Observer – Page 785 – Windhoek Observer

20 Nov

As expected, sign-in books are a waste of time

ObserverNational Newseditorial, ID number

Earlier in the state of emergency over the pandemic, we did an editorial stating that the sign-in mandate before entering shops or businesses as a method to assist in pandemic tracing efforts was a complete waste of time and energy. Namibia has neither the resources nor capacity for metadata processing. Now, recent reports in the Namibian newspaper headlines today force us to declare: “We told you so.” There is no long term, consistent ‘will’ to trace people by using those books. Those collecting the data are bored with the entire exercise. Those forced to sign-in, see it as time-wasting joke.…

20 Nov

U.S. Ambassador launches Academy for Women Entrepreneurs Program

ObserverUncategorisedAcademy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE), U.S. Ambassador Lisa Johnson, Women in Namibia

Staff Writer U.S. Ambassador Lisa Johnson officially launched the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) program in Namibia. The program was established in 2019 and provides women with the tools needed to create and grow their own businesses, raise capital, and effectively network with other successful business owners. The first cohort for 2020 will consist of 28 participants from Windhoek who will receive the training virtually, due to the COVID pandemic. In 2021, the AWE program will deliver additional training courses to cohorts in Walvis Bay, Ongwediva, and Keetmanshoop. The U.S. Embassy hopes to grow the program to train more than…

20 Nov

Rent prices slip back into negative territory

ObserverUncategorisedCovid-19, FNB, FNB Residential Rental Index, Frans Uusiku

Staff Writer The FNB Residential Rental Index shows that the 12-month moving average growth in rent prices took a dip of -1.3 percent at the end of September 2020., bringing the national weighted average rent to N$7 091 at the end of September 2020 compared to N$7 164 recorded over the same period in 2019. “The sudden return of the rental index growth into negative territory affirms the pass-through effects of COVID-19 pandemic on the rental market. This is unsurprising given the notable job losses and reduced income for the most part of the workforce as the country implemented COVID-19…

20 Nov

Tjama denies tribal remarks

ObserverObserver MoneyDr Tjama Tjivikua, Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST)

Staff Writer Former vice chancellor of the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust), Dr Tjama Tjivikua has rubbished a WhatsApp message screenshot currently in circulation that has been anonymously attributed to him discussing various developments at the university. He has labelled it fake news. “This week, social media has seen another repeated and blatant attempt to mar my good name. This is in the form of the same fake postings, which appeared last year and were debunked as fake news. They hold no validity or truth whatsoever,” he told the Windhoek Observer. He denied that conversation, where he is…

20 Nov

Election day declared a public holiday

ObserverObserver MoneyElection day, Electoral Act, Local Authorities, president Hage Geingob, public holiday, Regional Councils

Andrew Kathindi President Hage Geingob on Wednesday declared the 25th of November, the day of the local authority and regional elections, a public holiday. “Under the powers vested in the President by section 1(3) of the Public Holidays Act, 1990 (Act No. 26 of 1990, the President of the Republic of Namibia, His Excellency Dr. Hage G. Geingob has declared 25 November 2020 as a public holiday for the purposes of the general election of members of regional councils and of members of local authority councils under the Electoral Act, 2014 (Act No 5 of 2014)” Press Secretary, Dr Alfredo…

20 Nov

Over 500 candidates to contest upcoming elections …nearly 100 are independents

ObserverObserver MoneyChairperson of the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), Independent Candidates (IC), Notemba Tjipueja

Helena Johannes The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), Notemba Tjipueja has announced that there are 503 candidates competing in the elections on November 25th. Of that number, 92 are Independent Candidates (IC). They will compete in 121 constituencies and 57 local authority areas during the upcoming polls. She said no less than 18 political parties and 13 associations are contesting in the 121 constituency and 57 local authority areas. “Notable is the unprecedented number of independent candidates and associations taking part in these elections,” she said. This comes as the election body recently revealed that around 1.4…

20 Nov

Empty rhetoric cannot address regional, local dire conditions

ObserverUncategorisedCovid-19, Namibian voter, Regional and Local Authorities

Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro Is there any single political party, association or for that matter any independent candidate that is deserving of my vote in four days’ time when we go to the polls for the Regional and Local Authorities on Wednesday? Yours Truly Ideologically cannot help but think loudly. Just four days before the elections not convinced that anyone may be so deserving. Not only the vote of Yours Truly Ideologically but certainly it would not be strange that this may be the sentiment of many a Namibian voter. Perplexed at the lack of choices from the various entities bidding to…

19 Nov

Barking at the wrong threat

ObserverNational NewsChinese, Namibia

There is negative shade flying all over about a recent N$530 tender bid won by a Chinese company to construct the road from Tses to Gochas. People are barking at the wrong threat. Rather, we need to sound the alarm because Namibia still does not possess the technical expertise to be substantive practical, logistical and development partner on major infrastructure projects in our own country. That is a real threat to our sovereignty and we are quiet. We have been inviting the world in to build things for us before independence and after. We happily remain ignorant about how to…

19 Nov

Debmarine Namibia’s diamond vessel takes shape

ObserverUncategorisedDebmarine Namibia

Debmarine Namibia’s latest additional recovery vessel has started to take a perfect shape after the installation of the helideck a week ago in Damen Mangalia Shipyard, Romania. Helideck with the diameter of 22.8m with a total weight 49.2 tonnes will be the largest in the Debmarine Namibia fleet and designed to accommodate helicopters of different specifications such as AW101, Sikorsky S92, and Sikorsky S-61 (MTOW 15600kg). The new vessel according the diamond company will be fitted with deck integrated latest technology fire-fighting system, deck helicopter navigation lighting with circle and ‘H’ marking on top as per CAP 437 - standards…

19 Nov

NUST VC case heads to court

ObserverObserver MoneyNamibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), Vice-Chancellor

Helena Johannes Legal lawyer Sisa Namandje has revealed that a case to challenge the appointment of the newly appointed Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) Vice-Chancellor will be filed in the High Court in the next two days. “I cannot give more details about my client to the media, but the case will be filed tomorrow or Friday morning,” said Namandje. This comes after the NUST Council through its lawyers had responded justifying the appointment. NUST lawyer Patrick Kauta according local media indicated that a joint search committee of council and senate on 12 November had recommended, voted in…