National News – Page 237 – Windhoek Observer

31 Jul

The City of Windhoek approves theestablishment of two new townships

ObserverNational NewsThe City of Windhoek approves theestablishment of two new townships

Martin Endjala The Municipal Council of Windhoek has approved the layout, the need, and the desirability to establish a township on Farm 1033 (a portion of Farm 999) that will be known as Otjomuise Extension 14. The township is designated for low-income groups and will serve as a relocation site for people from overcrowded informal settlements during the upgrading phase. The site Farm 1033 is located along Matshitshi Street, southwest of the Goreangab Dam and north of Otjomuise Extension 10. The farm is 35.8 hectares in extent comprising 126 erven was created as a result of the subdivision of Farm…

28 Jul

Nations urged to enhance collective security

ObserverNational NewsNations urged to enhance collective security

Niël Terblanché Geopolitical instability influences the balance of power between nation-states leading to uncertainty, tensions, and conflicts which pose a challenge to maintaining international security. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwa, Namibia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation in her capacity as the SWAPO Party Vice addressed an international roundtable discussion on international security in the context of geopolitical instability and inter-party cooperation in St Petersburg, during the Russia Africa Summit and said the people of Namibia and that of the host country have a long strong cooperation that will be cherished. “The SWAPO Party is honoured to have been…

28 Jul

Namibian President admitted to hospital again

ObserverNational NewsNamibian President admitted to hospital again, president Hage Geingob

Niël Terblanché President Hage Geingob was admitted to a hospital in Windhoek for a follow-up procedure on the aortic valve procedure he underwent in South Africa on 8 June 2023. According to a statement issued by the Namibian Presidency, the procedure in Windhoek went according to plan and Dr Geingob is in good spirits. In June President Hage Geingob was flown to South Africa to undergo a preventative surgical procedure after the presidential medical team detected a mild aortic stenosis during a routine medical checkup. At the time the medical staff advised that President Geingob be flown to South Africa…

28 Jul

Namibia admitted to the UN Water Convention

ObserverNational NewsNamibia admitted to the UN Water Convention

Martin Endjala Namibia’s accession on 8 June 2023 to the United Nations Water Convention, made it the first Southern African country to the organisation. The landmark step will help Namibia to consolidate its long-standing commitment to transboundary water cooperation in Southern Africa. By joining the convention, Namibia aims to enhance water security and foster socioeconomic development for its population of 2.5 million people. By signing the UN Water Convention, Namibia has become the first country in southern Africa and the eighth country in Africa to join. The Water Convention, otherwise known as the Convention on the Protection and Use of…

28 Jul

Chinese company seek relief for N$ 33 million worth of income tax

ObserverNational NewsChinese company seek relief for N$ 33 million worth of income tax

Hertta-Maria Amutenja A Chinese construction company is seeking interim relief in the High Court of Namibia while alleging that N$33 031 543.04 was transferred from its bank account to the Bank of Namibia. The money is allegedly the total and combined tax payable in respect of income tax that was owed to the Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRa) by the Zhong Mei Engineering Group. The company claims it was only informed in an audit exit meeting, which they claim they were not aware of, on 7 July 2023 that it owed that amount and it was due or payable prior on…

28 Jul

SORED establishment on track

ObserverNational NewsSORED establishment on track

Martin Endjala The establishment plans of a Southern Regional Electricity Distributor (SoRED) which emerged in 2014, have received the blessings of the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development. The development follows a recent circular from the ministry’s Executive Director, Daniel Ngidinua which stated that shareholding and asset transfer agreements have been approved. The circular stated that the granted approval by the Ministry as advised by the Attorney General’s Office is set with conditions. The circular stated that the proposals, comments and changes made by the AG’s office must be inserted before the agreements are signed and copies sent copies of…

28 Jul

Trillions are lost to cybercrime

ObserverNational NewsCybersecurity Ventures, Trillions are lost to cybercrime

Martin Endjala With Cybercrime and cybersecurity constantly evolving and new threats emerging every year in different forms, there is a high risk of trillions of dollars getting lost to thieves. According to Cybersecurity Ventures, the cost of cybercrime in 2023 is predicted to hit a staggering N$141 trillion and is expected to further grow to N$176 trillion by 2025,. “This is trillion, not billion, more than Apple and Amazon are worth combined, and that’s just in one year, and every day we go online, our devices are Internet-enabled, and we rarely think about the security risks we take and how…

28 Jul

NBL and Nafau sign wage increase deal

ObserverNational NewsNamibia Breweries Limited (NBL) and the Namibia Food and Allied Workers Union (NAFAU), NBL and Nafau sign wage increase deal

Martin Endjala Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL) and the Namibia Food and Allied Workers Union (NAFAU) recently agreed to sign a substantive wage increase agreement for the 2024 financial year. As part of the new agreement, the two parties have agreed on an overall increase of 7.5 percent in basic salaries for NBL employees. The agreement is for all bargaining unit employees and applicable for the period 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024 and 1 April 2023 to 30 June 2024 respectively. The company’s Corporate Affairs Manager, Surihe Gaomas-Guchu said that it will continue with the current incentive scheme that…

27 Jul

Kneejerk reaction unleashes a chain reaction

ObserverNational NewsKneejerk reaction unleashes a chain reaction

Niël Terblanché The opportunistic misinterpretation of the ruling of Namibia’s Supreme Court with regard to the immigration rights of people in same-sex marriages consummated outside the borders of the country by many influential personalities might have far-reaching funding consequences for the country. The initial kneejerk reaction to the Supreme Court’s ruling and the subsequent tabling and approval of a private member’s bill in the National Assembly to change the definition of the word spouse as described in the Namibian Constitution has had a chain reaction amongst donor countries and organisations that politicians and legislators should have anticipated.Ambassador John Nkengasong, the…

27 Jul

Venaani blames GRN for abandoning crucial projects

ObserverNational NewsMcHenry Venaani, Venaani blames GRN for abandoning crucial projects

Stefanus Nashama The leader of the official opposition in the Namibian Parliament, McHenry Venaani, blamed the government for failing to complete more than 43 capital projects. He said for the government to abandon such huge and crucial capital projects, represents gross mismanagement which is a severe blow to the Namibian Nation’s progress and ability to address the pressing needs of the people. According to him, the backlog of incomplete projects in the health, housing, education, and agriculture sectors is a sign of the government’s failure to prioritize the well-being of citizens. This follows a recent media report by the Ministry…