Latest – Page 9 – Windhoek Observer

03 Jun

Menzies finally booted from HKIA

ObserverLatest, National News

By: Niël TerblanchéA panel of three justices of the Namibian Supreme Court has upheld an eviction order issued by the Namibian High Court against Menzies Aviation Namibia, requiring them to vacate their ground handling services at Hosea Kutako International Airport (HKIA).This decision that was delivered today follows a series of legal battles between Menzies and the Namibia Airports Company (NAC) over the awarding of ground handling contracts to a joint venture between Paragon Investment Holdings and Ethiopian Airlines.The appeal stems from a High Court decision that dismissed Menzies' application for a temporary interdict, pending the finalisation of a review application…

03 Jun

UNAM aims to farm with fish at Arandis

ObserverLatest

The University of Namibia (UNAM), through its Dr Sam Nujoma Campus Mariculture Facility, has officially applied for an aquaculture license to farm a variety of marine and freshwater species.This application, as per section 12 (4) of the Aquaculture Act No. 18 of 2002, was made public for the information of all interested and affected parties.The campus plans to cultivate an array of species including Dusky Kob, Silver Kob, European oyster, Abalone, various types of seaweed, Tilapia, and Catfish.In its application, UNAM stated that the aquaculture activities will occupy approximately 94.6 of land situated in the Arandis Constituency of the Erongo…

03 Jun

National minimum wage set at N$18 per hour

ObserverLatest

Cabinet has endorsed the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation (MLIREC), to introduce a National Minimum Wage (NMW) of N$18 per hour, effective January 2025.The announcement was made on Sunday by MLIREC executive director, Lydia Indombo.Indombo added that the NMW will be subject to a review two years after implementation.In February 2021, minister Utoni Nujoma, appointed a Wages Commission to conduct a nationwide investigation in all industries and make recommendations for the proposed NMW.This was going to apply to all employees, except related categories of employees who are exempted by the ministry's wage order, and on related supplementary…

31 May

Rural areas not benefiting from financial inclusion

ObserverLatest, National News

Despite significant strides in financial inclusion, with an estimated 78 percent of the Namibian population now covered, the benefits of these efforts have yet to reach many, particularly in rural areas.The Governor of the Bank of Namibia (BoN), Johannes !Gawaxab, highlighted this disparity at a recent symposium held at Namibia University of Science and Technology in Eenhana.!Gawaxab pointed out that approximately 62 percent of Namibians, especially those in rural regions, still rely predominantly on cash for their income and payments.“This reliance often necessitates long and costly journeys to the nearest financial institution or ATM, further discouraging the use of formal…

31 May

Tsumeb residents protest against bail for drought aid theft suspect

ObserverLatest, National News

Residents of Tsumeb on Thursday protested against the possibility of bail being granted to Ricardo "Anne" Denise, a constituency council official during his appearance in the town’s magistrate court.Denise was arrested after handing himself to the police in connection with the theft of drought relief aid food worth an estimated N$100 000.According to Johannes Johannes, a social justice activist of the Affirmative Repositioning movement in Tsumeb, the angry residents marched to the court to demand that no bail be granted to the accused person. They also handed a petition with their grievances to the public prosecutor.Their anger stems from the…

31 May

Marigold Hotel to pay CoW N$299 000 in debt

ObserverLatest

The Marigold Hotel in Windhoek is expected to pay off its remaining debt of N$299,000 to the City of Windhoek (CoW) by 7 June 2024, following a recent disconnection of municipal services.When the capital city’s municipality cut services, the hotel’s outstanding debts were approximately N$500 000 of which N$256 000 have already been repaid.The partial repayment of outstanding debt ensured the reconnection of municipal services.The CoW announced that the reconnection of the services to the hotel was done with the same protocols available to all customers in a similar situation.

30 May

SWAPO aims for landslide election victory:

ObserverLatest

(Photo by: Joseph Nekaya) NAMPA The Swapo party secretary for information, Hilma Nicanor, says the party wants a landslide victory in the upcoming elections. Nicanor called on all party members, supporters and sympathizers to go out in numbers and register for voter cards, for the 2024 Presidential and National Assembly elections. In a statement dated 30 May, Nicanor directed party structures at all levels, in the regions, districts, branches affiliates and wings to ensure they mobilise the members by encouraging them to go register from 3 June to 1 August. "Our collective and primary objective is to ensure a landslide…

30 May

BREAKING

ObserverLatestLesetja Kganyago

The South African Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago announced that the country’s repo rate remains unchanged at 8.25%. The Sarb’s benchmark repo rate has been at 8.25% for the last year, with inflation still at the upper end of the bank’s inflation target, albeit cooling from the spiralling levels of 2022 and 2023. For April, inflation slowed to 5.2%.

30 May

RED TIDE

ObserverLatestFisheries and Marine Resources

Crowds of people have gathered on the beaches in and around Swakopmund in order to collect masses of dead fish and crustaceans that have washed up on the shore. Scientists of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources confirmed the phenomenon and said it is the result of an upwelling of an algal bloom or what is more commonly known among locals as a red tide that is causing the death of sea life. According to the scientists, the upwelling of algae was preceded by calm sea conditions brought on by east wind weather conditions of the past ten days…

30 May

SHUUMBWA SUSPENDED

ObserverLatestAll People’s Party (APP)

The central coordinating committee of the All People's Party (APP), has suspended Erastus Shuumbwa, its interim president, with immediate effect. The suspension allows the committee time to investigate allegations of contravening the party’s constitution levelled against Shuumbwa. He is also accused of contravening the party’s code of conduct and set of ethics. Daniel Balthezar Djami, the APP’s secretary for information confirmed the suspension on Tuesday. Report by Martin Endjala.