Blog – Page 741 – Windhoek Observer

20 Feb

Public urged to make use of mass civil registration drive

National News

Stefanus Nashama The government, through the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security has urged the members of the public across the country to utilise the mass civil registration outreach program to acquire national documents. According to Margaret Kalo, Chief Public Relations Officer in the Ministry, the registration program began on 5 February and will run until 30 July 2024. Services on offer during the outreach program include national documents such as birth registration for persons of all ages, applications for duplicate birth certificates, applications for identity documents, and applications for duplicate identity documents. The program will cover all…

20 Feb

BoN concludes first Monetary Policy Strategy session

Observer Money

Martin Endjala The Bank of Namibia (BoN) has successfully concluded its Monetary Policy Strategy session, a landmark event aimed at fortifying the understanding and implementation of monetary policy within the country. The session, held on 15 February 2024, brought together key stakeholders including members of the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), Board members and essential staff members. The primary objective of the session was to educate and sensitise participants on the intricate process of formulating monetary policy at the Bank of Namibia. Drawing insights from its sister central banks such as the South African Reserve Bank and the Bank of…

20 Feb

National Standardisation strategy seeks stakeholder input

National News

Niël Terblanché Namibia is taking significant steps towards enhancing the quality of its infrastructure and boosting socio-economic development with the development of the National Standardisation Strategy (NSS). This initiative is set to play a crucial role in enhancing the country's socio-economic landscape, showcasing Namibia's commitment to quality, innovation, and resilience. Funding for this groundbreaking strategy comes from a coalition of support, including the NSI itself, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the European Union Partnership Agreement (EPA). This collaboration emphasizes the international community's confidence in Namibia's potential to strengthen its economic foundations through standardisation. A key component of the…

20 Feb

Bank Windhoek appoints Candy Ngula as new Head of e-Money

Observer Money

Niël Terblanché In a strategic move to bolster its digital finance offerings, Bank Windhoek has announced the appointment of Candy Ngula as the Head of Electronic Money (e-Money). The announcement, made by James Chapman, the Executive Officer of Retail Banking Services and Specialist Finance, marks a significant milestone in the bank's efforts to enhance and optimize its e-Money services across its retail banking sector. Ngula, whose appointment became effective on 1 February 2024, is a seasoned professional in the financial sector. She transitioned to Bank Windhoek from the Bank of Namibia (BoN), where she held the position of Deputy Director…

20 Feb

Futsal Namibia gears up for competition proper for CAF Futsal AFCON Competition

SportsFutsal Namibia gears up for competition proper for CAF Futsal AFCON Competition

After Futsal Namibia clinched a remarkable victory against all odds, securing their place in the prestigious CAF Futsal AFCON Competition slated to take place in Morocco this April. Overturning a daunting 5 – 2 defeat at home, the team delivered a stunning 6 – 3 win away at the Starlight Arena in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Coach Modise, the mastermind behind the team’s resurgence, expressed his satisfaction with the outcome and outlined the path ahead for the squad. “In the next week,” Coach Modise remarked, “I will be inviting additional players from the Futsal Namibia Premier League to try out,…

20 Feb

Mbumba vows to uphold Geingob’s legacy amidst power transition debate

National NewsMbumba vows to uphold Geingob’s legacy amidst power transition debate

Hertta-Maria Amutenja In the aftermath of President Hage Geingob’s passing, Namibia is navigating a transition marked by a solemn commitment to preserving the legacy of the departed leader. President Nangolo Mbumba, the recently sworn-in successor of Geingob, has unequivocally pledged to uphold his term, emphasizing the need for continuity and respect. “I am going to appoint people because a vacancy has occurred. Until the term comes to an end, it will still be Geingob’s term,” affirmed Mbumba, underscoring his dedication to honouring the existing structures and maintaining the trajectory set by his predecessor. As discussions arise about potential appointments and…

20 Feb

Geingob was the people’s President – Prime Minister

National News

Martin Endjala In her heartfelt tribute to President Hage Geingob during the memorial service last week, Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila described Geingob as the people’s President. “President Geingob was the people‘s President. He had the ability to draw people across different backgrounds, and this has continued to be the case in the aftermath of his death,” she said. The Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said 4 February 2024 will go down as one of the darkest days in the nation’s history. Highlighting that although Geingob had publicly disclosed his health condition, which the nation appreciated its seriousness, many still hoped that he would pull…

20 Feb

Power outage affects southern towns and farms

National NewsPower outage affects southern towns and farms

Niël Terblanché Residents of towns in southern Namibia, including Ariamsvlei and Noordoewer, along with farms in the area, have been plunged into darkness due to an ongoing power outage that began at 14:46 on Sunday. The blackout, attributed to an electrical fault on a key transformer at the Harib substation, has left communities without power and disrupted business and border crossing operations. NamPower has identified the cause of the outage as a fault on the second transformer (220/132 kV 40 MVA) at the Harib Substation. The national utility corporation stated that technical personnel are in the process of transporting a…

20 Feb

Calls for improved disability grants increase

National NewsMathew Hashoongo

Niël Terblanchéfor In a recent appeal, the National Federation for Persons with Disabilities in Namibia, led by Chairperson Mathew Hashoongo, has urged the government to fulfill President Hage Geingob’s commitment to raising disability grants from N$1,400 to N$3,000. This push for an increase reflects a broader call for enhanced support for individuals living with disabilities, including the alignment of disability grants with the proposed increments. According to the association, notable strides were made towards supporting vulnerable groups within Namibia under President Geingob’s leadership. In April 2023, the government announced a significant increase in the disability grant for children under the…

20 Feb

Namibia must remain united and peaceful – Mbumba and Katjavivi urge

MainNamibia must remain united and peaceful – Mbumba and Katjavivi urge

Niël Terblanché In an emotional tribute to President Hage Geingob, close friends and political allies President Nangolo Mbumba and Speaker of the National Assembly, Professor Peter Katjavivi have opened up about their deep connections with the leader whose passing has plunged the nation into mourning. In an exclusive interview with the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation, the duo shared memories of their longstanding friendship with Dr Geingob, dating back to their shared experiences during the struggle for Namibia’s liberation. Born in the same year, 1941, the trio shared not just a birth year but a vision for Namibia that saw them through…