Blog – Page 686 – Windhoek Observer

23 Jun

Government, OTA love-hate tiff refuses to subside

ObserverObserver MoneyOvaherero Traditional Authority (OTA)

Staff Writer The love-hate tiff between the Government and the Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA), a factor of the negotiations for Genocide, Apology and Reparations between the Namibian government and its German counterpart in which the OTA has not been part of, seems to be continuing, spilling over into the death of Ovaherero Paramount Chief, Vekuii Rukoro, and his funeral arrangements. The Government and the OTA has as yet to reach a compromise over the burial of Rukoro, on whom the President, Dr Hage Geingob, on the recommendation of the Honours Conferment Advisory Committee has conferred a State Funeral. The OTA…

23 Jun

Youth in the capital scramble to vaccination centres

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS)

Tujoromajo Kasuto Youth in Windhoek surge to vaccination centres amidst increasing COVID-19 cases reported within the last week in the country. The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) in March expressed concern’s at the low turnout of people being vaccinated for COVID-19, and that the number of elderly people getting vaccinated was more contrasted to the youth. Minister Kalumbi Shangula revealed that there has been an increase in people taking the vaccine within the last month. “At the beginning we noted that people would come at a particular time and currently we are seeing by 06:00 am the queue…

22 Jun

The rich hoard oxygen in homes

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Khomas

Staff Writer AS the Covid-19 crisis worsens and state hospitals in particular, get overwhelmed with the number of patients gasping for air in the face of the dire shortage of oxygen at the institutions, a number of rich people have resorted to buying their own oxygen tanks and turning their homes into intensive care units. Namibia is reeling under increasing Covid-19 infections with the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS) announcing 1 518 new cases and three deaths were recorded in the country on Monday. Khomas has the largest share of new infections with 927 cases followed by Erongo…

22 Jun

OTA appoints Transitional Committee

ObserverObserver MoneyOvaherero Paramount Chief, Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA), Vekuii Rukoro

Staff Writer Following the sudden death of Ovaherero Paramount Chief, Vekuii Rukoro, the Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA) has appointed a Transitional Committee assuming all the functions of the Paramount Chief. The Committee, appointed on Saturday, consists of three chiefs and four former advisers of the late paramount chief. The three chiefs are Vipuira Kapuuo of Ovitoto, Boas Tjingaete of Otjombinde and Rehabeam Rukambe of Okamatapati. The advisers are Mac Hengari, Amon Ngarite, Laurencia Katjitai and OTA Secretary, Mutjinde Katjiua. The chairperson of the OTA Genocide Committee, Nandiuasora Mazeingo, is an ex-officio member of the transitional committee. Katjiua will chair the…

19 Jun

Ovaherero Paramount Chief, Vekuii Rukoro, remembered

ObserverObserver MoneyNama, Ovaherero, Ovaherero Royal Crown, Paramount Chief (PC) of the Ovaherero, Vekuii Rukoro

Andrew Kathindi Namibians on Friday morning woke up to the news of the passing of Paramount Chief (PC) of the Ovaherero, Vekuii Rukoro. This is two days after Secretary General of the Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA), Mutjinde Katjiua, confirmed that Rukoro had tested positive for COVID-19 but was in good spirits and responding well to medication. The PC’s wife, Dina Rukoro, arrived earlier on Friday morning in the country from the United States of America (USA), where she works. “President Hage G. Geingob extends deepest sympathies to the bereaved wife, Mrs. Dinah Jorokee Rukoro, the children, entire family, Ovaherero Traditional…

19 Jun

Did van der Merwe assist de Klerk?

ObserverObserver MoneyACC, Erna van der Merwe, fishrot, Marén de Klerk, Prosecutor General

Staff Reporter Speculation that Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Deputy Director General, Erna van der Merwe, assisted fugitive lawyer Maren de Klerk to flee refuses to subside as the Prosecutor General’s Office eagerly awaits his extradition from South Africa. De Klerk, who is accused of being the pay master in the Fishrot case, fled the country a few days after a meeting van der Merwe and other investigators at the ACC Head Office. As PG’s Office is working round the clock to bring de Klerk back to Namibia, prosecution officials are blaming van der Merwe for giving de Klerk preferential treatment, which…

18 Jun

NamWater must come clean on Otavi water woes

ObserverUncategorisedOtavi Constituency, Otavi Town Council

Jefta M Gaoab The town of Otavi is strategically located in the Otjozondjupa region, in the area affectionately known as the Maize Triangle, endowed with natural free flowing water springs and reservoirs. It receives good rainfalls annually and the past rainy season was a blast. Water is life and a very scarce commodity in Namibia. On 25 March 2021, International Water Day was celebrated and Namibia also joined the rest of the world in celebrating this very important day that underscores the importance of water. From the onset, I must categorically state that I subscribe to the notion that where…

18 Jun

Metcalfe accuses state of more delays in Fishrot trial

ObserverObserver MoneyBernard Esau, Richard Metcalfe

ANDREW KATHINDI Defence lawyer, Richard Metcalfe, who represents former Fisheries and Marine Resources Minister, Bernard Esau in the Fishrot case, has accused state prosecution of delaying the case. According to Metcalfe, the state has known since 19 February, 2021, that their extradition application for Icelandic nationals who are implicated in the Fishrot scandal, was declined. According to Iceland’s Extradition of Criminals and Other Assistance in Criminal Proceedings Act, “Icelandic citizens may not be extradited unless the request stems from Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.” Prosecutor General, Martha Imalwa, had indicated that she wants Samherji employees, Ingvar Júlíusson, Egill Helgi Árnason…

17 Jun

Genocide agreement unlikely to be rejected … as analysts predict German apology embarrassment

ObserverObserver MoneyKazenambo Kaezeambo, Parliament, SWAPO

Andrew Kathindi Despite groundswell sentiments against the genocide agreement between Namibian and German government s, it is and is ikely to succeed when it is brought to Parliament. “It is difficult to see it being rejected in Parliament unless Swapo members from the affected communities vote against it, which I don’t think is likely to happen as they would not wish to be seen as going rogue from the Party’s wishes,” says University of Namibia (Unam)’s Senior Lecturer and Political Analyst, Ndumba Kamwayah. Kamwayah says the only way the motion could possibly be rejected in Parliament is if a secret…

16 Jun

Geingob locks down Khomas

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Okahandja, president Hage Geingob, Rehoboth, Windhoek

Andrew Kathindi President Hage Geingob has restricted the exit and entry into Windhoek, Okahandja and Rehoboth local authority areas amidst an alarming rise in COVID-19 cases, in which Khomas has accounted for 52 percent thereof. The ban comes as on Tuesday evening 15 June, Namibia recorded 1206 new cases of COVID-19, of which Windhoek reported 359 cases, Okahandja 1 and Rehoboth 47. Travel into and out of these local authority areas have been banned with the exception for returning residents, essential service providers in possession of the relevant permit, emergency medical cases and the transportation of human remains to other…