National News – Page 254 – Windhoek Observer

01 Sep

Corruption at the heart of NAMCOL staff resignation: Amupanda

ObserverNational NewsCorruption at the heart of NAMCOL staff resignation: Amupanda

Stefanus Nashama Affirmative Repositioning Movement Leader, Job Amupanda has criticised Namibia College of Open Learning (NAMCOL) for failing to hold accountable an employee who was reported to have misappropriated N$305,770.00 of student funds. The activist leader accused the institution of organising the employee’s resignation without taking serious action because there were people from high offices involved. “The corrupt chain has organised that the accountant resigns,” he said. Amupanda said while NAMCOL is claiming to have a zero-tolerance stance against theft, fraud and corruption, he has been informed that someone had started deleting information regarding the matter to protect the ‘corrupt…

01 Sep

Tantalum mining to commence next year

ObserverNational News

Martin Endjala Swanson Tantalum Mining production is set to commence with mining operations between October and November 2024. With a feasibility study already completed and a final investment of USD7 million in finance already secured together with all necessary permits the company is ready to start production. Acadia Minerals Chief Executive Officer Philip Le Roux explained that a large number of well-mineralised pegmatites are also present on the property and the potential of the occurrences is highlighted by extensive, small-scale mining activities where tantalum, beryl and spodumene were extracted from the pegmatites. He was speaking at the 2023 Mining Expo…

01 Sep

DBN signs concessional loan agreement to mitigate climate challenge

ObserverNational NewsDBN signs concessional loan agreement to mitigate climate challenge, Development Bank of Namibia (DBN)

Stefanus Nashama The Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) on Wednesday signed a N$600 million concessional loan agreement with the KfW, the German Development Cooperation, to develop infrastructure to mitigate challenges presented by climate change. During the signing ceremony this week, both institutions announced that the loan will be used to develop climate-related infrastructure, such as renewable energy, water and low-carbon transport projects. The agreement follows the first credit line amounting to approximately N$240 million, which was signed between DBN and KfW in December 2018. DBN Chief Executive Officer, Martin Inkumbi said the first credit line after being successfully placed in…

31 Aug

Billions budgeted for upgrade of Telecom infrastructure

ObserverNational NewsBillions budgeted for upgradeof Telecom infrastructure, Stanley Shanapinda

Stefanus Nashama Telecom Namibia has revealed its plans to invest N$2.3 billion in the upgrading and replacing of the company’s ageing infrastructure over the next five years, to improve and maintain its service delivery to clients. Telecom Namibia Chief Executive Officer, Stanley Shanapinda, made the revelations this week during an interview with Windhoek Observer. According to Shanapinda, the money would be spent through the rollout of fibre, replacing the Fixed Mobile Convergence Core, Operations Support Systems, Business Support System and mobile expansion. He said the company is obliged to invest 15 percent of its revenue in capital projects to maintain…

31 Aug

Vandals destroy TransNamib infrastructure in the South

ObserverNational NewsStanding Committee on Economics and Public Administration, Vandals destroy TransNamib infrastructure in the South

Hertta-Maria Amutenja TransNamib, the national railway company, finds itself grappling with a surge in vandalism and significant infrastructural damage that has taken a toll on the country’s vital railway networks in the southern regions. While engaging TransNamib staff, Members of Parliament on the Standing Committee on Economics and Public Administration have been briefed on the daunting task of maintaining rail infrastructure that is persistently subjected to severe damage and vandalism in areas like Luderitz and Keetmanshoop. In a resolute effort to revitalize Namibia’s railway sector, the Standing Committee has embarked on a series of onsite visits to Luderitz and Keetmanshoop…

31 Aug

WHO Secretary-General engages in bilateral talks during Namibian visit

ObserverNational NewsDr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Secretary-General engages in bilateral talks during Namibian visit

Niël Terblanché Namibia on Wednesday welcomed the Secretary General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, on a consequential two-day visit. At the start of the visit, Dr Ghebreyesus paid a courtesy call to President Hage Geingob at State House. President Geingob commended the WHO’s commitment to global health concerns and acknowledged Dr Ghebreyesus’s exceptional leadership within the organisation. The visit is characterised by a series of significant engagements with top officials, aimed at reinforcing collaborative efforts in tackling global health challenges and celebrating Namibia’s achievements in healthcare advancements. Dr Ghebreyesus praised President Geingob’s steadfast leadership and…

31 Aug

Proposed bills threaten privacy rights

ObserverNational NewsProposed bills threaten privacy rights

Niël Terblanché Namibia is currently grappling with a concerning predicament because bills aimed at intensifying the monitoring of digital communications are in the works and will give various authorities unprecedented access to private correspondence. A recent analysis of these proposed bills by the Economic Policy Research Association (ERPA) has shed light on the potential implications, raising alarm bells about the erosion of constitutional rights and personal privacy. ERPA, in an exhaustive examination of the forthcoming bills, has voiced apprehensions about the trajectory the nation might take. One of the primary concerns highlighted in the ERPA report is that heightened surveillance…

31 Aug

NAMCOL opens criminal case againstformer employee over missing funds

ObserverNational NewsNAMCOL Chief Executive Officer, Open Learning (NAMCOL)

Stefanus Nashama Namibian College of Open Learning (NAMCOL), has opened a criminal case with the Namibian Police against one of former employees over N$305,770.00 that went missing from the institution. Last week, Windhoek Observer reported that NAMCOL Chief Executive Officer, Heroldt Murangi, admitted to an ongoing internal investigation of misappropriated funds at the institution, and promised to provide a full report on the matter. However, yesterday NAMCOL Public Relations Officer, Laimi Mbago, issued a statement saying that a criminal case has been opened with the Police, which is evidence of NAMCOL’s commitment to upholding zero-tolerance for theft, fraud and corruption.…

31 Aug

African Energy Week set to attract more investors for Namibia

ObserverNational NewsAfrican Energy Week set to attract more investors for Namibia

Niël Terblanché President Hage Geingob as the opening keynote speaker at the highly anticipated African Energy Week (AEW) 2023, will once again highlight Namibia’s investment potential. The gathering is slated to take place from October 16 to 20 in Cape Town and promises to bring together global industry leaders and policymakers to deliberate on the paramount issues surrounding energy poverty, sustainability, and market growth. President Geingob’s address will align with AEW’s overarching theme, focusing on the ‘African Energy Renaissance.’ At the heart of President Geingob’s address lies Namibia’s vision for an energy renaissance. According to the organisers of the event,…

31 Aug

New farmer’s market will support a charitable cause

ObserverNational News

Residents of Walvis Bay are looking forward to the very first Narraville Spring Farmers Market that will take place over the coming weekend. According to Chere-Lee Diergaardt, the organiser of the market, the event will host about 30 stalls where entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to showcase their products but also support a good cause. She added that the event would take place in the central park of Narraville and is slated to start at 10:00 on Saturday 2 September 2023. “We have already booked 23 stalls and we have quite a few people for the community that are either…