Observer – Page 466 – Windhoek Observer

30 Aug

Set aside by sjambok: labour law onviolence and harassment in the workplace

ObserverOpinionsSet aside by sjambok: labour law onviolence and harassment in the workplace

Fedden Mainga In my preceding opinion piece (volume 27), I addressed the constitutional violations of the practical joke involving some employees at Rundu service station who were beaten for loans. In the employment context, this ‘joke’ brought to the fore some worrisome realities of the state of labour laws because the Labour Act 11 of 2007 only provides for sexual harassment. Even though the Ministry of Labour is reportedly busy with amendments that will include violence and harassment in the workplace, the current Labour Act does not provide for incidents like the one in question. According to Ohms Kayama, an…

29 Aug

Ongwediva Trade Fair attracts 418 exhibitors

ObserverObserver MoneyDeputy Minister of Industrialisation and Trade, Ongwediva Trade Fair attracts 418 exhibitors, Verna Sinimbo

Stefanus Nashama The 2023 Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair (OATF) which has officially opened over the weekend, has attracted 418 local and international exhibitors. The Deputy Minister of Industrialisation and Trade, Verna Sinimbo, who spoke on behalf of President Hage Geingob during the official opening, said the 418 local and international exhibitors reflect a fair number of active economic sectors in the country. This includes the informal sector that also contributes to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), she said. The theme for this year’s trade fair is “Embracing a sustainable economy, linking smart markets”. Sinombo noted that the event creates…

29 Aug

Mining Industry Has Potential to Drive Namibia’s Economic Fortunes

ObserverOpinionsMining Industry Has Potential to Drive Namibia’s Economic Fortunes

Josef Kefas Sheehama The mining sector of Namibia remains a key driver of sustainable economic development. Indeed, this sector contributes a lot to exports as well as having crucial inter-linkages with other sectors of the economy. The mining sector is critical for carrying out mineral exploration, extraction, processing, and marketing because Namibia lacks enough capital and technological resources to finance such capital-intensive large-scale. It is noteworthy that in 2023, the sector contributed about 12% of GDP. Namibia’s mining sector recorded a year of strong growth of 21.6% in 2022 compared to 11% in 2021, on the back of good performance…

29 Aug

Exorbitant land and housing prices driving masses to shanty towns: Economist

ObserverNational NewsExorbitant land and housing prices driving masses to shanty towns: Economist, Independent Bank Researcher and Economist, Josef Sheehama

Martin Endjla Independent Bank Researcher and Economist, Josef Sheehama, has attributed the high number of shacks in urban areas to the ever-increasing land and housing prices in the country. In an interview with Windhoek Observer yesterday, while reacting to the announcement of increased average house prices between 1990 to 2023, which went up by 1.258 percent as per Simonis Storm Securities report for August 2023. Sheehama said exorbitant prices of land and housing are one of the main reasons why there is an increase in shacks in urban areas. This is mostly caused by the cost of land planning and…

29 Aug

Two missing little girls found wandering in the desert

ObserverNational Newse Kuisebmond neighbourhood of Walvis Bay, Two missing little girls found wandering in the desert

Niël Terblanché Two little girls, who disappeared from their home in the Kuisebmond neighbourhood of Walvis Bay on Saturday, were taken to hospital for observation after they were tracked down in the desert behind the Rooikop military base. According to Inspector Ileni Shapumba, the head of the Namibian Police’s community affairs division in the Erongo Region, the two sisters aged eight and ten, disappeared from their home on Saturday. “The circumstances at their home and the circumstances which surround their disappearance are currently the subject of an investigation,” said Shapumba. The search parties consisting of police officers, members of the…

29 Aug

Mental Health Bill to reach Parliament soon: Shangula

ObserverNational NewsDr Kalumbi Shangula, Mental Health Bill to reach Parliament soon: Shangula, Social Services

Stefanus Nashama Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Kalumbi Shangula, revealed that the Ministry has initiated the drafting of the Mental Health Bill seeking to address the issue of suicide, depression and psychosis cases in the country. According to the Minister, the current legislation dealing with matters related to mental health is outdated. “It is for this reason that the Ministry initiated the drafting of the Mental Health Bill, with input from national consultations, experts and practitioners,” he noted. Shangula made these remarks while speaking at the inauguration of the Mental Health Board for Oshakati Intermediate Hospital for the…

29 Aug

Oshikoto region faced withroad infrastructural challenges

ObserverNational NewsDeputy Director of Development and Planning at Oshikoto Regional Council, Oshikoto region faced withroad infrastructural challenges

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Over 85 percent of land in the Oshikoto Region is in rural areas and economic progress for the region and accessibility to certain villages for residents is hampered by inadequate road infrastructure. According to Peter Ndawedha, the Deputy Director of Development and Planning at Oshikoto Regional Council, the issue needs to be addressed urgently because some residents hardly receive critical services because certain cars cannot access their areas due to some roads that in a bad state or have never been developed. While speaking to the National Council Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Housing last week, Ndawedha emphasised…

29 Aug

GIZ donates IT equipment to persons with disabilities

ObserverNational NewsDeutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Disability Resource Centre (DRC), GIZ donates IT equipment to persons with disabilities

Martin Endjala The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) through its Sustainable Development Goals Initiative (SDGI) and its Leave No One Behind principle, handed over essential Information Technology (IT) equipment to the Organisation of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs). The handover ceremony took place last week in Windhoek at the Disability Resource Centre (DRC), in Okuryangava. The equipment will be used to facilitate data collection and mark the final activities of the GIZ Disability Data Collection Project in Namibia. The donated equipment are desktop computers, monitors and tablets, designed to enable effective data digitisation, storage and advocacy. The data gathered will…

29 Aug

Menzies holding Namibian cargo hostage

ObserverMainHosea Kutako International Airport (HKIA), Menzies holding Namibian cargo hostage, Namibia Airports Company (NAC)

Niël Terblanché The air cargo warehouse standoff at the Hosea Kutako International Airport (HKIA) has now entered its second week with Menzies Aviation Namibia still blatantly refusing to hand over cargo handling responsibilities to Paragon Aviation Services (PAS). Dan Kamati, the spokesperson of Namibia Airports Company (NAC) confirmed on Monday that the status quo of the cargo that was under Menzies’ control at the time of their eviction on 19 August 2023 remains unchanged. “It remains a pressing matter for the NAC. All this despite several engagements. Menzies has been adamant and has not yet released the cargo to PAS,…

28 Aug

PAS manages ground handling for Cuban President

ObserverNational NewsPAS manages ground handling for Cuban President

Niël Terblanché A truly proud Namibian moment played itself out at the Hosea Kutako International Airport when a fully Namibian-owned company, Paragon Aviation Services managed ground handeling services for the Cuban President, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez who is currently on an Official Visit in the country. Paragon Aviation Services had the opportunity to welcome the Cuban President, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, at the Hosea Kutako International Airport on Saturday. This is the first Head of State that visited Namibia since Paragon Aviation Services started providing Ground handling services at the international airport a little over a week ago. A representative of Paragon…