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18 Mar

Suspension saved Karasburg from going into the dustbin – Swapo councillors

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Martin Endjala One of the suspended Swapo Councillors of the Karasburg Town Council, Elia Hauwanga says the decision undertaken by the Urban and Rural Development Minister Erastus Uutoni, to suspend the entire council, has saved the town from going into the dustbin. Hauwanga told the Windhoek Observer yesterday that both the Swapo party and the Independent Patriot for Change (IPC) view the suspension executed by the Minister as per the Government Gazette Notice under Section 92(9) Act no 23 of 1992 of the Local Authority, as the right decision. “This has been long coming. We anticipated it to happen. Following…

18 Mar

CRAN wins Supreme Court challenge on regulatory levies

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Martin Endjala The Communication Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) has won a constitutional challenge filed by Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) against the amendment of Section 23 of the Communications Act, in the Supreme Court concerning the collection of levies. After appealing the High Court judgment of 22 August 2022, the Supreme Court heard the appeal on the 14th of April 2023. The Supreme Court of Namibia delivered a judgment in CRAN’s favour on 13 March 2024. MTC’s application was based on the grounds that Section 23 as amended, which allows CRAN to collect regulatory levies was unconstitutional as the amended…

17 Mar

Gobabis municipality forges ahead with unauthorized salary increases amid financial struggles

MainGobabis municipality forges ahead with unauthorized salary increases amid financial struggles

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Gobabis Municipality is embroiled in a heated dispute over a proposed 4 percent salary increase for its employees, despite dire financial warnings and mounting debts. An open letter addressed to the Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Uutoni, this week by the town’s former mayor Elvire Theron and Management Committee member Isak de Beer alleges breaches of protocol, including the unauthorised negotiation and signing of salary increase agreement with Namibia Public Workers Union (NAPWU) by the municipality’s Chief Executive Officer, (CEO) Sophia Eises. The letter highlights that the decision was made without proper authorisation, igniting a fierce…

15 Mar

Uutoni suspends entire Karasburg Town Council

MainUutoni suspends entire Karasburg Town Council

Martin Endjala Urban and Rural Development Minister, Erastus Uutoni has suspended the entire Karasburg Town Council, without remuneration or allowance, with immediate effect. The drastic action followed after the council defied the directives of the Local Authority Act as well as failing to comply with the directives of the Minister which he issued last year. The Minister’s decision is contained in the Government Gazette Notice released today, under Section 92(2) of the LA No 23 of 1992. As a result, the Minister has appointed the former Chief Executive Officer of the Aroab Village Council, Elize Laubscher as the administrator to…

15 Mar

President Mbumba to testify in Fishrot case if summoned

MainPresident Mbumba to testify in Fishrot case if summoned\

Hertta-Maria Amutenja President Nangolo Mbumba has made a commitment to testify in the ongoing Fishrot fraud, corruption, and racketeering trial if requested to do so by the court. His assertion came in response to a question posed to him by opposition leader McHenry Venaani in Parliament yesterday during the State of the Nation Address (SONA). Venaani wanted to know if President Mbumba is willing to appear and testify in court against the fishrot accused persons, since he was Secretary General of the Swapo Party when the alleged crimes were committed, and the ruling party has been accused numerous times of…

13 Mar

Namibia’s population surpasses three million

MainNamibia’s population surpasses three million

Stefanus Nashama A preliminary report released by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) has revealed that Namibia’s population currently stands at 3,022,401 million, a growth of 909,324 since the country conducted its last census in 2011. This is according to Alex Shimuafeni, the Statistician-General of the NSA, who made the presentation at the official launch of the preliminary results of the 2023 population and housing census today in Windhoek. This was the fourth time Namibia undertook the population and housing census. In 1991, Namibia’s population stood at 1,4 million; in 2001, it was 1,8 million; in 2011, it stood at 2,1…

13 Mar

Swapo violated its constitution by pushing extraordinary congress to next year: Nahas Angula

MainSwapo violated its constitution by pushing extraordinary congress to next year: Nahas Angula

Stefanus Nashama -Helmut says the decision was strange-Analyst says the decision was taken on majority rules Former Prime Minister and Swapo Party Stalwart, Nahas Angula said the ruling party has violated its constitution by avoiding organising an extraordinary congress within three months as stipulated in the constitution. Angula was reacting to the Swapo Central Committee meeting that endorsed Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah over the weekend to represent the party as its presidential candidate for the election. The Central Committee has resolved to push the much talked about extraordinary congress to next year April. Skipping the three months stipulated in the party’s constitution.…

12 Mar

FAO to lead initiative on combating food insecurity

MainFAO to lead initiative on combating food insecurity

Niël Terblanché To assist Namibia in its fight against food insecurity and poverty, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is significantly stepping up its support. Patrice Talla, the FAO Sub-Regional Coordinator for Southern Africa, has arrived in Namibia on a mission to understand how the international body can assist in fortifying the nation’s resilience against the backdrop of climatic adversities. This timely visit, orchestrated by the FAO Namibia Country Office, highlights the organization’s proactive approach towards addressing the pressing issues of food security and poverty reduction in the region. Phillipus Tobias, the Communication Officer of the FAO Namibia Country Office,…

12 Mar

Petrofund aims to upskill Namibians for oil and gas industry

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Niël Terblanché Namibia’s future oil and gas industry has the potential to create a yet-to-be-determined number of new jobs for appropriately skilled young people. With nine significant discoveries off the coast, Namibia is gearing up to ensure its citizens are at the forefront of this emerging sector. The Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Training and Education Fund (Petrofund), Nillian Mulemi, stated that an abundance of qualified Namibians ready to contribute to and benefit from the industry’s growth already exists. The Petrofund, in response to future industry needs, has launched several programs aimed at providing Namibians with the necessary skills…

11 Mar

Venaani irked by delayed release of August 26 audit report

MainVenaani irked by delayed release of August 26 audit report

Stefanus Nashama The leader of the Official Opposition, the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), McHenry Venaani, said he is deeply disappointed with the prolonged delay in the publication of the forensic audit report into the affairs of August 26 Holdings. Since 2018, Venaani has made numerous calls to have the state-owned company’s books audited, stressing that the company has failed to account for public funds since its inception. The calls include the office of the Ombudsman to render a legal opinion on the legality of the auditing of the company. August 26 is fully owned by the Ministry of Defence and…