Windhoek Observer

Renthia Kaimbi Magistrates have defied a return-to-work directive issued by justice and labour relations minister Fillemon Wise Immanuel.  Immanuel, on Sunday, in a letter to Magistrates’ Commission chairperson Boas Uusiku, acknowledged the frustrations of magistrates over the delayed housing and vehicle allowances but maintained that the nationwide strike had no legal basis.  He then instructed all magistrates to return to their duty stations and resume work, warning that failure to comply would lead to serious consequences. Despite his [Immanuel's] order, magistrates have continued their 'go-slow' industrial action, bringing civil trials, criminal proceedings and bail applications to a halt.  The magistrates…

Renthia Kaimbi Electricity costs take up about 35% of the total revenue of Namibia’s green scheme projects.  The executive director of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata, revealed this during a national workshop on green schemes in Rundu on Monday.  She said each project spends close to N$1 million per month on electricity. “Each green scheme project spends close to N$1 million per month on electricity alone, representing roughly 35% of its total revenue, a burden that severely impacts profitability and long-term operational viability,” she said. Nghituwamata said high power tariffs have become a major…

Justicia Shipena The official opposition party wants to create an independent Public Enterprises Governance Commission (PEGC) to stop politics from interfering with how state-owned enterprises (SOEs) are run under the new Public Enterprises Governance Amendment (PEGA) Bill. The leader of the official opposition in parliament, Immanuel Nashinge, said the bill risks recentralizing power and undermining professional governance.  “The Bill, presented as reform, in reality takes power away from professionals and places it back into political hands,” he said during the parliamentary debate last week.  Nashinge said SOEs have collapsed under the weight of political interference, with the same individuals being…

Allexer Namundjembo An Aviator player has accused BetZilla, a betting company based in Okahandja, of failing to pay out his winnings of N$1 040. Kudumo Sikongo said he played the game Aviator and, after winning, tried to request his payout but was sent from one contact number to another before his calls were blocked.  “I won at BetZilla, and after calling them, they blocked my number,” he told the Windhoek Observer on Monday. He said he reported the matter to the Okahandja Police Station.  "I was told they knew where the office was and would go there, but I haven't…