Blog – Page 853 – News Stand

24 Jul

TN expands mobile network coverage

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedTelecom Namibia

Staff Writer Telecom Namibia has announced that it has further extended its 3G and 4G mobile services to both urban and rural areas across the country, with the upgrade of 63 sites and the erection of 10 new base stations in various parts of the country between December 2019 and April 2020. The move by the telecoms company comes as Telecom Namibia has invested in infrastructure development as part of its network modernisation programme, focusing on two key areas: the expansion and the enhancement of its networks. “On network enhancement, the company is reviewing the network architecture to optimise its…

24 Jul

Shipena’s transfer backlash unfounded – Noa

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyExecutive Director, Hannu Shipena, McHenry Venaani, Paulus Noa, Popular Democratic Movement (PDM)

Andrew Kathindi Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Director General, Paulus Noa says that backlash over the transfer of its Executive Director, Hannu Shipena, is misplaced. This week’s surprise reassignment is the prerogative of the appointing authority says Noa. It has nothing to do with the substantive work of the corruption watchdog. Secretary to the Cabinet, George Simataa announced yesterday the appointment of new Executive Directors and the transfer of others to new posts. Those involved included Tylvas Shilongo from the Namibia Central Intelligence Service who was appointed Executive Director of the ACC, replacing Shipena. The decision was met with criticism by Popular…

24 Jul

Omaheke CRO suspension lifted

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyChief Regional Officer (CRFO) Maria Vaendwanawa, Omaheke Regional Council

Staff Writer This week, the Omaheke Regional Council lifted the suspension of Chief Regional Officer (CRFO) Maria Vaendwanawa. She will resume her duties on 3 August. Vaendwanawa was suspended last year. This followed allegations of corruption and mismanagement at the regional council. According to the regional council's chairperson, Ignatius Kariseb, the decision to lift the suspension was taken on 22 July. This followed a labour commission hearing. “I can confirm that her suspension has been lifted. We still await the ministry’s investigation to be finalized. Since the investigation was done by the ministry, we still need to see the report…

24 Jul

Foreign trained medical graduates fail again

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyMedical and Dental Councils Board Exams, MoHSS

Andrew Kathindi Most of the foreign-trained medical graduates who took exams for internships earlier this year failed. This re-assessment was taken two years after only two out of 240 foreign-trained Namibian graduates passed the earlier Medical and Dental Councils Board Exams. “433 foreign-trained medical graduates sat for the internship exam in 2020; 27 passed,” Director of Human Resources in the Health Ministry, Joyce Shatilwe, confirmed to Windhoek Observer. She further noted that “those who failed registered with the MoHSS for an orientation program that the Ministry has initiated. So far 277 have registered and we are anticipating kicking off in…

24 Jul

Foods I hated as a kid, I now eat

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedbeans, Beef Liver, Broccoli

Jackie Wilson Asheeke Many of us have those yucky foods from our childhood that we refused to eat. We wailed, cried, whined and resisted. But, now… we make some of those foods now and they aren’t so bad after all. I used to hate liver. I remember getting punished as a seven year old because I would give the liver from my plate to the family dog that waited quietly under the table at my feet to get his supper. My mom was not amused; my siblings thought it was hilarious. Jackie’s most hated food list Beef Liver Liver is…

24 Jul

Can Namibians do the job?

info_e12wt4csNational NewsMinistry of Home Affairs and Immigration, Namibia

The Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration, unions and the public often decry the local hiring of a foreign national. They believe that person is taking a job away from a Namibian. At the same time, there are employers that are hell-bent on hiring foreigners rather than a Namibian (regardless of qualifications). In the first case, it is untrue that qualified, experienced Namibians are left sitting at home while foreigners get those jobs. Skilled Namibians with experience are being employed. The issue is the army of recent graduates with no experience who are challenged. At the same time, North Koreans…

24 Jul

GIPF investee harvests first blueberry crop

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedGIPF, Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF), Mashare Berries, Rundu

Staff Writer The Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) has announced the first large-scale Namibian commercial blueberry harvest, produced by the Mashare Berries project, which forms part of the Spitz Capital Fund anchored in the GIPF unlisted investment programme. The fund has invested N$90 million into the blueberry production project that is situated 50km east of Rundu on the banks of the Kavango River. This aims to harvest an estimated 150 tons of blueberries between July and October 2020. In a statement, the GIPF announced that the blueberry project supports its investment strategy of selecting high value crops for export to…

24 Jul

Local venture uplifts Nauaspoort, Groot Aub communities

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCrewfield Investments, Groot Aub, Nauaspoort

Staff Writer A local business entity, Crewfield Investments has pledged to establish community gardening projects and a medical centre which will uplift the Nauaspoort and Groot Aub communities. Crewfield Investments Chief Operating Officer, Honest Madzivadondo speaking after meeting Windhoek Rural Constituency Councillor Penina Inga-Iita on Wednesday to discuss the two projects, said him and his partners plan to construct a health centre in Groot Aub area as well as encourage food production in Nauaspoort through gardening projects. “It is so painful to observe that millions of dollars are being spent on food imports in the process thus tempering with employment…

24 Jul

Cabinet announces EDs reshuffle

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyDr Moses Maurihungirire, George Simataa, Secretary to the Cabinet

...as Uiras is removed after less than four months Staff Writer Secretary to the Cabinet, George Simataa has announced the appointment of new Executive Directors and transferal of some to other government offices, ministries and agencies. Of note is the removal of Dr Moses Maurihungirire as Executive Director of the Ministry of Fisheries and transferred to the Office of the Prime Minister, assigned to the Public Service Commission Secretariat. Maurihungirire is a former Fishcor board member and was Executive Director during the tenure of former Fisheries minister Bernhardt Esau when cases of corruption are alleged to have occurred. Wilhencia Uiras…

24 Jul

Namibia investigates 5G rollout

info_e12wt4csObserver Money5G, City of Windhoek, Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN), Namibia

Staff Writer Namibia has started the process of investigating the possibility of rolling out 5G technology in the country, with cabinet recently directing the environment ministry to conduct a thorough environmental assessment. “Cabinet directed the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism to ensure that a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is undertaken and that proper assessment is made, prior to the possible introduction of 5G technology in Namibia,” information minister Peya Mushelenga said. A strategic environmental assessment is a systematic decision support process, aiming to ensure that environmental and possibly other sustainability aspects are considered effectively in policy, plan and program…