Blog – Page 817 – News Stand

07 Apr

Addis murder suspect appears in court

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyKristofina Amutenya, Windhoek Magistrate's Court

Maria Hamutenya Kristofina Amutenya (33) made her first appearance in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court on Tuesday. H owever, Magistrate Venatius Alweendo postponed the matter to Wednesday pending an urgent High Court application filed by her lawyers. Lawyer Kadhila Amoomo, who is representing the murder accused, has challenged the decision of the Namibian authorities to arrest and charge Amutenya with two counts of murder, and one count of attempted murder upon her arrival from Addis Ababa on Monday. Amoomo has filed for an urgent application in the High Court to ask for her arrest and detention in Namibia to be declared…

07 Apr

Defence Minister resigns . . . as ACC maintains it won’t investigate

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyMinister of Defence and Veterans Affairs, Peter Vilho

Andrew Kathindi and Rose-Mary Haufiku Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs, Peter Vilho, has resigned, following his afternoon-long meeting with President Hage Geingob on Tuesday, the Presidency has announced. Geingob summoned Vilho to State House to explain himself following allegations of illicit proceeds in an undeclared Hong Kong bank account. Vilho served as minister for a year and a month, after he was appointed by Geingob in March 2020. His tenure at the ministry was, however, riddled with corruption allegations. According to the Presidency, Vilho informed the President that his continued membership of the Executive was “untenable” and the “ongoing…

02 Apr

Capitalist cartel ruling the roost of communal farming

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedCapitalist cartel, communal farming, expropriation of land and/or farms without compensation

Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro Covid-19 continues to wreak havoc on many sectors of the Namibia economy. Evidence hereof is the accelerated liquidation of the national airline, Air Namibia. Surely Air Namibia may not be the first and the last. Many others are certain to follow in view of the forecast protracted recovery of the local economy. Another sector that has been feeling the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in Namibia, is the tourism sector, with one of its subsector, trophy hunting, equally heavily affected and impacted. One is reminded of the lucrative era in this subsector ushered in by Namibia’s independence when…

02 Apr

The Time Traveler: Beyond The First 48

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedOscar Pistorius, The First 48

Hugh Ellis One of my favorite series to binge-watch is ‘The First 48’. It follows teams of crack detectives during the apparently critical first 48 hours after a murder is reported. The cameras have access - obviously carefully controlled - to crime scene examinations, meetings with witnesses, interrogation of suspects. Sometimes the culprits slip away, but more often than not the detectives turn up something, the murderer makes a mistake, a clue is discovered, and an arrest is made. Then, at least so we are led to believe, the murderer is put on trial, convicted and sent to prison. The…

02 Apr

Namibia gets N$3.9 billion IMF loan

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedNamibia gets N$3.9 billion IMF loan

Staff Writer The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved a N$3.9 billion (US$270.83 million) loan for Namibia under its Covid-19 Rapid Facility. “The Ministry of Finance wishes to announce the approval of US$270.83 million (about N$3.9 billion as at current exchange rate) by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to address the fiscal financing needs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” the Ministry of Finance said. The Ministry said the application was done last year from the Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) availed by the IMF to middle-income countries. “The RFI provides rapid financial assistance to all IMF member countries (shareholders) facing financial…

02 Apr

Health Ministry fails to suspend violent nurses

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedBen Nangombe, Health Executive Director, Junias Shilunga, Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS), Namibian Nurses Union Secretary General, Oshakati Intermediate Hospital, three unidentified nurses

Kandjemuni Kamuiiri and Rose-Mary Haufiku The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) says its hands are tied when it comes to taking disciplinary action against the three unidentified nurses from the Oshakati Intermediate Hospital who were filmed physically and verbally assaulting a patient. The ministry has not suspended the three but instead assigned them new duties at the hospital while the matter is being investigated. Health Executive Director, Ben Nangombe, said, the Public Service Act dictates the circumstances under which a staff member in the public service may be suspended. "Suspension should first be conducted or effected when you…

02 Apr

Geingob summons Vilho . . . as Venaani dares President

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedGeingob summons Vilho, Venaani

Maria Hamutenya President Hage Geingob has summoned Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Peter Vilho, following allegations of illicit proceeds in undeclared foreign bank account. The meeting according to the Presidency is scheduled to take place on Tuesday 6 April 2021. “President Geingob has summoned the Minister following consultation with the Vice President, the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister”. This comes as Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) President, McHenry Venaani, has dared the President to fire Vilho, amid allegations of corruption and mismanagement at August 26 levelled against him. In an open letter to the President on the 31st…

01 Apr

BOOK REVIEW: Towards a People’s Constitution for Botswana

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedJustice Oagile Bethuel Key Dingake, Towards A People’s Constitution for Botswana

Moses Magadza WINDHOEK – A constitution developed through wide consultations with the people that it is intended to serve is more likely to be a widely accepted and respected document than one crafted behind the scenes and foisted onto the people. This seems to be the pith or fulcrum of “Towards A People’s Constitution for Botswana”, one of four recent books by Justice Oagile Bethuel Key Dingake. Last year I reviewed two of Dingake’s books, namely, “Judges” and “In Pursuit of Justice”. I promised to review the remaining two books, being, “Towards A People’s Constitution for Botswana” (which I review…

01 Apr

BoN declares N$278m dividend

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyBank of Namibia, Covid-19

Kandjemuni Kamuiiri The Bank of Namibia on Wednesday declared a N$278.2 million dividend for the 2020 financial year to the State Revenue Fund, lower than the N$399 million declared prior year. This comes as the apex bank declared a N$532 million surplus for the period under review. “The financial performance of the Bank in 2020 was negatively impacted by low interest rates in the global markets as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; nonetheless the Bank still recorded a notable surplus albeit lower in comparison with 2019. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the year 2020 was characterised by…

01 Apr

COVID-19 restrictions extended …as Namibia passes COVID-19 death estimates

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, president Hage Geingob

Andrew Kathindi President Hage Geingob on Wednesday extended the current COVID-19 regulations, with minor changes to the measures. Under the current dispensation, which will last until 30 April, restriction on movement will remain in place from 22h00 until 04h00, daily. Restaurants, bars and shebeens will be permitted to extend the trading hours for liquor up to 22h00, Mondays to Saturdays. The sale of alcohol on Sundays will remain prohibited, while attendance at public gatherings have been increased from the current number of 50 to 100 persons per event, whether the event is held indoor and outdoor. Minister of Health and…