Observer – Page 794 – Windhoek Observer

29 Oct

Nghipunya’s bail application dismissed

ObserverObserver MoneyFishcor Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mike Nghipunya

Staff Writer The bail application for former Fishcor Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mike Nghipunya was dismissed on Wednesday by the Windhoek High Court on grounds of public interest and administration of justice. Defence Lawyer Milton Engelbrecht said that he will consult Nghipunya before making the next move. Engelbrecht is the representing Nghipunya with advocate Thabang Phatela as a consultant with a mandate only to appeal in the High Court. “Basically what happened is that the bail has been refused on two issues, the public’s interest and administration of justice. I will only consult the client during the course of the…

29 Oct

Education Ministry to avail 488 teaching posts

ObserverObserver MoneyMinister of Education Anna Nghipondoka, Ministry of Education Art and Culture, NANTU, Office of the President

Helena Johannes The Ministry of Education Art and Culture has announced that it has made 488 posts available for unemployed qualified teachers across the country. Minister of Education Anna Nghipondoka, said the ministry has identified the need for 180 posts in the expansion of access to Pre-primary as the majority of unemployed teachers are qualified in the area of Junior Primary, with a further expansion of access allocated another 140 posts which made it 488 posts available. “We acknowledge the receipt of names of qualified, yet unemployed graduates in the field education. Such lists were received through the petitioners themselves,…

29 Oct

Government to re-look at COVID-19 measures …as second wave of pandemic hits Europe

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Forestry and Tourism, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS)

Andrew Kathindi The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has said it is monitoring the second COVID-19 wave currently occurring in Europe and will amend current measures as the situation on the ground unfolds. Chair of the Tourism Revival Initiative (TRI) within the Tourism Ministry, Seimy Christoph-Shidute told Windhoek Observer that the ministry is on alert and concerned by the developments in Europe and elsewhere. “Together with Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) we are making sure that in addition to the negative SARS-CoV-2 PCR tests that every tourist must provide, further health screening is done on arrival at…

28 Oct

Mental health patients need their medicine

ObserverNational NewsCOVID, Oshakati, Oshakati State Hospital

The mental health unit at the Oshakati State Hospital does not have the medicines needed to treat patients. This is disgraceful. Front line medical personnel tasked with helping those in mental distress are under siege. Their patients whose medical needs cannot be addressed are a threat to themselves and their caregivers. This crisis was avoidable. The officials responsible for the lack of medicines needed must be fired with immediate effect for incompetence. People are suffering because of this situation. Someone must be held accountable or it will keep happening. COVID is a national medical challenge, no doubt. But, we cannot…

28 Oct

Titles every book fiend should read

ObserverUncategorisedCarmen Coetsee

Jackie Wilson Asheeke I read Carmen Coetsee’s list of five books that reading junkies need to read at least once. Check out www.msn.com/en-za for her choices. I beg to differ on a few points, but a couple of her ideas inspired me. Of course, any book list is subjective. Most of the ‘best books’ lists reflect the white, male, European or USA-centred perspective. There are books from the Asian, Hispanic and African cultures or in non-English languages, which would be equally great if they had the attention given to the others. Nevertheless, the books I note below tell wonderful stories…

28 Oct

Telecom appoints new CEO

ObserverObserver MoneyTelecom Namibia

Staff Writer Former Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran) Chief Executive Officer, Stanley Shanapinda has been appointed as the new CEO of Telecom Namibia. His appointment will be effective from January 2021. “The Telecom Board of Directors have concluded the consultation with the NPTH Board (Namibia Post and Telecommunication Holdings) and have received endorsement from the shareholder to proceed with the formalities of appointing the successful candidate,” Chairperson of the Telecom Namibia Board, Jerry Muadinohamba said. Shanapinda makes a return to Telecom after previously having served the company as its Head of Legal Services. His appointment comes after 73 applicants…

28 Oct

Exam hopefuls in the cold …as Ministry rules out deadline extension

ObserverObserver MoneyAnna Nghipondoka, Education Minister

Andrew Kathindi A number of learners and exam hopefuls that missed the application deadline could be left out in the cold this year after the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture has ruled out further extensions for registration for grades 11 and 12 exams. Education Minister, Anna Nghipondoka declared that those who did not manage to register for exams this year will have to register in 2021. “Some candidates forgot or neglected to register for exams and want to register now (mostly part-time). Unfortunately, we need to advise these candidates to consider registration in 2021 as an alternative avenue to…

28 Oct

Iitula dares PDM in clash of colours…as ECN distances self from fight

ObserverObserver MoneyIndependent Patriot for Change (IPC), Panduleni Iitula, Popular Democratic Movement (PDM)

Helena Johannes Independent Patriot for Change (IPC) leader Panduleni Iitula has dared the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) to lay charges of colour plagiarism with the Namibia Police. “Stealing is a criminal offence. My advice, to your Inquirer's conscience, as I would advise any other citizen or legal entity, is that they should approach the Namibian police immediately and lay charges against the culprit with concrete objective evidence for a remedy,” Iitula said. The IPC leader said stealing or theft is defined roughly as acquisition of a property belonging to another without the permission of another with the intention to permanently…

27 Oct

Democracy must be unhindered

ObserverNational NewsDeputy Prime Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, USA

Deputy Prime Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said that she believes democracy exercised by any who choose to participate, causes instability in Namibia. As a higher-performing government official for the last three decades, her comments are a concern. First, we must fact check the Honourable. She is quoted as saying that the "USA is the oldest democracy in the world but they only have two political parties." The USA could claim to be the largest, oldest CONTINUOUS democracy (recall that only white male landowners could vote at first - no blacks, no women). But, it is widely known that Greece (particularly Athens)…

27 Oct

Agriculture and the ecosystems

ObserverUncategorisedAgriculture

Erastus Ngaruka Agriculture is concerned with rearing animals and the cultivation of crops whilst an ecosystem simply refers to a community of living organisms such as plants and animals together with the non-living components such as the air and soils, interacting with each other in their environment. The functions of this natural co-existence or ecosystem include the provision of essential services such as habitat, food, water, nutrient cycling, as well as cultural and recreational benefits to the land users. The ecosystem functioning is influenced by biodiversity, and this is managed by natural processes that maintain species abundance and distribution, and…