Observer – Page 721 – Windhoek Observer

05 Dec

NUST VC judgment postponed

ObserverUncategorisedDr Erold Naomab, Professor Frednard Gideon, Vice-Chancellor of Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST)

Helena Johannes The High Court is set to deliver its judgement in the case where Professor Frednard Gideon is challenging the appointment of Dr Erold Naomab as the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor of Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) to the 9th December 2020, Lawyer Sisa Namandje has revealed. This comes after the case was heard in the High Court on Friday, the 4th of December 2020. Namandje and his client, Professor Frednard Gideon, are seeking to set aside the NUST Council decision made on the 12th of November 2020 to select Naomab as their preferred candidate to be appointed…

05 Dec

LPM challenges election rerun bid

ObserverUncategorisedEdson Isaaks, Hardap Region, Landless People’s Movement (LPM)

Andrew Kathindi Landless People’s Movement (LPM) has filed an urgent application to the High Court to oppose Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN)’s case to have the results of the elections in Aroab and Koës local authorities in the //Kharas region and Stampriet and Mariental Rural constituency in the Hardap region voided. According to the party, an election re-run in areas of the southern region where it currently has a stronghold would be a waste of taxpayer money. “When you look at it, only about 67 votes is where there are disparities and we’re saying, those 67 votes don’t make any…

05 Dec

HIV/AIDS still leading cause of death in Namibia …as 3,000 succumb to disease in 2020

ObserverUncategorisedCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Dr Eric Dziuban, HIV/AIDS

Helena Johannes The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revealed that HIV/AIDS is still the main leading cause of death in Namibia regardless of the prevention measures available. According to Dr Eric Dziuban, CDC Country Director, the continued existence of HIV positive people who are not on treatment, is one of the main causes of death in Namibia. “If you are HIV positive and not on treatment, the virus attacks your body and can make you very sick, very quickly. Technically people do not die from AIDS, they die from other diseases that are able to attack the…

04 Dec

Veni, vidi, vici – Job Amupanda

ObserverNational NewsAffirmative Repositioning (AR), Job Amupanda

The Latin phrase veni, vidi, vici translates roughly to: "I came; I saw; I conquered." According to the historical writings of Appian, it is a Latin phrase attributed to Julius Caesar. He used this phrase after he had achieved a tough victory in one of his many wars of conquest. The phrase is fitting for Job’s rise to the Mayorship of Windhoek. Over six years ago, Job Amupanda burst on the scene with his colleagues in the Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement. They took radical, bawdy steps. They made aggressive demands for things that should have been handled decades before but…

04 Dec

National Oil Storage Facility testing to begin

ObserverUncategorisedNational Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor)

The Ministry of Mines and energy has announced that it welcomed its first vessel at the N$5.5 billion National Oil and Petroleum Storage Facility at Walvis Bay at the beginning of the month. The arrival of the vessel and its planned offloading of fuel at the facility is part of the final testing of the facility. “The vessel is scheduled to offload 35 000 tonnes of diesel as part of the final testing on completion of the project. Our technical teams will continue to test the facility as part of the final stage of the construction phase of the project,”…

04 Dec

Khomas region tops COVID-19 cases …as the country records 122 new cases

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Khomas

Helena Johannes On Thursday Namibia recorded 122 positive cases of COVID-19, the highest number recorded in recent months, with Khomas region leading with 66 of the total cases. The development comes after the country held its Regional and Local Authorities elections and the region having previously topped as the epicenter of the pandemic prior. Health minister, Kalumbi Shangula said the confirmed cases represent a nine percent positivity ratio, which is three times the ratio reported the previous day. “The increasing number of new Covid-19 cases in the Khomas district is concerning and calls for extra precaution especially during this time…

04 Dec

Pendukeni warns Swapo

ObserverObserver MoneyFormer Swapo Secretary General and cabinet minister, Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) Director Graham Hopwood, Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana

Andrew Kathindi Former Swapo Secretary General and cabinet minister, Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana has warned that if the ruling party fails to introspect and iron out internal differences, the party could be in for a rude awakening in the 2024 Presidential and National Assembly elections. This comes as the ruling party lost numerous local authorities and constituencies in the recently held elections, including key economic towns such as Windhoek, Keetmanshoop, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay. “If this leadership is not carrying out an agenda to destroy Swapo, and what happened was just a mistake, then they will call for indaba, because Swapo has…

03 Dec

Individuals must never be judge, jury and executioner

ObserverNational Newsexecutioner, former president of Botswana, Ian Khama, judge, jury

The recent comments made by the former president of Botswana, Ian Khama, justifying Botswana's shoot-to-kill policies reflect his callous disregard for the rule of law. The United Nations, so quick to talk about sanctioning nations that habitually violate human rights, is silent on the despotic acts by the Botswanan Defense Force (BDF). The tragic loss of life of the four Namibians is a wake-up call about what has been quietly going on for years. Botswana is a lawless nation and should not be allowed to continue its affairs as if they are not accountable for their actions. No country must…

03 Dec

6 Ways to Avoid Overspending this Season

ObserverUncategorisedElzita Beukes, FNB Communications Manager

Staff Writer As the holiday cheer takes hold, we’re bound to be tempted to spend more than we should, but having fun shouldn’t mean overspending. Budgets may seem restrictive and not part of the festive picture you have for your holiday, but ultimately they’re tools to help you live better. ‘We know that consumers spent more on their credit cards in December than any other month of the year – most of it on luxury goods and entertainment. Whether you’re staying home or going away, if you’re not keeping an eye on your expenses, overboard is where you’re headed’ says…

03 Dec

No oil drilling objections received – Calle

ObserverObserver MoneyMinister of Agriculture Water and Forestry Calle Schlettwein

Helena Johannes The Minister of Agriculture Water and Forestry Calle Schlettwein maintains his office has not been approached by any expert, with evidence on the negative impact of drilling wells for oil exploration in the Kavango region. “Our main aim is to ensure that it does not cause any economical and agricultural harm. However, on this project we have not been approached by anyone on the harms this might cause,” said Calle. This comes after Conservationists and community leaders in the Okavango wilderness region of Namibia according to media reports have raised alarms over oil and gas exploration and its…