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29 Sep

Law Reform Commission recommends amendments to the Electoral Act

info_e12wt4csMainLaw Reform Commission recommends amendments to the Electoral Act

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Law Reform and Development Commission has recommended that the Electoral Act of 2014 be amended to make provision for candidates nominated to the National Assembly list to be placed on leave, a practice already in place for Regional Council and Local Authority Elections. Last year, the Commission submitted a report titled “Statutory Submission in Terms of Section 6(e) of the Report on the Review of Article 46 of the Constitution and Section 77(4)(a) of the Electoral Act, 2014 (Act No. 5 of 2014)” to the Minister of Justice, Yvonne Dausab, containing these recommendations. The Commission was assigned…

28 Sep

NAMDIA declares a record dividend of N$300 million to the government

info_e12wt4csMainNAMDIA declares a record dividend of N$300 million to the government

Martin Endjala The Namib Desert Company (NAMDIA) has declared a record dividend of N$300 million to the government for the 2022/23 financial year, marking a continual increase from the dividends declared in the previous years, including N$50 million for 2018/19, N$80 million for 2019/20, N$40 million for 2020/21, and N$150 million in 2021/22. Bryan Eiseb, Board Chairperson of NAMDIA, announced this milestone at the 2022/23 annual report launch in Windhoek. This declaration, he noted, is unprecedented in the history of the state-owned entity since its inception. Eiseb emphasized NAMDIA’s commitment to establishing itself as an institution guided by robust governance…

27 Sep

Government urged to exercise caution with public funds…oppositions advise prudence in oil deals

info_e12wt4csMainGovernment urged to exercise caution with public funds…oppositions advise prudence in oil deals

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Member of Parliament, Joseph Kauandenge, has cautioned the government against engaging with individuals possessing dubious backgrounds, especially when dealing with taxpayers’ money. The Secretary General of the National Unity Democratic Organisation, voiced these concerns this week in an interview with this publication, responding to media reports. Reports suggest that the Ministry of Mines and Energy has procured oil advice from Cameroonian lawyer Njock Ayuk Eyong, allegedly convicted of fraud in the United States of America. Acting Executive Director of the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Bryan Eiseb, reportedly confirmed correspondence with Ayuk for legal advice and support in…

26 Sep

Comprehensive re-assessment of Namibia’s public procurement system amidst criticism

info_e12wt4csMainComprehensive re-assessment of Namibia’s public procurement system amidst criticism

Niël Terblanché The Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprise, in conjunction with the World Bank and the African Development Bank, has commenced an extensive assessment of Namibia’s procurement system. According to Wilson Shikoto, the spokesperson of the fiancé ministry, this initiative, executed through the Methodology for Assessing Procurement Systems (MAPS), strives to fortify transparency, accountability, and value for money in Namibia’s public procurement practices. It’s been three years since the last review of the public procurement process. This new examination comes after prevalent criticism and is considered an imperative step towards the refinement of the Public Procurement Act 2015. Critics…

25 Sep

NUDO demands President’s apology for genocide and apartheid remarks

info_e12wt4csMainNUDO demands President’s apology for genocide and apartheid remarks

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Joseph Kauandenge, the General Secretary of the National Unity Democratic Organisation (NUDO), is calling for an immediate apology from President Hage Geingob concerning the comments he made on genocide and apartheid a few weeks ago in Europe. President Geingob, during a public lecture at the Paris Institute of Political Studies in France, was quoted telling the audience that “Apartheid was worse than Genocide.” However, this statement has drawn criticism from various local political leaders. NUDO is now adding to the voices urging President Geingob to retract his remarks. Kauandenge, also a Member of Parliament, asserted that Geingob’s categorization…

22 Sep

NAMFISA spends over N$14 million on rental fees annually

info_e12wt4csMainNAMFISA spends over N$14 million on rental fees annually

Martin Endjala The Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority (NAMFISA) has been paying N$14,985,114 per annum on office rental fees to occupy the building it is currently operating from in the Central Business District of the Namibian capital. This means for the past four years, the financial regulator has spent close to N$60 million on the lease of the building since occupying it on 15 June 2020. NAMFISA Communications Manager, Victoria Muranda, confirmed these figures during an interview with the Windhoek Observer this week. She said the leased building which NAMFISA currently occupies at the Gutenberg Plaza was procured through the…

21 Sep

Geingob calls for unity, solidarity and action to achieve Agenda 2030

info_e12wt4csMainGeingob calls for unity, solidarity and action to achieve Agenda 2030

Niël Terblanché Dr Hage Geingob, the President of Namibia, delivered an ardent address at the 78th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) where he laid out a blueprint for a more inclusive and sustainable future for all. At the start of his address, Geingob extended Namibia’s felicitations to the newly elected President of the 78th Session of the UNGA, Dennis Francis, while also commending the dedication of his predecessor, Csaba Kőrösi. President Geingob echoed a sentiment shared by UN Secretary-General, António Guterres on the dire need for immediate action to realize the 2030 Agenda, emphasizing the growing disparities in…

20 Sep

Paragon secures RA3 Certification

info_e12wt4csMainParagon secures RA3 Certification

Niël Terblanché After a meticulous EU aviation security validation, Paragon Aviation Services has been officially designated as an RA3 (third-country regulated agent) by the Federal Aviation Office (LBA). EU RA3 certification stands for “Regulated Agent Third Country” certification. It’s a designation given to companies outside the European Union that meet specific security requirements for shipping goods to the EU. Such certification underpins the company’s ability to provide Cargo and Mail, under super-tight safe and secure measures and environment. The newly acquired RA3 status is a significant accomplishment for Paragon Aviation Services. This is the first time in the history of…

19 Sep

Write off student debt: Nekundi

info_e12wt4csMainWrite off student debt: Nekundi

Martin Endjala The Deputy Minister of Works and Transport, Veikko Nekundi, is calling for all debts owed to the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) by beneficiaries who employ ten or more people to be cancelled. Nekundi tabled a motion in Parliament last week calling on his fellow parliamentarians to discuss the matter. He said the motion strikes at the heart of two pressing challenges facing Namibia, namely, the persistently high rate of unemployment, particularly youth unemployment and the weighty burden of student debt from NSFAF. “I contend that the path to addressing both of these challenges lies in a…

18 Sep

Namibian healthcare system under severe strain

info_e12wt4csMainNamibian healthcare system under severe strain

Niël Terblanché Doctors across Namibia have sounded the alarm about the lack of resources they have to deal with when attempting to treat sick patients. Public hospitals are struggling with severe shortages, ranging from staff to beds, and even essential medical supplies while sick people face extended wait times for consultations and vital treatments. The Namibian Medical Association (NMA) has appealed to the government, emphasizing the urgency for augmented funding. The NMA has expressed serious concerns regarding the below-average working conditions that doctors and other medical personnel have to endure, which they believe significantly contributes to the strain on the…