National News – Page 258 – Windhoek Observer

23 Aug

N$550 000 budgeted for Heroes Day commemoration

ObserverNational News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Executive Director in the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, Audrin Mathe, has revealed that Government has availed N$550 000 towards Heroes Day commemoration in Windhoek. Mathe made the revelation in an exclusive interview with the Windhoek Observer yesterday and confirmed that it is all systems go for Saturday’s event meant to remember and celebrate heroes and heroines who contributed to the liberation struggle of Namibia. The 33rd Heroes Day commemoration, which was to be held in Omuthiya in the Oshikoto region was moved to the capital city last week. Mathe, last week announced that the change of…

23 Aug

I do not serve for fame but to impact lives: Kanyetu

ObserverNational NewsI do not serve for fame but to impact lives: Kanyetu, Vincent Kanyetu

Martin Endjala Former All People’s Party (APP) Secretary General, Vincent Kanyetu has rubbished claims that are portraying him as an instigator and running office for his own benefit and popularity, arguing that he is not in politics for fame but to serve the nation and to impact lives. Kanyetu resigned from the party on 19 August 2023, saying that he wants to focus on family and detach himself from APP which he labelled as a “tribalist” driven and non-centred nation party. In an interview with this publication this week, Kanyetu said he has realised that since Namibia’s independence in 1990,…

23 Aug

Windhoek school board wants principal fired

ObserverNational NewsHermann Gmeiner Primary School in Windhoek, Hilya Kambonde, Windhoek school board wants principal fired

Martin Endjala Board members of Hermann Gmeiner Primary School in Windhoek are accusing Principal Maureen Gottlieb of running the school down the drain by using school funds without their consent and are demanding her dismissal. A detailed statement issued by the School Board Chairperson, Hilya Kambonde, said that around September 2021, she questioned the principal on the School Board WhatsApp group whether the school was building new classes without the knowledge of the board. A question to which former Board Chairperson Ivan Tshabalala responded that he was reliably informed. She said Gottlieb and Tshabalala chose to contract a construction company,…

23 Aug

Africa must find funds to close the water investment gap

ObserverNational NewsAfrica must find funds to close the water investment gap, Calle Schlettwein

Niël Terblanché It is the ambition of Namibia to address and bring about a safe, and secure water supply for all but several severe challenges are hampering the process. Calle Schlettwein, the Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform while attending the Stockholm World Water Week at the High-Level Panel on Water Investments for Africa, said Namibia strives to provide adequate water to promote sanitation to enable development and decent urban and rural living standards for all people. The conference in Sweden is focused on accelerating the implementation of the UN 2023 Water Action Agenda in Africa through the International…

22 Aug

Eurowings resumes direct flights to Namibia

ObserverNational NewsEurowings resumes direct flights to Namibia, Menzies Aviation Namibia, Namibia Airports Company

Niël Terblanché After diverting its flights to the Oliver Thambo International Airport in Johannesburg over the past weekend due to uncertainties created by the eviction of Menzies Aviation Namibia as the ground handling service provider at the Hosea Kutako International Airport (HKIA), Eurowings Discover will resume direct flights to Namibia. Paragon Aviation Services have successfully taken over ground handling services ever since the eviction of Menzies from the premises of the Namibia Airports Company early on Saturday morning. Eurowings Discover announced that two of its aircraft will depart from Frankfurt on Monday evening and these flights will arrive at the…

22 Aug

Unemployment blamed on debt owed to Katima Mulilo Town Council

ObserverNational NewsRaphael Liswaniso, Unemployment blamed on debt owed to Katima Mulilo Town Council

Hetta-Maria Amutenja Katima Mulilo Town Council’s Chief Executive Officer, Raphael Liswaniso, has attributed the town’s staggering debts of over N$99 million to high unemployment rates, which has led to residents being unable to pay for their water, land, rates and taxes. Liswaniso made these remarks yesterday in an interview with Windhoek Observer, where he emphasised that a significant portion of the town’s population lacks a reliable income. “The country is grappling with an unemployment rate of approximately 52 percent. With a population ranging from 45,000 to 50,000 inhabitants, nearly 80 percent of them are unemployed. The residents do not have…

22 Aug

Massive port expansion planned to increase capacity

ObserverNational NewsAndrew Kanime, Massive port expansion planned to increase capacity, Namibian Ports Authority (Namport)

Niël Terblanché While Namibia is aspiring to become a new global fuel and energy exporter, port facilities will have to be upgraded to accommodate the new industry and its supply chain needs. Andrew Kanime, Chief Executive Officer of the Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) in an interview with Bloomberg recently, said private investment of N$40 billion is needed for the proposed port infrastructure expansion. Kanime announced plans for new berths and quay walls to support the country’s booming energy industry. The expansion is targeted for the port of Walvis Bay while an entirely new deep-sea port will be built in Lüderitz…

22 Aug

Chinese company denied relief forN$33 million worth of income tax

ObserverNational NewsChinese company denied relief forN$33 million worth of income tax, Eileen Rakow

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The High Court of Namibia rejected an interim relief request from a Chinese construction company for N$33 million in income tax. According to a judgement delivered last week Friday in High Court by Judge Eileen Rakow, said the concept of ‘pay now, argue later’ should be applicable in this case. “I find no reason to conclude that the ‘pay now argue later’ concept should not be applicable in this matter and thus find that the monies attached by the first respondent should remain with them for now as it is in the public interest,” said Rakow. The money…

22 Aug

Drought necessitates small-scale import of grains and beans

ObserverNational NewsDrought necessitates small-scale import of grains and beans, Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata

Niël Terblanché Mahangu grains and beans purchased from Angola for own consumption within a radius of 60 kilometres from border posts will for the time being be exempted from the rules that verify agricultural products have been inspected and are pest and disease free. In a statement, Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata, the Executive Director of the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform said the looming drought has necessitated the lifting of stricter Phytosanitary measures. At the same time, the ministry is initiating awareness about the importation of grains and beans and the effect such material might have on the health of…

21 Aug

Strong workforce provides smooth ground handling service at HKIA

ObserverNational NewsParagon Aviation Services (PAS), Strong workforce provides smooth ground handling service at HKIA

Niël Terblanché For a second consecutive day, Paragon Aviation Services (PAS) provided seamless ground handling service at the Hosea Kutako International Airport (HKIA). Shortly after Menzies Aviation Namibia were evicted from the premises of the Namibia Airports Company (NAC) on Saturday morning flights by Eurowings Discover and Qatar Airways flights were redirected to other international airports in the southern African region because of insurance issues. On Sunday, some of the issues were resolved and Qatar Airways flights landed without any disruption or delay. Eurowings, however, chose not to change their stance because Menzies Aviation Namibia filed yet another urgent application…