National News – Page 201 – Windhoek Observer

10 Oct

Shifeta urges communities to avoid division over conservancies

National News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The minister of environment, forestry, and tourism, Pohamba Shifeta, has called on the leaders of conservancies and community forests to avoid dividing communities along tribal, political, or ethnic lines. Speaking at the joint handover of grants and equipment in the Zambezi region this week, Shifeta emphasised that conservancies should benefit all members, regardless of their backgrounds. “A conservancy or community forest should never be used as a tool to divide the community members along tribal, political, racial, or ethnic lines. It is a tool that we use to safeguard our common interests,” said Shifeta. Shifeta further urged community…

10 Oct

No prosecution in the Phalaphala case

National News

Ester Mbathera The South African National Prosecution Authority (NPA) has decided not to prosecute in the case of theft from the Phala Phala Farm. The NPA spokesperson, Mthunzi Mhaga, said that the director of public prosecutions in Limpopo, Advocate Mukhali Ivy Thenga, decided because the authority found no reasonable prospects of success after assessing the evidence. “This decision follows a comprehensive investigation process that was conducted by the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation (DPCI) following a complaint laid by Mr Arthur Fraser with the South African Police Service (SAPS). The criminal complaint was registered against the President of the Republic…

10 Oct

Namibia takes decisive steps to combat infectious diseases

National NewsBen Nangombe, National Operational Plan, Sustainability Roadmap

Niël Terblanché With the expected launch of the finalised Sustainability Roadmap and National Operational Plan (NOP) for healthcare during World AIDS Day in December 2024, Namibia is set to make significant strides in securing a healthier future. Ben Nangombe, the Executive Director of the ministry, said that the roadmap is not just a collection of strategies but a critical tool for ensuring sustained epidemic control in Namibia. He said the ministry hopes that with the implementation, Namibia will serve as a model for other nations aiming to achieve sustainable health responses in the face of evolving global health challenges. “The…

10 Oct

Itula condemns student appointments to parliament

National NewsFenny Tutjavi, Panduleni Itula

Stefanus Nashama The leader of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), Panduleni Itula,, has condemned the appointment of a student to parliament, describing it as abuse. This comes after Swapo appointed 22-year-old university student, Fenny Tutjavi to its 2025-2029 National Assembly candidates list. “To appoint a student to the incredibly high degree of political responsibility prior to acquiring the necessary tools, skills or expertise, let alone experience of deliberative skills required in such a political deliberative chamber, amounts to student abuse,” he said. Itula said that allowing a student to have and accomplish dual excellence in the conduct of public…

09 Oct

Analysts suggest that young people are rejoining Swapo for jobs

National News

Stefanus Nashama Political analysts predict it will take time for young people returning to Swapo to build trust and receive party leadership roles. Speaking to the Windhoek Observer on Wednesday, political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah said leadership principles do not drive such young people. “What we are witnessing is that these young people rejoining Swapo are driven by positions and not really by the principles of leadership,” he said. This year, with the most anticipated and challenging election in independent Namibia, a noticeable number of young people or leaders have returned to Swapo. These include former Landless People’s Movement (LPM) deputy…

09 Oct

UPM pledges focus on water security and youth governance

National NewsAlly Angula, Jan van Wyk

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The United People’s Movement (UPM) has thrown its full support behind independent presidential candidate Ally Angula, describing her as a ‘God-fearing woman.’ UPM president Jan van Wyk, in the party’s election manifesto, urged Namibians to support Angula in her presidential bid. The United People’s Movement (UPM) has also announced a major focus on water security, with plans to invest heavily in desalination plants along Namibia’s coastline. Van Wyk outlined that these plants will supply water for drinking, industrial, and agricultural purposes through pipelines to inland projects. Alongside the focus on water security, the party stressed its commitment to…

09 Oct

Nujoma calls for inclusion of persons with disabilities in fishing industry

National NewsInternational Labour Organization, NAMOSA

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The minister of labour, industrial relations and employment creation, Utoni Nujoma, has called attention to the continued exclusion and under-representation of persons with disabilities in the fishing industry. He made the call at the Namibian Maritime Officers and Shipping Association's (NAMOSA) annual general meeting last week. “May I point out that the need to create employment, especially for the youth, is one of our nation's biggest challenges. This is agreed. However, an aspect often forgotten but equally concerning is the continued exclusion and under-representation of persons with disabilities in Namibia, specifically in the fishing industry,” said Nujoma. In…

09 Oct

Ondonga King allocates farming units for crop production

National NewsOndonga Traditional Authority (OTA)

Stefanus Nashama The King of Ondonga, Tate Omukwaniilwa Fillemon Shuumbwa Nangolo, has directed that 54 farming units of the land of the Okashana Kuukongo WaNehale in the Oshikoto region be used for crop production. The land was allocated to individuals who were ready to start production. The Ondonga Traditional Authority (OTA) chairperson, John Walenga, announced this at the media conference held in Ondangwa on Wednesday. “This resulted in the engagement of a professional land survey to subdivide some of the land into 54 farming units, which were allocated to individuals who are ready to use the land for crop production,”…

09 Oct

New electoral law allows civil servants to retain jobs during elections

National NewsNangolo Mbumba

Erasmus Shalihaxwe President Nangolo Mbumba has signed the new electoral law, which will allow public servants to take leave after being nominated to their political party's parliament list while elections are concluding. In the past, civil servants who appeared on the parliament list of their political parties were forced to resign from their positions. The electoral law has been amended to allow civil servants to take leave until the election results are announced. According to the amended law, if an individual is elected to parliament, they will be considered to have resigned but if they are not elected, they can…

09 Oct

Illegal shack congestion blamed for Walvis Bay fire

National NewsNamibia Housing Enterprise, Otweya informal settlement

Martin Endjala The illegal congestion of shacks is blamed for the recent fire disaster that left many families homeless in the Otweya informal settlement in Walvis Bay. On the evening of 4 October, the shack fire which occurred on the premises of the Namibia Housing Enterprise (NHE) destroyed over 70 houses. The aftermath has left about 200 families homeless. Tragically, the fire claimed one life. Festus Immanuel, the spokesperson of the Walvis Bay Backyard Tenants Group (WBTG), said devastating fires in Walvis Bay often occur in illegal structures. “These structures built in the backyards of formal houses or on empty…