Observer – Page 798 – Windhoek Observer

20 Oct

Swapo rules out Geingob apology…as PDM files complaint with Ombudsman against President

ObserverObserver Moneypresident Hage Geingob, SWAPO

Andrew Kathindi Swapo party said there is no reason why President Hage Geingob should apologize or withdraw statements he made over the weekend about white voters, which has sparked heated political debate ahead of next month elections. This comes as the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) have filed a complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman against President Geingob, calling for the President to withdraw his statements. However, Swapo Spokesperson, Hilma Nicanor, maintains there is no need for Geingob to withdraw his words, arguing that he had a democratic right to speak his mind. “We know those who were not there…

17 Oct

Ndaitwah’s suppression of CSE is contradictory

ObserverNational NewsDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah

[et_pb_section][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type="4_4"][et_pb_text] Over the decades of her public service, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation grew to prominence as a staunch advocate of women’s rights. We find the new position of Nandi-Ndaitwah against comprehensive sexuality education (CSE), a total contradiction to her erstwhile claim to fame as an advocate for women. Sexuality education for young girls and women is the first step towards their empowerment. Women must make choices about their bodies and their futures. We fail to see a logical reason for Namibia’s #1 international women empowerment advocate to shift gears and withdraw…

17 Oct

Beholden to former colonisers

ObserverUncategorisedcolonisers, Policy on International Relations and Cooperation

Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro “Traditional diplomacy, practiced by many countries in the pre and post-Cold War Era, has been in rapid decline over the past several years. As a result, the term foreign affairs has become a misnomer, and in modern days, international relationships, cooperation and partnerships are the appropriate terms used to describe our efforts to chart common developmental paths. Given current reality, we cannot continue adhering to old principles of diplomacy by perpetuating the practice of Cold War Era diplomatic practice. Therefore, our Policy on International Relations must serve our domestic development aspirations.” Reads a paragraph of the foreword by…

17 Oct

Shifting Africa from the Back Seat to the Front Seat

ObserverUncategorisedAfrican, Perception Change

Part 1 – Perception Change Sarah Goroh Africa is a continent made up of diverse people, languages, cultures and tribes. For a long time, our continent has been placed at the back seat. We desire to be top decision makers, to have a voice and be great influencers of development within the global community. Industrialization has been a topic of discussion for many years as we look for lasting solutions for the African nations. The African soil has a wealth of resources that can preserve the livelihood of generations. We are one continent and one people, however for too long,…

17 Oct

I am not mad at Tangeni Iijambo

ObserverUncategorisedSWANU, Tangeni Iijambo

Jackie Wilson Asheeke SWANU parliamentarian Tangeni Iijambo made sexist comments in the National Assembly. He said, “Women are too dependent and dependency is what brings a lot of problems for men who invest in them.” This elder from another era in time said exactly what he understands as the truth. He is a dinosaur in his myopic views on women, but at least he is honest. The SWANU man should not take back his comments nor apologize for them. He meant every word. He is entitled to his point of view and must never be shouted down. We must hear…

17 Oct

We have failed you…

ObserverUncategorisedMinisters, Shannon Wasserfall

The Time Traveler: Hugh Ellis Since Thursday last week, women and men have been taking over the streets in the nation’s capital, demanding an end to gender-based violence. The murder of Shannon Wasserfall, whose body seems to have been found near Walvis Bay, was the last straw for many young people, who are now demanding that government treat gender-based violence with the same seriousness they did the Coronavirus pandemic. These young people, especially women, are not taking any prisoners. Shutting down traffic on Independence Avenue, facing off against armoured riot cops outside parliament, nothing seems too much for these energetic…

17 Oct

Book Review: My Sister, the Serial Killer

ObserverUncategorisedMy Sister, Oyinkan Braithwaite

Jackie Wilson Asheeke A novel by Oyinkan Braithwaite Because I am a bona fide 2020 pandemic homebody, I am reading more books. I am on Amazon.com and audible.com, so I swim in eBooks and audiobooks these days. I stumbled on this book My Sister, the Serial Killer some time ago; it came out two years ago. I listened to the audiobook version because it was on sale and my book-buying budget is very challenged these days. It is of a plotline, setting and ‘voice’ that is rare in the books that I come across. The author is a black Nigerian…

17 Oct

FlyWestair to service Joburg route

ObserverUncategorisedCEO Henri van Schalkwyk, FlyWestair, Namibia Airports Company (NAC)

Staff Writer The Namibia Airports Company (NAC) has announced that FlyWestair will start flights between Windhoek and Cape Town from the 23rd of October. According to the NAC the flights which will be taking off from Hosea Kutako International Airport and the airline will be serving the route with two flights per week, on Mondays and Fridays. “FlyWestair will make history next month, when they will become the first privately-owned Namibian airline to operate a scheduled passenger route between Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport and Johannesburg O.R. Tambo International Airport. FlyWestair schedule will start on Tuesday, 03 November 2020 with…

17 Oct

Agribank disburse over N$246 million worth of loans

ObserverUncategorisedAgribank, Sakaria Nghikembua

Staff Writer Agribank disbursed N$246 million of loans in the financial year ended 31 March 2020 and of this amount, more than N$21 million was paid exclusively to female clients, while N$52 million went to the youth (below 40 years of age). According to the bank’s latest financials, Agribank also extended funding worth over N$15 million to communal farmers without collateral, while over 8-thousand farmers countrywide benefitted from training and mentorship interventions during the same period. “The Bank continues to deliver credible financial performance as its loan book grew by 11 percent to N$3.01 million in 2020 from N$2.8 million…

17 Oct

Robert Koch Institute delegation heads to Namibia

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Robert Koch Institute

Staff Writer A 15 member Robert Koch Institute delegation is expected to visit Namibia next week at the invitation of Health Minister, Dr Kalumbi Shangula. The visit comes after the partnership of the Robert Koch Institute with Namibia and Rwanda was announced by the Director for Sub-Saharan Africa of the German Federal Foreign office, Ambassador Robert Doelger during a recent video conference with the Berlin African Ambassadors’ Group. Robert Koch Institute is a German federal government agency and research institute responsible for disease control and prevention which has provided to Namibia four batches of Corona testing equipment to fight COVID-19.…