Blog – Page 790 – Windhoek Observer

24 Jun

Book Review: White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo

ObserverUncategorisedBook Review, Robin DiAngelo, White Fragility

Jackie Wilson Asheeke White Fragility should be mandatory reading for all white people. Yep, I said it. Most white people do not recognize their micro-aggressions against people of colour. They would never call someone an offensive racist name. They are truly appalled at the vicious murder of George Floyd. But, they don't 'get it' that their buy-in to white privilege is part of the reason why that happened. To those who want to understand more - I challenge you to read this book and think about it. [Let me know- jackie@observer.com.na] This book was written by a white woman who…

24 Jun

Govt, NTTU clash over taxi fares

ObserverObserver MoneyJohn Mutorwa, Minister of Works and Transport, Namibia Transport and Taxi Union (NTTU)

Andrew Kathindi Namibia Transport and Taxi Union (NTTU) has rejected government’s dismissal of its call to have the 15 percent taxi fare hike made permanent. Taxi fares were increased to the current N$14 from N$12 as part of government efforts to cushion the taxi sector during the state of emergency as they are no longer allowed to carry their full load. In agreeing to the increase, Minister of Works and Transport, John Mutorwa, informed the NTTU that government was not going to indulge in discussions over the increment becoming permanent because the 15 percent increment had been approved as a…

24 Jun

Floodgate for job loses opens

ObserverObserver MoneyHigh Court, president Hage Geingob

Staff Writer The Tuesday High Court ruling in favour of employers, which declared parts of two proclamations issued by President Hage Geingob relating to the suspension of the Labour Act and also parts of the Covid-19 state of emergency regulations as unconstitutional, could spell trouble for workers. According to the National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW), the development will not auger well for workers who had found some form of job and remuneration protection under the government regulations. “The concern is that their aim is to pay workers less, cut salaries and take away leaves days but we won’t tolerate…

22 Jun

German Embassy contributes to Covid-19 fight

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, German Embassy, Gobabis, Okahandja, Witvlei

Staff Writer As part of its projects to mitigate the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, the German Embassy will support families in need in the areas of Gobabis, Witvlei and Okahandja and a total of approximately N$ 99,600 (EUR 5,000.00) from the Embassy’s micro project fund will be made available as an immediate measure to purchase food packages. The packages include staple foods and will be distributed to the community members by the German Evangelical Lutheran Association of Okahandja-Gobabis (ELCIN - GELC) in cooperation with the Okahandja Community Forum. The Okahandja Community Forum is a civil organization in Okahandja that…

22 Jun

Uutoni summons council over Kanime

ObserverObserver MoneyCity of Windhoek (CoW), City Police Chief Abraham Kanime, Urban and Rural Development Minister Erastus Uutoni

Staff Writer The entire City of Windhoek (CoW) council was on Monday summoned to an urgent meeting with Urban and Rural Development Minister Erastus Uutoni to discuss developments at the local authority. Among issues discussed was the contentious reappointment of City Police Chief Abraham Kanime. In his letter requesting the urgent meeting, the minister said, “This communique serves to inform your good office that I would like to have an urgent meeting with the entire Council of the City of Windhoek to consult on the developments at the City of Windhoek. I request that you provide me as soon as…

22 Jun

Govt plans tourism initiative

ObserverObserver MoneyGitta Paetzold, Hospitality Association of Namibia's (HAN), Tourism and Hospitality

Staff Writer President Hage Geingob on Monday that government in collaboration with the Tourism and Hospitality sector will conduct a targeted International Tourism revival initiative from 15 July to 15 August 2020. “This initiative will look to accommodate a limited number of tourists, who will be determined in consultation with the private sector, from a carefully selected low risk market that has potential to contribute towards our tourism sector that employs over 100,000 Namibians. Modalities for this initiative will be announced in coming weeks and this trial will inform and strengthen public sector preparations for the imminent reopening of Points…

22 Jun

President bows to union pressure

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Namibia National Students Organisation (NANSO), Namibia National Teachers Union (NANTU), Teachers Union of Namibia (TUN), tudents Union of Namibia (SUN)

Andrew Kathindi President Hage Geingob on Monday bowed to the demands of teacher and student unions when he announced the resumption of face-to-face classes for Pre-Primary students will be postponed for 14 days in all regions. The President’s decision comes after some unions called on the government to suspend the resumption of face-to-face teaching following confirmation of the first COVID-19 positive learner. The 20-year old Mariental secondary school learner, who is a resident of Walvis Bay, became Namibia’s 37th case and gave rise to the decision to suspend face-to-face teaching at the school. The 14 day suspension of in-school learning…

22 Jun

Women’s freedom chained by apartheid laws

ObserverNational NewsDoreen Sioka, freedom, laws, minister of gender equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare, SRHR

There is a petition signed by over 5,000 people calling for the government to legalize women’s rights to choose when they have children. We applaud this effort; it is long overdue. Any human being has a right to decide what happens to their bodies. The discussion around sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) is important. The debate must respond to the silent cry of women forced to give birth against their will. The existing Abortion and Sterilisation Act of 1975 law is 45 years old. This apartheid-era law was written by South African white men, who patronizingly considered women as…

19 Jun

Couch Kitten: I am no man’s winter bed warmer!

ObserverUncategorisedClementine Tjameya, Couch Kitten

Clementine Tjameya When the days get colder, seasonal relationships get going. There are memes about this everywhere on social media where people are saying that it’s getting so cold that they might ‘shiver’ their way into other people’s relationships. As funny as that sounds, there is some truth to it. This is the time when most senior boys at varsity are on the hunt for their ‘human heaters’ for the next couple of cold months. Beware fellow girls, if he has known you very long and mysteriously claims to have interest in you just now, don’t fall for it. Don’t…

19 Jun

Gents let’s do better

ObserverUncategorised

Observatory: Thandizo Kawerama As the news of the horrific rape incidents that occurred during this month made its way to newsstands, men online rushed to type out their usual ‘gents let’s do better’ posts to appease the growing rage surrounding these horrific acts of violence and destruction of women. After which it was business as usual for most of them. ‘Gents, let’s do better’ is the go-to phrase for Namibian men on social media to signal to their audience that they support the fight against rape culture that continues to terrorize our society. It’s their way of saying rape culture…