Observer – Page 753 – Windhoek Observer

03 Jul

Namibia hit by service station oversupply

ObserverObserver MoneyMinistry of Mines and Energy

Staff Writer The Ministry of Mines and Energy has temporarily suspended the issuing of fuel retail site and wholesale licenses citing an oversupply of service stations in the country. According to the ministry, the six month moratorium has been placed on new applications as it reviews existing procedures and requirements. “There has been a proliferation of licenses, especially retail, being issued without proper economic viability being carried out. We thus need time to institute more effective licensing procedures,” Mines minister Tom Alweendo told the Windhoek Observer. Namibian Oil Industry Association Secretariat Chief Executive Officer, Harald Schmidt said the ministry’s decision…

03 Jul

Khomas faces local transmissions risk

ObserverObserver MoneyHealth Ministry, Khomas

…as region records two cases Andrew Kathindi There is a growing concern in the Ministry of Health and Social Services that those travelers who leave the Erongo region untested could pose a risk of virus transmission for the Khomas region. Acting Director of Khomas Region in the Health Ministry, Patemoshela Hamunyela, told the Windhoek Observer that she was worried about people leaving Erongo region without being tested. They could infect people in other regions. “We are very worried that there is quite a number of travelers that are coming out of Erongo region. We don't know whether they are given…

03 Jul

Namibia’s long road to national reconciliation – Part 1

ObserverUncategorisedLubango, Namibia, SWAPO

Oiva Angula The two past weeks, Namibia’s National Assembly has been embroiled in a dramatic, sometimes bitter, debate about national reconciliation. This is not the first such debate since independence in 1990. Namibia seems to be burdened with a lingering wound of its past with some sections of society still crying for reconciliation, social integration and national healing. The great hope of a society based on social cohesion as promised at independence appears illusive for some Namibians. As a survivor of Swapo’s Lubango prison camps, Tangeni Mureko, 49, needed no reminder of how painful it was to live; how terrible…

03 Jul

Stop using Nujoma – it exposes him

ObserverNational NewsFounding President Sam Nujoma, Parliament, SWAPO

National icons must not be used to prop up the speeches of politicians who have no skill at oratory and little idea of how to make a strong verbal argument. Doreen Sioka, a Swapo MP, this week used excerpts from the book written by Founding President Sam Nujoma. She was making her party's points in Parliament. By doing this, she exposed the founding leader to rebuttal. She used the great man as her shield. Subsequently, the ‘Nujoma’ shield was hit with incoming spears from an instigated opposition. People will not genuflect and capitulate when they hear the name Nujoma. The…

03 Jul

NWR launches NamLeisure Corporate card

ObserverUncategorisedNamibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR), NamLeisure Corporate card

Staff Writer Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) has grown its NamLeisure offering by introducing a NamLeisure Corporate card that is aimed at giving companies a discount on their meetings, incentives, conferences and events at any of its establishments that are spread across the country. Considering the high impact that COVID-19 has had on business, NWR saw the need to introduce a product that would be able to assist companies as they map their way forward post COVID-19. “Over the years, we have been receiving requests from companies to make use of our facilities for different purposes. After holding some consultative engagements,…

03 Jul

MTC launches TikTok bundles

ObserverUncategorisedMobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC), TikTok

Staff Writer Driven by unswerving need to provide ever evolving solutions in the Namibia market, Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) recently launched its customized MTC TikTok Data Bundles, available for postpaid and prepaid customers. The bundles which are exclusively for use for the TikTok Mobile Application, are available for all Prepaid and Postpaid customers, and the validity of the bundle according to the company , will only start once the customer utilizes the TikTok App. “In addition, MTC, until 23 September 2020, will offer any customer that purchased any TikTok bundle an additional 10% of data.” TikTok is a short-form video…

03 Jul

Govt rules out Air Namibia plan

ObserverObserver MoneyMinistry of Finance

Staff Writer The Ministry of Finance has ruled out availing funds for Air Namibia’s touted new business plan, saying it’s not viable and not sustainable. This comes as the business plan will require N$7 billion to be implemented, including management of the national carrier’s existing N$5 billion debt. “This means for the new business plan to be implemented taking the outstanding debt into account, an amount of N$7 billion will have to be spent in the current financial year, which makes it unaffordable as resources are needed for other priorities such as health, education, housing and sanitation,” the Ministry of…

03 Jul

Schools to reopen Monday

ObserverObserver MoneyErongo, Ministry of Education, Swakop, Walvis Bay

Andrew Kathindi The Ministry of Education has reiterated its decision to re-open schools on Monday 6 July, following a 2-week delay in its initial phase in plan after a learner in Mariental tested positive for COVID-19 last month. The basic education minister, Anna Nghipondoka told Parliament on Thursday that aside from one region, schools countrywide were ready to resume face-to-face teaching on Monday. “The main concern we have is grade 11 and 12, especially in Erongo because now we are only having 6 schools, 4 in Erongo and 2 in Omusati that cannot open. In Erongo, Swakop and Walvis are…

03 Jul

Nujoma caught in crossfire – KK

ObserverObserver MoneyDoreen Sioka, Kazenambo Kazenambo, Landless People’s Movement (LPM), Nahas Angula, Sam Nujoma, SWAPO

Staff Writer Former Youth minister, Kazenambo Kazenambo says the public anger directed at Landless People's Movement (LPM) leader, Bernadus Swartbooi is misdirected, as he is not causing division but his actions are simply a symptom of the greater disunity in the country. This comes after Swartbooi was heavily criticized by former Prime Minister Nahas Angula, who accused the firebrand leader LPM leader of dividing the nation. This berating follows the LPM MP’s his incendiary comments about Founding President Sam Nujoma. In response to arguments made by Swapo MP, Doreen Sioka, he disparaged the Founding President’s book and called the author…

01 Jul

Parliamentary bout – round two

ObserverNational NewsBernadus Swartbooi, Henny Seibeb, LPM, Parliament, Speaker Peter Katjavivi

…as both sides forget that democracy is not easy Democracy is hard work. This week in Parliament, Speaker Peter Katjavivi, and LPM leaders Bernadus Swartbooi and Henny Seibeb forgot this. Each resorted to dictatorship, emotion and anger. The Speaker told two elected leaders to get out of the building. The two, Seibeb and Swartbooi, engaged in a goal-less diatribe, hurling personal insults at a citizen. To what end? Did their outburst create a single job? How is the drowning Namibian economy saved by that clash? In the Speaker’s case, there was a dangerous precedent set. Arguably, there was a misuse…