Blog – Page 793 – Windhoek Observer

16 Jun

Suspended Okahandja CEO to be reinstated

ObserverObserver MoneyMartha Mutilifa, Okahandja municipality

Staff Writer Suspended Okahandja municipality CEO Martha Mutilifa is set to be reinstated to her position six months after her suspension by the now suspended council. Mutilifa was suspended in December last year with full pay by the council management committee amid allegations of corruption, fraud, abuse of funds and insubordination. “We are going to reinstate her because she is currently on suspension with full pay and it’s the logical thing to do. We cannot pay someone to stay at home, yet she can also contribute to the betterment of the town,” Ministry of Urban and Rural Development official appointed…

16 Jun

Erongo permit holders not tested

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

Andrew Kathindi It has emerged that permit holders from Erongo have been able to leave the region without being tested for COVID-19 since stage 1 lockdown was re-imposed by government. This comes as the Erongo region, Walvis Bay in particular, has in the past month, emerged as an epicenter for COVID-19 cases in the country. Erongo Health Director in the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), Anna Jonas confirmed the development to the Windhoek Observer. “This is something that needs high level intervention. But for now, what we are trying to do is to make sure that we have…

13 Jun

The Time Traveler: Dear white people…

ObserverUncategorisedNamibia, white

Hugh Ellis The latest racist outrage in Namibia was two white men killing a black man over allegedly stolen glue. This incident happened at Otjiwarongo last week. The Police have arrested two suspects, Jonathan Patrick Myburgh and Jannie Jansen van Vuuren, and charged them with murder. Meanwhile, the Henties Bay municipal council has agreed to consider taking down the macabre hangman’s noose monument at the town. This strange monument was set up in the 1970s to warn people not to litter on the beach. But it would obviously remind most black people, and many whites, about how Hereros and Namas…

13 Jun

Couch Cat – baking your own bread

ObserverUncategorisedCouch Cat, lockdown

Jackie Wilson Asheeke In pandemic lockdown, I began to rediscover my old skills for baking bread. It was like dusting the cobwebs off my inner mind. But, I enjoyed it every step of the way. My momma taught me about using yeast and baking bread when I was a little girl. But, I was the youngest so my job was to set and clear the table after all meals. My older sisters did the cooking and baking with momma. So, I put those lessons aside for an entire lifetime and resurrected them when I lived in Ethiopia for four years…

13 Jun

Culture must be a podium not a noose

ObserverUncategorisedNamibians

Jackie Wilson Asheeke Tradition and culture must be tools to celebrate history, language and the stories of the past. Tradition must be a podium for bringing people together, not a noose or whip to force them in line. In Namibia, there are too many infuriating cases, when tradition and culture are cherry picked and used as a sexist sledge hammer to oppress women who are marginalized within a community. When a ‘tradition’ favors someone, they are all for it; when it doesn’t, they are quiet. This weakens the entire concept of respecting tradition. The recent story of a criminal headman…

13 Jun

Are the youth any better?

ObserverNational Newsfishrot, NSFAF

When we see those involved in the Fishrot debacle, we see that male youth empowerment is well underway - in the wrong direction. The rhetorical anthem of anyone seeking political kudos always includes youth SME loans, youth bursaries, more NSFAF loan money, and the usual vague comments in speeches about helping youth advance. Given that the majority of the population in Namibia is below 39, this makes sense. But, have the youth prepared themselves to build a better Namibia? Or is it all about self-enrichment? The younger people in lucrative power positions are overwhelmingly young men. Are the shouts about…

13 Jun

Namibia faces essential drugs shortage

ObserverObserver Money

Andrew Kathindi Namibian pharmacies have accused South Africa of hoarding essential medicines, a move which has negatively impacted their availability to Namibian patients. On 27 March, following the declaration of the state of national disaster by President Cyril Ramaphosa, South African Minister of Trade and industry, Ebrahim Patel introduced new export control measures on essential goods such as alcohol-based hand sanitizers, face-masks, gas masks, other breathing appliances, hydroxychloroquine, antisera and other blood fractions, vaccines for human medicine and medicaments. “I understand why the decision was made; it was to ensure that they don’t run short. And if we were talking…

13 Jun

Dos Santos bank stake up for sale

ObserverObserver MoneyAngola

Staff Writer Angola's former first daughter Isabel dos Santos indirect stake in Bank BIC Namibia Limited is up for sale with other shareholders in the bank reportedly to keen to acquire the shares. Dos Santos who currently stands accused of theft, corruption and money laundering by Angolan authorities, is reported to be a majority shareholder in the banking concern, with a 42.5 percent shareholding. “We can confirm, however, that the shares currently held indirectly by Ms dos Santos are still for sale but how this is done is a matter for shareholders to decide,” Bank Bic said in response to…

12 Jun

When ‘deep regrets’ are not enough

ObserverNational NewsCorien Steenkamp, Hillside Christian College

The country is abuzz with comments on the Facebook rant of Corien Steenkamp, a second-grade assistant teacher from Hillside Christian College in Walvis Bay. The mere thought that someone with such guttural racist beliefs is anywhere near children, is extremely disturbing. She has made a statement that she deeply regrets her racist rant. Does she regret the fact that she is holds racist beliefs or that she was caught doing so? These are two very different things. We believe everyone is very sorry when they get caught. Very few are actually sorry that did the nasty deed in the first…

12 Jun

MTC ‘Paint Namibia Blue’ Project starts

ObserverUncategorisedMTC, Paint Namibia Blue’ Project, Tim Ekandjo

Staff Writer Following the launch of the MTC ‘Paint Namibia Blue’ Project in March 2020, Omaruru, Okakarara and Omuthiya towns were amongst the latest beneficiaries of the MTC Paint Namibia Blue” Project, with a new fresh coat of paint dotted on some of the town’s land marks. The project is aimed at increasing the company's visibility, by creating opportunities that would benefit the growing numbers of unemployed youth, whom are earmarked for the various paints jobs in major towns selected as part of the project. “The plan and intention remains to only partner with local skillful and capable painters (men…