Observer

8771 Posts

The redline menace, yet again

Once again, resistance to the existence of the infamous redline or so-called veterinary cordon fence that divides the North from the South of Namibia has flared. In May of this year, Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement activist Job Amupanda filed a lawsuit in the High Court to eliminate the controversial barrier. We support Job’s intentions just as we have supported previous calls to remove the need for a redline. However, to remove the redline precipitously without planning and foolproof solutions for the need for a veterinary cordon barrier is irresponsible. The redline has been used as a hammer of repression against…
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Genocide, a human rights issue not a simple matter between two State actors

The article a fortnight ago in the Namibian newspapers by members of the Marxist Study Group of Namibia, Shaun Whittaker and Harry Boesak, headlined “Reparations and Nation building” is interesting as it is mentally enriching, thought-provoking, ideological and intellectual. In fact many a times Yours Truly Ideologically have been challenging the Namibian intelligentsia to make its voice heard and its intellect present in the ongoing debate on Genocide, Apology and Reparations. Because for some unknown reasons this important sector of the Namibian society has been ominously conspicuously absent in this debate. Which has been predominantly a playing if not trampling…
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Dispute erupts as farmers occupy Otjiwarongo town land

Dispute erupts as farmers occupy Otjiwarongo town land

Tujoromajo Kasuto Chaos erupted in Otjiwarongo on Tuesday 20 July as the municipality confiscated about 600 livestock belonging to farmers who have illegally occupied town land The confiscated livestock were taken to the Showgrounds where a throng of about 40 farmers gathered demanding their livestock back. Farmers warned that if any of the confiscated livestock goes missing or is wounded, the municipality will pay dearly. The farmers also claimed that attempts to communicate with the municipality have fallen on deaf ears or have received unfavorable responses. Otjiwarongo Municipality’s Chief Emergency Officer, Daniel Pavaza, in an audio circulating on social media,…
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Shaningwa tells LPM to fight own battles …as LPM accuses Swapo of staging pistol affair

Shaningwa tells LPM to fight own battles …as LPM accuses Swapo of staging pistol affair

Andrew Kathindi Swapo Party of Namibia Secretary General, Sophia Shaningwa, says the ruling party will not be drawn into a war of words with the Landless People’s Movement (LPM). LPM Member of Parliament, Utaara Mootu on Friday, 23 July, claimed that an incident in which a security monitoring system at parliament is alleged to have picked up a gun in LPM’s lawyer, Patrick Kauta’s briefcase, was orchestrated by Swapo in a move of desperation to frame the LPM legal representatives. “Swapo is not going to fight other people’s battles. Let them fight their own battles and leave Swapo Party alone,”…
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A recommitment towards the youth: an insight into the third national youth policy

A recommitment towards the youth: an insight into the third national youth policy

The youth are the building blocks of a nation and increasingly the backbone of economies, especially in Africa. An investment into youth development is in turn an investment into the future of Namibia. It is therefore critical to mainstream youth development into the fabric of the national agenda. The First National Youth Policy was developed against this background and was first adopted in 1993. This version was then revised in 2006, which led to the Second National Youth Policy. These two documents were important for laying the foundation of the Third National Youth Policy (NYPIII) which is by far the…
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The Rise of eCommerce – is Namibia ready?

The Rise of eCommerce – is Namibia ready?

Reginald Obaking and Frans Uusiku eCommerce has become a buzz word as one of the key revelations of the 21st century economic realities. We have all witnessed the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic further reinforcing the importance of being able to buy and sell goods and services or transmitting funds or data over electronic networks. According to the United Nations’ report on eCommerce global view, global eCommerce as a share of global GDP was estimated at 30% in 2020, while its share of global retail sales has increased from 14% in 2019 to 17% in 2020. This highlights the ever-changing…
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SPYL asks government to look at NSFAF salaries

SPYL asks government to look at NSFAF salaries

Andrew Kathindi The Swapo Party of Namibia Youth League (SPYL)’s Secretary, Ephraim Nekongo, is calling on the Government to re-examine the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF)’s top brass’s salary structure. Nekongo says this should be part of the Government’s effort to urgently re-organise the whole institution. “The salary structures of NSFAF must not be higher than that of the public sector. The institution barely makes N$0.50 (0.50 cents) per year to supplement the Government's annual budget. As a result, having employees paid millions of dollars to push papers is laughable.” NSFAF has been ordered by the Labour Commissioner to…
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Demolished Shack owners left homeless

Demolished Shack owners left homeless

Tujoromajo Kasuto Owners of the Mukwanangobe informal settlement shacks which have been demolished say they have been left in the streets with no immediate plans to relocate them. Some of the families whose homes were demolished by the Windhoek City Police and Namibia Police (Nampol) on Wednesday, on Thursday afternoon 22 July, camped in front of City of Windhoek Headquarters demanding answers and to see the court order which they claim was not issued. They also told Windhoek Observer that they have sent numerous letters to the City’s Mayor, Job Amupanda, and have not received any responses yet. At a…
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Ending inequality and inequity key to ending AIDS as a public health threat

Felicita Hikuam The 2021 UNAIDS Global AIDS Update, launched last week, has rightly pointed out that addressing inequality and inequity are key amongst the issues that need to be urgently addressed over the next decade, which could arguably be the last frontier of the global response to HIV and AIDS. In many parts of the world including east and southern Africa, despite remarkable progress, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, inequality and inequity within and between countries, continue to deter progress in ending AIDS as a public health threat, as committed in the Sustainable Development Goals. In the recently adopted United Nations…
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Thumbs up for new Political Declaration on ending AIDS

Thumbs up for new Political Declaration on ending AIDS

Moses Magadza The AIDS and Rights Alliance for southern Africa (ARASA) has welcomed the new Political Declaration on Ending AIDS by 2030, saying it includes clear targets that should prompt member states to take pointed action to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. United Nations Member States adopted the Political Declaration: Ending Inequalities and Getting on Track to End AIDS by 2030, during the UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on AIDS last month. In the Political Declaration, world leaders expressed concern over inequalities across multiple forms and national contexts based on HIV status, gender, race, ethnicity, disability,…
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