Observer – Page 6 – Windhoek Observer

18 Nov

Head of SADC Election Observation Mission arrives in Namibia

ObserverNational News

Niël Terblanché Anne Semamba Malinda, the former Speaker of Parliament of the United Republic of Tanzania, has arrived in Namibia to lead the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) Scheduled for 27 November, the voting day will have the attention of observers from across the region when Namibians will be casting their votes in the Presidential and National Assembly elections. Malinda’s appointment as Head of Mission (HoM) was made by Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan, the President of Tanzania and Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence, and Security Cooperation. According to the SADC secretariat, the appointment…

18 Nov

Local authorities struggling with transparency issues

ObserverNational News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Imagine needing essential information from your local town council, only to be told to visit the office or check a notice board. This is the reality for many Namibians as local authorities across the country grapple with outdated communication methods, leaving residents in the dark at a time when digital engagement is no longer a luxury but a necessity. Karasburg Town Council, for example, does not have social media profiles. The town’s IT manager, Jay-Jay Paulse, acknowledged that due to limited resources, digital upgrades have been delayed. “We are working on the website, but right now our resources…

18 Nov

MUN decries outsourcing of labour

ObserverNational News

Niël Terblanché The Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN) has raised the alarm over escalating trends of outsourcing and contracting in the mining and diamond cutting and polishing sectors. The MUN’s general secretary, George Ampweya, expressed concern about the adverse effects of such practices on job security and workers' rights. In a strongly worded statement issued On Monday, the Ampweya condemned multinational companies' reliance on these practices, which he says undermine decades of progress in labour rights. He warned that outsourcing and contracting, increasingly favoured by employers, erode job stability by replacing permanent positions with precarious employment. “These arrangements often circumvent…

18 Nov

Endorsement of NNN by Damara chief not linked to UDF

ObserverNational News

Martin Endjala The United Democratic Front (UDF) clarified that the endorsement of Swapo party presidential candidate, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah by Gaob Justus ||Garoëb of the ǂNūkhoe ||Aes Damara should not be linked to the party. The party’s president, Hendrik Gaobaeb, said this over the weekend during the party's campaign rally in the Okombahe settlement in the Erongo region. Gaob ||Garoëb announced his support for NNN in the upcoming elections during the 47th annual Damara Festival in Okombahe recently. Gaob ||Garoëb is the founder of the UDF. “I was here last weekend in Okombahe. I attended the Damara Goab festival, and I…

18 Nov

PDM wants an increased budget for agriculture

ObserverNational News

Stefanus Nashama The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) seeks to raise the budget for agriculture to 10% if elected to power later this month. Party leader, McHenry Venaani shared information at a rally in Oshakati over the weekend. “We seek to increase the budgetary allocation for agriculture to 10% in line with the Malabo Protocol to achieve agricultural modernisation and mechanization,” he said. Venaani believes that only by expanding access to affordable agricultural inputs and technologies can the government address food insecurity. “In addressing food insecurity we shall also be expanding access to affordable agricultural inputs and technologies for smallholder farmers,…

18 Nov

City Police HQ renamed after former Chief Abraham Kanime

ObserverNational News

Allexer Namundjembo & Mallex Shipanga Former City Police Chief Abraham Kanime, the first Chief of the City Police, who served from the establishment of the law enforcement unit in 2005 until his retirement in 2023, was honoured with the renaming of the City Police headquarters building by the City of Windhoek. At the ceremony on Monday, he thanked the City of Windhoek Municipality for renaming the P.A. De Wet Building after him. “I first came across this building in 1978 when we came here looking for job opportunities. Without knowing, the building which I usually visited during the colonial times…

18 Nov

Angolan judiciary on a visit to exchange knowledge

ObserverNational News

Niël Terblanché Namibia’s Chief Justice, Peter Shivute, welcomed a delegation of Angolan judicial officers in Windhoek on Monday. The visit by the Angolan judiciary officials is part of a judicial exchange programme aimed at strengthening cooperation and knowledge-sharing between the two nations. The initiative is facilitated by the Southern and East African Chief Justice Forum (SEACJF) with support from the American Bar Association (ABA) Rule of Law Initiative (ROLI) and is aimed at strengthening judicial capacities in Angola and Namibia. Leading the Angolan delegation is Dr Anabela Couto de Castro Valente, Adviser Judge on Functions in the Criminal Chamber of…

18 Nov

Windhoek City Police to implement ‘smart policing’

ObserverNational News

Mallex Shipanga Head of the Windhoek City Police, Leevi Ileka explained that the institution is in the process of implementing a smart policing strategy. Ileka announced this endeavour on Monday at a ceremony in commemoration of Windhoek City Police Service Day 2024. Smart policing is a manner of work in which data, communities, and technology are incorporated to enhance the effectiveness of officers. Ileka said the goal is to prevent crime before it occurs. “We are trying by all means to become proactive,” he said. Once implemented, these strategies will include technologies such as 400 CCTV cameras, computer-based statistics, and…

18 Nov

Shifeta calls for climate justice at COP29

ObserverNational News

Niël Terblanché On the sidelines of COP29, the Minister of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism, Pohamba Shifeta, urged global leaders to intensify their efforts towards addressing climate change, highlighting the disproportionate impact on vulnerable countries like Namibia. Speaking at the High-Level Ministerial Roundtable on pre-2030 Ambition, Shifeta outlined Namibia’s climate challenges, commitments, and the critical need for international collaboration to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. He said Namibia is a nation highly dependent on natural resources. “The country faces significant vulnerabilities due to variable climatic patterns. The impacts of climate change, including severe droughts and floods, have left the…

18 Nov

Central bank leaders tackle cross-border payment frictions

ObserverObserver Money

Martin Endjala The Bank of Namibia hosted a quarterly Common Monetary Area (CMA) and Central Bank Governors meeting in Windhoek last week to discuss strengthening economic resilience and improving cross-border payment systems. Key topics included reducing frictions in payment integration, ensuring equitable access, and streamlining regulatory frameworks for efficiency and integrity. Kazembire Zemburuka, the bank’s strategic communications and international relations director, announced on Monday that the discussions centred on improving the speed, cost, and customer experience of cross-border payments. The CMA is actively engaging international development partners, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, for support and…