Blog – Page 681 – Windhoek Observer

26 Jul

Dispute erupts as farmers occupy Otjiwarongo town land

ObserverObserver MoneyOtjiwarongo

Tujoromajo Kasuto Chaos erupted in Otjiwarongo on Tuesday 20 July as the municipality confiscated about 600 livestock belonging to farmers who have illegally occupied town land The confiscated livestock were taken to the Showgrounds where a throng of about 40 farmers gathered demanding their livestock back. Farmers warned that if any of the confiscated livestock goes missing or is wounded, the municipality will pay dearly. The farmers also claimed that attempts to communicate with the municipality have fallen on deaf ears or have received unfavorable responses. Otjiwarongo Municipality’s Chief Emergency Officer, Daniel Pavaza, in an audio circulating on social media,…

26 Jul

Shaningwa tells LPM to fight own battles …as LPM accuses Swapo of staging pistol affair

ObserverObserver MoneyLandless People’s Movement, LPM, Sophia Shaningwa

Andrew Kathindi Swapo Party of Namibia Secretary General, Sophia Shaningwa, says the ruling party will not be drawn into a war of words with the Landless People’s Movement (LPM). LPM Member of Parliament, Utaara Mootu on Friday, 23 July, claimed that an incident in which a security monitoring system at parliament is alleged to have picked up a gun in LPM’s lawyer, Patrick Kauta’s briefcase, was orchestrated by Swapo in a move of desperation to frame the LPM legal representatives. “Swapo is not going to fight other people’s battles. Let them fight their own battles and leave Swapo Party alone,”…

23 Jul

A recommitment towards the youth: an insight into the third national youth policy

ObserverUncategorisedCovid-19, President Hage G. Geingob

The youth are the building blocks of a nation and increasingly the backbone of economies, especially in Africa. An investment into youth development is in turn an investment into the future of Namibia. It is therefore critical to mainstream youth development into the fabric of the national agenda. The First National Youth Policy was developed against this background and was first adopted in 1993. This version was then revised in 2006, which led to the Second National Youth Policy. These two documents were important for laying the foundation of the Third National Youth Policy (NYPIII) which is by far the…

23 Jul

The Rise of eCommerce – is Namibia ready?

ObserverUncategorisedeCommerce, FNB Namibia, RMB Namibia

Reginald Obaking and Frans Uusiku eCommerce has become a buzz word as one of the key revelations of the 21st century economic realities. We have all witnessed the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic further reinforcing the importance of being able to buy and sell goods and services or transmitting funds or data over electronic networks. According to the United Nations’ report on eCommerce global view, global eCommerce as a share of global GDP was estimated at 30% in 2020, while its share of global retail sales has increased from 14% in 2019 to 17% in 2020. This highlights the ever-changing…

23 Jul

SPYL asks government to look at NSFAF salaries

ObserverObserver MoneyEphraim Nekongo, Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund, NSFAF, Swapo Party of Namibia Youth League (SPYL)

Andrew Kathindi The Swapo Party of Namibia Youth League (SPYL)’s Secretary, Ephraim Nekongo, is calling on the Government to re-examine the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF)’s top brass’s salary structure. Nekongo says this should be part of the Government’s effort to urgently re-organise the whole institution. “The salary structures of NSFAF must not be higher than that of the public sector. The institution barely makes N$0.50 (0.50 cents) per year to supplement the Government's annual budget. As a result, having employees paid millions of dollars to push papers is laughable.” NSFAF has been ordered by the Labour Commissioner to…

23 Jul

Demolished Shack owners left homeless

ObserverObserver MoneyMukwanangobe informal settlement, Municipal Council of Windhoek, Namibia Police (Nampol), Windhoek City Police

Tujoromajo Kasuto Owners of the Mukwanangobe informal settlement shacks which have been demolished say they have been left in the streets with no immediate plans to relocate them. Some of the families whose homes were demolished by the Windhoek City Police and Namibia Police (Nampol) on Wednesday, on Thursday afternoon 22 July, camped in front of City of Windhoek Headquarters demanding answers and to see the court order which they claim was not issued. They also told Windhoek Observer that they have sent numerous letters to the City’s Mayor, Job Amupanda, and have not received any responses yet. At a…

22 Jul

Ending inequality and inequity key to ending AIDS as a public health threat

ObserverUncategorised2021 UNAIDS Global AIDS Update, AIDS, HIV and AIDS

Felicita Hikuam The 2021 UNAIDS Global AIDS Update, launched last week, has rightly pointed out that addressing inequality and inequity are key amongst the issues that need to be urgently addressed over the next decade, which could arguably be the last frontier of the global response to HIV and AIDS. In many parts of the world including east and southern Africa, despite remarkable progress, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, inequality and inequity within and between countries, continue to deter progress in ending AIDS as a public health threat, as committed in the Sustainable Development Goals. In the recently adopted United Nations…

22 Jul

Thumbs up for new Political Declaration on ending AIDS

ObserverObserver MoneyAIDS, AIDS and Rights Alliance for Southern Africa (ARASA), Political Declaration on Ending AIDS

Moses Magadza The AIDS and Rights Alliance for southern Africa (ARASA) has welcomed the new Political Declaration on Ending AIDS by 2030, saying it includes clear targets that should prompt member states to take pointed action to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. United Nations Member States adopted the Political Declaration: Ending Inequalities and Getting on Track to End AIDS by 2030, during the UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on AIDS last month. In the Political Declaration, world leaders expressed concern over inequalities across multiple forms and national contexts based on HIV status, gender, race, ethnicity, disability,…

22 Jul

Ombudsman interviews delayed

ObserverObserver MoneyJudicial Service Commission (JSC)

Andrew Kathindi The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has postponed interviews for the next Ombudsman indefinitely as one of the shortlisted candidates was hospitalised. “Following the placement of the notice in the media, the JSC on 20 July 2021, received a written communication from a candidate shortlisted in which the JSC was informed that the concerned candidate was hospitalized and was thus unable to attend the interview,” JSC Public Relations Officer, Selma Mwaetako, states. Secretary to the National Council, Tousy Namiseb, lawyer Ruth Herunga and Legal Officer at Justice Ministry Basilius Dyakugha have been shortlisted. According to Mwaetako a new date…

22 Jul

Shangula refutes Delta variant being airborne

ObserverObserver MoneyCentre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Covid-19

Tujoromajo Kasuto Minister of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), Kalumbi Shangula, is refuting claims about the possibility the delta variant being airborne. “We have not said so, when we get new medical information, we will inform the public,” Shangula told Windhoek Observer. International media outlets, have quoted medical experts claiming that the Delta variant remains airborne longer than other previous variants. This is after Shangula announced the presence of the Delta variant, which the Health ministry confirmed earlier this month. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Acting Director in Namibia, Steven Hong, explained that COVID-19 and all known variants…