Observer – Page 684 – Windhoek Observer

27 May

NBC signs deal to end strike

ObserverObserver MoneyNamibia Public Workers Union (Napwu), Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC)

Kandjemuni Kamuiiri The Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) Board on Wednesday afternoon announced that it had struck an agreement with the Namibia Public Workers Union (Napwu) to bring the on-going strike at the national broadcaster to an end. The industrial action, which has been in force since 22 April, and has seen much of the broadcaster’s services taken off air after most of the employees downed their tools, was ended after Napwu signed an agreement with the NBC Board and senior management. “Within the spirit of wanting to resolve the matter, the NBC’s Leadership, led by the Board Chairperson, Lazarus Jacobs…

27 May

LPM drags Peter Katjavivi to ICC

ObserverObserver MoneyBernardus Swartbooi, International Criminal Court (ICC), National Assembly, Peter Katjavivi

Andrew Kathindi The Landless People’s Movement (LPM) has dragged Speaker of the National Assembly Peter Katjavivi to the International Criminal Court (ICC). According to a letter drafted by LPM leader, Bernardus Swartbooi, the political party is seeking the ICC’s intervention and investigation into Katjavivi’s conduct. Swartbooi made reference to Article 7 (h) and (k) of the ICC, which alludes to systematic attacks and inhumane acts as being equivalent to the “crimes being commissioned against” him and Seibeb. “The Speaker has withdrawn Hon. Henny Seibeb the Deputy Leader and Chief Whip in National Assembly and I the Leader of the Landless…

25 May

LPM MPs in Parliament disciplinary meeting no show …say process is un procedural

ObserverUncategorisedBernardus Swartbooi, David Nahogandja, Eneas Emvula, Henny Seibeb, LPM MPs in Parliament disciplinary meeting no show

Andrew Kathindi Landless People’s Movement (LPM) leaders Bernardus Swartbooi and Henny Seibeb did not submit themselves to a Parliamentary disciplinary committee last week after having raised objections to the process. Parliament’s spokesperson, David Nahogandja, confirmed to Windhoek Observer that Swarbooi and Seibeb did not attend a disciplinary meeting that was scheduled for last week Friday, and instead, had written a letter to Parliament through their lawyers with a list of objections. “The Standing Committee of Privileges will meet this week to decide on the way forward, Nahogandja said. LPM spokesperson Eneas Emvula when quizzed by the Windhoek Observer about the…

25 May

NAPWU clueless about Gvt retrenchment plans

ObserverUncategorisedGabes Andumba, International Monetary Fund (IMF), Namibia Public Workers Union (Napwu), NAPWU clueless about Gvt retrenchment plans, Tonateni Shidhudhu

Kandjemuni Kamuiiri The Namibia Public Workers Union (NAPWU) says it’s not aware and has not been consulted over government plans contained in an International Monetary Fund (IMF) funding proposal to implement an early retirement scheme during financial year 2022/2023-2023/2024 as a means to contain the civil service wage bill. Although it’s not clear how many government employees will be affected if government moves ahead with the proposal contained in the IMF’s staff supports authorities’ medium-term fiscal consolidation strategy to preserve fiscal and debt sustainability, the measures are aimed at reducing its huge public service wage bill. Namibia according to government…

22 May

So-called deal delegation has simply returned home to roost

ObserverUncategorisedOvaherero and Nama, Samuel Maharero, So-called deal delegation has simply returned home to roost

Kae Tjiparuro-Matundu The month of May while it must have gone in the history of Namibia as a historic day, in the sense that Namibians, especially the descendants of the 1904-1908 genocide committed against the Ovambanderu, Ovaherero and Nama, must have been celebrated a gift of the official recognition of this genocide by the Namibian govern-ment by gifting them 8 May, the day on which the con-centration camps in which thousand were incarcerated and eventual succumb, as a remembrance day, sadly came and gone uneventfully. With the government of Namibia still dillydallying in recognising this day as Re-membrance Day of…

22 May

The Time Traveler: Farewell for now

ObserverUncategorisedThe Time Traveler: Farewell for now

Hugh Ellis How do you decide it’s time to move on? For many people in relationships of various sorts, that can be an agonizing question. How long do you stay with the soon to be ex- who you might love, but who increasingly makes your life a misery? Not my problem, I hasten to add, but most people in such a situation realize, sooner or later, that either a big change is necessary, or that it’s time to get out. Like relationships, we have to move on from ideas and systems as well. Two cases recently in Namibia’s courts -…

22 May

COVID-19 vaccinations still too low, warns CDC

ObserverUncategorisedCentre for Disease Control (CDC), Nangombe

Andrew Kathindi THE number of people who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 in Namibia is low, the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) in Namibia has warned. The CDC was responding to questions whether Namibia could follow examples in countries such as the United States of America where people who have been vaccinated are no longer required to wear masks in public places. “As the number of people getting vaccinated in Namibia increases, the government may decide to change its guidance but this has not happened yet. “Currently the number of people who have been vaccinated in Namibia is too low…

22 May

Child labour wave hits Windhoek

ObserverObserver MoneyAgnes Tjongarero, Child labour wave hits Windhoek, Juditha Matjila, Mathias José

TUJOROMAJO KASUTO A NEW type of child labour is emerging in Windhoek with children are forced to do manual work such as domestic work, selling eggs, fruits and airtime vouchers among other things, for very little pay. Most of these minors, who work as street vendors mainly in Windhoek, were taken from their families, mostly in Angola and given false promises. They said they had come to Namibia in search of a better life. The majority of them told Windhoek Observer, that they do not attend school and wake up early in the morning to start with the day's work.…

21 May

Stakeholder Engagement in the new normal

ObserverUncategorisedGIPF, Morna Ikosa

Morna Ikosa The Covid-19 pandemic, though ferocious and deadly, has provided communicators tools to enhance stakeholder engagement. The Greek philosopher Heraclitus once said “change is the only constant in life”. Those who are agile, dynamic, and flexible- rule the world. Communicators as social scientists, have a unique opportunity to set new precedence on how to effectively communicate with their stakeholders during this pandemic and beyond. We have an open canvass, and we can go beyond the sky. The quote: “Never waste an opportunity offered by a good crisis.,” by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, is indicative of what we at the Government…

21 May

State prosecution yet to finalise Fishrot witnesses

ObserverObserver Moneyfishrot, State

Andrew Kathindi It has emerged that the State prosecution is yet to finalise its list of witnesses to be used in the upcoming Fishrot trial. The development was revealed in the High Court on Thursday when the defence raised concern over continued delays cropping up with the prosecution’s witness list. The hearing of the case at the High Court has now been scheduled for 12 July, while the pre-trial has been postponed until 17 June to allow the suspects’ legal defence to study the affidavit provided to them by the Office of the Prosecutor General, and also to allow a…