Blog – Page 823 – Windhoek Observer

18 Aug

We have less than two weeks to get it right

ObserverNational News

The Stage 3 state of emergency rules in play in Windhoek and other areas gives the nation a chance to get it right. Masks, sign-in at stores, hand sanitizing, staying at home, closure of public places (to varying degrees) are all difficult. But, we have 16 days to buckle down and get it right. Let’s do it. Resisting the rules, scoffing at common sense (i.e., going to parties when COVID test results are pending), avoiding quarantine, or moving around without a mask, will prolong the problem. The public must accept that the pandemic is here to stay. Stop resisting the…

18 Aug

Otjomuise targeted for Corona decongestion

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Otjomuise, Windhoek Mayor Fransina Kahungu

Andrew Kathindi The City of Windhoek has identified land in Otjomuise which will likely be used as a COVID-19 decongestion location, amidst rising numbers of confirmed cases in the capital city, Windhoek Mayor Fransina Kahungu has revealed. This comes as President Hage Geingob last week gave directives to decongest densely populated informal settlements where community transmission continues to skyrocket. Kahungu told Windhoek Observer that the city started with preparations and that informal discussions at the City of Windhoek where conducted. Formal meetings will continue at management committee level on Tuesday 18 August. “I can be specific that the place that…

18 Aug

EIG to cost Gvt N$210m more

ObserverObserver MoneyEmergency Income Grant (EIG), Ministry of Finance

Staff Writer The Ministry of Finance has added an additional N$210 million to its initial budget of N$562 million, budgeted for disbursement under the Emergency Income Grant (EIG), a once-off N$750 cash payment per qualifying person, on the basis of meeting a set of criteria. To date according to figures from the Ministry of Finance, 765,452 beneficiaries have already received payment under the scheme launched in April by government to aid those who have lost jobs or income, as a result of COVID-19 from an initial estimate of 739,000 Namibians. “As we speak 765, 452 have received their grant already.…

14 Aug

Netflix – The Old Guard – check it out!

ObserverUncategorisedNetflix, The Old Guard

Jackie Wilson Asheeke Ok, Martha, my youngest daughter and movie-watching BFF, and I saw The Old Guard on Netflix. OMG (as she would say) – that movie was lit! Ironically, my other daughter, Neni in France also watched it. We agreed that the next movie we watch, we will do it via Netflix Party so we can text each other while the movie is going on. I must give context that we are a super-hero-movie-loving household. Therefore, a movie about a hidden team of immortal mercenaries that have been running around the planet fighting in wars and conflicts for centuries…

14 Aug

COUCH CAT: Send for take-out, please

ObserverUncategorisedCOVID, State of Emergency

Jackie Wilson Asheeke With the setback in our advancement towards a full end of the State of Emergency, restaurants and cafes are getting kicked in the butt again. We can’t go to our usual places and meet friends, socialize (from a distance), or get a hot meal or cappuccino anymore. We can only get take away. To keep the declining restaurants alive for a bit longer, those who can, must get take-aways as often as possible. If you are like me and working remote and suffering on half salary indefinitely, money is super tight (even though you are actually putting…

14 Aug

Clash of the Doctors

ObserverUncategorisedDr Bernard Haufiku

The Time Traveler: Hugh Ellis The President’s Special Adviser on Health Matters, Dr Bernard Haufiku, was given his marching orders by Hage Geingob recently. This was reportedly after Minister of Health Dr Kalumbi Shangula complained to Geingob that Haufiku was ‘causing discord among team members’ in the fight against Covid-19, and ‘disclosing sensitive information’ without prior clearance. Personally, I’ve no idea if Dr Haufiku was indeed being a difficult git - or whether, as many of the public suspect, he had a knack for telling the unvarnished truth, which rubbed career bureaucrats obsessed with protocol the wrong way. Having worked…

14 Aug

Poor and black does not equal criminal and bad

ObserverUncategorisedneighbourhoods, Operation Kalahari

Jackie Wilson Asheeke I read an interesting opinion piece in the Namibian from Elifas Nghtomoka about the criminalization of poverty. It is a fact of life in Namibia that if you are poor and black in Namibia you are guilty until you are proven innocent. This must stop. The police are extra vigilant against the poor and black particularly in the tin shack suburbs as if that is the only place where crimes happen. People would be shocked about the high levels of criminality that takes place behind the high walls of lovely homes in affluent areas. Indeed as the…

14 Aug

How can capitalism be expected to deliver?

ObserverUncategorisedcapitalism

Yours Truly Ideologically-Eighth Instalment: Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro Yours Truly Ideologically, inaugurated with a broadside at local analysts for their hollow, empty and ideologically void verbiage on the management of state and/or governmental affairs, socio-economically, and also politically. Observing that for most the analytical verbiage has never posited the system in its proper ideological context, either way be it socialist-oriented , capitalist or a mixture of the two, as Namibia’s is proffered to be. For these analysts, the bottom line has been seemingly the non-delivery of the system. Ignoring the fundamental question: Deliver what, and who from what? Deliver the workers from…

14 Aug

Affected communities reject government efforts

ObserverNational NewsGermans, Namibia, president Hage Geingob

The most emotive and sensitive issues in Namibia are the genocide of 1904-1908 and reparations. This week, President Hage Geingob rejected a monetary offer by Germany as ‘reparations’ for genocide. Colonial Germany specifically targeted and killed tens of thousands of people. They stole everything these people owned. They engaged in a vicious military action that permanently drove thousands out of the country of their birth. Deutsche Welle (DW) announced the proposed amount was 10 million euros. Geingob declared the amount, “insulting.” But inside Namibia this issue runs deep. Communities of people directly affected by the genocide are not a part…

14 Aug

NUST still hunting for VC

ObserverObserver MoneyNamibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), Vice-Chancellor

Andrew Kathindi The Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) is yet to appoint a substantive Vice-Chancellor over a year after long-serving Vice-Chancellor, Tjama Tjivikua stepped down. The University Council, which is chaired by Florette Nakusera and appointed by Higher Education Minister Itah Kandji-Murangi in November last year to serve until 2022, is yet to find a suitable candidate. In May this year, Dr Andrew Niikondo was appointed as Acting Vice-Chancellor for a period of six months or until a substantial Vice Chancellor is appointed by council. He replaced Morné du Toit, after his term lapsed. Du Toit serves on…