Observer – Page 650 – Windhoek Observer

23 Feb

Fishrot lawyer questions witnesses’ credibility

ObserverUncategorisedFishrot lawyer questions witnesses’ credibility, MIKE Nghipunya’s lawyer Thabang Phatela has accused the Anti Corruption Commission of intimidating witnesses to give favourable statements

Eba Kandovazu MIKE Nghipunya’s lawyer, Thabang Phatela has accused the Anti Corruption Commission of intimidating witnesses to give favourable statements that would strengthen its case. Phatela protested in court today that his client only invoiced companies for which he provided consultancy services contrary to claims made by witnesses such as Novanam.provided the services for which he invoiced business entities for which he provided consultancy services. Jose Ramon Canosa, the Manager of NovaNam, a company that bought fishing quotas from a Fishcor subsidiary said that although millions had to be paid to be paid to Gwanyemba Investment Trust, which belongs to,…

23 Feb

It’s all systems go for SPWC Congress

ObserverUncategorisedIt’s all systems go for SPWC Congress, THE highly anticipated and long-awaited Swapo Party Women's Council (SPWC) congress that was postponed December due to Covid-19 pandemic will officially kick off on Friday

Martin Endjala THE highly anticipated and long-awaited Swapo Party Women's Council (SPWC) congress that was postponed December due to Covid-19 pandemic, will officially kick off on Friday. SPWC secretary Eunice Iipinge confirmed that all arrangements are in full swing. In an interview with the Windhoek Observer Ipinge said that all regional delegates are expected to arrive 24th of February with the official opening slated for Friday, to which all media outlets are invited to cover. On Saturday, the adoption of new resolutions and the election of new office bearers will take place amongst many other pertinent outcomes. Iipinge also confirmed…

22 Feb

Justice Minister Yvonne Dausab this afternoon tabled the rape amendment bill.

ObserverUncategorisedJustice Minister Yvonne Dausab this afternoon tabled the rape amendment bill, The Bill increases the sentence from a minimum of 15 to 20 years in respect of perpetrators who are found guilty of rape where the complainant has suffered grievous bodily or mental harm

The minimum conviction of rape is increased from a minimum of 5 to ten years, and where the rape is committed under coercive circumstances, the sentence is now increased from a minimum of 10 to 15 years. The Bill increases the sentence from a minimum of 15 to 20 years in respect of perpetrators who are found guilty of rape where the complainant has suffered grievous bodily or mental harm and is under the age of thirteen and is by reason of age exceptionally vulnerable(persons with mental and physical disabilities included). The bill prohibits courts to draw any inference only…

22 Feb

Moves afoot to strengthen oversight function of Public Accounts Committees

ObserverUncategorisedMoves afoot to strengthen oversight function of Public Accounts Committees, The MoU was signed by the chairperson of the regional Public Accounts Committee Warren Mwambazi and the secretary general of SADC PF Boemo Sekgoma

A MEMORANDUM of Understanding to empower Members of Parliament of SADC member states to effectively carry out their oversight function was signed between the SADC Parliamentary Forum and the SADC Public Accounts Committee in Windhoek yesterday. The MoU was signed by the chairperson of the regional Public Accounts Committee, Warren Mwambazi and the secretary general of SADC PF, Boemo Sekgoma during their visit to Namibia this week. The Public Accounts Committee is to exercise oversight function over public finances as well as promote good governance in the SADC region. The chairperson of the SADC Standing Committee is on a three-day…

22 Feb

BIG ‘affordable’ despite economic downturn

ObserverUncategorisedBIG 'affordable' despite economic downturn, MICHAEL Samson a Research Director at South Africa's Economic Policy Research Institute, says a universal (Basic Income Grant) BIG during an economic crisis is affordable because the cost depends on a number of factors

Tujoromajo Kasuto MICHAEL Samson, a Research Director at South Africa's Economic Policy Research Institute (EPRI), says a universal (Basic Income Grant) BIG during an economic crisis is affordable because the cost depends on a number of factors, including the benefit size, how delivery interacts with other grants, and the financing approach. According to him, the most important cost is the net cost after accounting for the tax system's recovery. He also points out that the overall tax burden is fully decided by the amount of money shifted from net payers to net receivers. “Previous costing exercises suggest that the cost…

22 Feb

Not all have capacity for AS level: Nghipondoka

ObserverUncategorisedLandless People’s Movement(LPM) member of parliament Utaara Mootu responded saying that the new curriculum only favours the elite, Not all have capacity for AS level: Nghipondoka

Eba Kandovazu IN the face of a strong public backlash against the failure of 81 percent of Grade 11 learners to proceed to Advanced Subsidiary level, Education Minister Anna Nghipondoka insists that the learners did not fail. She insisted that the AS level is merely an additional grade that will be done by learners who have the capacity of doing it. Over 46 000 Grade 11 learners wrote the 2021 examinations, of which only over 8000 qualified to do the next advanced subsidiary level. Nghipondoka was speaking in parliament this afternoon when she said that the old curriculum excluded some…

22 Feb

Shanghala claims family ties to ACC’s Kanyangela

ObserverUncategorisedShanghala claims family ties to ACC’s Kanyangela, Shanghala through his lawyer Vas Soni said his great aunt is married to Kanyangela’s uncle and that there is a family dispute relating to a house

Eba Kandovazu DISGRACED former Justice Minister Sakeus Shanghala today said in the High Court that he and the lead investigator in the fishrot saga from the Anti Corruption Commission, Andreas Kanyangela are related. Shanghala, through his lawyer Vas Soni, said his great aunt is married to Kanyangela’s uncle and that there is a family dispute relating to a house. However, Kanyangela denies there is any family relationship between them, but acknowledges that there is a dispute about a house. Sanghala said Kanyangela has an “antagonist” attitude towards him because of the dispute. Soni added that the dispute ended at the…

21 Feb

Model law on Public Financial Mgt potential key tool in UHC

ObserverUncategorisedSADC Parliamentary Forum. Model law on Public Financial Mgt potential key tool in UHC

Special Correspondent SADC national parliaments under the umbrella of the SADC Parliamentary Forum have for years been committed to helping their countries achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines UHC as access to health services that people need, when and where they need it, without financial hardship. A symposium at the 46th Plenary Assembly Session of SADC PF in 2019 in Swakopmund, Namibia, enabled national parliaments to share lessons and experiences in pursuit of UHC in their countries. The symposium highlighted, inter alia, the lack of strong Public Financial Management (PFM) frameworks at national level to…

21 Feb

Otjozondjupa communities grateful for Muha’s outreach visits

ObserverNational NewsOtjozondjupa communities grateful for Muha's outreach visits, Tousy Namiseb the Secretary of the National Council says the engagements were educational and the communities visited were happy

Martin Endjala The first week of the regional visits of the chairperson of the National Council (NC) Lukas Sinimbo Muha that started on 14th February has been described as productive and fruitful. Tousy Namiseb, the Secretary of the National Council says the engagements were educational and the communities visited were happy with being briefed about the role of the council as part of the parliament and the law making process. Among the issues raised by the communities during the dialogue with the chairperson at Okakarara, Namiseb said, were the dilapidated sports infrastructure, homelessness, youth unemployment, bad roads and the need…

21 Feb

Angolan cattle herder killed for making noise

ObserverNational NewsA 40-year-old Angolan national working as a cattle herder in Namibia was killed last Friday at the Edhepa Cucashop in Okalonga village, Angolan cattle herder killed for making noise

Tujoromajo Kasuto A 40-year-old Angolan national, working as a cattle herder in Namibia, was killed last Friday at the Edhepa Cucashop in Okalonga village, after being stabbed with a knife by a 29-year-old man. According to Namibian Police (NAMPOL) spokesperson Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi, the suspect approached the victim and other patrons, who were having a conversation, and claimed that they were making noise. The murder suspect began hitting them with a knife on their heads. The deceased intervened, telling the suspect that what he was doing was out of order after which an argument ensued between the suspect and…