Blog – Page 854 – Windhoek Observer

27 Apr

Sustainable Development Council faces various challenges

Observer Money

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Sustainable Development Advisory Council during the 2021/ 2023 financial year has faced numerous operational challenges amongst them finances and a lack of limited awareness of the council. The council which was inaugurated in 2015 by the Minister of Environment and Tourism, Pohamba Shifeta, is a body of eight members appointed by the minister to advise him and to promote cooperation and coordination on environmental issues relating to sustainable development amongst organs of state. According to the council’s annual report, while specific challenges were also faced during the reporting period, the situational analysis carried out as part of…

27 Apr

Musheko refutes allegations of neglect

National News

Martin Endjala The Ministry of Agriculture Water Land and Reform has refuted allegations that no budget was allocated to the Mashare Agriculture Development Institute (MADI). The allegations were described as a blatant lie and that budget allocation has indeed been made available, except for the fact that it is decentralised in Windhoek. The ministry’s Spokesperson, Jona Musheko, during an interview with this publication yesterday, explained that due to high inflation, which has heavily impacted the economy, the budget allocated to the Agriculture Ministry was reduced, which then led to the Ministry only allocating certain budget to MADI. This comes after…

27 Apr

Small steps are needed to reach a giant goal

MainSmall steps are needed to reach a giant goal

Niël Terblanché If Namibia wants to grow its economy the country should realise that the demand for affordable, available, and access to energy will increase accordingly. Tom Alweendo, Namibia’s Minister of Mines and Energy, upon welcoming participants in the fifth edition of the Namibia International Energy Conference on Wednesday and said the availability and access to energy sources are not evenly distributed, leading to geopolitical tensions among nations. “It is essential therefore to handle the country’s energy issue with caution and care to prevent conflicts and ensure sustainable development. The current geopolitical tensions are a clear indication of the importance…

26 Apr

Ndeunyema will continue running Namcor for now

National NewsNdeunyema will continue running Namcor for now

Niël Terblanché Shiwana Ndeunyema will remain as the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia’s Acting Managing Director after the negotiation process with Lionel Matthews came to a dead end. The negotiation process between Matthews and the Namcor Board of Directors started a few weeks after the dramatic suspension of Immanuel Mulunga from the position. The negotiation process started because the board made no formal offer to Matthews to act as the interim Managing Director. A statement issued by Namcor’s board, confirms that Ndeunyema, the company’s Business Strategy Executive, will continue to oversee the day-to-day operations of the corporation while other candidates…

26 Apr

Mutorwa commits to road safety

UncategorisedMutorwa commits to road safety

Martin Endjala The Ministry of Works and Transport, John Mutorwa, says that road safety is meant to change the behaviour of road users and that progress made so far to make it so should not be allowed to regress. It is for this very reason that he has committed to ensuring that road safety in the country is of the highest order and not to turn Namibia’s roads into a killing zone. “As long as I am here, we will continue making progress as we carry on the work already done by my previous colleague for the sake of making…

26 Apr

PM loses court battle against ACC Investigator

National NewsPM loses court battle against ACC Investigator

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila has been defeated by Phelem Masule, an investigator of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) when a High Court Judge yesterday set aside her decision to reverse his promotion. Masule whose promotion was reversed by Kuugongelwa-Amadhila in 2020 applied to the High Court to challenge the decision. An ecstatic Masule after the court case was concluded said: “The Prime Minister’s decision has been set aside and I am ready to go into office and take on the challenge.” According to documents filed at the Windhoek High Court, former Executive Director of the ACC Hannu Shipena notified…

26 Apr

Opposition parties must engage in serious conversation

National NewsOpposition parties must engage in serious conversation

Stefanus Nashama Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) Leader, McHenry Venaani, stated that it is time for opposition parties to have a serious conversation on how to take over power from the governing Swapo Party rather than attacking each other on petty things. “My mission as an official opposition leader is to bring opposition parties to a table to discuss the future of Namibia,” he said. Venaani said any party can remove Swapo from power, adding that the formation of a coalition is the best and fastest approach to taking power from the governing party. He said opposition political organizations should raise…

26 Apr

Shikongo urges Nampol, FIC, and ACC to explore other ways of battling crime.

National NewsFIC, Shikongo urges Nampol

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Inspector General of the Namibian Police, Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo, has urged the Financial Intelligence Centre and Anti-Corruption Commission to explore more areas of possible cooperation to combat crime Shikongo said this yesterday at the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between Nampol, FIC, and ACC where all three crime-fighting entities will combine forces to combat Transnational Organized Crime (TOC). “The signing of the MoA today came at the right time. One of the Interpol Executive Delegates for Africa is from Namibia, and this agreement will cement the leading role Namibia has taken in the…

26 Apr

NWR employees improve management skills

National NewsNWR employees improve management skills

Stefanus Nashama Thirty-one employees at the Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) have completed the Management Development Program aimed at improving their management and leadership skills required in the industry. The program took about a year for employees to complete the program. The Management Development Program was designed in-house and was tailored to enhance the management skills of resort and head office managers and to prepare them with the necessary tools and knowledge to succeed in their roles. While speaking at the event, Matthias Ngwangwama, the Managing Director of Namibia Wildlife Resorts, acknowledged all the employees on the successful completion of the…

26 Apr

Retirement is crucial for the economy

MainRetirement is crucial for the economy

Martin Endjala Occupational retirement is seen as a crucial element in the economy of Namibia because it enables people who retire after reaching the age of 60 not to falter financially but to continue to sustain themselves. Based on information sourced from the Namibia Financial Institution Supervisory Authority, as of the third quarter of 2022, the number of Namibian retirement fund members stood at 238 603. Of these, 94 291 were members of the Government Institutions Pension Fund. “This number is higher than expected considering our high unemployment rate, large informal sector, and the fact that occupational pension schemes are…