Windhoek Observer – Page 851 – Windhoek Observer

22 May

Covid-19 prevention measures reinstated at Namibian courts

National News

Niël Terblanché Despite the fact that Namibia along with the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that Covid-19 no longer represents a global health emergency, Namibians might still get infected with the latest evolution of the SARS-CoV2 virus. In this regard, the Office of the Judiciary informed all employees, the legal fraternity as well as the public that precautionary measures to combat the spread of Covid-19 in the superior courts of Namibia will still be enforced. According to an internal office memorandum, the recent increase in the number and in particular the percentage of positive cases in Namibia, necessitated the courts…

22 May

Man rapes 10 year-old son

National NewsMan rapes 10 year-old son

Niël Terblanché The community of Stampriet is reeling with shock, after a man raped his ten-year-old son on Saturday. According Nampol Spokesperson Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi, the horrific incident came to light after the boy’s aunt walked in on the father having anal sex with the child. The incident of rape occurred at a house in the Adakogus location of Stampriet and was reported to the local police at about 23:00 on Saturday evening. The suspect was arrested shortly after. It was reported that the little boy sustained injuries and had to be taken to the hospital where he was…

22 May

Five arrested on illicit drug charges

National NewsFive arrested on illicit drug charges

Niël Terblanche Focussed operations by members of the Namibian Police netted five suspected drug dealers across Namibia over the weekend. According to arrest reports provided by the Public Relations Division of NamPol, one of the suspected drug dealers was arrested in the Drimihopsis settlement in the Gobabis district on Friday evening. “During the police operation, a 29-year-old man after he tried to flee from a police checkpoint in a red Volkswagen Golf. Members of the Namibian Police assisted by members of the Eastern Crime Forum pursued and stopped the vehicle in question and searched of occupants,” the report reads. During…

22 May

Court orders the reinstatement of Sinvula

MainCourt orders the reinstatement of Sinvula

Niël Terblanché High Court Judge, Boas Usiku on Friday ordered for the reinstatement of Kisco Sinvula, who was removed as the Chief Executive Officer of the Grootfontein Town Council last year. Sinvula was removed from his post as the Grootfontein municipality’s CEO in March last year and subsequently approached the High Court to review and set aside the council’s decision to suspend him. At the time, the Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Uutoni also ruled that the suspension of Sinvula was not done in accordance with proper procedures, and directed the council to follow regulations in suspending the…

19 May

State requests 8+ years for Madisia and Malundu

National NewsState requests 8+ years for Madisia and Malundu

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The state wants siblings Azaan Madisia (31) and Steven Malundu (25) who were acquitted in the murder of Shannon Wasserfall to serve a jail sentence of nothing less than eight years for tampering with evidence. High Court Judge Christie Liebenberg, convicted the siblings on the charge of Defeating the course of Justice, and acquitted them on the murder and robbery charges. During the process of arguments for the mitigating and aggravating circumstances of a possible jail term before Judge Liebenberg, state prosecutor, Henry Muhungo argued that given the fact that the state could not determine the cause of…

19 May

RA defends choosing Chinese contractors

National NewsRA defends choosing Chinese contractors

Niël Terblanché Following a countrywide outcry over the possible choice of a Chinese contractor for the project to rehabilitate the road between Usakos and Karibib the Roads Authority clarified the prequalification process officially. The Chief Executive Officer of the Roads Authority, Conrad Lutombi, said in a statement that the tender process is subjected to the inclusion of KfW Development Bank of Germany tender rules and regulations. Lutombi said that the project will be financed through financial cooperation under the NDP5 support programme between Germany and Namibia. In line with financial cooperation, a loan agreement was signed on 13 December 2022…

19 May

Legal and policy reforms needed

National NewsLegal and policy reforms needed

Martin Endjala With the discovery of oil and gas offshore of Namibia, the country will need effective, practical, fair and transparent legal policies to evade the curse of other African countries like Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This was emphasized by the Institute for Public Policy Research Executive Director, Graham Hopwood last week as he took a swipe at the upstream Petroleum sector in the country, amidst the discovery of oil and gas as well as the recent announcement by the Mines and Energy Minister, Tom Alweendo, that a revision of the Petroleum Act which is long…

19 May

NEFF condemns Supreme Court judgment on same-sex marriages

National NewsNEFF condemns Supreme Court judgment on same-sex marriages

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) has condemned the ruling of the Supreme Court of Namibia that would recognize marriages between persons of the same sex, concluded outside the borders of Namibia. The landmark ruling, delivered by a full bench of Judges including Chief Justice Peter Shivute last week overturned a high court ruling from last year, which did not officially recognize same-sex marriages in Namibia. NEFF Deputy President, Kalimbo Iipumbu , said the Supreme Court alone cannot legislate on this matter. “It was indeed a majority judgment in that it was passed by a greater number of…

19 May

LPM distances itself from election protest

National NewsLPM distances itself from election protest

Stefanus Nashama The Landless People’s Movement has distanced itself from the group of Keetmanshoop residents that held a protest to demand the removal of Keetmanshoop Urban Constituency Councillor Joseph Isaack on Wednesday while claiming to be members of the party. The party’s National Spokesperson, Lifalaza Simataa, yesterday told the Windhoek Observer that LPM does not have any knowledge of the group protesting against Councillor Isaack. “Therefore, the party is not in support of such a protest,” Simataa said. He said that the protesters acted in their own private capacity without the support, acknowledgement and permission of the party and any…

19 May

Ineptitude delays disciplinary hearing

National NewsIneptitude delays disciplinary hearing

Niël Terblanché Flagrant ineptitude is blamed for the delay of almost two and half years of a disciplinary hearing of two senior Walvis Bay Municipality officials. General Manager, Agostinho Victor, and Properties Manager, Jack Manale, through their lawyer, Richard Metcalfe, made it clear that they intend to approach the Labour Commissioner for relief if the municipality continues with its unfair labour practices that are occasioned by ineptitude. The duo was suspended in December 2020 to pave the way for an investigation into the alleged disappearance of N$24 million through the mass land servicing project. The Walvis Bay Municipality, however, resolved…