Observer – Page 485 – Windhoek Observer

19 May

LPM distances itself from election protest

ObserverNational NewsLPM distances itself from election protest

Stefanus Nashama The Landless People’s Movement has distanced itself from the group of Keetmanshoop residents that held a protest to demand the removal of Keetmanshoop Urban Constituency Councillor Joseph Isaack on Wednesday while claiming to be members of the party. The party’s National Spokesperson, Lifalaza Simataa, yesterday told the Windhoek Observer that LPM does not have any knowledge of the group protesting against Councillor Isaack. “Therefore, the party is not in support of such a protest,” Simataa said. He said that the protesters acted in their own private capacity without the support, acknowledgement and permission of the party and any…

19 May

Ineptitude delays disciplinary hearing

ObserverNational NewsIneptitude delays disciplinary hearing

Niël Terblanché Flagrant ineptitude is blamed for the delay of almost two and half years of a disciplinary hearing of two senior Walvis Bay Municipality officials. General Manager, Agostinho Victor, and Properties Manager, Jack Manale, through their lawyer, Richard Metcalfe, made it clear that they intend to approach the Labour Commissioner for relief if the municipality continues with its unfair labour practices that are occasioned by ineptitude. The duo was suspended in December 2020 to pave the way for an investigation into the alleged disappearance of N$24 million through the mass land servicing project. The Walvis Bay Municipality, however, resolved…

19 May

Namibia aims to strengthen transboundary water management

ObserverNational NewsNamibia aims to strengthen transboundary water management

Niël Terblanché Namibia must search for opportunities to effectively manage rivers that stretch over international boundaries because it could be a very sensitive political issue. The country currently is a party to six shared watercourse agreements and a signatory to two international legal instruments aimed at fostering transboundary water resources management and promoting cooperation. To further strengthen transboundary water management, in 2021, Namibia expressed interest in acceding to the 1992 UNECE Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes. In order to achieve the goals, set out to strengthen transboundary water management the country through the…

19 May

Vandalism damages world heritage site

ObserverNational NewsVandalism damages world heritage site

Niël Terblanché Senseless acts of vandalism are threatening Namibia’s viability as one of the top tourism destinations in the world. A recent absurd act of vandalism defaced and damaged the serene dune landscape of Sossusvlei in the Namib Naukluft Park. The act was perpetrated by people who drove quadbikes or dune buggies. Visitors to one of Namibia’s best-known tourist attractions and a world heritage site found tire tracks and spinning marks in one of the valleys amongst the dunes. Initially, it was reported that the marks were found in the world-renowned Deadvlei but closer investigation revealed that the sensitive areas…

19 May

Shaningwa denies using Kavango residents as ‘voting cows’

ObserverMainShaningwa denies using Kavango residents as ‘voting cows’

Stefanus Nashama The Secretary General of the SWAPO Party, Sophia Shaningwa, has strongly denied allegations that the ruling party uses Kavango people as voting cows. Shaningwa said the people of the two Kavango regions cannot be used under any circumstances as ‘voting cows’. She stressed that the Kavango regions have the strongest support of the Swapo Party, and the residents in those respective regions have the right to vote for the parties of their choice. “The notion that people in the two Kavango regions are voting cows is wrong. There is nothing like that, and I want to condemn this…

17 May

LPM retains seat in Keetmanshoop by-elections

ObserverFeaturedLPM retains seat in Keetmanshoop by-elections

Stefanus Nashama The Landless People’s Movement (LPM) has retained its Keetmanshoop Rural Constituency Council seat, after the party’s candidate, Willem Labuschagne scored the victory in the by-elections held on 15 May. This was announced by the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) yesterday morning, declaring Labuschagne as the overall winner after scoring 1 270 votes. Swapo’s candidate Elias Kharuxas came second with 872 votes while the Independent Candidate Gerrit Witbooi got 463 votes. Witbooi was the previous rural constituency councillor for Keetmashoop from 2020 until this year February when the LPM expelled him, alleging that his conduct was toxic to the…

17 May

Haulofu clarifies NamPower’s Debt Collection Plan

ObserverNational NewsHaulofu clarifies NamPower’s Debt Collection Plan

Niël Terblanché The close relationship that many Namibians have with residents of South Africa often leads to confusion about terms used by the public when it comes to the precarious situation of electricity supply south of the Orange River. The Managing Director of the Namibia Power Corporation, Kahenge Haulofu, with regard to the bulk electricity supplier’s announcement of debt collection plans about a week ago, said that a lot of misinterpretation of terms occurred. We would like to clarify this, once again, by providing the correct definitions of the terms that are continuously misused,” Haulofu said. According to Haulofu, the…

17 May

Effective transport systems to increase road safety

ObserverNational NewsEffective transport systems to increase road safety

Martin Endjala Jonas Sheelongo, the Executive Director of the Ministry of Works and Transport says that effective transport systems are needed to adequately and effectively manage road safety in the country. Sheelongo spoke at the 7th United Nations Global Road Safety Week held in Windhoek yesterday. The UN event is used to advocate for transport systems around the world to be made safe, healthy, and sustainable for the well-being of all people. To achieve this, Sheelongo said, there is a need for a paradigm shift that will see increased investments being made in non-motorized transport such as walking and cycling…

17 May

Defaulters were given enough time-MD

ObserverNational News

Martin Endjala The country’s National Power Utility Nampower Managing Director Kahenge Haulofu has reiterated that defaulters were accorded ample time to settle their debts but failed to do so, as a result, the utility had no other choice but to constitute power disconnection if accounts are not settled by 31 May 2023. “This was not the first time Nampower communicated on its debt collection, to sensitise its customers and the public at large, about what is owed to us by our customers, we issued a similar communication in 2021 and despite this, most have not bothered to heed our pleas…

17 May

Shannon’s family disappointed with acquital ruling …Prosecution failed to prove guilt

ObserverMain

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Emotions ran high at the Windhoek High Court yesterday, after the court acquitted siblings Azaan Madisia and Steven Malundu in the murder of Shannon Wasserfall. Her family has since expressed that they would appeal the ruling by Judge Christie Liebenberg, who only convicted the siblings on the charge of Defeating the course of Justice. Shortly after the ruling, the deceased family members, visibly emotional said that the justice system has failed the family. Judge Liebenberg found that the state did not lead evidence in proving the murder and robbery charges and based its case on conflicting statements made…