Main – Page 8 – Windhoek Observer

18 Aug

Namibia’s focus on wealthy expatriates questioned

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Ester Mbathera Adrianus Vugs, a financial expert and actuary has asked whether Namibia should consider aligning its development agenda with the spending habits of wealthy individuals leaving the United Kingdom (UK). Vugs raised this question last week in relation to the ongoing trend of UK millionaires relocating due to the high cost of living in their home country. “Millionaires are leaving the country because they feel like they are broke and poor in the UK. For example, a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice will cost you between £5 and £10, which is enough to buy more than 10 kg…

15 Aug

Swapo split in Omaheke over new branch leadership

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Stefanus Nashama Swapo regional coordinator in the Omaheke region, Ruth Kaukuata-Mbura, has denied having received any reports of a Swapo member being slapped by another. This follows claims by the former Omaheke Swapo Women’s League regional coordinator, Bianca Van Wyk, who alleged that the former Omaheke regional governor, Festus Ueitele, slapped her during the Okorukambe branch meeting in Gobabis. The meeting was set to restructure the branch since the term of the current office bearers has lapsed. “No one was beaten by Ueitele at the branch meeting and my office did not receive any report that Bianca was beaten,” Kaukuata-Mbura…

14 Aug

ECN warned not to register Nandi-Ndaitwah for the presidential elections

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Martin Endjala Several Swapo members have written to Namibia's Electoral Commission (ECN) via their lawyer, Nicky Ngula, instructing the commission not to allow the registration of endorsed party presidential candidate Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. They are Joshua Vaino Martins, Reinhold Nghihepavali Shipwikineni, Petrus Ndeshipanda Shituula, Erich Chrismann Shivute and Aina Kalimba Angula. “Our instructions are to advise that the Electoral Commission of Namibia, in the circumstances, should not allow the registration of Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as a presidential candidate for the National Presidential Elections for 2024 as a result of her non-compliance with Article 15 (9) of the Swapo Party Constitution,” said Ngula.…

13 Aug

Parliament faces legal and functional challenges over NEFF seats

ObserverMainChristian Democratic Voice (CDV), Democratic Party of Namibia (DPN), Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters

Martin Endjala After the deregistration of the Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF), Christian Democratic Voice (CDV), and Democratic Party of Namibia (DPN) by the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), it is still unclear what will happen to the seats vacated in the National Assembly. “This is another classic example that the existing legal provisions are incomplete and do not clarify all eventualities,” said political analyst, Henning Melber on the seats left unoccupied by members of parliament of the affected parties. He said that the country's legal provisions fall short when it comes to handling unforeseen situations, such as the NEFF…

12 Aug

EU backs Namibia’s efforts to exit FATF grey list

ObserverMainFATF grey list

Martin Endjala The European Union Global Facility is assisting Namibia in its efforts to exit the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) Grey List through a scoping mission workshop focused on prioritising technical assistance for beneficial ownership compliance. This initiative follows Namibia's request for support from the EU AML/CFT Global Facility to enhance its adherence to international standards in anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing, specifically in the area of beneficial ownership reporting. This was announced by Ana Beatriz Martins, the EU Ambassador to Namibia on 12 August. “The ultimate goal of this workshop is to see Namibia exit the Financial Action…

11 Aug

Alweendo advocates for idea-driven political messages

ObserverMainHarambee Prosperity Plan

Ester Mbathera As the country prepares for elections later this year, the Swapo national leader assigned to the ||Kharas Region, Tom Alweendo, has called for a focus on idea-driven politics rather than personality-driven campaigns. Alweendo made the statement on his social media platform, urging political parties to prioritise problem-solving, inclusivity, and innovation in their campaigns. “Problem-solving approach and idea-driven politics prioritise problem-solving over personal agendas. It focuses on addressing the root causes of problems that, when fixed, create lasting change. Inclusive governance, when politics is centred around ideas, it becomes more inclusive. It allows diverse voices and perspectives to be…

08 Aug

Tax threshold increase brings relief to homeowners

ObserverMainIipumbu Shiimi, Income Tax Act 24 of 1981

Martin Endjala Homeowners stand to benefit from the increase in the tax threshold from N$50 000 to N$100 000. This follows the presentation of proposed amendments to the Income Tax Act, 24 of 1981, in the National Assembly by finance minister, Iipumbu Shiimi this week. According to Josef Sheehama, an independent bank researcher and economist, homeowners will only have to pay tax on the amount that exceeds N$100 000. "This is a wise decision, even though government tax revenue will marginally decline. For those looking to purchase a home, this is welcome news because bond costs are expensive," he said.…

07 Aug

Chamber of Mines urge GRN to look beyond taxes and royalties

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Martin Endjala Namibia’s Chamber of Mines president, Zebra Kasete, has urged the government to focus more on skill development rather than solely on benefiting from mining exploration through taxes and royalties. He made these remarks during the opening of the 2024 Mining Expo and Conference in Windhoek on Wednesday. "The government should not be concentrating on the possible revenue from exploration activities but rather focus on skill development to unlock people's potential," he said. He proposed using taxes and fees from the industry to finance and provide people with the necessary skills. According to Kasete, this approach will empower both…

06 Aug

Namibia endorses Access to Information Act

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Niël Terblanché The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) announced the National Assembly's endorsement of the Access to Information Act (ATI) No. 8 of 2022 Regulations on Tuesday. This puts Namibia among the 140 countries in the world to adopt such a law. In a statement, the minister of information and communication technology, Emma Theofelus, said that the ATI Act Regulations reaffirm the country's dedication to ensuring citizens' access to information. “This milestone will soon lead to the implementation of the Act, as noted by Emma Theofelus, the Minister of Information and Communication Technology,” she said. She added that…

05 Aug

Scammers targeting Namibians with bogus parcels

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Martin Endjala and Ester Mbathera Inspector Silas Shipandeni, the Khomas region’s police spokesperson, has cautioned the public to avoid paying or sending money for parcels they have not received. The Windhoek Observer received complaints from members of the public who paid for parcels that never arrived, prompting him to offer advice. “Yes, the police, especially in the Khomas region, receive complaints relating to such scams. The advice to the public is that they should avoid paying or sending money for things or parcels they didn't receive. We understand the logic and the principles of paying a deposit amount for one's…