Observer – Page 711 – Windhoek Observer

17 Oct

IUM staff to get five percent increment

ObserverObserver MoneyDavid Namwandi, International University of Management (IUM), IUM

Eba Kandovazu THE International University of Management (IUM) has announced a five percent increment for all its employees, as of October this year. Gerry Munyama, the Communication Director, says management is considering the same for IUM medical aid scheme contributions and IUM study rebate granted to all staff members and their children studying at the university. “Still in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic but optimistic about future trends, the university announces a series of measures aimed at enhancing the welfare status of all categories of its staff, academic, administrative and support,”Munyama says, adding that the news was announced by…

17 Oct

More needs to be done in terms of vaccination – Geingob

ObserverObserver Money//Kharas, Covid-19, Erongo, Hardap, Khomas

Tujoromajo Kasuto Covid-19 vaccination coverage is showing signs of progress, especially in the regions that have borne the brunt of the pandemic historically, such as Hardap, //Kharas, Khomas, and Erongo. However within the last month there has been a decline in the number of vaccines administered daily, says President Hage Geingob addressing the nation and the media during the 35th Covid-19 public briefing today. “During this period, the country recorded an average vaccine uptake of 2,871 doses per day, this figure has declined compared to the daily uptake a month ago thus there is a need to do more on…

15 Oct

PDM policy conference and election review slated for next week

ObserverObserver MoneyManuel Ngaringombe, Popular Democratic Movement (PDM)

Tujoromajo Kasuto POPULAR Democratic Movement (PDM) Secretary General, Manuel Ngaringombe, says the party will have an policy conference from 18 to 22 October in Otjiwarongo. Themed “Shaping PDM policy towards a transformative society”, the conference is to develop the movements policies on a wide range of various pressing economic, political and societal issues such as land and housing, sustainability, the economy, education, health, climate change, youth unemployment and gender minority rights such as abortion and LGBTQ+ rights. The event will be attended by 100 delegates, carefully chosen from both within the movement and outside, based on their unique set of…

15 Oct

A fall from grace: ShutItDown’s Hashikutuva detained in another money scandal

ObserverObserver MoneyLebbeus Hashikutuva, ShutItDown

Eba Kandovazu AS if the allegations of embezzling close to N$100 000 the ShutItDown movement received from the African Union Youth Envoy were not enough, Lebbeus Hashikutuva, co-founder of the anti-gender based violence movement, has yet again been implicated in another scandal relating to the alleged theft of N$40 000. This time, with criminal charges laid against him. Hashikutuva was arrested this morning on charges of theft under false pretense. The arrest of Hashikutuva follows barely a day after he was accused by the movement of embezzling US$5000 (about N$74,000) the movement received in February this year. Today, he was…

15 Oct

Exit impersonator denied bail over rape charges

ObserverObserver MoneyDavid Shikalep, Oshakati Magistrate

Eba Kandovazu A 27-year- old Oshakati man, who last Sunday allegedly raped a woman after pretending to be musician David Shikalep, also known as Exit, was denied bail when he made his first appearance in the Oshakati Magistrate’s Court today. Silver Natangwe is accused of luring a 19-year-old woman to a house, pretending to take her to Exit. Police say upon arriving, the suspect raped the woman, who he had been chatting with on Facebook pretending to be Exit. His profile on Facebook gives an impression that it belongs to Exit. The suspect also had Exit’s picture as his display…

14 Oct

Nanso finally speaks on NSFAF ‘dissolvement’

ObserverObserver MoneyNamibia National Students Organisation (NANSO), Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF)

Eba Kandovazu WEEKS after the announcement that the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) will be reintegrated into the Ministry of Higher Education, Training and Innovation, the Namibia National Student's Organisation (Nanso) has finally pronounced itself on the matter, saying it does not support the move. Esther Shakela, Nanso Spokesperson, says Government should instead fix the 'governance predicaments' NSFAF faces and work towards ensuring that it becomes efficient and effective. Shakela adds that the organisation's submissions as a stakeholder during the consultations regarding the dissolution of NSFAF are not reflected in the final decision made for NSFAF to fall under…

14 Oct

High court grants citizenship to children of LGBTQ+ parents

ObserverObserver MoneyGuillermo Delgado, High Court, Phillip Lühl

Tujoromajo Kasuto High Court Judge, Thomas Masuku, today granted citizenship to the son of Namibian, Phillip Lühl, and husband Guillermo Delgado, Yona, who was born via surrogacy in South Africa. Such ruling may essentially be in favor of their twin daughters Paula and Maya, who are also seek Namibian citizenship. Judge Masuku also dismissed the counter application brought by the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration, in which the ministry had claimed that a paternity test was needed to prove Lühl’ s biological linkage to his son. The ministry has been ordered to pay the costs of the applicants and…

14 Oct

Etosha National Park on fire since Monday

ObserverObserver MoneyEtosha National Park, Ministry of Environment, Tourism and Forestry

Eba Kandovazu A FIRE that started on a neighboring farm near Okaukuejo in the Etosha National Park since this Monday is still raging on, although staff members from the Ministry of Environment, Tourism and Forestry have been dispatched to contain it. Romeo Muyunda, Spokesperson of the ministry, says the fire is burning west of Okaukuejo. It’s cause, he says is not known yet although it entered the park on Monday, from a farm. No animals have been reported dead as a result of the fire yet. Namibia has seen the prevalence of fires in recent months. Just last weekend, two…

14 Oct

Limkokwing drama takes a new twist

ObserverObserver MoneyDavid Namwandi, Hilya Nghiwete, Limkokwing University

Eba Kandovazu NEW information is being revealed that in fact, the lead masterminds in the establishment of a Malaysian university in Namibia is not Higher Education, Training and Innovation Minister, Itah Kandjii-Murangi, but her predecessor, David Namwandi, and the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF), Hilya Nghiwete. An anonymous document released on social media chronicles a number of engagements between Namwandi and the said university. It also alleges that Nghiwete sent students to study in Malaysia. The letter also accuses the former CEO of granting scholarships to some of her family members. It…

13 Oct

Namibia reports 15.3 percent reduction in TB cases

ObserverObserver MoneyTB

Tujoromajo Kasuto THE country has reported a steady decrease in the number of TB cases in 2020 when the total number of tuberculosis (TB) cases reported was 6,537. This was a significant reduction of 15.3% from the 7718 TB cases notified in 2019. This is revealed in an Epidemiology of TB in Namibia, issued by Executive Director (ED) of the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS), Ben Nangombe. The case notification rate (CNR) in 2020, based on the burden of all forms of active TB, also decreased to 263 cases per 100,000 populations, from 314 per 100,000 in 2019.…