Observer – Page 782 – Windhoek Observer

28 Nov

Book Review: The Icabog – JK Rowling

ObserverUncategorisedThe Icabog – JK Rowling

Jackie Wilson Asheeke Having more time inside these days, I have been a readin’ fool. One of the books I jumped on was The Icabog, by JK Rowling. This soon to be classic for generations to come was originally published on November 10, 2020. For the billionaire author of the Harry Potter series of books, the writing skills of the great Ms Rowling are never better in this new book. It was released online in parts over the past year, but the complete text just came out. I couldn’t stand the piecemeal thing, so I waited patiently for the real…

28 Nov

Standard Bank appoints new CE

ObserverUncategorisedMercia Geises, new Chief Executive., Vetumbuavi Mungunda

Staff Writer SBN Holdings Limited, the Namibia Stock Exchange-listed holdings company of local bank, Standard Bank Namibia Limited, has appointed its Head of Personal and Business Banking, Mercia Geises, as its new Chief Executive. Mercia Geises will take over from current Chief Executive Vetumbuavi Mungunda with effect from 1 May 2021. “The Board is excited at the appointment of Mercia to lead us into an exciting new future following a well-planned and well-executed leadership management and succession programme, which, inter alia, is a demonstration of Standard Bank’s relentless commitment to growing our people and creating Namibian leaders. The success of…

28 Nov

The more things change the more they remain the same

ObserverUncategorisedArticle 15, Education Act, Namibian Constitution

Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro The more things change, the more they remain the same. Nothing speaks more to this dictum than our country’s educational system. Specifically the government’s language policy pertaining to home language or mother tongue. In terms of the Namibian Constitution, Article 15, children shall from birth have a right to a name, the right to acquire nationality ….and right to be cared for by their parents. Something is missing here, what about the right of the child to be taught in her/or his home language or mother tongue? Perhaps it is taken care of in the Education Act. Indeed…

28 Nov

The Time Traveler: The job interview ‘date’

ObserverUncategorisedjob interviews

Hugh Ellis I’m lucky enough to have had to submit to less than 10 job interviews in my entire life. Lucky to have been in the right place at the right time - a graduate coming into a growing economy, among many other things. I say lucky because job interviews are largely nonsense, and I pity the poor people who have had to sit through 50 or more before they find a single job. There has to be a way to select a limited number of employees from a vast pool of candidates, but I’m not sure interviews are the…

28 Nov

When Africa was a German laboratory

ObserverUncategorisedepidemics of trypanosomiasi, When Africa was a German laboratory

Edna Bonhomme Western scientists transformed Africa into a living laboratory during the sleeping sickness epidemics of the early 20th century. They should not be allowed to do the same now [while seeking the definitive pandemic vaccine.] At the turn of the 20th century, epidemics of trypanosomiasis, or “sleeping sickness” as it is more commonly known, started to appear across Africa. A vector-borne parasitic disease causing apathy, slow movement, speech disorders, physical weakness and death, sleeping sickness raised alarm among European colonisers on the continent who feared that its spread could slow down the African workforce, and subsequently their colonial projects.…

28 Nov

A day late and a dollar short

ObserverUncategorisedA day late and a dollar short, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, PDM Leader McHenry Venaani

Jackie Wilson Asheeke I read the recent comments from PDM Leader McHenry Venaani in reaction to preliminary results from this week’s local and regional elections. To read his statements about making opposition coalitions (as if it is a new concept) with some of the other parties so that they could unite to unseat Swapo made me shake my head completely. Many have been calling for the wannabe kings of each of the smaller opposition parties to unite. And yet, they misread the entire political landscape and remained as kings of their tiny territories rather than influencers of the national political…

28 Nov

Time and tide wait for no man

ObserverUncategorisedSwapo’s loss of votes

Swapo’s loss of votes in the presidential and parliamentary elections last year failed to energize the party fast enough to address concerns. This may have affected the electorate in the 2020 regional vote. While all votes are not counted and confirmed and the strong Swapo base of the North is not yet reported, assumptions about a significant loss of support for the ruling party are premature. Pundits and opposition parties should take care not to overreact. If the trend continues in the non-Swapo traditional base areas, to show a voting tally that has reduced the ruling party’s sway, then it…

28 Nov

Govt undecided on COVID-19 measures as new cases spike

ObserverUncategorisedCOVID-19 measures, Dr Kalumbi Shangula

Helena Johannes Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Kalumbi Shangula says that he is not sure if the government plans to tighten existing COVID-19 protective measures amid a recent spike in new cases. Shangula as minister of health, is empowered under Section 29 of the Public and Environmental Act to implement regulations. This authority has been operational since 18 September 2020. Despite the onus on amending the existing regulations being vested in his office, Shangula maintains, “it is the job of the President to announce that.” This comes as President Hage Geingob recently called off a briefing on the…

28 Nov

Voter apathy strikes elections again

ObserverObserver MoneyElectoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) Director Graham Hopwood, Voter apathy

Andrew Kathindi Voter apathy continues to mire the local authority and regional elections after it has emerged that less than half of registered voters showed up for the past elections. This comes after the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) earlier this month announced that over 1.4 million Namibians had registered to vote. In Windhoek, the local authority with the highest number of registered voters was especially hard hit. Out of 150,172 eligible voters, only 60,339 cast their votes. And from this number, 561 votes were rejected. In Rundu, the local authority with the second highest number of registered voters, 25,962…

28 Nov

The battle for Windhoek Mayor begins … as Swapo loses control of council

ObserverUncategorisedAffirmative Repositioning (AR), Battle for Windhoek Mayor, Independents Patriots for Change (IPC), Landless People’s Movement (LPM), Swapo Party

Andrew Kathindi The Swapo party has lost control of the City of Windhoek in the local elections. A battle has emerged on who will be the next mayor of the nation’s capital, after new councilors are sworn in. This comes as ruling party Swapo garnered five seats on the Council, having previously held 12, while new player Independents Patriots for Change (IPC) collected four, Affirmative Repositioning (AR) and Landless People's Movement (LPM) picked up two each while Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) and National Unity Democratic Organization (NUDO) both got one seat. AR leader, Job Amupanda, who heads to the Council,…