Main – Page 42 – Windhoek Observer

29 Mar

Credibility of Comalie’s Case Questioned

ObserverMainCredibility of Comalie’s Case Questioned, Iipumbu Shiimi

Steve Nashama The credibility of the arrest and the State’s case against Namcor Chairperson, Jennifer Comalie, has been called into question after it was revealed by the Minister of Finance and State Owned Enterprises , Iipumbu Shiimi that as early as last week she alerted him and the Minister of Mines, Tom Alweendo that she feared for her life. Comalie was arrested on Monday under suspicious circumstances in connection with dealing in drugs. She was subsequently granted bail yesterday afternoon in the amount of N$ 7000 when she made her first appearance in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court. State Prosecutor Rowan…

28 Mar

The Arrest and the N$6m exit package

ObserverMainDeputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi, The Arrest and the N$6m exit package

Niël Terblanché A female member of the Namibian Petroleum Corporation’s Board of Directors has been arrested on charges relating to the possession of illicit drugs shortly after a meeting of the board at the offices of the state-owned energy corporation in Windhoek on Monday. The arrest of the senior board member was confirmed by the commander of the Namibian Police’s Public Relations Division, Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi. According to the incident report, arresting officers reacted to intelligence received from an informant when they swooped in on the female board member. During a search of the lady’s official vehicle, the officers…

27 Mar

ECN facing a budgetary shortfall of N$60 million

ObserverMain

Niël Terblanché The Electoral Commission of Namibia will need almost N$500 million in the coming financial year to conduct voter education and voter registration for the next cycle of National and Presidential Elections slated for November 2024. This is according to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Peter Katjivi, who motivated a budget allocation of N$421 930 000 for the successful implementation of ECN programmes for the next year. He pointed out that the budget ceiling will leave the ECN with a shortfall of N$60 million. Despite this shortfall, he stated that the ECN will have to discharge its duties…

24 Mar

Swapo is out of touch -Amupanda

ObserverMain

Stefanus Nashama Affirmative Repositioning (AR) activist and 2024 Presidential Hopeful, Job Amupanda said the ruling party SWAPO is now old, tired, fatigued and unable to understand modern realities and aspirations, despite still appreciating its past achievements.Amupanda, who earlier this month was elected to serve on the City of Windhoek’s Management Committee, indicated that the ruling party is a “grandmother” that did good things while she was growing up.“It is a well-known approach of the African people that it is the responsibility of the youth to take over from their grandparents,” he said.The activist said in an interview with this publication…

23 Mar

Controversy surrounding NHE Executives’ Cape Town trip

ObserverMainControversy surrounding NHE Executives’ Cape Town trip, e National Housing Enterprise

Niel Terblanche In an effort to raise funds to finance the execution of its mandate, the National Housing Enterprise is considering a range of options as well as a host of potential financiers. However, the NHE’s dire financial position has left the state-owned company in a vulnerable position. Besides having to attend to a housing backlog of more than 300 000 living units for Namibians, the staff of the beleaguered SOE is repeatedly threatening to strike because of issues with their salaries. At the same time, staff accuse top management of raking in exorbitant fees for attending board meetings and…

22 Mar

Crowd threatens to become unruly over Independence Day food

ObserverMainCrowd threatens to become unruly over Independence Day food

Niël Terblancé Alarge number of people attending the 33rd Independence celebrations at the Outapi Stadium became unruly when rumours about a shortage of food started spreading among the crowd. It was reported that some of the attendees stormed the tents in which food for the Very Important Persons (VIPs) was kept. Some of the people went through slits on the sides of the tent to get to the food. Others gathered at food trucks in which the food was carted to the venue and demanded that it be given to them. In one case the organisers were forced to inform…

20 Mar

Tribalism, racism, regression worries Schlettwein as he calls it quits on SWAPO duties

ObserverMainracism, regression worries Schlettwein as he calls it quits on SWAPO duties, Tribalism

Martin Endjala Swapo Party Central Committee member and Secretary of the Politburo Carl Schlettwein has cited tribalism as worrisome despite the party’s efforts to liberate Namibia to ensure that racism and tribalism become a thing of the past apartheid regime. The Agriculture Water Land and Reform Minister said this during an interview with the Windhoek Observer as he reflects on his career as a Swapo party member after he announced last year during the Central Committee’s last meeting in December that he will be retiring, alongside his with fellow comrades, Minister of Gender Equality Doreen Sioka, National Assembly Speaker Peter…

17 Mar

Katjavivi to step down

ObserverMainKatjavivi to step down

Steve Nashama The retirement of Professor Peter Katjavivi from active government service will not only leave a luminous legacy but will also create an opportunity for his successor to build on the strong foundation he has laid in the building of Namibia as an independent country. “However, a compatriot never retires because he can at any time be delegated to serve his country in another capacity wherever the need arises, be it in advisory or active service,” the veteran politician and current Speaker of the National Assembly said in the announcement of his retirement. Prof Katjavivi, who is one of…

16 Mar

“We have done all that we could”-Smith

ObserverMain“We have done all that we could”-Smith

Steve Nashama TransNamib Chief Executive Officer, Johny Smith yesterday confirmed that he rejected an offer to extend his stay at the troubled parastatal and that he is pursuing other ventures. Smith, who tendered his resignation earlier this year and is expected to leave the company at the end of this month said in an interview that the old and deteriorating state of TransNamib railway infrastructure hampers operations, resulting in bottlenecks, and has the potential to cause derailments, which can lead to a loss of life, environmental harm and damage to expensive equipment at any given time. “Some of our locomotives…

15 Mar

Is Kandjeke irreplaceable?

ObserverMain

Martin Endjala A motion passed in parliament today, to reappoint Auditor General Junias Kandjeke, has sent the August house into an tense debate as opposition parties questioned the rationale behind reappointing the current AG for another five-year term, given the availability of other capable candidates like his Deputy Gommes Menette. Landless Peoples Movement Leader, Bernadus Swartbooi stressed that Kandjeke has raised concerns about not having the power to hold government sectors accountable, in that public finance sectors are said to be auditing themselves which, lessens the powers of the Auditor General. This will be Kandjeke’s third reappointment in the position…