National News – Page 267 – Windhoek Observer

29 Jun

Home Affairs finally responds to same-sex marriage ruling

ObserverNational NewsEtienne Maritz, Home Affairs finally responds to same-sex marriage ruling

Martin Endjala The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security says that it will implement the immigration act as per the Supreme Court Judgement on the treatment of same-sex marriages validly concluded between Namibians and foreign nationals outside Namibia. The Ministry’s Executive Director, Etienne Maritz said, in a much anticipated statement that the government and the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security have taken note of the judgment and acknowledge the independence of the Courts and finality of Supreme Court decisions and in circumstances, the Ministry will comply with the judgment accordingly. In a telephonic interview with…

29 Jun

CoW urges residents to pay for services

ObserverNational NewsCoW urges residents to pay for services

Stefanus Nashama The City of Windhoek has urged its residents to prioritize paying for water and electricity and other city services, in order for the Municipality to continue delivering the services required in the informal settlements in the City. The City of Windhoek Mayor, Joseph Uapingene, made these remarks yesterday in an interview with the Windhoek Observer. Uapingene said all the services required to improve informal settlements need money, and they should be budgeted for because of the limited resources every year. “Our informal settlements are increasing daily, making it difficult for the Municipality to control communities and deliver services…

29 Jun

Keetmanshoop farmer loses fight against MEFT over cheetahs

ObserverNational NewsIngrid Mariana Nolte, Keetmanshoop farmer loses fight against MEFT over cheetahs

Hertta-Maria Amutenja A Keetmanshoop farmer, Ingrid Mariana Nolte has lost her fight against the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism to have two cheetahs registered to her farm in a judgement delivered in the High Court yesterday. Judge Collins Parker said there was no sufficient evidence presented to the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Pohamba Shifeta to how the Nolte came in possession of the two cheetahs. “I find that no sufficient or satisfactory evidence was placed before the minister as to how the applicant came in possession of the two cheetahs. When the applicant was making the application,…

29 Jun

SADC education ministers to implement programmes in Open Science and Access

ObserverNational NewsSADC education ministers to implement programmes in Open Science and Access

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Joint Committee of Ministers responsible for Education, Training, Science, Technology and Innovation has endorsed the recommendations from UNESCO to implement programmes in Open Science and Access. UNESCO’s Recommendation on Open Science provides an International Framework for Open Science Policy and practice that recognises disciplinary and regional differences in open science perspectives. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Committee of Ministers responsible for Education and Training and Science, Technology, and Innovation of SADC in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The meeting was chaired by Muhindo Nzangi Butondo, the Minister…

28 Jun

Retrenchments looming at Momentum

ObserverNational NewsRetrenchments looming at Momentum

Hertta-Maria Amutenja One of the leading financial service providers, Momentum Metropolitan Namibia (MMN) has announced to its employees that it will embarked on a retrenchment exercise to save N$10 million on its payroll cost. The decision follows a business update engagement held between Group Chief Executive Officer Sakaria Nghikembua and all MMN employees, via the Microsoft Teams platform, on Monday. According to an internal memo seen by this publication the company has invited all employee levels in the Life Business, except for Sales Managers and Salespeople to apply for a voluntary retrenchment which is due end of next month. The…

28 Jun

NCCI hosts Namibia’s first State of Business Address

ObserverNational NewsNCCI hosts Namibia’s first State of Business Address

Martin Endjala It is no secret that geopolitics is becoming a factor in investment attraction and international trade and Namibia is said to be sailing in such turbulent waters. Hence the need to adopt a collective approach to navigate stormy waters. These were the words of the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry President, Bisey Uirab during the first-of-its-kind State of Business Address in Namibia held in Windhoek on Monday, which will become an annual occurrence. Uirab said that there is a trend emerging from some quarters globally, among which there are developed countries that favour, and some would say…

28 Jun

Namibia first to launch ROAM-X in Southern Africa

ObserverNational News

Stefanus Nashama While the mastery of technology continues to be one of the most modern development targets, Namibia has become the first country in Southern Africa to conduct a national assessment of the Internet Universality Indicators. The Deputy Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Emma Theofelus, yesterday officially launched the Namibia National Internet Universality Indicators (ROAM-X) Assessment at the Namibia University of Science and Technology HTTP Centre in Windhoek. The ROAM-X assessment aims to develop policy recommendations and practical initiatives that will enable Namibia to improve the national Internet ecosystem as advanced ICTs evolve, among other things. This assessment framework…

28 Jun

Parliament creates a committee to fight youth unemployment.

ObserverNational NewsParliament creates a committee to fight youth unemployment.

Stefanus Nashama The Speaker of the National Assembly, Peter Katjavivi, on Monday, convened a discussion on youth unemployment with various stakeholders to establish a technical committee to be entrusted with the responsibility of devising strategies to address the crisis in the country. This will be made possible by identifying unique economic opportunities in the country, formulating actionable policy recommendations, and collaborating with technical and vocational training institutions to enhance the skills and capacities of young people to become job creators. During his opening remarks, Katjavivi reiterated the importance of a multisectoral approach in tackling the scourge of youth unemployment, adding…

28 Jun

Wendelinus hits back at OvahereroTraditional Authority after ‘Otjikaiva’ uproar

ObserverNational News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Former Mr Gay Namibia, Wendelinus Hamutenya has hit back at the Ovaherero Traditional leaders who took issue with his choice of outfit at a recent anti-homophobia protest in Windhoek. The Ovahereo Traditional Authority (OTA) expressed disgust after images of Hamutenya wearing a Herero women’s traditional dress( Ohorokova jozende) surfaced online. The protest was held against sanctioned homophobia and hate speech in Windhoek. Hamutenya says he wore the Herero traditional attire because it has a significant impact on modern tradition. He challenged the traditional authority to indicate the section of the constitution that prohibits men from wearing female garments.…

28 Jun

BoN Governor clarifies severe debt default practices

ObserverNational News

Niël Terblanché The sale in execution of banking procedures to reduce debt owed by people, who have fallen on hard times, has left many Namibians without a roof over their heads. Johannes !Gawaxab, the Governor of Namibia’s central bank, has responded to niggling questions about the draconian judicial steps taken against people who default on their home loans and added that the BoN has taken note of the concern that some commercial banks in Namibia purchase properties at a low cost during the sale in execution process and may omit to credit the home loan debt with the amount obtained…