National News – Page 248 – Windhoek Observer

14 Sep

Mystery surrounding missing angler deepens

ObserverNational NewsMystery surrounding missing angler deepens, Robby Michael

Niël Terblanché The baffling disappearance of 53-year-old angler Robby Michael, who vanished without a trace from a desolate beach near Mile 72 north of Henties Bay last Saturday night, has turned sinister when members of the Namibian Police arrested a man who was in possession of fishing rods believed to belong to the missing angler. Michael’s extended-cab Toyota bakkie was discovered partially submerged in the waves of the Atlantic Ocean near Mile 72. A passerby, who happened upon the scene of a white Toyota bakkie with registration number N 2426 OM, in the sea around 08:45 on Sunday morning, reported…

14 Sep

Amnesty Month aimed at promoting continental safety and peace

ObserverNational NewsAmnesty Month aimed at promoting continental safety and peace, Dr Albert Kawana

Niël Terblanché Namibians will once again have the opportunity to surrender their illicit firearms without facing disclosure, humiliation, arrest, or prosecution. The Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security, Dr Albert Kawana, officially launched Amnesty Month in Windhoek yesterday and said the period marks the continuation of a crucial initiative that aims to address the proliferation of illicit firearms and promote peace, stability, and harmony in Africa. An African Union (AU) initiative, Amnesty Month was initially declared in July 2017 to collect illegally owned firearms, ammunition, and related materials, with the goal of “Silencing the Guns in Africa” by…

13 Sep

Tourism Ministry condemns violent attacks on tourists

ObserverNational NewsTourism Ministry condemns violent attacks on tourists

Niël Terblanché The recent spate of violent attacks targeting international tourists in Namibia has been condemned in the strongest terms. The wave of attacks, which included robberies and assaults using different weapons, have been reported in various parts of the country, including Windhoek and Okahandja. Pohamba Shifeta, the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism said he is gravely concerned about the attacks and called on all Namibians to adopt a zero-tolerance stance against crimes committed against tourists or any other crime where vulnerable members of society and innocent tourists are victims. “We are gravely concerned about the recent wave of…

13 Sep

Pensioners owe CoW over N$200million in unpaid rates and taxes

ObserverNational NewsN$255 million, Pensioners owe CoW over N$200million in unpaid rates and taxes

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Households owned by pensioners in the City of Windhoek (CoW) owe the municipality a total of N$255 million in unpaid rates and taxes. The outstanding amount is part of the total amount of N$1.2 billion owed by residents to the city. This was revealed by Abel Isaaks, who works in the city’s finance department This comes in the wake of a protest by the Katutura Residents’ Committee (KRC) outside the city’s offices, who demanded swift action from both the city management and the Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Uutoni, regarding their grievances over the use of…

13 Sep

Psychiatric ward with 60 bed capacity accommodates 200 patients

ObserverNational NewsPsychiatric ward with 60 bedcapacity accommodates 200 patients

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Oshakati Intermediate Hospital’s psychiatric ward 16, which is designed to accommodate 60 patients with mental health problems, is consistently accommodating up to 200 patients at a time. The Executive Director of the Ministry of Health and Social Services Ben Nangombe, confirmed this yesterday. In an interview with the Windhoek Observer, Nangombe highlighted the urgent need to establish mental health wards at various health facilities across the country. He said Namibia currently has only two institutions providing mental health services, which are the Windhoek Central Hospital Mental Health Unit with a capacity of 220 beds and the one in…

13 Sep

Amoomo frustrated after the police take Amushelelo to the wrong court

ObserverNational NewsAmoomo frustrated after the police take Amushelelo to the wrong court, Kadhila Amoomo, Michael Amushelelo

Stefanus Nashama Michael Amushelelo’s lawyer Kadhila Amoomo, has expressed frustration and disappointment in the Namibian Police Force after they took his client to the wrong court yesterday. Amoomo said the police have frustrated him for not making sure his client attended court on time, which resulted in his client’s case being postponed to 11 October 2023. “The police are just frustrating us, and wasting our time to go to court. This is not right. We will fight for the release of our client no matter how the police try to make it hard for him,” he stated. He noted that…

13 Sep

NSA and ECN agree to enhance systems and operations

ObserverNational Newshave yesterday entered into a collaboration to promote and develop areas of mutual interest in field-related operations., Namibia Statistics Agency and the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN)

Stefanus Nashama Namibia Statistics Agency and the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), have yesterday entered into a collaboration to promote and develop areas of mutual interest in field-related operations. According to the Memorandum of Understanding, the parties will cooperate in information systems and data analysis management, institutional resources sharing, exchange of knowledge and other electoral and statistical-related matters. The agreements were signed by Statistician General, Alex Shimuafeni and Chief Electoral Officer, Peter Shaama in Windhoek yesterday. Shimuafeni highlighted that the NSA will share knowledge and methods on the recruitment of field staff with ECN. Additionally, he said the NSA will…

13 Sep

Deaf community feels left out of Green Hydrogen

ObserverEnergy, National NewsDeaf community feels left out of Green Hydrogen, Green Hydrogen

Martin Endjala Members of the deaf community have expressed their disappointment with the Green Hydrogen project because they feel excluded from the ongoing engagements and discussions. “Namibia is home to many deaf persons and we are scattered around the vast part of Namibia, however, there is little information coming to the deaf community about the GH2. We are not informed at the moment and do not know much about the projects”. These were the words of Namibia National Association of the Deaf National Director Linekela Paul Nanyeni while responding to questions sent to him by this publication on how well…

12 Sep

Energy transition challenges might hamper economic development

ObserverEnergy, National NewsEnergy transition challenges might hamper economic development

Niël Terblanché Namibia is currently grappling with the complex dynamics of the global energy transition, as its substantial oil reserves beckon investors while international pressure mounts for renewable energy adoption. Namibia’s Petroleum Commissioner, Maggy Shino, emphasized the importance of winning the “energy transition war” during a committee meeting. She noted that unless Namibia can construct a compelling narrative to navigate the energy transition, its oil resources may remain untapped due to international calls for renewable energy adoption. Shino explained that the energy transition agenda encourages developing countries to preserve their oil reserves and rely solely on renewable energy sources. This…

12 Sep

SADC Central Bank Governors will address economic challenges

ObserverNational NewsSADC Central Bank Governors will address economic challenges, Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Niël Terblanché There currently exists a critical need for coordinated efforts between governments and central banks to support economic growth and employment creation in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). While officially opening the 57th SADC Committee of Central Bank Governors’ Meeting (CCBGM) in Swakopmund, Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila highlighted the importance of monetary and macroeconomic stability in achieving future economic success. “The issue of fiscal dominance has been topical in many of our jurisdictions in the region. But as political leaders, we have a fair appreciation of the delicacy of that independence and that the power to spend money…