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Construction sector performance down 11.8% in 2020
20 May

Construction sector performance down 11.8% in 2020

ObserverUncategorised, ,
Staff writer The country’s construction sector contracted by 11.8 percent during 2020 as activity in this sector declined severely owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, FirstRand Namibia Economist Ruusa Nandago has said. According to the Nandango, the construction sector contracted by 11.8 percent during 2020 as activity in this sector declined severely owing to the Covid-19 pandemic. “The decline was mainly reflected in reduced expenditure by the government on civil engineering works. This was a result of the redirection of funds from the development budget towards Covid-19 related expenditure. Several private sector projects were also delayed during this period owing to…
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BOOK REVIEW: Call for lawyers to sanitize their profession
20 May

BOOK REVIEW: Call for lawyers to sanitize their profession

ObserverObserver Money
Moses Magadza As stories of the shenanigans of some lawyers all over the world continue to feature in the media with monotonous regularity and threaten to put their profession into disrepute, Lawyers, a book by a widely acclaimed legal expert, has come out to discuss ethical obligations of lawyers and say what ought to be the standard. The author, Justice Professor Oagile Bethuel Key Dingake, is a former Judge of the High Court of Botswana, a Justice of the Residual Special Court of Sierra Leone, former Judge of the Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea and now with the Court…
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We don’t want to be used – Nandi-Ndaitwah
20 May

We don’t want to be used – Nandi-Ndaitwah

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Kandjemuni Kamuiiri It has emerged that Namibia abstained its vote against or for the responsibility to protect and prevent genocide, war crimes ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity at the United Nations General Assembly Hall on Monday to avoid being used by other countries, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation (MIRCO), Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has revealed. The Minister hit back amid criticism of the decision, arguing that the rationale behind the decision by the Namibian delegation to abstain from the vote on the draft resolution on Monday, was not due to indifference to crimes against humanity, including genocide. “It is due…
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LPM dragged to court
20 May

LPM dragged to court

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Tujoromajo Kasuto The Landless People Movement (LPM) is being dragged before the High Court by two former Mariental town councillors, Daniel Gariseb and Rogetta Haak. The former councillors through their legal representative, Richard Metcalfe, filed for a review application at the High Court on 30 April. The application seeks to rescind their recall and annul the appointments of Frensis Franciska Gawases and Andy Boois as new councillors of the Mariental municipality. The application furthermore directs the opposition party to reinstate the former councillors and to do all things required to effect such reinstatement within ten days of the court order.…
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Ministry mum on COVID-19 death liability
20 May

Ministry mum on COVID-19 death liability

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Andrew Kathindi The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) has dodged questions on who would be liable if the COVID-19 vaccine administered is found to have caused the death of a 62-year-old un-identified man. This comes after Ministry of Health Executive Director, Ben Nangombe, was quoted in the media last month saying private companies will be liable for any harm arising from the vaccines. “That’s a legal question. And when you have an issue that deals with liability, the legal principles will be applied and a determination will be made through a legal process to indicate how that liability…
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Still no answers on sunken vessel
19 May

Still no answers on sunken vessel

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Rose-Mary Haufiku A year on, the Ministry of Works and Transport is still to provide answers as to what caused the sinking of a Hangana Seafood Company’s fishing trawler, Resplendent in the Atlantic Ocean. The trawler, which had a 27 all Namibian crew, with 26 rescued, sank last February, leaving one crew member Captain Gordon Carlo lost at sea. The captain’s remains still have not been found, with Hangana Seafood Company’s owner, Ohlthaver & List (O & L) Group having suspended the search, including ruling out efforts to acquire a remotely operated underwater vehicle. Public Relation Officer in Ministry of…
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Ministry not backing down on court challenge
19 May

Ministry not backing down on court challenge

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Staff Writer The Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security says it’s not backing down from legal challenges currently before courts after it issued travel documents to twin daughters of same sex couple Phillip, Guillermo Delgado. Executive Director of Home Affairs, Etienne Maritz, was quick to point out that, “the issued travel certificates do not confer Namibian citizenship on the twins and the issuance must not be construed to be a concession on the Minister's part that the twins are Namibian citizens.” The travel documents were issued after an applications for emergency travel certificates were received at the Namibian…
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Public service wage bill to cost N$29 billion this year
19 May

Public service wage bill to cost N$29 billion this year

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Kandjemuni Kamuiiri It has emerged that Namibia will fork out a total of N$29 billion for salaries and benefits for its civil service this year, which translates into about N$2.4 billion monthly. According to the Minister of Finance, Iipumbu Shiimi, “annually we spend N$29 billion and if you divide that by 12 it would roughly be N$2,4 billion to N$2,5 billion monthly, same goes for last year. It’s more or less the same.” This revelation has raised concern whether Government could afford it considering its precarious financial position, with the minister maintaining that Government will still continue to honour bonuses,…
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18 May

Moving the needle on Infrastructure Development … ‘An Allocator’s perspective’

ObserverUncategorised, , ,
Sara Mezui Engo Much discourse has taken place on the catalytic role of infrastructure development in spurring economic growth and attracting investment. Similarly, policy makers have responded in the form of NDP 5; HPP2; SDG; Climate resilience forums; PPP 1legislation and the Namibia Financial Sector Strategy, which through regulatory provisions, enforced contractual savings to increase domestic asset allocation. Furthermore, institutions have been set up to support the cause, in particular the Private Public Partnership unit at Ministry of Finance (MoF) and the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB). In addition, through HPP2 government offices, ministries, and agencies (OMAs) have…
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‘Rushed’ genocide deal questioned
18 May

‘Rushed’ genocide deal questioned

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Kandjemuni Kamuiiri Concerns have been raised around the agreement reached between Namibia and Germany over the Nama and Ovaherero genocide reparations. This is amid concerns the imminent deal was rushed and might not come out in the best interest of Namibia after almost six years of negotiations. According to political analyst, Henning Melber, the announced agreement set to be signed in two weeks’ time, will be in the best interest of Germany, as it brings the negotiations to a close ahead of the country’s elections scheduled for September. “This might not have been in the best strategic interest of the…
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