Observer – Page 535 – Windhoek Observer

24 Feb

NHE workers feeling neglected

ObserverNational NewsMatheus Haakuria, NHE, NHE workers feeling neglected

Steve Nashama The Public Service Union of Namibia Secretary General Matheus Haakuria confirmed today that the employees of the National Housing Enterprise (NHE) want a salary increment of seven percent and that the union has been requesting for the NHE management and the board to negotiate, but the request he says, fell on deaf ears. The workers will embark on a nationwide strike tomorrow, from 8 am, he added. Haakuria said workers voted for a strike after the refusal of NHE management to negotiate. “All the demands of the workers were not considered and that is where the problem is,”…

24 Feb

SPYL joins opposition in bashing youth budget

ObserverNational Newser Iipumbu Shiimi, SPYL joins opposition in bashing youth budget

Martin Endjala Swapo Party Youth League Secretary Efraim Nekongo said he is dissapointed with the low allocation of money to the youth ministry, compared to the veterans ministry. The Ministry of Youth received N$473 million. Nekongo said that although he did not fully peruse Finance Minister Iipumbu Shiimi’s statement, he scanned it. “I am yet to fully peruse the budget document, however, upon scanning through it, i am not happy at all, given the fact the youth are the majority in the country. I am disappointed with the outcome of the budget and when I return from my parliamentary mission…

22 Feb

Venaani labels social income grant as an insult to elders

ObserverNational NewsIipumbu Shiimi today tabled the national budget. Presented under the them, Minister of Finance, Venaani labels social income grant as an insult to elders

Martin Endjala The Minister of Finance, Iipumbu Shiimi today tabled the national budget. Presented under the theme, “Economic Revival and Caring for the Poor”, the budget attempts to be pro-poor, a move the official opposition labels an insult. Popular Democratic Movement President McHenry Venaani has labeled the social income grant N$100 increase for pensioners, vulnerable children and disabled persons as an insult. “What the Minister of Finance did to bring elders here in the chamber parading them for N$100, while this government spend N$650 million on a condom tender is an insult to the elders it is a shame”, Venaani…

22 Feb

Works Ministry justifies “old, worn-out, dirty”govt houses

ObserverNational Newsdirty”govt houses, Works Ministry justifies “old, worn-out

Steve Nashama The Ministry of Works and Transport says a lack of adequate funding and the minimal budget it receives annually has contributed to the state that government houses and apartments find themselves in. This was said by the ministry’s Public Relations Officer , Julius Ngwedha in the interview with the Windhoek Observer. Ngwedha added that it is thus difficult to renovate and ensure better basic maintenance of government houses. The state of government houses are questionable and not in a good condition, especially the ones inherited from the colonial regime, and there is a need for the government to…

22 Feb

Struggle kids denied bail

ObserverNational NewsBernarhd Ngifenwa (46), Johaness Kamati, John Amadhila, Struggle kids denied bail

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The five children of the liberation struggle who were arrested earlier this week for allegedly blocking the entrance of the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs were denied bail today when they made their first court appearance. The suspects, John Amadhila, Johaness Kamati, Bernarhd Ngifenwa (46), and Elisabeth Shityeni (37) and Immanuel Paulus (41) appeared today in the Windhoek Magistrate’s court and were denied bail. They, on Monday blocked and prevented anyone from entering or leaving the building. Today, a crowd of other exile kids stood outside the court room, and pleaded for the release of their colleagues.…

22 Feb

FlyNamibia withdraws Fly Etosha objection

ObserverNational NewsFlyNamibia, FlyNamibia withdraws Fly Etosha objection, Transportation Commission

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The FlyNamibia board today announced that it is withdrawing its objection against Fly Etosha’s application for a scheduled air transport service licence. “On 14 February 2023 FlyNamibia submitted documents to the Transpotation Commission of the Namibia Ministry of works and transport outlining the airlines objection to the application for granting of a schedule air transport service licence filed by Mr William Aupapa Ekonjo for a proposed airline to be called Fly Etosha, FlyNamibia said today. last week FlyNamibia said they were exercising their right to object to an application to the Transportation Commission in accordance with section 6(1)…

22 Feb

RCC a “special problem”

ObserverNational NewsHenties Bay-Uis-Kamanjab, RCC a “special problem”

The Ministry of Works and Transport said it has awarded two construction projects to beleaguered state roads contractor, Roads Contractor Company, in an attempt to ease the company’s financial woes. Ministry Spokesperson Julius Ngweda said an executive decision was made for them to assist the struggling government entity, hence the “special treatment” in handing over the construction of the Onderombapa road in Gobabis and the construction of another road in Erongo region, on the Henties Bay-Uis-Kamanjab road. “They were supposed to have completed the roads. Construction is still ongoing. They should answer as to why they haven’t completed the projects.…

22 Feb

Namibians in the UK resist deportation

ObserverNational NewsCivil Rights Activist for Namibians in the UK, Namibians in the UK resist deportation, Petrus Undari

Thousands of Namibians in the United Kingdom who are on the verge of deportation say they left Namibia because of suppression, corruption and favoutism in the Namibian job market. Claiming they are economic refugees, the group’s representative and Civil Rights Activist for Namibians in the UK, Petrus Undari says they want government to table an “equal opportunities for all Namibians” motion. This comes after the British government announced that forced and voluntary deportation will be enforced on all Namibians whose asylum applications were rejected. Applications of Over 1200 Namibians seeking asylum in the United Kingdom are outstanding and 90 percent…

22 Feb

Covid-19 under control – Nangombe

ObserverNational NewsBen Nangombe, Covid-19 under control - Nangombe

Martin Endjala The Executive Director of the Ministry of Health Social and Services Ben Nangombe says that Covid-19 cases remain under control and that no new hospitalizations have been reported across the country. Nangombe expressed that although this is comforting, people should not be complacent as the virus is still around. He has since called or members of the public to be cautious and maintain social distancing. Nangombe was reacting to concerns raised, following a rise of Covid-19 cases reported towards the end of 2022. “Covid-19 is still with us and we will continue monitoring the situation as it unfolds,…

22 Feb

Judicial Diversity- The Gender Gap

ObserverNational News, OpinionsJudicial Diversity- The Gender Gap, Namibian women holding 44.2% of the seats in parliament

Mercedes Ovis Despite Namibian women holding 44.2% of the seats in parliament, we still lack female judicial leaders. An important seat of power is the bench, as it allows arbitration on nearly every political issue. Judicial diversity promotes fairness, gives legitimacy to state institutions, ensures women’s interests are adequately represented and promotes access to justice. To date no woman has occupied the position of Chief Justice, an important leadership position as it heads the judiciary. Astonishingly, the bench in the supreme court has exclusively comprised of male judges since independence, despite this being the highest court where constitutional issues affecting…