Windhoek Observer – Page 466 – Windhoek Observer

08 Aug

Ambassadors keep jobs despite reaching retirement age

National News

Ester Mbathera The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Peya Mushelenga, explained that civil servants in diplomatic missions who have reached retirement age will retire as per public service rules. Mushelenga was responding to questions about diplomats beyond retirement age who are still serving on missions during a public briefing on the ministry’s activities. “There are two streams of diplomats: Career diplomats, who are employees of MIRCO, and non-career diplomats. The president appoints heads of mission from both streams. There is nothing that precludes the president from appointing individuals of a certain age,” Mushelenga said. He added that there…

08 Aug

Justice ministry launched its new user-friendly website

National News

Niël Terblanché Namibia’s Ministry of Justice launched its revamped website, unveiling a modern, user-friendly platform designed to enhance public access to legal information and promote transparency in its operations. The launch event at the Windhoek Country Club on Thursday was presided over by Gladice Pickering, the Executive Director of the Ministry of Justice who stood in for minister Yvonne Dausab. In her address, Pickering pointed to the significance of the revamped website and described it as a vital tool in the Ministry’s ongoing commitment to better serve the Namibian public. Key Features of the new website include the new design,…

08 Aug

Addressing unemployment: a call for government-driven job creation

OpinionsAddressing Unemployment

Tomas Nashongo The road to prosperity is paved with the labour of its citizens, yet too many are left without a path. The unemployment endemic is a global crisis described as a state where eligible members of the workforce who are willing and able to work cannot find employment. Namibia has a high unemployment rate, which averaged 20.94 percent from 1991 until 2023 and is predicted to be 20.70 percent by the end of 2024. There is a high dependency on the mining and agricultural sectors for employment, which shows limited job diversity and a lack of capital to venture…

08 Aug

Assessing opportunities and drawbacks, building a nuclear power plant to meet Namibia’s electricity needs

OpinionsNuclear Power Plant Reactor

Josef Kefas Sheehama Energy security demands a reduction in reliance on imported fossil fuels as everyone braces for the potential of an impending energy apocalypse. Namibia must prioritize building a nuclear power plant reactor if it wants to surpass its current position and become a leader in energy self-sufficiency. The most cost-effective way for Namibia to boost energy security and resilience while diversifying its sources of electricity generation is through nuclear power. Namibia is the third-largest producer of uranium in the world and Namibia is the largest producer of Uranium from mining in Africa, yet it has no nuclear power…

08 Aug

ON COALITION AND GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL UNITY

OpinionsEconomic Freedom Fighters, Government of National Unity, Umkhonto Wesizwe Party

Paul T. Shipale The DA’s Federal chairperson Helen Zille said the ANC is in a Coalition Government with the DA and not in a Government of National Unity (GNU). According to her, “a Government of National Unity brings all the parties together that would include the EFF (Economic Freedom Fighters) and MK Party (Umkhonto Wesizwe Party), which it did not,” Zille said. In a video clip that has gone viral on social media, Zille explains that both parties entered into a coalition “from the beginning”. “President Cyril Ramaphosa came up with this notion of a Government of National Unity, which…

08 Aug

Namibia plans to export water to Botswana

Observer Money

CHAMWE KAIRA The plans to supply water to Botswana from the Namibian coast remains alive, although they have not been included for implementation in the currently approved SS1 (Supply Scenario 1) desalination plant. “Further investigations of viability of SS3 which will supply water to Gaborone will continue to be discussed between the two countries at appropriate platforms,” Lot Ndamanomhata Head of PR and Corporate Communications at NamWater said. The feasibility study on the desalination plant was done in 2021 and the project found viable. Ndamanomhata said cabinet has approved the implementation of the project by way of a Joint Venture…

08 Aug

Domestic government debt reaches N$120bn

Observer Money

Namibia's domestic government debt increased by 1.09% in July, rising from N$119.02 billion in June to N$120.32 billion. The primary driver of this growth was the increase in fixed-rate bonds (GCs), which expanded by N$1.05 billion to reach N$70.99 billion. Inflation-linked bonds (ILBs) also contributed to the overall debt rise, increasing by N$120 million to a total of N$9.14 billion. Treasury bills (TBs) saw a more modest increase of 0.31%, with outstanding amounts growing from N$40.06 billion to N$40.18 billion. However, within the treasury bill segment, the outstanding debt on the 91-day TB experienced a decline of 3.59%, reducing to…

08 Aug

Standard Bank expects higher earnings

Observer Money

CHAMWE KAIRA Standard Bank Namibia Holdings reported to shareholders this week that profit after tax for the period ended 30 June is expected to be substantially higher, by between 35% and 40%, than what was reported for the comparative period. “Therefore, earnings and headline earnings per share for the period ended 30 June 2024 are expected to be substantially higher, by between 35% and 40% (between 95 and 98 cents per share), than what was reported for the comparative period (70 cents),” the company said in a trading statement. The bank advised shareholders that the financial data upon which this…

08 Aug

Botswana embarks on railway links with neighbours

Observer Money

CHAMWE KAIRA Botswana is planning several rail links with its neighbours including one with Namibia. Botswana already with Mozambique and Zimbabwe have expressed interest to invest in a multimodal regional port and transport infrastructure project that aims to mutually benefit the countries and the region as a whole, Botswana’s Ministry of Transport and Works told Observer Money. Botswana is also developing the Trans-Kalahari Railway (TKR) line project with Namibia. The project aims to construct a railway line from Walvis Bay to the coalfields at Mmamabula in Botswana, complete with rolling stock locomotives and wagons and maintenance facilities. The project will…

08 Aug

Mines maintain zero fatality rate

Observer Money

CHAMWE KAIRA Members of the Chamber of Mines of Namibia achieved a zero-fatality rate for a third consecutive year in 2023. Notably, the single fatalities recorded in 2021 and 2022 were associated with non-chamber member quarrying operations that mine dimension stone. The efforts were mobilised by the chambers health and safety committee in collaboration with the chief inspector of mines to enhance safety protocols at quarrying operations. The chamber said in its 2023 annual report that these concerted actions have not only improved the safety standards within those operations, but have also had a positive ripple effect across the entire…