Observer – Page 569 – Windhoek Observer

04 Aug

Community courts impacted by lack of funds

ObserverNational NewsCommunity courts impacted by lack of funds, Mayeye Community Court, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs, Zambezi region

Martin Endjala Community courts are finding it hard to carry out their day-to-day duties due to the lack of funds and are left to oversee piling cases that require funding. The courts are presided over by traditional leaders. This was revealed yesterday by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs currently conducting oversight visits to the Zambezi Region. The courts also experience difficulty in paying proper allowances and salaries to its clerks, justices, messengers of courts and assessors, including lack of transport which makes it difficult for messengers to deliver summons on time, as well as the lack…

02 Aug

Napwu open for talks: Nevonga

ObserverNational NewsNamibia Public Workers’ Union (NAPWU), NAPWU general secretary, Napwu open for talks: Nevonga, Petrus Nevonga, president Hage Geingob

Obrein Simasiku The Namibia Public Workers’ Union (NAPWU) is stuck to its grounds over the ongoing debacle of the planned national strike for civil servants who are demanding for improved salaries and wages, as it receives a backlash and stiff resistance from government and top officials who are maintaining that there is no money, labelling the strike as an ill-conceived plan. NAPWU general secretary, Petrus Nevonga was reacting to comments by President Hage Geingob in a statement issued by the Presidential Spokesperson, in which the cancellation of an overseas trip by Geingob was announced. “We followed the Labour Act, and…

02 Aug

Govt, unions advised to compromise

ObserverNational News. 96 percent, Govt, Hening Melber, National Council MP Paulus Mbangu, Ndumba Kamwenyah, unions advised to compromise

Martin Endjala The government and the civil servant representative unions, are being advised to compromise by working together and finding an amicable solution. This comes in the wake of a possible national strike should the parties fail to agree. 96 percent of those who participated in the strike ballot voting in favour of a strike. Political analyst Ndumba Kamwenyah cautioned that the consequences of the looming industrial strike could be catastrophic to the people and the economy. He therefore, advises the two parties to come to a compromise in the interest of the country, while adding that education will be…

02 Aug

No pay rise in sight for TransNamib

ObserverNational NewsCEO Johnny Smith, making losses of N$10 million monthly, No pay rise in sight for TransNamib

Obrein Simasiku TransNamib workers are expected to vote for a strike on 12 August, despite the parastatal in serious financial dire straits.CEO Johnny Smith, maintains that TransNamib is no financial position to give any salary increments. He pleaded with the union and workers to evaluate and understand the dire consequences the industrial action will have on a limping entity. “Throughout our negotiations we have been opening our books to show them where we stand. We implore our employees to remember that after much grappling we have secured the needed funding to improve our capacity in terms of rolling stock,” said…

02 Aug

Why am I the centre of attention: Hanse-Himarwa

ObserverNational NewsKatrina Hanse-Himarwa, Media Ombudsman, Why am I the centre of attention: Hanse-Himarwa

Obrein Simasiku Former Education Minister Katrina Hanse-Himarwa has come out guns blazing against the media, asking why there is so much interest in her. “Why is it always Katrina, Katrina, Katrina? I want the media to tell me, why my persona is so important to them to such an extent that they’re fabricating things,” she asked rhetorically. She further accused media houses and journalists of conniving with individuals, with the aim of character assassination. Hanse-Himarwa’s remarks come after the a local newspaper carried a report that she said that opposition councillor will not succeed because Swapo is still in charge.…

02 Aug

Second desalination plant in offing

ObserverNational News) Veston Malango, Calle Schlettwein, Chamber of Mines of Namibia Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Veston Malango, Malango, Second desalination plant in offing

Tujoromajo Kasuto Government is currently engaged in negotiations with the private sector to set up a new desalination plant as a joint project by four uranium mines, Chamber of Mines of Namibia Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Veston Malango has revealed. ‘’The mines have joined forces together to make a proposal to the chamber of mines, expressing their desire to invest in such a desalination plant. We are not in the business of making and selling water because that is the prerogative of Namwater. If the private sector is allowed to build a desalination plant like the current one, we believe…

02 Aug

Retired general sues for ‘illegal detention’

ObserverNational NewsAlbert Kawana, N$100 000, N$150 000 for unlawful arrest, Retired general sues for ‘illegal detention’, Thomas Ngilifavali Hamunyela

Retired major general, Thomas Ngilifavali Hamunyela has instituted legal proceedings against the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security for an alleged unlawful arrest. Hamunyela is claiming N$150 000 for unlawful arrest, N$100 000 for further detention of three days in a holding cell in January last year in Rundu and an additional N$170 000 for both claims and legal costs. “The arrest and detention were not necessary and appropriate as the members of the police did not have any fear that the plaintiff (Hamunyela) if given summons would appear in court. There was no reasonable suspicion that the…

01 Aug

Unions, Govt to butt heads over strike rules….Geingob cancels overseas trips amid strike

ObserverNational Newse NANTU, Geingob cancels overseas trips amid strike, Govt to butt heads over strike rules....Geingob cancels overseas trips amid strike, Loide Shaanika., Namibia Public Workers Union (Napwu), Unions

Obrein Simasiku Unions representing civil servants in the looming national strike will tomorrow butt heads with the government, as they sit to set rules to guide the picketing process, after the workers overwhelmingly voted in favour of an industrial action. About 96 percent voted in favour of the strike during the two-day voting period that ended on Friday. Meanwhile at an eleventh hour President Hage Geingob has decided to cancel his overseas State visits to Jamaica and Cuba, saying he will need to attend to the slated strike because its a pressing domestic matter. “We have a meeting with the…

01 Aug

Schlettwein rebukes Aminuis uranium mining

ObserverNational Newsand Land Reform, Carl Schlettwein, Minister of Agriculture, Schlettwein rebukes Aminuis uranium mining, Water

Tujoromajo Kasuto Minister of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform, has slammed the prospecting for uranium in Aminuis in the Omaheke Region, where people rely heavily on underground water for survival, claiming that mining in an aquifer is potentially harmful and that it would be irresponsible to allow such potential pollution and destruction of such a valuable water resource in an otherwise dry country. Carl Schlettwein made the statement in response to the drilling of boreholes in the area by Headspring Investments’ Project Wings, a subsidiary of Uranium One, which is part of Rosatom, a Russian state-owned uranium exploration, mining, and…

01 Aug

NWR exonerated in Hengari lawsuit

ObserverNational NewsMinister of Environment and Tourism, NWR and Sun Karros Lifestyle Safaris (Pty) Ltd., NWR exonerated in Hengari lawsuit, Pohamba Shifeta, Zelna Hengari

Staff Writer The absolution in the N$7.5 million defamation claim, filed by Zelna Hengari against her former employer, the Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) and the Minister of Environment and Tourism, Pohamba Shifeta was rejected in the High Court of Namibia. Hengari filed a civil suit against her former employer, Shifeta, and former public enterprises minister Leon Jooste, claiming N$7.5 million for reputational damage related to a press statement issued by the board on 5 April 2018 and published in local newspapers. The press statement issued on the local newspaper relates to a 30-year joint partnership agreement between NWR and Sun…