Observer – Page 767 – Windhoek Observer

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…

29 Jan

I am tired – Jooste

ObserverObserver MoneyLeon Jooste, Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), Public Enterprises minister

Maria Hamutenya Public Enterprises minister, Leon Jooste says he is tired of seeing public enterprises being dragged to court due to governance failures that can easily be prevented. The minister’s frustrations come as the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) joined the growing list of public enterprises that have been taken to court over various transgressions. “I will always be concerned when there's an aggrieved party due to any process that should be conducted in a fair and transparent manner. I'm really tired of seeing Public Enterprises constantly being dragged to court, in particular when it's due to governance…

28 Jan

A new way to handle the unthinkable

ObserverUncategorised‘baby-dumping’

Namibia must tackle the issue of so-called ‘baby-dumping’ a different way. The conservative mindsets of past generations are insufficient to handle this deadly challenge. Rather than punishment, communities must look at what drives a girl/woman to do the unthinkable to her infant. A solution to this problem lies in focusing on why it happens. What is going on with the birth mother? Far too often, the first response to reports about finding another newborn baby discarded is about whodunnit. This allows the problem to repeat itself. It is time to get our heads out of judgmental church prayerbooks when seeking…

28 Jan

Nuclear science can fight climate change- Dr Schneider

ObserverUncategorisedclimate change, Dr Schneider, Nuclear science

Francis Lungu AS most African countries continue to grapple with the effects of climate change such as extreme weather conditions resulting in floods and droughts, which in turn affects food and drinking water security, nuclear science can play a critical role to avert the situation. Namibian Uranium Institute (NUI) Director Dr Gabi Schneider said in an interview that the utilization of nuclear science in developing technologies of drought-resistant crops and the identification of new groundwater resources can effectively address the pangs of climate change. “However, it has also become clear that if the World wants to achieve the goals set…

28 Jan

Agribusdev investigation report out next month

ObserverUncategorisedAgribusdev investigation report, Leon Jooste, Petrus Uugwanga

Maria Hamutenya The Public Enterprise ministry is next month set to release the long awaited report into its investigations into the operations Agricultural Business Development Agency (Agribusdev) including its late Managing Director, Petrus Uugwanga. The investigation which was commissioned last year, came after the government owned agency had been embroiled in various scandals, including alleged questionable acquisitions of materials such as fertilizers for its green schemes and the recruitment of the South African consultant who was believed to be close to Uugwanga. Public Enterprise Minister Leon Jooste confirmed to the Windhoek Observer that his ministry had been presented with a…