info_e12wt4cs – Page 897

15 Oct

DNA test confirms Shannon’s remains

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyDNA, Shannon Wasserfall

Andrew Kathindi Police have confirmed that the remains that were discovered in a shallow grave in Walvis Bay on Tuesday 6 October are those of Shannon Wasserfall. “On Friday, October 9, 2020, a breakthrough was made on the basis of fingerprint comparison which resulted that a print (not completely decomposed) from the human remain is identical to the fingerprints on the application form of identity of a certain Shannon Ndatega Wasserfall,” Head of the Namibian Police Criminal Investigations, Commissioner Moritz !Naruseb said. This comes after 28-year old Azaan Madisia was detained before being officially charged with murder and obstruction of…

15 Oct

GBV protestors demand govt meeting …as questions swell around PM’s promises

info_e12wt4csObserver Money#ShutItAllDownNamibia, Gender Based Violence (GBV), Justice Minister, Yvonne Dausab

Andrew Kathindi Organizers of the protest against gender-based violence (GBV), which has been ongoing since last week, have threatened to continue with “disruptions” should government fail to meet them for an official engagement. This comes after government was forced to implement several new measures in the fight against gender-based violence in a response to a petition handed over to government through the Justice Minister, Yvonne Dausab, on Thursday last week. The organizers have requested to meet government in order to strengthen the measures that were announced by Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa in parliament on Tuesday 13 October. “To facilitate such…

14 Oct

Dealing with asylum seekers in the new normal

info_e12wt4csNational NewsNGOs, UN High Commissioner on Refugees

The recent arrival of more than 50 refugees from the DRC and Burundi to Katima Mulilo raises questions during a pandemic. What is our adjusted policy to deal with untested, non-quarantined asylum seekers that rock up? As much as Namibia is noble for welcoming Africans running for their lives from violence in their home countries, the government’s first obligation is the safety and security of its own people. The influx of untested people that lack the capacity to follow national protective measures (no masks, no social spacing, and no handwashing) carries a risk for Namibians. Can we be our brother…

14 Oct

COVID-19: WHO urges MPs to unite and build strong health systems

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyDr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Members of Parliament, SADC Parliamentary Forum

Moses Magadza WINDHOEK, NAMIBIA – The Director General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) has implored SADC Members of Parliament to unite and build resilient health systems, saying they are “the best defence against any health emergency”. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the plea on Sunday in a pre-recorded video message to MPs virtually attending the 47th Plenary Assembly Session of the SADC Parliamentary Forum. He stressed that unity among the region’s lawmakers regardless of political affiliation as well as collaboration of member states would galvanise national and regional responses to the pandemic. COVID-19 has claimed the lives of more…

14 Oct

Namibia reports 31 new Hepatitis E Cases

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyHepatitis E Virus (HEV), Namibia Red Cross Society

Clifton Movirongo Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) continues to spread in the country, with 31 new cases reported from 06-17 September 2020 compared to 29 cases reported in the previous reporting period, 10-23 August 2020. According to the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), as of 20 September 2020, a cumulative total of 7,966 HEV cases were reported since the outbreak was declared in December 2017. Khomas Region according to Ministry of Health figures accounts for the highest number of cases at 62 percent followed by Erongo Region with 21 percent of the cases. The remaining 17 percent of reported…

14 Oct

Government promises rafts of GBV reforms

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyMinister of Justice, Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa Amadhila, Yvonne Dausab

Helena Johannes The government has been forced to implement a raft of new measures to fight Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the country as a response to a petition that was handed by protestors to Minister of Justice, Yvonne Dausab last week. Some of the new measures will include the establishment of a Sexual and GBV Offences Court, reviewing of sentencing laws for sex offenders, expedition of current murder and sexual offence trials, reviewing current prisoners in the correctional services system in order to separate known repeat offenders, capacitate forensic investigators and experts and the provision of remote and mobile…

13 Oct

Boys with toys are dangerous

info_e12wt4csNational NewsGender Based Violence (GBV)

When boys have toys, they use them whether it is necessary or not. People manhandled, gassed, beaten and arrested over the weekend at a march in Windhoek were victims of police boys with their new toys trying to be macho. These poorly trained law enforcement officers had no idea how to de-escalate a complicated volatile situation. The protests of mostly young women and minors against Gender Based Violence (GBV) could have been managed in many different ways, but the officers involved preferred using their toys. And, of course, they made a mess of it. We have the suspicion that the…

13 Oct

NWR, NTA partner in apprenticeship programme

info_e12wt4csUncategorised

Staff Writer Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) says it’s making progress in giving effect to an apprenticeship funding agreement it entered into with the Namibia Training Authority (NTA), earlier this year. The agreement makes provision for the NTA to fund the apprenticeship training of 80 young Namibians, recruited from all fourteen regions, towards acquiring the National Vocational Certificate in Hospitality and Tourism qualification in the areas of ‘Core Commercial Cookery Skills’, ‘Food and Beverage Operations’, ‘Front Office Operations ’and ‘Housekeeping Operations’. Underlining the need for continuous investment in training to enhance the competitiveness of the Hospitality and Tourism sector, NWR Managing…

13 Oct

COVID-19 wakeup call: Vice President

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, Namibia’s Vice President Nangolo Mbumba

Moses Magadza WINDHOEK, NAMIBIA – Namibia’s Vice President Nangolo Mbumba has said that the ongoing COVID-19 is “a wakeup call” and the SADC Region’s Members of Parliament must adapt to the new norm. He made the remarks when he officially opened the virtual 47th Plenary Assembly Session of the SADC Parliamentary Forum on Friday. “It is evident, that COVID-19 pandemic is a wakeup call to all of us - Governments, Parliaments and the citizenry all over the world. In the rude rush to respond to the novel pandemic, in some instances, responses were knee-jerk and suffered from experimentation,” the VP…

13 Oct

Kudos for Namibia’s COVID-19 response

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneySADC PF Vice President Senator Isaac Mmemo Magagula, Vice President Nangolo Mbumba

Moses Magadza WINDHOEK, NAMIBIA – Namibia’s response to the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic has drawn praise and admiration, with a top delegate during the 47th Plenary Assembly Session of the SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF), saying it “offers priceless lessons to be shared”. While thanking Namibia’s Vice President Nangolo Mbumba for officially opening the Plenary which was held virtually from last Friday, SADC PF Vice President Senator Isaac Mmemo Magagula, hailed Namibia for innovatively using data and science to respond to the pandemic. “It would be remiss of me not take this opportunity to salute the Government of the Republic…