Observer – Page 7 – Windhoek Observer

16 Dec

President-Elect Nandi-Ndaitwah’s missed opportunities to show she is a unifier and set a reconciliatory tone for her presidency as done by Ghanaian President-Elect Mahama’s victory speech

ObserverOpinions

Paul Shipale The editorial in the Sunday Newspaper of 11 December 2024 titled; “Time for Netumbo to preach unity” says that since Namibians have bestowed the highest honour available on Vice-President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to take over as head of state for the next five years, “her rhetoric since being announced as president-elect has been lacking that ‘mother to all’ ingredient” the editorial said and questioned “…where’s that message of unity?” Indeed, elections are over and the President-elect is now the leader of even her fiercest critics. I agree with the editor when he said the acceptance speech by the President-elect…

16 Dec

Conscious choices for career success

ObserverFeatured, OpinionsConscious choices for career success

Junias Erasmus As you approach the end of your Grade 12 journey, you stand on the threshold of a new chapter in your life. The choices you make now will have a profound impact on your future, shaping not only your academic path but also the trajectory of your career and personal growth. This is an exciting yet critical moment, one that requires careful thought and strategic decision-making.Choosing a career is more than just selecting a field of study or a job title. It is about aligning your strengths, interests, and values with a profession that will bring you fulfillment…

16 Dec

Privacy Under Surveillance: Namibia’s SIM Card Registration and Biometric Data Collection

ObserverFeatured, Opinions

By: Jessica Uiras Introduction Namibia’s mandatory SIM card registration, established under the Communications Act of 2009[1],was passed to combat identity fraud, enhance national security, and align the country with global telecommunications practices. However, this law has extended into biometric data collection without comprehensive protections, raising significant privacy concerns. Mobile Telecommunication company (MTC), Namibia’s primary telecom provider, now requires citizens to submit fingerprints and facial scans to activate SIM cards, leaving Namibians vulnerable to state surveillance and potential misuse without the security of a dedicated data protection law. The rolling out of sim card registration is happening outside of a data…

15 Dec

Namibia under cyberattack

ObserverMain

Niël Terblanché and Ester Mbathera The minister of health and social service Kalumbi Shangula feels uncertain about the future after his sensitive information was leaked on the dark web. “Nobody can feel safe because you don't know what they (hackers) can do with the information. There are many ways that they can use the information. It's just terrible,” he said. Shangula whose ministry was also targeted said the IT officials are attending to the matter. The cyberattack that resulted in one of the largest known data security incidents in Namibian history is suspected to have been orchestrated by the ransomware…

15 Dec

ECN security breach – YouTuber arrested

ObserverNational News

Erasmus Shalihaxwe A South African YouTuber says he spent nearly 14 days in police custody after sneaking into an Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) media briefing held on 28 November in Windhoek. Cleo Bonny, a well-known figure often referred to as the "African Reading Ambassador," travels widely throughout the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, driven by his passion for reading and promoting literacy. Bonny posted a video on his YouTube channel on Saturday, titled "I Regret Visiting Namibia During the Elections." According to Bonny, he was arrested at the ECN for questioning the relationship between the ruling party, SWAPO,…

15 Dec

Security unions implement wage resolution

ObserverNational News

Martin Endjala The Namibia Security Labour Forum (NSLF) and the Security Association of Namibia (SAN) have implemented a resolution aimed at bringing fairness and sustainability to the security industry. The wage order, which comes into effect on 1 January 2025, introduces critical changes designed to uplift the standard of living for security company employees. Dhiginina Uutaapama, president of SAN, said on Friday that the revised minimum wages ensure fair remuneration aligned with the cost of living and respect. “It also emphasises the vital role security officers play in safeguarding our communities,” he said. Uutaapama added that the changes will improve…

15 Dec

An average of 436 lives are lost on Namibian roads each year

ObserverNational News

Martin Endjala On average, 436 deaths have been recorded each year on Namibian roads over the past three years This is according to Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVA) Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, John Haufiku, who made the revelation on 13 December during a road safety campaign sponsorship acknowledgement event in Windhoek. The campaign, launched last month in the Oshikoto region, is a collaborative effort between the National Road Safety Council, Roads Authority, the Namibian Police, and the Road Fund Administration. From 1 January to 7 December, 2 925 crashes have been recorded, resulting in 5 297 injuries and 385 fatalities.…

15 Dec

NYC board members demand reinstatement

ObserverNational News

Allexer Namundjembo Suspended members of the National Youth Council (NYC) board issued an ultimatum to youth minister Agnes Tjongarero, demanding their immediate reinstatement after what they describe as an unjust suspension. Former chairperson Eva Awases, along with Simon Taapopi, Josef Petrus, Melinda Mogotsi, Rozaline Joseph, and Viviane De Koe, were suspended on Friday over allegations of fund mismanagement and other irregularities. In a letter addressed to Awases, the minister cited several reasons for the suspension, including disregard for ministry directives, failure to adhere to procurement procedures, non-disclosure of conflicts of interest, and misuse of council funds. The suspended board members…

15 Dec

Court grants opposition parties access to electoral material

ObserverNational News

Niël Terblanché On Friday, the Electoral Court of Namibia ruled in favour of the Independent Patriots of Change (IPC) and the Landless People’s Movement (LPM), granting them conditional access to inspect electoral materials from the National Assembly elections. The ruling, handed down by a panel of High Court judges Nate Ndauendapo, Orben Sibeya, and Beatrix de Jager, permits the parties to review specific electoral information on 18 and 19 December. The court order ensures that while the IPC and LPM can access election data, any sealed electoral material, as specified under the Electoral Act, remains strictly off-limits. In their ruling,…

15 Dec

Commitments to health and wellness renewed

ObserverNational News

Niël Terblanché Namibia’s progress in combating HIV/AIDS and the integration of mental health into healthcare services was reinforced during the commemoration of World AIDS Day 2024 in Rundu on Friday. Dr Kalumbi Shangula, the minister of health and social services spoke at the vent in the Kavango East region and said the country has made great strides to eliminating AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. Shangula said that the country stands among the global leaders in addressing the epidemic. "We now stand at the cusp of ending AIDS as a public health threat by the year 2030," he…