Blog

15-year PG requirement raises eyebrows

15-year PG requirement raises eyebrows

Andrew Kathindi The decision by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to change the requirements for the appointment of the next Prosecutor General (PG) has raised eye brows amid concerns the move will disenfranchise many lawyers who might be qualified and interested in the post. This comes after a vacancy was advertised for a new Prosecutor General, with clear indications to replace incumbent Martha Imalwa. One of the new requirements for the Prosecutor General post is a minimum of 15 years post admission experience. The current Prosecutor General, who has been in charge for 16 years with her contract extended by…
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The remains in the dunes

The recent grisly discovery of human remains in a shallow grave at Walvis Bay near the C14 roadblock is a tragedy. This sad situation is one of many involving the death, rape, beating, and disappearances of young women in Namibia. When will we value women and girls enough to stop preying on them? While an official DNA test on the remains in the dunes must be done to legally make the identification, it has been widely speculated that Shannon Wasserfall, missing since April 10th, has now been found. The family and numerous friends of Shannon were actively reminding the nation…
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GBV protesters demand Sioka’s resignation

GBV protesters demand Sioka’s resignation

Clifton Movirongo and Helena Johannes Hundreds of protesters marched to Parliament building, demanding the resignation of Gender Equality minister, Doreen Sioka, accusing her of being ‘incompetent’ and ‘inconsistent’ in a petition which they handed to Justice minister, Yvonne Dausab. The protesters are also demanding that President Hage Geingob declares a state of emergency on Gender-Based Violence (GBV). “We are here to fight for the full protection of women in our societies and we want the government to introduce a GBV State of Emergency, we also want the minister of Gender to step down as we have seen that there is…
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Police detain suspect over Shannon case …as remains arrive in Windhoek for testing

Police detain suspect over Shannon case …as remains arrive in Windhoek for testing

Andrew Kathindi The Namibian Police has announced that a woman has been detained for further questioning in connection with the discovery of humans remains, believed to be that of Shannon Wasserfall. The development comes after Tega Matheus, Wasserfall’s father revealed to the Windhoek Observer that he and his other daughter had received an anonymous SMS with the exact location of the remains, which are believed to be that of Wasserfall, who went missing on 10 April this year. “Due to the circumstances under which the human remains were discovered, the police have registered a case of murder, alternatively, defeating the…
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Removing incumbents changes nothing …candidates in regions and local authorities should face direct elections

We trust that the regional electors of the various parties understand that Namibia operates under a party system. The individuals sitting on town councils and in regional bodies could be anyone; it is the party that holds the seat, not the individual. When people who have been holding seats are not returned via their primaries to vie for those seats again, the policies, (failed or not) will be exactly the same. If a region has no investments or high unemployment or escalating municipal bills or poor service delivery it is the party platform of the party of those on the…
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NMP embarks on job registration drive

NMP embarks on job registration drive

Staff Writer Namibian Marine Phosphate (NMP) has announced that it is embarking on a job registration drive to register Namibians interested to be considered for the various jobs and roles that are expected to be created when/if the Sandpiper Project development commences. The development comes as the company which claims its shareholders have already made a N$780 million investment, is currently awaiting judgment on a review application launched by the Confederation of Namibian Fisheries Associations and three other applicants which was heard in the High Court of Namibia on July 7. “While the judgment is pending, NMP is embarking on…
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Young trainees driving innovation at the NamPower Training Centre

Young trainees driving innovation at the NamPower Training Centre

Sem Mathews (22) and Juan Pete Compaan (22) are two fourth year Electrical General students at NamPower’s Vocational Training Centre who are using the passion they have for their trade to create a technologically-smart NamPower. The two are at the forefront of research and development for the implementation of automated lighting for NamPower buildings. The journey that sparked this company-wide lighting automation project began when both Mathews and Compaan took part in World Skills Namibia in April 2019, a national competition that allows technical institutions and individuals to test their skills proficiency against peers in the same trade. “We first…
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COVID-19 to dominate SADC PF Plenary

COVID-19 to dominate SADC PF Plenary

Moses Magadza WINDHOEK-NAMIBIA – The SADC Parliamentary Forum will hold its 47th Plenary Assembly Session virtually from the 9th to the 11th of October 2020 under the theme: “The Role of Parliaments in Strengthening Accountability during a pandemic: The Case of COVID-19.” This would be the first time that a SADC PF Plenary takes place virtually. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that has now claimed the lives of more than one million people all over the world, has prompted many organisations to suspend face-to-face meetings as they strive to continue working under safe conditions. SADC PF Secretary General Ms. Boemo Sekgoma…
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AR to file for new application with the High Court …As electoral tribunal dismisses application

AR to file for new application with the High Court …As electoral tribunal dismisses application

Clifton Movirongo The Affirmative Reposition (AR) movement says it will approach the High Court on Thursday after the Electoral Tribunal for Windhoek dismissed its application for continuous voters' registration the day before. This comes as AR in September took the government and ECN to the Electoral Tribunal pursuing an order to make the ECN to implement continuous voters' registration. One of the issues placed before the Electoral Tribunal is the decision of the Electoral Commission not to fill the casual vacancy at the Keetmanshoop Urban Constituency as required by Section 3 of the Regional Council Act 22 of 1992. AR's…
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Police delay DNA testing for Shannon case…as victim’s father complains about police

Police delay DNA testing for Shannon case…as victim’s father complains about police

Helena Johannes and Andrew Kathindi The confirmation of the identity of human remains discovered in Walvis Bay on Tuesday could be delayed amid revelations that the police forensics laboratory needed to undertake the tests are currently not functional. The remains are believed to belong to Shannon Wasserfall who has been missing since April, 2020. Tests done in police laboratories are crucial in providing a positive identity through DNA testing. “The DNA test is not done yet as the equipment is being moved from the old laboratory to the new laboratory. Due to this, the remains are still in the police…
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