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Gobabis has a leadership vacuum

Gobabis has a leadership vacuum

TUJOROMAJO KASUTO THE Gobabis municipality has started controversially rebuilding its leadership structure after it was devastated by the Covid-19 pandemic over the past few weeks. Three of the council’s top executives died one after another over the past few weeks, starting with the Chairperson of the Management Committee, Dewaal Louw. Louw who represented the Gobabis Residents Association (GRA) after his election on the council in the 2020 Regional and Local Authority Elections, succumbed to Covid-19 on 9 June. He was followed by the council’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ignatius Thudinyane, and the Strategic Executive for Economic Development, Patrick Mbala, who…
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Covid ‘fire-fighting’ meeting

Covid ‘fire-fighting’ meeting

Staff Writer Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila hosted a virtual emergency Covid-19 meeting on Friday morning, akin to “fire-fighting” as the pandemic appears to be getting out of control. Those attending included most Cabinet members and a number of executive directors from key ministries, offices and agencies. Kuugongelwa-Amadhila announced that 165 600 vaccines from Johnson & Johnson had been donated by the United States government, which makes it the biggest government-to-government vaccine donation that Namibia has received so far. This consignment of vaccines is expected to arrive in the country before the end of August, the Prime Minister informs, giving hope…
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Namibia receives medical equipment donation from German government

Namibia receives medical equipment donation from German government

Tujoromajo Kasuto Namibia received a batch of medical equipment as a donation to combat Covid-19 from the German Ministry of Defence at the Hosea Kutako International Airport today (Thursday). The donation is from the European Union (EU) Civic Protection Mechanism and consists of 300,000 gowns, 60 care bed, 40,000 Antigen rapid test, 20,000 safety goggles, and 500,000 FFP2 masks. On receiving it, Minister of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), Kalumbi Shangula, says, “standing on the tarmac of the Hosea Kutako International Airport and witnessing the arrival of the majestic Antonov AN-225, the world’s largest aircraft ever built, carrying on board…
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Worrying numbers . . . as the country surpasses 100 000 cases

Worrying numbers . . . as the country surpasses 100 000 cases

Andrew Kathindi Namibia has now surpassed 100 000 cases of Covid-19, the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) has revealed. This comes as the country has also surpassed a previous record of deaths recorded in a day with the ministry announcing 70 deaths on Thursday, 8 July. “We have breached the mark of 100 000 confirmed Covid-19 cases reported since the pandemic started. It is very concerning that we are seeing a sustained increase in the number of cases being reported in other regions outside Khomas region,” Health Minister, Kalumbi Shangula, says. The country currently now has 23 328…
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Health ministry gives oxygen supply warning

Health ministry gives oxygen supply warning

Andrew Kathindi Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) is warning people not to change their attitude to COVID-19 as the country’s virus plight could worsen in the coming months due to oxygen supply. On Monday the ministry confirmed the presence of the Delta variant in the country which is more transmissible and deadlier than other variants. “If we don’t change our behaviour, Namibia is just going to become one big hospital. Where are we going to get the human resources? We don’t buy them off the shelves. All the countries are fighting on their own. In Africa because of…
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Geingob pays tribute to Ngavirue

Geingob pays tribute to Ngavirue

Tujoromajo Kasuto President Hage Geingob lauded late Ambassador, Zedekia Tjitana Ngavirue, as “a proud Son of Namibia and one of the finest diplomats this country has produced”, stating that he has left a huge void which can never be filled.” Ngavirue was laid to rest on Tuesday, 6 July in Okakarara, Otjozondjupa Region, as per his wish. Geingob stated at the funeral, “It was with great shock and dismay that we learnt of the passing of this renowned and respected colleague on June 24, 2021. Even though it has been more than a week since we received that sad news,…
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Schools to re-open August 4

Schools to re-open August 4

Staff Writer Schools meant to resume face-to-face learning later this month will now start their classes on 4 August, the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture has revealed. All learners from pre-primary to Grade 9 and Grades 10 to advanced subsidiary learners (AS) who were to start classes on 26 July and 19 July respectively, will now be back in classes on 4 August, despite President Hage Geingob last week warning that according to expert opinion, the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic could yet reach its peak in August. “Expert projections and simulation tools indicate that the rising incidence…
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Geingob appoints 4IR Task Force

Geingob appoints 4IR Task Force

Tujoromajo Kasuto President Hage G. Geingob has appointed an eight-member Task Force to harness opportunities in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). The Office of the Presidency in a media release says the inception of the Task Force is “informed by the fact that the world has undergone a paradigm shift with the convergence of technologies, requiring deeper understanding of the disruptive impact of 4IR on society. In establishing the Task Force, President Geingob is also fulfilling a commitment made during the 2021 State of the Nation Address.” “The 4IR Task Force is comprised of members drawn from academia, the private…
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Delta presence won’t change approach – Ministry

Delta presence won’t change approach – Ministry

Andrew Kathindi The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) says it will not change its approach in pooling for resources despite confirming the presence of the Delta variant in Namibia. “Whether it’s the Delta variant, Beta variant or some other variant. They spread in the same manner. It’s a question of wearing your mask and sanitising your hands. We are being told that this variant is more transmissible. It just means that people need to comply with the regulations,” MoHSS Executive Director, Ben Nangombe, told Windhoek Observer. He further informs the ministry has set up a field hospital bringing…
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Long live Republic of Cuba!

Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro Global news has it that Cuba has developed her own Covid-19 vaccine with an efficacy of 92%. For any internationalist this is surely good news and one cannot but wish the Cuban people all the best in this great feat. Which, ultimately, knowing the international solidarity that Cuba has been renowned for years in not only believing and espousing it, but practically manifesting it, she is bound to benefit not only the Cuban people, but at one point or another she is bound to practically extend her achievements on the medicinal sphere, relating to the Pandemic on this…
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