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AR land issue judgement pushed forward

AR land issue judgement pushed forward

Maria Hamutenya Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement is set to hear whether President Hage Geingob will have to comply with an agreement he signed with the organisation in 2015 after the High Court postponed its judgement to next Tuesday, 16 February. AR Lawyer, Kadhila Amoomo, said the judgement was still to be finalised by Justice Orben Sibeya. The government in 2015 struck a deal with AR leader, Job Amupanda, to service 200 000 plots on urban land countrywide. Amoomo said it was an interlocutory application, “it is not fatal, whether we win or lose, it does not stop the case” adding…
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Turkish Onurair almost saved Air Namibia

Turkish Onurair almost saved Air Namibia

Andrew Kathindi Public Enterprises Minister, Leon Jooste, revealed that Air Namibia was almost taken over by Turkish airliner, Onurair, prior to Cabinet approving voluntary liquidation. Jooste said government sent invitations to airliners to try and save the national flag carrier, however nothing transpired. “We were asked to write to all airlines currently operating to Namibia and those that we know are intending to come including this company. No formal response or request for further engagements were received from any of them,” Jooste told Windhoek Observer. Onurair had shown interest in taking over the beleaguered Namibian airliner. According to documents from…
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CRAN, the year that was

Heinrich Mihe Gaomab II In a world where technology is urging the tides of change forward, Namibia, like all other countries, has been forced to up its game to ensure that regulations are current, relevant and serves the needs and expectations of Namibia’s information and communication technology (ICT) consumers. With this, the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia’s (CRAN) mantra of a high quality, accessible and affordable communications technological need for all Namibians has become even more important today. Amidst the unforeseen, unprecedented and catastrophic Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), Authorities such as CRAN have become increasingly crucial to making online interactions safe,…
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NAC plans N$1.3bn investments

NAC plans N$1.3bn investments

Staff Writer The Namibia Airports Company (NAC) says it plans to invest over N$1.3 billion in infrastructure development across all eight airports within the next five years. Some of the projects lined up include the N$70 million Apron Expansion of Hosea Kutako International Airport (HKIA); N$16 million for a CUTE System for Hosea Kutako; N$16 million Ondangwa Apron Rehabilitation; N$32 million Katima Mulilo Runway Holding Action; N$10 million Walvis Bay Airside Boundary Wall; N$4 million Walvis Bay Electronic Equipment and a N$4 million Hosea Kutako road upgrade. The plans, according to the operator of the country’s airports, is aimed at…
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Grade 11 Unam admission prospects crushed

Grade 11 Unam admission prospects crushed

Maria Hamutenya University admission prospects for grade 11 students who applied to the University of Namibia (Unam) were finally crushed on Thursday. Unam Vice Chancellor, Professor Kenneth Matengu, questioned the quality of curriculum and their ability to handle tertiary education. “The curriculum is not deep enough for students to be ready for admission into university. The understanding was and still is that the basic education curriculum would be revised and improved to the level of advanced subsidiary to allow those who wish to pursue university education to progress from grade 11 level 3 to National Senior Secondary Certificate Advanced Subsidiary…
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Jooste calls Sisa’s bluff

Jooste calls Sisa’s bluff

Andrew Kathindi Public Enterprises Minister, Leon Jooste, has dismissed threats by Challenge Air representative, Lawyer Sisa Namandje, to seize assets of state-owned TransNamib, if government proceeds with the voluntary liquidation of Air Namibia. According to Namandje the Arbitration Awards made on 6 August, 2008 and 4 August, 2011 in Europe, were jointly against Air Namibia and TransNamib. Air Namibia was incorporated into TransNamib up until the late 1990s, which was around the time when the airline entered into the lease agreement with Challenge Air. “I saw the letter that was circulated today. We discussed this with TransNamib some time ago…
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Solid, sustainable support for aspiring entrepreneurs

Solid, sustainable support for aspiring entrepreneurs

Many Namibians know the hardship of growing up in difficult conditions, but also the power of having an aspiration to rise above this and succeed in life. MultiChoice Namibia, as a company rooted in its local communities, understands this all too well, and aims to use entertainment as a means to enrich the lives of people, particularly those facing difficult circumstances. One of the ways in which the company does this, is by enabling hard working, enthusiastic citizens with an interest in technology to pursue a career with MultiChoice Namibia as installers. Not only does this provide a sustainable income,…
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Unam’s admission stance condemned

Unam’s admission stance condemned

Maria Hamutenya Student representative organisations say they are dismayed by the University of Namibia (Unam)’s decision not to accept grade 11 learners under the new curriculum. Unam Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kenneth Matengu, was recorded being adamant that the institution will never admit grade 11 students. This is despite the government’s announcement that such student are now eligible for university admittance. “It is common cause that the curriculum was designed and implemented in such a way that a learner may choose to exit school in grade 11 or 12 (subject to set criteria). Moreover, it is common cause that the new grade…
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Health Ministry tight lipped on AstraZeneca vaccine

Health Ministry tight lipped on AstraZeneca vaccine

Andrew Kathindi The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS) remains tightlipped on whether Namibia is still going ahead to receive the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine later this month. Or if it will opt out of the deal after it was found to be highly ineffective against a new variant of the virus, known as 501.V2, discovered in South Africa late last year. The lack of an official position by the ministry, comes after a technical team in the government department met this Monday to discuss the AstraZeneca vaccine following findings on its ineffectiveness by South African health officials. “If at…
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FirstRand Namibia breathes life into the arts

FirstRand Namibia breathes life into the arts

Staff Writer “Art is something that makes you breathe a different kind of happiness.” – Conrad Dempsey, CEO: FirstRand Namibia. The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has not discriminated and still does not do so: The lives and livelihoods of all and sundry have been affected and altered. There is consensus, though, that the creative industry bore the brunt of the impact of regulations imposed to curb the further spread of the virus. Acknowledging this and in accordance with its responsibility to support and plough back into the local economy, FirstRand Namibia took the intentional decision to support the country’s creative industry.…
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