Observer

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Nampower refuses to write off debts

Nampower refuses to write off debts

Martin Endjala The Namibia Power Utility (Nampower) refuses to write off the debts owed to it by the //Kharas region and Hardap region after the Deputy Leader and Member of Parliament of the Landless People’s Movement, Henny Seibeb tabled a motion in parliament calling for the writing off of debts. Both //Kharas and Hardap regions owe Nampower over N$500 million, while the total debt owed to NamWater as at 31 March 2023 is N$1.718 billion. Appearing before a Parliamentary Standing Committee on Human Resources and Community Development yesterday, Nampower’s Chief Financial Officer Michael Gotora adamantly stressed that Nampower would only…
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DBN appoints new CEO

DBN appoints new CEO

Niël Terblanché John Steytler, a seasoned Economist and a former Presidential Economic Advisor, has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Development Bank of Namibia. The appointment was announced by Sarel van Zyl, the DBN’s Board of Directors chairperson. In a statement, Van Zyl expressed confidence and support to the incoming CEO and wished him well as he came to champion the strategic direction of the DBN with the help of a seasoned team of executives. “I expect Dr Steytler and his executive team to play a significant role in the recovery and future development of the…
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Namibia set to host DFI network forum

Namibia set to host DFI network forum

Niël Terblanché Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) in Namibia are set to host the 2023 Southern African Development Community network forum. The Agribank, Development Bank of Namibia, Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia and the National Housing Enterprise will host the forum under the SADC Development Finance Resource Centre (SADC-DFRC) and it is scheduled to take place from 6-9 June 2023 in Swakopmund. The network forum will be presented under the theme “Balancing DFI developmental mandate with sustainability.” The DFRC is an organization staffed by professionals in strategic areas and employs a collaborative approach which involves the utilization of complementary external technical…
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Alweendo asks for more local ownership of valuable resources

Alweendo asks for more local ownership of valuable resources

Niël Terblanché Tom Alweendo, the Minister of Mines and Energy, has requested that a state-funded mineral exploration fund be established to create increased local ownership in the mining sector. The mines Minister was officiating at a parliamentary oversight workshop on maximising the potential of the oil, gas, and mineral sector in Namibia when he made the request. “There is growing criticism from the public about the fact that the exploitation of our mineral and petroleum resources is dominated by foreigners. I wholeheartedly agree with this view, and may I add that the status quo is untenable; it is indefensible. We…
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Dams supplying water to Windhoek running dry

Dams supplying water to Windhoek running dry

Niël Terblanché The Namibian Water Corporation (NamWater) has taken steps to ensure that water from alternative water sources may be utilized by consumers in case the dams from where Windhoek and other settlements in the central part of Namibia rely on run dry. The Chief Executive Officer of NamWater, Abraham Nehemia, confirmed that the central areas will have a secure water supply until July 2024. Water levels of the three dams in the central areas of Namibia have dropped by 20 percent and currently stand at a combined 36.1 percent of their capacity. This is more than 20 percent lower…
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The race for the CoW CEO position is over

The race for the CoW CEO position is over

Niël Terblanché Moses Matjayi who serves as the current Chief Executive Officer of the Otjiwarongo Municipality, has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of the City of Windhoek. Matjayi became the top candidate for the position after Conrad Lutombi, the current CEO of the Roads Authority, declined an offer to fill the position. The appointment of Matjayi was announced on the social media pages of the City of Windhoek yesterday. In April this year, the top candidates were shortlisted for the CEO position, including the Deputy Executive Director at the Ministry of Works and Transport, Joyce Mukubi, Chief…
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Poisoned porridge wipes out almost an entire family.. as death toll reaches 13

Poisoned porridge wipes out almost an entire family.. as death toll reaches 13

Niël Terblanché Samples of the porridge that, so far, has killed 13 people from a single household at the Kayova Village in the Nyanga District of the Kavango East Region have been sent to a laboratory to determine what led to the tragedy.Ben Nangombe, the Executive Director of the Ministry of Health and Social Services, confirmed yesterday that four more members of the family have succumbed to the effects of the poisoned porridge since Tuesday.“We are awaiting the results from the toxicology tests from the laboratory. To suggest anything else about what could have possibly caused the tragedy, without the…
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Youth encouraged to join forces with those in tourism sector

Youth encouraged to join forces with those in tourism sector

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Pohamba Shifeta has urged the youth of Africa and all tourism industry players to collaborate and form partnerships to place the “Africa Brands or Destinations” at the center stage of the Global dialogue. Shifeta said this yesterday at the fifth Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Challenge and Summit in Swakopmund under the theme “Developing Youth and innovative entrepreneurship solution for inclusive tourism recovery in Africa.” “I urge the youth of Africa and all industry players to collaborate and form partnerships to place the “Africa Brands or Destinations” at the center stage…
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Ondangwa Town Council sued for not demarcating cemetery

Ondangwa Town Council sued for not demarcating cemetery

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Ondangwa Town Council and renowned Paediatrician, Doctor Solomon Amadhila, are being sued by a pensioner, Andreas Kalumbu over the removal of a gravestone that he placed on the grave of his late mother, Maria Ithindi. Kalumbu, in documents filed at the Oshakati High Court is claiming N$82,000-00 and an order compelling the town council to plan the layout of the townlands of Ondangwa and the area of the cemetery and zone the area as a cemetery in terms of the Town Planning Scheme. He also wants the Town Council to pay Amadhila a just and fair compensation…
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Oshikoto police happy withnumber of reported rape

Oshikoto police happy withnumber of reported rape

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Oshikoto Regional Commander, Commissioner Teopoline Kalompo-Nashikaku yesterday said she is happy with the number of rape victims speaking out and reporting rape cases. She also said that the region expects the cases to rise, due to the outreach programs the police is doing with community members in the region. In the month of May alone, Oshikoto region reported eight rape cases. “It is a good sign for the police to have so many rape cases reported because it is attributed to the police’s action towards the community. Meaning the case are only going up because the targeted people…
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