Main – Page 32 – News Stand

01 Feb

President Geingob is back on Namibian soil

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Niël Terblanché President Hage Geingob arrived back in Namibia on Wednesday evening following a two-day novel treatment regime for cancer in the United States of America. According to a statement issued by the Namibian Presidency, the Head of State was admitted to a hospital in Windhoek upon his arrival in the capital city where he will receive the remainder of the cancer treatment. President Geingob’s cancer diagnosis came after routine a colonoscopy and gastroscopy that he underwent at the beginning of January. A subsequent biopsy detected cancerous cells. Shortly after the diagnosis was made public, President Geingob accepted a medical…

01 Feb

Prime Minister denies involvement in petroleum sector corruption

info_e12wt4csMainPrime Minister denies involvement in petroleum sector corruption

Niël Terblanché A letter circulating on social media platforms has sparked controversy in Namibia, alleging that Maggy Shino, the Petroleum Commissioner of Namibia, was appointed in a corrupt manner. The unfounded allegations in the letter has drawn attention from the country’s leadership. Tom Alweendo, the Minister of Mines and Energy, had to explain the appointment process of the head of the Petroleum Directorate. The announcement by the energy minister was followed shortly by the Namibian Prime Minister Saara Kuukongelwa-Amadhila who refuted claims of having a personal relationship with Shino and denied any corrupt practices in her appointment. These responses follow…

31 Jan

ACC issues stern warning to Ministry of Higher Education ED

info_e12wt4csMainACC issues stern warning to Ministry of Higher Education ED

Martin Endjala Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has issued a stern warning to the Ministry of Higher Education, Technology and Innovation Executive Director Alfred Van Kent, against the potentially corrupt habit of committing the Ministry to financial debts through requests for travel payments from public enterprises, especially when conferences and meetings to be attended have no bearing to benefit such public institutions. This comes after the ACC finalised its investigations into the allegations against Minister of Higher Education, Technology, and Innovation, Dr Itah Kandji-Murangi. Allegations of corrupt practices were reported in various print media that the Minister was unduly paid subsistence and…

30 Jan

Several Hardap schools operate without key personnel

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Hertta-Maria Amutenja In a shocking revelation during the official opening of the Regional Stakeholders Conference in the Hardap Region this week, Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Technology, and Innovation Nathalia /Goagoses, addressed a critical issue plaguing the educational landscape. With a resounding call for action, /Goagoses highlighted that 11 schools in the region are currently without principals, and an additional 28 lack Heads of Departments. During her address, /Goagoses emphasized the pivotal role leadership plays in shaping the educational environment. She urged the Regional Director and the education team to fill these vacant positions, stressing the importance of accountability and…

30 Jan

Need arises for TVET to accommodate 76,000 students

info_e12wt4csMain000 students, Need arises for TVET to accommodate 76

Martin Endjala Regina Ambambi, the Chairperson of the Association of Technical and Vocational Education and Training Institutions in Namibia (ATVETIN), has highlighted the urgent need for Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) institutions to expand their capacity. According to Ambambi, accommodating approximately 76,000 learners is crucial to keep youth off the streets and engaged in productive activities, assuming that only a few of them enter direct employment. This necessity was underscored following ATVETIN’s analysis of the recent Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate Ordinary Level (NSSCO) results, released on January 10, 2024. Ambambi noted that the performance in this national assessment significantly impacts…

29 Jan

Central areas of Namibia face water crisis

info_e12wt4csMainCentral areas of Namibia face water crisis

Martin Endjala The Central Area of Namibia (CAN) is on the brink of a severe water shortage. The lack of rainfall has put the region at risk, prompting Namibia Water Corporation Limited (NamWater) and the City of Windhoek (CoW) to call for immediate implementation of water conservation measures to sustain water supply across CAN. Recent data from NamWater and CoW, as of January 22, 2024, indicates that water levels in the three primary dams - Omatako, Von Bach, and Swakoppoort - have fallen to 22.2 percent of their combined capacity. This is a significant decrease from the 39.9 percent recorded…

26 Jan

Historic ICJ ruling reins Israel in

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Niël Terblanché Friday 26 January 2024 will henceforth be remembered as a pivotal moment in international law as the Hague-based International Court of Justice (ICJ) delivered its interim ruling on emergency measures against Israel, following South Africa’s accusations of state-led genocide in the Gaza conflict. At around 14:00 today, a panel of 17 judges of the International Court of Justice in The Hague found that ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hamas in Gaza pose a plausible risk of irreparable harm. In lieu of a final judgement, the panel of judges handed down interim measures to mitigate the severe humanitarian crisis…

24 Jan

President Geingob accepts offer for cancer treatment in the USA

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Niël Terblanché The Office of the President has announced that President Hage Geingob has traveled to the United States of America to undergo a groundbreaking new cancer therapy. According to the Press Secretary of the Presidency, Alfredo Hengari, President Geingob has accepted a medical offer from leading scientists and medical professionals in Los Angeles, California, to undergo this specialized cancer therapy. In a statement issued late on Wednesday afternoon, Hengari assured the public that the travel, medical, and accommodation expenses of the President would not be covered by the Namibian Government. He stressed that 95 percent of the President's cancer…

24 Jan

Rundu Intermediate Hospital under investigation over mismanagement of public funds

info_e12wt4csMainRundu Intermediate Hospital under investigation over mismanagement of public funds

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Ministry of Health and Social Service is investigating the management of Rundu Intermediate Hospital after accusations of financial irregularities involving state vehicles, with amounts of money allegedly directed towards repairs that were never executed surfaced recently. According to an anonymous source, three government vehicles - Toyota Hilux with registration number GRN 27602, Toyota Quantum (Ambulance) GRN 27756, and Ford Ranger GRN 27863 - were dispatched to Okondjatu garage in February 2022 for engine-related repairs. Payments totalling N$203,106.05 were disbursed to the garage, yet the purported services were never carried out on the vehicles. “Toyota Hilux was taken…

23 Jan

Malaria cases on the increase in northern Namibia

info_e12wt4csMainMalaria cases on the increase in northern Namibia

Niël Terblanché A shortage of materials and equipment for testing malaria infections in northern Namibia has raised concerns about the rapid spread of the disease. Recent rains have led to stormwater pooling in low-lying areas, creating new breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Since the beginning of the year, the Ohangwena Region alone has recorded 392 malaria cases. Health authorities in the region confirmed a shortage of testing equipment and materials, struggling with resupply from central medical stores for the past two months. Currently, medical facility staff are forced to rely on microscopes in laboratories to detect parasites in the blood of…