Observer – Page 517 – Windhoek Observer

31 Mar

Namibia ready for energy investors

ObserverFeaturedNamibia ready for energy investors

Niël Terblanché Over the past year, Namibia has rapidly emerged as one of the most attractive investment destinations in the oil and gas industry worldwide. The accelerated focus on Namibia was brought about by two major oil discoveries made - the Venus and Graff-1 wells - in 2022 by Shell, Total Energies and Qatar Energy. The discoveries were rated as some of the highest value finds globally. Earlier this year, Shell announced a third discovery at its Jonker-1X well which revealed the substantial potential that still lies in Namibia’s offshore oil exploration fields also known as basins. These discoveries have…

31 Mar

Ondangwa waits in vain for a new hospital

ObserverFeaturedOndangwa waits in vain for a new hospital

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Five years since the Cabinet approved the construction of a new referral hospital in Ondangwa in the Oshana region that was supposed to start in 2022, the project has not begun due to financial constraints. Ben Nangombe, The Executive Director of the Ministry of Health and Social Services, said the ministry is looking for financial assistance to launch the project. “It can only be resources that are holding us back. Due to our limited resources, we are looking for funding for this project. I’m not really quite certain when the construction of that hospital will begin. Nevertheless, we…

31 Mar

New energy investment report to create opportunities for Namibia

ObserverNational NewsNew energy investment report to create opportunities for Namibia

Niël Terblanché The Ministry of Mines and Energy of Namibia that it has partnered with Energy Capital and Power to create and publish an official investment report for the energy and mineral resources sectors. The country’s critical resources have been identified as strategic for Africa’s energy transition, opening lucrative opportunities for investors. According to the announcement, Namibia has become one of Africa’s most exciting upstream investment destinations as a result of three major oil discoveries over the past year. Since these finds, the country has seen widespread interest from a suite of regional and global players, with the government putting…

31 Mar

Weaponizing the police to silence Comalie

ObserverEditorial

The suggestion that the police were weaponized to scare or distract National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR) board Chairperson Jennifer Comalie away from taking action to address a disputed N$100 million payment to Sonangol, the Angolan national oil company, forces all of us to sit up and take notice. If N$57,000 in illegal narcotics were planted in Chairperson Comalie’s car and the police were anonymously tipped off as a part of a frame game, Namibian infighting and backstabbing in the halls of power have reached a new low.This entire saga is unfolding in the news daily, and background information fueling…

31 Mar

Freshly recruited NDF soldiers are not fit enough

ObserverMainFreshly recruited NDF soldiers are not fit enough

Martin Endjala The Minister of Defence and Veterans’ Affairs, Frans Kapofi, has expressed concerns about young people’s health which seems to be deteriorating as it has come to his attention that some of the 1 300 new recruits of the October 2022 intake have quit training due to unfitness and related health conditions. Kapofi said that the number of original recruits was reduced because some of them have voluntarily dropped out of training. The minister described the behaviour as very alarming given the fact that the young recruits were laying the foundation for others to follow suit and some of…

30 Mar

BoN pays N$413.7m dividends to the government

ObserverObserver MoneyBoN pays N$413.7m dividends to the government, Johannes !Gawaxab

Martin Endjala The Bank of Namibia yesterday announced its dividends to the government amounts N$413.7 million after its operating profit increased by 11.5 percent from N$584.2 million in 2021 to N$651.2 million in 2022. Dividends paid to the government were made possible after the central banks’ reserves increased from N$672 million in 2021 to N$772 million in 2022, the central bank’s Governor Johannes !Gawaxab announced during the annual report launch for 2022 under the theme of global economic shocks, rewiring Namibia to bolster resilience. The Governor also indicated that the domestic economy has shown a slight growth of 4.6 percent…

30 Mar

Corporate victimisation is strongly condemned

ObserverNational NewsCorporate victimisation is strongly condemned, Namibian Petroleum Corporation, Ruth Herunga

Niël Terblanché The Namibian Women Lawyer Association has in the strongest possible terms pronounced itself on corporate victimisation in the wake of the arrest of Jennifer Comalie, the chairperson of the Namibian Petroleum Corporation on charges related to the possession of illicit drugs. The chairperson of the NWLA, Ruth Herunga said in a statement that the recent events leading up to and including the arrest and subsequent detention of Comalie have sparked deep concern among the members of the association. “Our organization is committed to upholding the Rule of Law in this country and shall not stand by any individual…

30 Mar

PDM wants Mulunga suspended in 48 hours

ObserverNational NewsImmanuel Mulunga, PDM wants Mulunga suspended in 48 hours

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Popular Democratic Movement( PDM) has written a letter to the Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises, Iipumbu Shiimi, demanding the suspension of the Managing Director of the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor), Immanuel Mulunga. PDM President McHenry Venaani said the suspension should be enforced within the next 48 hours. He however did not specify what action would follow, in the event that Shiimi does not suspend Mulunga. It is reported that Mulunga is currently under investigation over his involvement in a payment of N$100 million to Angola, for oil blocks. “Given the nature of the current…

30 Mar

GDP records the highest-ever economic expansion

ObserverNational NewsGDP records the highest-ever economic expansion

Steve Nashama The highest-ever recorded economic expansion in Namibia with nominal Gross Domestic Product was recorded in 2022. Yesterday, the Namibia Statistics Agency announced the 2022 Annual National Accounts measuring the highest size of the economy over the year. According to Alex Shimuafeni, the Statistician-General and Chief Executive Officer at NSA, the economy showed an expansion of N$22, 3 billion. The nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for 2022, which measures the size of the economy, is estimated at N$206, 2 billion compared to N$183, 9 billion recorded in 2021, which brings the expansion amount to N$22, 3 billion. “The Gross…

30 Mar

Hengari, Amushelelo and Nauyoma’s court case pushed to April

ObserverNational News

Steve Nashama The criminal case of Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters Commissar, Michael Amushelelo, Activist Dimbulukeni Nauyoma and Popular Democratic Movement Member of Parliament Inna Hengari was postponed to 27 April 2023. The three made their second appearance in the Katutura Magistrate’s court before Magistrate Surita Savage. The state is represented by Cuthbert Lusipani. Hengari, Amushelelo and Nauyoma stand accused of contravening Sections of the Public Gathering Act, Violation of the Riotous Assembly Act, Inciting Public violence, Contempt of court, Malicious damage to state property, and Violation of a court order. It is alleged that they defied a high court order…