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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…

27 Apr

Small steps are needed to reach a giant goal

ObserverMainSmall steps are needed to reach a giant goal

Niël Terblanché If Namibia wants to grow its economy the country should realise that the demand for affordable, available, and access to energy will increase accordingly. Tom Alweendo, Namibia’s Minister of Mines and Energy, upon welcoming participants in the fifth edition of the Namibia International Energy Conference on Wednesday and said the availability and access to energy sources are not evenly distributed, leading to geopolitical tensions among nations. “It is essential therefore to handle the country’s energy issue with caution and care to prevent conflicts and ensure sustainable development. The current geopolitical tensions are a clear indication of the importance…

26 Apr

Retirement is crucial for the economy

ObserverMainRetirement is crucial for the economy

Martin Endjala Occupational retirement is seen as a crucial element in the economy of Namibia because it enables people who retire after reaching the age of 60 not to falter financially but to continue to sustain themselves. Based on information sourced from the Namibia Financial Institution Supervisory Authority, as of the third quarter of 2022, the number of Namibian retirement fund members stood at 238 603. Of these, 94 291 were members of the Government Institutions Pension Fund. “This number is higher than expected considering our high unemployment rate, large informal sector, and the fact that occupational pension schemes are…

25 Apr

Leaked report exposes high-level fraud attempt

ObserverMaine Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia’s (CRAN), Leaked report exposes high-level fraud attempt

Niël Terblanché The ghost of the so-called smart city deal between the City of Windhoek and Huawei Communications has come back to haunt the parties involved with serious allegations of fraud, attempted fraud and corruption involving millions of dollars at the highest levels. The leaked document, marked “Extremely Confidential” and dated 27 January 2021 deals with what appears to be a concerted effort by numerous parties to defraud not only the residents of Windhoek but the City of Windhoek itself. The report raises the concern of possible high-level fraud and corruption. The saga started in 2020 when Paratus Telecom protested…