Observer – Page 709 – Windhoek Observer

30 Jan

As long as there’s capitalist exploitation of workers trade unions shall be relevant

ObserverUncategorisedcapitalist exploitation of workers, Shoprite, trade unions

Kae Matundu Tjiparuro Are trade unions in Namibia truly facing a relevance crisis in Namibia as social analysts would postulate in a recent article in the New Era daily. For Yours Truly Ideologically most of the analysts completely missed the ball, especially in their analyses that trade unions are facing a relevance crisis. Under the current capitalist dispensation, and its attendant siphoning off of profits by hiring the labour of the workers and having them toiling a quick fix exploitation of Namibia’s national resources, the workers cannot and should not expect eternal relieve. Instead of perpetual exploitation, up and until…

30 Jan

The Time Traveler: Don’t wanna be a Namibian Idiot

ObserverUncategorisedDon’t wanna be a Namibian Idiot

Hugh Ellis The American rock band Green Day released the song ‘American Idiot’ in September 2004. Its memorable lyrics include: ‘Don’t wanna be an American idiot One nation controlled by the media Can you hear the sound of hysteria?’ ‘Well, maybe I am the faggot, America I'm not a part of a redneck agenda Now everybody do the propaganda’ The song was a protest song written in the aftermath of the ruinous and unnecessary Iraq war, but is still relevant today. In interviews when the song was released, band members railed against sections of the US media who rode shotgun…

30 Jan

The CCN urges Namibia to embrace ignorance

ObserverUncategorisedcnn, Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE), embrace ignorance

Khanyiswa Mogotsi Last year, the Council of Churches of Namibia (CCN) pressured Namibia to pull out of the Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) programme. That information programme was meant to be available to those wishing to use it in 2021. Doing this shoves Namibia backwards into the dark ages of ignorance. Once again, über conservatives, the blindly religious, menopausal matrons and disconnected tatekulus have imposed their antiquated values on a majority youthful Namibian population. A significant number of those blindly against any sex education in schools have never read the CSE curriculum guidelines they are so afraid of. This program is…

30 Jan

Goodbye Shout Out!

ObserverUncategorisedGoodbye Shout Out!, Jackie Wilson Asheeke

Jackie Wilson Asheeke This is my last Shout-Out column. In life, all things change. To live with everything the same, would make our minds and spirits go numb. Change is scary but exciting at the same time. I began writing my signature column ‘shout out’ in March 2009, nearly 12 years ago. It has been a fantastic ride! My journey from writing that first column to becoming Senior Editor at the Windhoek Observer is a personal and professional triumph. From as far back as 2004, I have edited or written over 5,000 articles, columns, proposals and research pieces. I have…

30 Jan

Murderers on bail and haircuts

ObserverUncategorisedCaprivi Secondary School, haircuts

Two recent incidents do not show well for the officials responsible. In Katima Mulilo students were sent home from the Caprivi Secondary School because the school said their hair was not cut properly. In the other strange happening, Morne Mouton was convicted of culpable homicide this week and yet was given bail pending the sentencing hearing. How can such foolish decisions stand unsanctioned? After struggling to get our children back into the classrooms during a pandemic, myopic school officials are worried more about haircuts than education. The Ministry of Education's Executive Director must sanction those responsible for denying education because…

30 Jan

Botswana president denies shoot to kill policy

ObserverUncategorisedBotswana Defence Force, Ian Khama, Mokgweetsi Masisi, shoot to kill policy

Maria Hamutenya Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi says his country does not have a shoot-to-kill policy towards Namibians and foreign nationals who that country decides (without arrest or trial) has encroached illegally on its borders. Masisi’s statement are in stark contrast to his predecessor, former President Ian Khama, who had defended the policy saying his country's strategy to enforce a shoot-to-kill approach against Namibians should be a warning to potential poachers. “When something happens a number of times and repeats itself, a label is put to it and some people even domicile in Botswana begin to use the language and that…

30 Jan

Air Namibia faces uncertain future

ObserverUncategorisedAir Namibia, Iipumbu Shiimi

Andrew Kathindi The future of Air Namibia is uncertain after government on Friday announced that it can no longer afford to bailout the national carrier despite it reaching another settlement agreement with Belgian company, Challenge Air. Finance Minister Iipumbu Shiimi on Friday restated that Air Namibia had significant debts that are unsustainable and that a business plan to save the state-owned enterprise would cost more than N$7 billion, funds which government does not have. "The government approached all airlines currently operating in Namibia as well as those that intend to operate in Namibia to assess if there would be any…

29 Jan

Should the court decide employee work orders?

ObserverNational NewsCovid-19, Shoprite, State of Emergency

The Shoprite strike is a sign of a healthy democracy. Workers have the right to organize and insist on their priorities. When a legal dispute is declared there are laws in play that must be respected by all sides. The concern is the initial ruling of Judge Shafima Ueitele. He interdicted Shoprite from redeploying existing employees to do the work of an employee who was out on strike. Such a sweeping decision is rightfully under appeal. Its ramifications for all businesses in Namibia are severe. Firing workers legally on strike and then hiring outside ‘scab’ labour is illegal. The unclear…

29 Jan

Five money management principles to start 2021

ObserverUncategorised

Staff Writer The New Year is upon us and brings new energy and opportunity for us to put in place or relook our financial plan for the year ahead. Unfortunately, COVID-19 is still very much our reality and continues to put a heavy strain on people’s wellbeing and finances. It is in these uncertain times that we encourage consumers to focus on the things that they can control such as managing their money effectively and taking charge of their financial future. Elzita Beukes, FNB Communications Manager says, “Financial planning has never been more important, and we encourage customers to devise…

29 Jan

PDM Parliament hopefuls to approach court…as Parliament is set to open

ObserverObserver MoneyMembers of Parliament, Parliament, Popular Democratic Movement (PDM)

Andrew Kathindi With Parliament set to open in just over a week’s time, Lawyer Norman Tjombe has threatened to approach the courts to have his clients’ gazetted as Members of Parliament. This comes after a High Court ruling, delivered in July last year, ordered that Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) members Charmaine Tjirare, Reggie Diergaardt, Frans Bertolini, Yvette Araes, Mike Venaani and Tjekupe Maximilliant Katjimune be added to the opposition party parliamentary list, an order which is yet to be implemented. The High Court ruling had further ordered that a public gazette be published in that regard. “As a result of…