Featured – Page 20 – Windhoek Observer

04 Jul

Why the City of Windhoek Councillors Repeatedly Fail us

ObserverFeatured, OpinionsWhy the City of Windhoek Councillors Repeatedly Fail us

Isaack Kambwa Municipalities in Namibia are mandated to deliver services that meet basic communal needs such as housing, water and sanitation, land, electricity and infrastructur. The municipality as an institution is considered an engine for local development and central to service delivery. The government has implemented an elaborate statutory framework which operationalise the Municipalities. The powers of Municipal councils are regulated within this statutory framework, despite the powers conferred upon the councilors, they tend to fail in running their Municipalities. In case study research on the performance of councillors in the South Africa by Stellen press highlighted a number of…

03 Jul

The second round of OM SEED launched

ObserverFeatured, Observer MoneyThe second round of OM SEED launched

Martin Endjala The Old Mutual Foundation, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Accelerator Lab, has announced the launch of the second run of the highly anticipated Old Mutual Sustainable, Economic, and Empowerment Drive (OM SEED) in four new towns in Namibia. Following the remarkable impact achieved in Windhoek, Keetmanshoop, and Oshakati last year, the foundation is extending the initiative to Rundu, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, and Mariental in 2023. The four towns have been strategically selected to foster entrepreneurship, create value within local communities, and address the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. OM SEED was first launched last…

29 Jun

Kunene region spends N$ 33m on infrastructure development

ObserverFeatured, Observer MoneyKunene region spends N$ 33m on infrastructure development

Martin Endjala The Kunene Region has spent over N$33 million from its initial allocated N$200 million for the 2022/23 financial year, due to funds that were virement on given projects such as N$175 million towards the construction of the new 412 kilometre-long Swakopmund-Henties Bay-Kamanjab road. Kunene Regional Governor, Marius Sheya said in his State of the Region address yesterday in Opuwo that it is no secret that public infrastructure development stimulates prosperity and promotes economic inclusion through the provision of accessibility, inclusion, and safety. Infrastructure development shapes social and economic outcomes that promote a socially fair and cohesive society, he…

28 Jun

Tabled Banking Bill to empower BoN in holding banks accountable

ObserverFeatured, Observer MoneyTabled Banking bill to empower BoN in holding banks accountable

Martin Endjala The Bank of Namibia will soon have the authority to deal with commercial banks that are contravening the Banking Institutions ACT following the introduction of the Banking Institutions Bill tabled in parliament which is intended to repeal the Banking Institutions Act, Act No. 2 of 1998 as amended. During the tabling of the Bill, the Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises, Iipimbu Shiimi said that the banking regulatory framework should be effective and responsive to the needs of the people and when promulgated, it will enhance the regulatory and supervisory framework for banking institutions and contribute to the…

28 Jun

SMEs actively contribute to the national economy

ObserverFeatured, Observer MoneySMEs actively contribute to the national economy

Martin Endjala Namibia should embrace the fact that it is well-positioned to capitalise on the strengths of its Small and Medium Enterprise sector, given the immense contributions of SMEs to economies and societies worldwide. The importance of such enterprises emphasises the power of Micro, Small and Medium-sized (MSMEs) and their transformational potential and the need for inclusive, sustainable support systems. Bank Windhoek’s Head of SME, Financial and Data Analytics, Bianca Janse Van Vuuren made these remarks during the commemoration of MSMEs Day, which is commemorated on the 27th of June worldwide. The United Nations General Assembly designated 27 June as…

26 Jun

Oshana Region makes strides in availing low-cost houses

ObserverFeatured, National NewsElia Irimari, Oshana Region makes strides in availing low-cost houses, Oshana Regional Council

Martin Endjala In its pursuit of availing urban and low-cost housing, the Oshana Regional Council has made big strides in ensuring that residents have access to affordable land and houses. This comes after the three towns of Ongwediva, Ondangwa and Oshakati serviced and allocated 863 plots for housing development in Oshana Region during the 2022/2023 Financial Year. During his State of the Region Address on Friday, Oshana Governor Elia Irimari said that the increasing pace of rural-urban migration continues to escalate the demand for residential and business properties in urban areas in the region. During the year under review, Irimari…

23 Jun

Oryx Properties, Scania Namibia go solar

ObserverFeaturedOryx Properties, Scania Namibia go solar

Oryx Properties and long-term tenant Scania Namibia installed 218 state-of-the-art solar panels on the roof of the Scania building in the Northern Industrial area, representing a substantial investment of N$ 1.4 million. The newly installed solar panels, with a total capacity of 91Kwatt, are set to transform energy consumption at the Scania facility. By harnessing the power of the sun, the solar panels will generate clean and renewable electricity, significantly reducing the reliance on conventional energy sources. This sustainable energy solution aligns perfectly with the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategies of both Oryx Properties and Scania Namibia. Clifford Marchbank,…

23 Jun

NEFF worried about visa-free entry for Chinese

ObserverFeaturedNEFF worried about visa-free entry for Chinese

Stefanus Nashama The Namibian Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) Leader, Epafras Mukwiilongo, yesterday said the visa-free entry for Chinese nationals in Namibia for 30 days will affect the Namibian business industry and increase the high unemployment rate among the youth of the country. Mukwiilongo said he understands that the Chinese are protected by their government in Namibia while the Namibian Government is sleeping on duty to protect its citizens in China. He stressed that the visa-free entry for Chinese nationals is not in the interest of Namibians, that it is in the interest of the Chinese themselves because Namibian citizens do…

21 Jun

MoU signifies another milestone in Namibia’s hydrogen future

ObserverFeatured, Observer Money

Niël Terblanché By becoming signatories to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Namibian Government and Dutch partners the country has taken another significant step towards realising the potential of the transformative green hydrogen sector for the benefit of all Namibians as envisaged in the Harambee Prosperity Plan II (HPPll). The Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises announced the conclusion of agreements for the establishment and management of a special vessel, NH2 Fund Managers, which will expedite the government’s option to take up a 24 percent interest in the first awarded project under development by Hyphen Hydrogen Energy. The signing…

20 Jun

Civil Society Organizations crucial in promoting democracy

ObserverFeaturedCivil Society Organizationscrucial in promoting democracy

Martin Endjala Civil Society Organizations have been underpinned as vital role players in promoting democracy in the country given their vast direct connection to society. The European Union Deputy Head of Mission, Gosia Lachut said this during the European Union and Konrad Adenauer Stiftung training of over 200 members of the Civil Society Organisations from four Northern Communal Areas, the Omusati, Ohangwena, Kavango East and West regions. She emphasised the importance of Civil Society in democracies adding that such organisations play a crucial role in promoting democracy, human rights, and good governance. “I believe that with the newly acquired knowledge,…