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15 May

Consensus averts disastrous Keetmanshoop by-election

ObserverMainConsensus averts disastrous Keetmanshoop by-election

Niël Terblanché and Stefanus Nashama A consensus that was reached between political parties contesting in the Keetmanshoop by-election averted a situation which would have kept voters from electing a new representative on the rural constituency council. The Karas Regional Coordinator of the SWAPO Party, Mathew Mumbala, said that the consensus was reached in the interest of democracy. Mumbala said all contesting parties agreed that the Electoral Commission of Namibia’s efforts to re-issue voter cards to people who lost their cards or to those whose documents were destroyed or have become illegible two days before the election would have derailed the…

12 May

Okahandja escapes NamPower disconnection plans

ObserverMain

Martin Endjala The joint venture between the Central North Regional Electricity Distributor (CenoRED) and the Okahandja Town Council has managed to dodge the plans of NamPower to disconnect clients in arrears from the national power grid after agreeing to N$2 million in outstanding debt. The successful talks were held yesterday in the capital. The new agreement was confirmed by Gabriel Awaseb, the CenoRED Acting Chief Executive Officer during a media briefing yesterday. Awaseb said that the initial report earlier this week created a fuzz in the public with many residents reporting that they were shocked and in panic upon seeing…

11 May

Debt-riddled Meatco faces insolvency

ObserverMainDebt-riddled Meatco faces insolvency

Niël Terblanché Competition from the private sector has rendered the Meat Corporation of Namibia technically insolvent with the state-owned enterprise’s debt currently surpassing its assets. Meatco’s line ministry has now started with an urgent intervention to get the corporation back on an even keel. The Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, Calle Schlettwein, at a workshop in Swakopmund, said that initiating reform and supporting the sustainability of Meatco is essential for it to serve as an anchor for continued market access and price stabiliser for all livestock producers, in both communal and commercial farming areas. “We are working closely…

10 May

Nampower’s defaulters to face load shedding from June…Debt exceeds N$1 Billion

ObserverMainNampower’s defaulters to face load shedding from June…Debt exceeds N$1 Billion

Niël Terblanché About three-quarters of Namibia’s population is staring into the dark abyss of chronic electricity supply interruption because of bad debt. Outstanding debt to the National Power Corporation, NamPower has escalated to more than N$1 billion.In an announcement issued by NamPower’s Managing Director, Simson Haulofu, the utility company said that it set to introduce a gradual disconnection schedule to two regional electricity distributors, one regional council and 19 local authorities across the country.This gradual interruption schedule will leave the four most densely populated regions of the country, residents of Windhoek and large swathes of the south without power for…

09 May

SADC must provide aid and support to the DRC

ObserverMainSADC must provide aid and support to the DRC

Hertta-Maria Amutenja President Hage Geingob, who serves as the Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence, and Security Cooperation has requested that SADC member countries work together with East African Community (EAC) and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) to support the disturbing situation in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Geingob officially opened the SADC extraordinary organ troika summit which concluded in Windhoek yesterday. “With the DRC accession to membership of the East African Community (EAC), and the initiatives being spearheaded by President Lourenco of the Republic of Angola, there is a need for SADC to work together with…

08 May

Engela Hospital staff accused of untidiness

ObserverMainEngela Hospital staff accused of untidiness

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Engela District Hospital, one of the biggest hospitals in the north has dozens of stray cats roaming the halls of the hospital and have become a nuisance to patients and the medical staff. The hospital not only caters for the 10 surrounding constituencies but also to Angolan nationals, who cross the border daily for various medical services, including antenatal care and collecting various medications. The Engela Hospital is situated at the border town of Helao Nafidi. Concerned patients and nurses recently revealed to the Windhoek Observer that stray cats frequently prowl the wards and hallways, especially at night,…

05 May

BoN implored to reviewoutdated loan policies

ObserverMainBoN implored to reviewoutdated loan policies

Niël Terblanché Outdated home loan policies and procedures are contributing to impoverishing Namibians from all walks of life who are still struggling with the economic devastation brought on by restrictive government regulations during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Advocate Richard Metcalfe in a letter addressed to the Governor of the Bank of Namibia, Johannes !Gawaxab, said he acts on behalf of numerous clients, who have been forced into a default situation on their home loans as a result of severe financial decline brought on by the Covid-19 debacle because of outdated bank policies and procedures. In the letter, Advocate…

03 May

Thousands queue up for NamPol jobs at the last minute

ObserverMain

Stefanus Nashama Applications to join the Namibian Police Force closed yesterday, with thousands of young people gathering and squeezing each other at the Wanaheda Police Station in Windhoek to submit their applications. According to NamPol Major General Elias Mutota, applicants were given the whole month to submit their applications on time. The Windhoek Observer spoke to some applicants who said that although they were given enough time to submit their applications, finance was the most challenging for them to make copies of documents in time. They had to wait until the end of the month to get some money, make…

02 May

Recon Namibia to hear fate this month…as local organisation claims violation of rights

ObserverMainRecon Namibia to hear fate this month…as local organisation claims violation of rights

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Recon Energy Namibia will learn the outcome of its Environmental Clearance Certificate application later this month, the Minister of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism Pohamba Shifeta reserved judgment following the hearing of arguments both in support of and against the Environmental Commissioner’s decision to revise an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC).The Kavango East and West Regional Conservancy and Community Forest Association, Katope Community Forest Management Committee, Muduva Nyangana Communal Conservancy Management Committee, and Ncumcara Community Forest Management Committee filed an appeal last year, challenging Recon’s clearance certificate.Additionally, the decision of the Environmental Commissioner to grant the certificate to the Canadian…

28 Apr

Revenue from the extractive industry must benefit all

ObserverMainRevenue from the extractiveindustry must benefit all

Niël Terblanché Namibia like many other African countries has to improve Domestic Resource Mobilisation (DRM) and take charge of own development agendas with funds garnered from improved fiscal policies and robust taxation systems.Delegates from across the continent gathered in Swakopmund to attend the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) Workshop on Value Added Tax (VAT) Administration and Compliance in the Extractive IndustryThe Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) is hosting the two-day event which is aimed at providing insights and updates on the best practices in VAT administration and compliance.At the official opening of the workshop, Mary Baine, the Deputy Executive Secretary and…