positive exchanges between the two countries will result in increased cooperation between the two countries. The last meeting between the two countries of this kind took place in Ghana in 2022. Naanda pointed to the already excellent bilateral relations between Namibia and Ghana, noting significant growth in…