Blog – Page 808 – News Stand

02 Jul

AfCFTA: SADC PF symposium shines light on key pitfalls

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyAfCFTA, Covid-19, SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF)

Moses Magadza A regional symposium convened by the SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) for SADC parliaments last week has revealed pitfalls on the road towards full realisation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and galvanised parliamentary action as the region angles for rich pickings from the colossal trade agreement. The AfCFTA Agreement was signed in 2018. It came into force in January this year. Its newly-appointed Secretary General, South African Wamkele Mene, said with a membership of 55 countries, the AfCFTA is poised to be “the largest Free Trade Area (FTA) in the world in terms of membership,…

02 Jul

Kerina to be laid to rest on Sunday 4 July

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyMburumba Kerina, Professor

Tujoromajo Kasuto The late Professor, Mburumba Kerina, who passed away on 14 June, will be laid to rest at the Heroes and Heroines Cemetery in Okahandja, Otjozondjupa Region this Sunday, 4 July. According to a statement on Thursday by the office of the Executive Director of the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT), the memorial service will be held on Saturday, 3 July at Parliament Gardens in Windhoek. The memorial and burial ceremonies will be broadcasted live on the MICT official Facebook pages. The statement also reiterates that, “the State Funeral of the Late Professor Mburumba Kerina will be…

02 Jul

LPM questions stricter regulations

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyBernardus Swartbooi, Covid-19, Landless People’s Movement (LPM)

Andrew Kathindi Landless People’s Movement (LPM) Leader, Bernardus Swartbooi, is questioning the decision of the Government on stricter regulations stating that it has not been proven that lockdown has helped curb the spread of COVID-19. The new regulations, which came into effect at midnight on 1 July until 15 July, are meant to stop the further spread of COVID-19 as Namibia grapples with the reality of a fierce third wave. The LPM Leader, however, argues that the Government has no basis to measure or declare the regulations as successful. “1524 deaths and people are claiming that the lockdown has been…

01 Jul

President warns third wave peak yet to come

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, president Hage Geingob

Andrew Kathindi President Hage Geingob has warned that the third wave of COVID-19 that has been ravaging the country could yet get worse, stating that the spread could reach its peak in August. This comes as the country has recorded over 34 000 cases in the month of June alone. “Expert projections and simulation tools indicate that the rising incidence curve, during this Third Wave, is expected to peak around mid-August, and may continue well until mid-September 2021. The darkest hour of the night, comes just before day-break. It is expected to get worse, before it becomes better. We must…

30 Jun

June claims another liberation stalwart

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneySondag Kangueehi, Swanu of Namiba

Staff Writer The month of June continues with its mayhem in terms of robbing the nation of its liberation icons and depositories of the liberation struggle history. The latest person to bow out is liberation struggle stalwart and Swanu of Namiba diehard and trusted cadre, Sondag Kangueehi, who have unwaveringly stood with his all time political party, Swanu of Namibia, since its inception in 1959, till his eternal retirement. He silently and quietly passed on at his home in Windhoek this morning due to sickness and frailty, aged 82. The late Kangueehi is the eldest of three Kangueehi brothers, with…

30 Jun

Helao Nafidi town council to decide CEO’s fate …as Uutoni rejects contract extension

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyHelao Nafidi, Inge Ipinge

Tujoromajo Kasuto Helao Nafidi Mayor, Darius Shaalukeni, has says the management committee is yet to meet to decide the fate of the town’s Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Inge Ipinge. This comes as Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Uutoni, rejected the contract extension of Ipinge, who is 65 years and whose current contract expires on 6 August 2021. “I hereby inform the Council that I am disapproving the request because Council’s decision is not in line with Section 27 (3) (a) (i) (aa) of the Local Authorities Act, 1992 (Act No.23 of 1992) as amended.” The provision of…

30 Jun

IPC suspends Windhoek councillor

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyDesiree Davids, Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), Windhoek municipality

Staff Writer Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) has suspended its councillor, Desiree Davids, serving on the Windhoek municipality after allegations that she has used her position to prioritise her application to buy a plot. “Please take note, as is within the powers of a political party that fielded a councillor, and in accordance with our IPC party constitution of Article 4.60. Hon. Cllr. Davids has been suspended (restraint) by the party from representing IPC in any capacity in the City of Windhoek council in terms of Code 4.1. of the conduct of members of the local authorities,” IPC’s General Secretary,…

29 Jun

Hospitals in bed crisis

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyAstra Zeneca, Covid-19, J&J, Katutura intermediate hospitals, Sinopharm, Sputnik Light

Andrew Kathindi Namibia is facing a shortage of beds in hospitals; the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS) has confirmed. This is due to the high rise in patients due to the third wave the country is facing, with Namibia currently recording over 1000 cases a day with an average of over 40 percent positivity ratio from confirmed cases a day. “There is pressure on the available beds. The number of patients has simply increased. Whether it’s in the private sector, or the public sector, you have a situation where there is pressure on available beds,” Health ministry Executive…

26 Jun

Masisi says AfCTA can raise Africa … but full regional integration must come first

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyAfCFTA, African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), President of Botswana Mokgweetsi Masisi, SADC PF Secretary General Boemo Sekgoma

Moses Magadza “The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is one of the key drivers that can position Africa as an economic powerhouse,” declared the President of Botswana Mokgweetsi Masisi, while officially opening the 49th Plenary Assembly Session virtually yesterday (Friday 25 June, 2021). “However, it is important to underscore that, the successful implementation of the SADC integration agenda is a prerequisite for the true realisation of the AfCFTA,” he continued. Masisi stressed that domestication of AfCFTA at national level was “central to (its) effective implementation”. AfCTA was agreed upon in 2018 and came into force in January this year.…

26 Jun

Gobabis management committee forges ahead after Louw’s passing

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, Gobabis Municipality, Sylvester Mbinga

Tujoromajo Kasuto Sylvester Mbinga of the Landless People’s Movement (LPM) was recently appointed as Acting Chairperson of the Gobabis Municipality Management Committee. This comes after the passing of the chairperson, Dewaal Louw, who succumbed to COVID-19 on 9 June. Louw represented the Gobabis Residents Association (GRA) since his election on the council in the 2020 regional and local authority elections. “When Dewaal got sick, I was appointed as the Acting Chairperson of the MC,” says Mbinga adding that operations within the Committee are going as usual, however, pointing out that his position as Acting Chairperson is only temporary as a…