Featured – Page 21 – Windhoek Observer

17 Jul

KP Illest to drop New Album, “The Crown and The Curse”

ObserverFeaturedKP Illest to drop New Album, “The Crown and The Curse”

Martin Endjala Namibian Hip-Hop Artist and entertainment influencer KP Illest is set to release his ninth studio project, “The Crown and The Curse,” in October. The album will be available on all streaming platforms. KP Illest is known for his hard-hitting lyrics, infectious energy, and commitment to supporting upcoming Namibian artists. He is a true ambassador for Namibian hip-hop and is often referred to as the “Big Brother of the music industry” because of his willingness to mentor and help younger artists. “The Crown and The Curse” is a 13-track album that explores the many highs and lows of being…

17 Jul

23 Questions with Miss Namibia

ObserverFeatured

Jameela Uuras was recently crowned Miss Namibia 2023. She managed to grant Observer Weekend a quick sit-down in between a hectic schedule of photoshoots and interviews, both from the local and regional media. Do you follow politics? Absolutely. If you don’t follow politics, politics will follow you. Which 3 political issue are close to your heart? Youth unemployment: We face high levels of unemployment, particularly among the younger generation, which poses a significant challenge for our country's development and stability. Land reform: Specifically because I did research on this during my preparations as a Miss Namibia finalist and it's sad…

17 Jul

Recon Africa gets the green light for more drilling

ObserverFeatured, Observer MoneyRecon Africa gets the green light for more drilling

Niël Terblanché Although there is increased pressure to shift away from fossil fuels and to move towards low-carbon energy sources such as hydropower, solar and wind, this energy transition must be done in a way that shall be fair and affordable for developing countries like Namibia. The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism recently issued an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) to Recon Africa to drill more exploration and appraisal wells in the Kavango Basin to search for oil and gas resources. The project situated in the Kavango West Region of Namibia was the cause of huge controversy amongst environmental activists…

16 Jul

Deconstructing Martha

ObserverFeatured

Martha Kautanevali is a Civil Engineer by profession with a certification in Project Management. She founded the Queenshono Mentorship program and Co-founded - Women in Business Network - providing a casual atmosphere for business and corporate women to engage, support and encourage each other. We caught up with her, shortly after being crowned the 2nd Runner Up in the Miss Namibia competition. Can you briefly tell us where you hail from? I hail from a loving village called Ohamwaala-Edundja in the Ohangwena region. You studied civil engineering at the University of Namibia. You combined it with Project Management Professional (PMP)…

12 Jul

FNB reduces service fees

ObserverFeatured, Observer MoneyFNB reduces service fees, Nangula Kaulum

Martin Endjala The First National Bank of Namibia has reduced the charges on some of its services as a way of cutting deeper to support customers. The fee reductions include card swipe fees on Bankwise lifestyle accounts, fees on international card swipes, reduced cost of ATM withdrawals for its student client base and reduced external debit order fees for its transmission account holders. The reduction in service fees will offer huge fee-saving opportunities for customers who use the bank’s alternative channels, feature across FNB Namibia’s newly released July 2023-June 2024 pricing for products and services. This pricing is effective from…

07 Jul

Police confiscate drugs worth N$617 475 in June

ObserverFeatured

Niël Terblanché Large quantities of illicit drugs such as crack cocaine, cannabis and mandrax have been confiscated by the Namibian police during focused operations in June. According to Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi, the head of the Namibian Police’s Public Relations Division, the combined value of the confiscated drugs is estimated at N$617 475. She said that officers managed to arrest 153 suspects in June. She said that 148 of the suspects were identified as Namibians, while one Angolan, one Congolese and three Zambian nationals were found to be in possession of illicit drugs. The suspects had cannabis worth N$555 455,…

06 Jul

Quality of statistics is not guaranteed in Namibia

ObserverFeatured, National NewsQuality of statistics is not guaranteed in Namibia

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The quality of data is not guaranteed in Namibia because such information is not always compiled for statistical purposes. The representative of the United Nations Population Fund in Namibia (UNFPA) in Namibia, Gift Malunga made the statement at the launch of the National Strategy for the Development of Statistics (NSDS) this week. “In Namibia, like in many other countries, inter-agency access to data from administrative and official records is inconsistent and the quality of data is not guaranteed because it is not always compiled for statistical purposes. Currently, the process of data sharing between government entities is not…

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…