Windhoek Observer – Page 459 – Windhoek Observer

22 Aug

Government urged to set up a universal healthcare system

National News

Niël Terblanché A recent study by Afrobarometer has revealed that the majority of Namibians do not have medical aid coverage, with affordability being the primary barrier. The survey's findings indicate a growing concern among citizens about access to adequate healthcare and have sparked calls for government intervention, even if it requires raising taxes. The Afrobarometer survey from March 2024 found that 85% of Namibians lack health insurance, with unaffordability being the primary cause for 74% of these respondents. The survey, which included a nationally representative sample of 1 200 adult Namibians, highlights the widespread financial inaccessibility of medical aid, leaving…

22 Aug

Police urge caution on roads ahead of Heroes Day travel rush

National NewsHeroes Day commemoration

Niël Terblanché As many prepares to travel for the upcoming Heroes Day long weekend, the police is appealing to motorists to prioritise safety on the country’s roads. With the Heroes Day commemoration set to take place on August 26th in Omuthiya, Oshikoto Region, alongside other major events like the Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair, the police anticipate an influx of travellers on the roads from 23 to 25 August. The head of the Namibian Police’s Public Relations Division, Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi, said in a statement issued on Thursday that, in light of the expected increased road activity, the police wishes…

22 Aug

Debt to NamWater tops N$2.1 billion

National News

Niël Terblanché NamWater faces financial challenges, with outstanding debts now surpassing N$2.1 billion. According to a statement issued by the national water supplier, this debt burden is an obstacle to NamWater’s ability to operate on a cost-recovery basis, as the entity primarily functions as a public service provider rather than for profit. As of June 2024, the accumulated debt from various sectors surpassed N$2.1 billion. Private and individual consumers owe N$312 139 216, while industries are responsible for N$40 343 848. Irrigation farmers have accrued N$22 525 668 in debt, and mines have an outstanding balance of N$91 820 587.…

22 Aug

State requests severe sentence for Dippenaar

National News

Niël Terblanché The state prosecutor in Jandre Dippenaar’s murder trial, Advocate Ethel Ndlovu, urged Magistrate Gaynor Paulton to mete out a custodial sentence for the convicted person while presenting her submissions in aggravation of sentencing on Thursday. Advocate Albert Strydom countered her arguments by arguing that, despite Dippenaar's conviction on six counts of murder, the extraordinary verdict warrants an extraordinary sentence. Advocate Strydom contended that his client became the first person in Namibian history to receive a murder conviction following a fatal motor vehicle collision. He went on to state that his client was convicted by society. “The advent of…

22 Aug

Defence ministry appoints commission to rebury liberation heroes

Featured, National NewsPeople’s Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN)

Stefanus Nashama and Hilarius Hamutenya The minister of defence and veterans affairs, Frans Kapofi, commissioned a committee for the exhumation and reinterment of the remains of martyrs of the liberation struggle on Thursday. According to the minister, the committee will be headed by former commander, Major General Charles Namoloh, who led the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) on the battlefield. Other members of the committee include Colonel (retired) David Ndatipo, Ericas Ndalikokule, Apollo Bassenero, Elvis Handura, Penofina Eises and Timoteus Mashuna. “Several years ago, the government mandated the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs to ensure that the history…

22 Aug

Swapo boasts of decades of achievements ahead of November elections

National NewsHilma Nicanor

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Over its 34-year tenure, the Swapo government has achieved significant progress in various sectors, from education and healthcare to infrastructure, social welfare, and poverty reduction. This was said by Swapo’s secretary for information and mobilisation, Hilma Nicanor on Wednesday while outlining the party’s upcoming activities in preparation for the Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for November. “It is difficult for one to ignore or distort the impressive achievements registered by the Swapo government in a country that suffered untold and despicable injustices perpetrated by successive colonial regimes,” said Nicanor. She also emphasised the party’s Swapo’s ability to…

22 Aug

MHAISS launches customer service charter

National News

Stefanus Nashama The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security launched a Ministerial Customer Service Charter on Thursday to improve its service delivery to people. Home affairs minister, Albert Kawana said the charter aims to reaffirm the ministry’s dedication to delivering exceptional services to customers every day. “The purpose of this charter is simple yet profound: To reaffirm our commitment to providing exceptional services to our customers every day,” he stated. He said that by launching the charter, clients can make the most of the ministry's services. “They are the reason for the existence of our ministry. That is…

22 Aug

Shipwiikineni urges lawyers to defend social justice

National NewsAina Kalimba, Electoral Commission of Namibia, Erich Chrismann Shivute, Joshua Vaino Martins, Petrus Ndeshipanda Shituula, Shipwiikineni

Martin Endjala Swapo member Reinhold Shipwiikineni has urged lawyers to stand firm in the pursuit of social justice and not abandon clients. Shipwiikineni's call follows the withdrawal of a letter to the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) by its Ondangwa-based legal representative, Nicky Ngula Attorneys, without consulting them. Shipwiikineni, Joshua Vaino Martins, Petrus Ndeshipanda Shituula, Erich Chrismann Shivute, and Aina Kalimba Angula allege that the Swapo party central committee's nomination of Nandi-Ndaitwah as presidential candidate is invalid because it violates Article 15(9) of the party's constitution. Ngula withdrew the group’s request to the ECN to not allow Vice President Netumbo…

22 Aug

Democratic Elections: A pathway for Namibian youth to transcend the zone of non-being

Opinions

Sakaria Johannes Frantz Fanon, a towering figure in decolonial thought, introduced the concepts of the "zone of being" and the "zone of non-being" to describe the existential realities shaped by colonialism and its enduring legacies. These terms encapsulate the different ways people experience the world based on their social, economic, and political positioning within a society deeply influenced by colonial history. Zone of being The "zone of being" is a space where individuals are fully recognized as human, enjoying the rights, privileges, and dignity that come with this recognition. In the colonial and postcolonial contexts, this zone is typically reserved…

22 Aug

Mainstream media sustainability amid digital transformation

Opinions

Festus Nakatana It is a challenging time for media operations everywhere. Printed media sustainability has been sliding towards the abyss due to declining advertising revenue, reduced circulation, and loss to technology giants. Advertising revenue, in particular, is the lifeblood of newspapers’; ability to remain profitable. This reality rings true in Namibia, considering that circulations of virtually all mainstream print titles are in alarming decline. While some popular media outlets have fully adopted new technologies and advertising models to diversify revenue streams, many are still struggling. They are left to fend for themselves, with no new revenue streams to reshape operations…